Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Spirit Day Tomorrow
Aussie Jingle Bells by Colin Buchanan and Nick Bland
Kicking up the dust, esky in the boot.
Kelpie by my side, singing Christmas songs,
It's summertime and I am in my singlet, shorts and thongs.
Oh! Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way!
Christmas in Australia on a scorching summer's day, hey!
Jingle bells, jingle bells, Christmas time is beaut!
Oh what fun it is to ride in a rusty Holden ute.
Engine's getting hot, we dodge the kangaroos,
The swaggie climbs aboard - he is welcome too.
All the family's there, sitting by the pool,
Christmas Day the Aussie way, by the barbecue.
Oh! Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way!
Christmas in Australia on a scorching summer's day, hey!
Jingle bells, jingle bells, Christmas time is beaut!
Oh what fun it is to ride in a rusty Holden ute.
Come the afternoon, Grandpa has a doze,
The kids and Uncle Bruce are swimming in their clothes.
The time comes 'round to go; we take a family snap.
Pack the car and all shoot through, before the washing-up.
Oh! Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way!
Christmas in Australia on a scorching summer's day, hey!
Jingle bells, jingle bells, Christmas time is beaut!
Oh what fun it is to ride in a rusty Holden ute.
Spelling of Hanukkah!
Monday, December 14, 2009
Week of Dec. 14, 2009
Please send in a shoe box by Friday. Your child will put their small gingerbread house in this for easy transportation home.
Also, Friday is a half day, with dismissal at noon. The students will have a holiday snack and games from 9:15 and then be involved in a holiday sing-a-long in the theatre at about 11am.
Happy holidays to you and your loved ones! Please continue to encourage your child to read, write and practice their math facts over the vacation.
Have fun and be safe.
- Ms. O'Mullane
Library Helper: Mrs. Peffly
Parent Reader: Contact me if you'd like to volunteer
Language Arts - Review
Mathematics - Review partial sums addition; Unit 4 quiz; Review telling time
Social Studies - Holidays in Europe
Science - Rocks and Minerals
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Dec. 7-11 in Brief
Parent Reader - Michelle Schnitt
Sharing for the month of December - Tuesday: Reilly, Devin; Wednesday: Chloe, Noah; Thursday: Renata, Emma, Turner; Friday - John, Erin
Language Arts
Phonics - Consonants /s/c; /j/g, dge; Inflections: -ed, -ing (double final consonant)
Spelling - slice, dodge, city, huge, nice, space, gem, price, cage, fudge
Bonus words - central, fireplace, gentle, gymnast, celebrate
High Frequency Words - above, shoes, tough, wash, wear, woman, young
Reading - Big Bushy Mustache by Gary Soto
Fluency - Phrasing
Comprehension - Fiction and nonfiction; Monitor comprehension: reread
Robust Vocabulary - wilting, flitted, swirling, trance, route, semblance, distraught, improvise
Grammar - Plural possessive nouns
Writing - Small moments
Mathematics
* Partial-sums addition algorithm
* Review of unit 4 and quiz
* Points and line segments
Social Studies
* Europe
* Holiday traditions around the world
Science
* Rocks and Minerals
Monday, November 30, 2009
Homework - 11/30
2. Reading.
3. Practice spelling words and read over the student friendly explanations for the vocabulary words.
Week of November 30, 2009
Here is our week at a glance. No Current Events this week. We will be having open sharing.
Library - Michelle Schnitt
Parent Reader - Meredith Leonhirth
Language Arts
Phonics - long vowel e/ey; Inflections - -ed, -es (y to i)
Spelling - very, messy, lady, happy, key, baby, money, funny, candy, sunny
Bonus - chimney, nobody, breezy, twenty, keyhole
High Frequency Words - board, cook, enjoy, expensive, favorite, imagine, popular, year
Reading - At Play: Long Ago and Today by Lynnette R. Brent
Fluency - Punctuation
Comprehension - Author's purpose and asking questions
Robust Vocabulary - recently, housed, official, nominate, recreation, leisurely, ramble, archaic
Grammar - Singular Possessive Nouns
Writing - Personal Narrative
Mathematics
* Estimating Costs
* A Shopping Activity (adding 2-digit numbers mentally; calculating the total cost of two items; demonstrate making change for whole-dollar amounts up to $100)
* Exploring length, area and attributes
* Paper and pencil addition strategies
Social Studies
Europe
Science
Rocks and Minerals
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Happy Thanksgiving
Marion O'Mullane
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Spirit Day
South America Presentations
Homework 11/17
2. South America project
3. Spelling, vocabulary and reading
Monday, November 9, 2009
Homework this Week
Keep reading each day and review the high frequency words from the list on the back of the homework record sheet. I will be testing these on Thursday, seeing Friday is a day off for the students.
Important Events this Week
I plan to take the students to the Book Fair at 9am on Tuesday to see what is available for purchase. You can return with your child if you want to purchase. If after school does not work, you can come by and collect your child during the day, but keep in mind that lunch is between 11:30-12:oo and the students do have specials at certain times during the day.
* Wednesday, November 11 • Poetry in the Park (EC-4) 8:30 a.m. Lower Div. Quad
Please bring a deck chair or blanket to sit on. FYI - We will be performing towards the end of the program.
Let's hope it is a fine day. Please send in a bandana and cowboy hat by Tuesday, if you have not already done so.
* Friday, November 13 • No classes EC-8 — Faculty Prof. Day.
Monday, November 2, 2009
South American Research Project
Poetry in the Park
Homework 11/4
2. South American Country Research Project
3. Spelling, vocabulary, and reading
Homework 11/3
2. Math - Home Link 3.6 - Frames and Arrows
3. South American Project
4. Reading
Homework 11/2
2. Start finding out about your South America country (you will do your presentation during the week of Nov. 16th)
3. Spelling review, read over the high-frequency words, and read over the robust vocabulary student-friendly explanations
4. Reading
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Week of November 2
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Fall Festival and Book Club Orders
Fall Festival is on Friday and the parade of costumes begins at 8:30am. Fourth Grade will be leading the procession and head to the gym and back. The students will then return to the classroom and change into their play clothes for the Fall Festival. Please pack an extra bag for your child's costume. The students will remain in class until 10:00am until the Fall Festival starts. Please collect your child from the classroom at 10:00am and sign them out when you are about to leave school. Dismissal is at 12:30pm on Friday. I plan to leave a sign-out sheet on
my classroom door, just incase you can't find me amongst all the students, parents and teachers on the school grounds. See you on Friday. It will be lots of fun!
Homework 10/28
2. Practice poem "Bad Baxter Barton"
3. Reading
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Homework - 10/27
2. Practice poem, Bad Baxter Barton
3. Reading
4. Spirit Day tomorrow. Wear your green and gold.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Homework- 09/26
2. Read over poem for Poetry in the Park
3. Reading
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Week of October 26th
Parent Reader - Mrs. Jacobs
Current Events - Tuesday - Emery, Keaton; Wednesday - Ellie, Asher; Thursday - Renata, Chase, Samuel; Friday - Lindsey
Language Arts
* Exploring numbers, time and geoboards
* Gathering data and entering data in a table, and drawing a bar graph
* Frames and Arrows having two rules
* Making Change by Counting Up
Social Studies
* South America
* Mapping
Science
* Watering Earth's Plants
CONGRATULATIONS!
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Show Time
Thanks to all my students for your enthusiasm and effort. I am so proud of you and I can already see how much you have grown and developed since the beginning of second grade (and it is only October).
Next, Poetry in the Park. More information will come your way next week.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Homework - 10/19
2. Bring in your bandana (if you haven't already done so)
3. Comprehension worksheet (Two Famous Scientists)
4. Reading
A Busy Week Ahead
The children are excited about the show and we look forward to seeing you there on Friday, October 23rd at 8:30am. The students will wear their uniform bottom (shorts or skort), flag t-shirt (they made at school) and bandana. Please send in the bandana, if you have not already done so.
Have a great week.
Picture Retake
Monday, October 12, 2009
Homework - 10/12
Our Week at a Glance
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Thanks so Much
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Antarctica
It's a desert of ice where glaciers rise.
You'll find penguins and seals, whales and birds,
But a polar bear would be absurd!
Explorers and scientists must be bold
To visit that sub-zero cold.
No countries or cities or towns are here,
No roads, no cars, no TV's near.
It's a land that is covered with ice and snow,
A land where few would ever go.
BRRRRR!
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Our Week at a Glance
Phonics - long vowel /a/ai,ay and compound words
Spelling - pay, mail, paint, day, rain, stay, sail, way, train, tray
High Frequency Words - coming, curve, idea, knee, laughed, million, world
Bonus Spelling - mailbox, highway, daytime, raindrop, crayon
Reading - Gus and Grandpa and the Two-Wheeled Bike by Claudia Mills; No Helmet? Pay Up! from Time for Kids
Fluency - Intonation
Comprehension - Make predictions; Use prior knowledge
Robust Vocabulary - rickety, rattling, prying, impatiently, romp, defeated, jubilant, master (v)
Grammar - Singular and Plural Nouns
Writing - Personal Narrative
Mathematics (Unit 2)
* Exploring weights, scales, equal groups
* What's My Rule? routine
* Counting strategies for subtraction
* Subtraction for "Harder" subtraction facts
* Review and quiz
Social Studies
* South America
Science
* Weather
We will also be spending a lot of time preparing for our Second Grade show.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Second Grade Show News
This week, each child will be responsible for drawing the flag of the country he/she has been assigned to research. This is to be done at home on a sheet of 8 1/2" by 11" bond paper. Markers only should be used to color the flag. A picture of the country's flag and instructions will be sent home on Monday (Oct. 5). Please see that the completed flag and a wire hanger (to hang the t-shirt on) are returned to class by Wednesday, October 7.
Your child will also need one regular-sized bandana for our program. It should be the traditional western pattern in any color. In addition, if you haven't already sent in your child's white t-shirt at the beginning of the school year, please do so. In addition to this we will need the following items for the stage set:
* Brown paper grocery bags - for the rain forest vines.
* Gallon milk/water bottles (no yellow) for ice sculpture.
* Stuffed animals - tagged with student name (the animals aren't needed until 10/21.). Think animals that relate to the South American rainforest and Antarctica.
We greatly appreciate all the help we already have received with decorations, props, and planning! What a special event this will be.
Thank you,
The Second Grade Team
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
South America Poem
With emerald jungles and bright blue skies.
The Amazon River flows far and long,
Where birds and beasts all sing their song.
A sloth climbs slowly through a tree,
Monkeys swing in the canopy.
Up in the Andes Mountains high,
The Incas lived in days gone by.
Coffee and chocolate, potatoes and gum,
Are foods that from South America come.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Some Websites to Try
www.puzzlemaker.com (you can use spelling or vocabulary words to create puzzles)
http://www.mathfactcafe.com/
http://aaamath.com
www.coolmath4kids.com
www.funbrain.com
Homework - 9/28
2. Weather - Washington DC Style (reading temperature and answering questions)
3. Practice continent poems
4. Reading
Monday, September 28, 2009
Homework - 9/28
2. Practice the poems for our second grade program (Europe, Antarctica, South America, and The Seven Continents)
3. Review spelling words and also the robust vocabulary definitions
4. Reading
Week at a Glance - September 28
Library Helper - Stacy Jacobs
Current Events - Monday - Ellie, Asher; Tuesday - Emery, Keaton; Thursday - Renata, Chase, Samuel; Friday - Joshua and Lindsey
Parent Reader - Brian Anderson
Language Arts
Phonics - Long vowel i/ie, igh; inflections -ed, -ing
Spelling - pie, high, tie, light, night, bright, right, might, tight
Bonus Spelling - weeknight, lightning, sightsee, nightstand, sunlight
High-Frequency Words - brother, caught, cheer, learn, lose, straight
Reading - Winners Never Quit! by Mia Hamm; Two Races retold by Eric A Kimmel
Leveled Readers - Nancy Lopez - Super Golfer by Janet Woodward; Michael Jordan - No Quitter by Janet Woodward; Pele - Soccer Legend by Janet Woodward
Fluency - Intonation
Comprehension - Make Predictions; Use Prior Knowledge
Robust Vocabulary - techniques, specially, struggle, traction, agile, spectator, competitive, worthwhile
Grammar - Nouns
Writing - Launching the writing workshop
Mathematics (Unit 2)
* Fact Families
* Exploring Weight, Scales, Equal Groups
* Name Collections
* Frames-and-Arrows Routines
Social Studies
* North America
Science
* Weather
* A Temperature Experiment
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Homework - 9/24
2. Practice Europe poem
3. Practice spelling and vocabulary words
4. Reading
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Homework - 9/23
2. Science worksheet - Read about temperature and complete the activity page relating to reading a thermometer.
3. Reading.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Homework - 9/22
2. Using the map created today in computers, write how you would get from the Fire Station to the School. Use cardinal directions, street names and other points of interest in your description.
3. Vocabulary and spelling review
4. Reading
Monday, September 21, 2009
Homework - 9/21
2. Practice the Europe poem
3. Practice this week's spelling words and also the student friendly definitions for this week's vocabulary
4. Reading
Week of September 21st
* Current Events - Tuesday - Reilly, Devin; Wednesday - Noah, Chloe; Thursday - Emerson, Turner; Friday - John, Erin
* Parent Reader - Molly Camp
Language Arts (Review)
* Phonics - Review (short and long vowels)
* Spelling List - has, win, spot, best, mud, same, broke, rule, clean, sleep
* Bonus - continent, America, Atlantic, equator, ocean
* Challenge Word Review - picnic, fabric, puppet, contest, homemade, teapot, peanut, plastic, napkin, rotten, mistake, classmate, beehive, mealtime, rabbit, helmet, subject, bedtime, notepad, seaweed
* High-Frequency Word Review - already, prove, police, eight, covered, everything, through, woods, guess, different, children, short, ears, finally, hundred, sugar, bicycle, special, sometimes, exercise
* Reading - Readers' Theater: Neighborhood News
* Leveled Readers - News from the Market (By Derek Scott); Morning News from the Fair (By Derek Scott); Book Week News (By Derek Scott)
* Fluency - Review accuracy and reading rate
* Comprehension - Review characters; Use graphic organizers; Main idea and details; Answer questions
* Robust Vocabulary - flutters, selected, announcement, career, penalty, location, excitable, positive
* Grammar - Review sentences, statements and questions, commands and exclamations, and parts of a sentence
* Writing - Review and publish
Mathematics (Unit 2)
* Double facts
* Turn-around facts and the +9 shortcut
* Addition strategies that use the double facts
* Subtraction from Addition
Social Studies
* North America
* Mapping Skills
Science
* Weather
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Homework - 9/17
2. Practice spelling and vocabulary (for tomorrow's quiz)
3. Reading
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Homework - 9/16
2. Complete The Water Cycle worksheet
3. Practice the Europe poem
4. Reading
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Homework 9/15
2. Math (Home Link) p. 13 (Addition Number Stories)
3. Practice the Europe poem
4. Read
Monday, September 14, 2009
Homework - 9/14
2. Practice the Europe poem (learn by Friday)
3. Reading
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Week of September 14th
Mathematics
UNIT 2: Addition and Subtraction Facts
* Addition number stories* Review "easy" addition facts
Science
Library Helper: Liz Jack
Congratulations to all who shared a Current Event last week. You were fantastic. Keep up the great effort.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Homework - 9/10
2. Math Home Link 1.11
3. Practice spelling words and the vocabulary definitions
4. Reading (don't forget to have your parents sign your homework log)
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Homework 9/9
2. Practice spelling words and the student friendly vocabulary definitions
3. Reading
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Homework - 9/8
2. Math - Skill Link pp. 4-5
3. Practice spelling words and read over student friendly vocabulary definitions
4. Read for 20 minutes
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Week of September 7th
Language Arts
Robust Vocabulary - blockades, soaked, misplaced, principles, deny, consider, opinionated, bulk
Mathematics
Friday, September 4, 2009
Europe Poem
The sixth is Europe; it's second to last.
Here you'll find castles and tales from the past.
You can pick tulips in Holland and olives in Spain.
You can skate on the Danube, or ride on a train.
There are wolves in the forest, hedgehogs in the row.
There are sights and sounds that travelers love so.
You can see the Eiffel Tower or listen to Big Ben,
Eat some tasty pasta or have teatime with a friend.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Homework - 9/3
2. Time for Kids (Read and complete worksheet "Getting to Know Time for Kids")
3. Practice spelling and vocabulary words
4. Reading
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Continent Poem
Seven great masses of land.
Some are large and some are small,
But each one has something grand.
Asia is the largest,
And Africa's number two.
North America is third in size,
Between two oceans blue.
South America is in fourth place.
Antarctica is number five.
Europe is the second to last,
And Australia is smallest in size.
Homework - 9/2
2. Fill the rattle we made in the science lab and bring to school tomorrow
2. Language Arts worksheet
3. Reading
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Homework 9/1
2. Learn the student friendly vocabulary definitions (sent home yesterday)
3. North America worksheet (due Friday)
4. Read for at least 20 minutes
* Please return the Spanish word search from yesterday's homework assignment if you have yet to do so
Monday, August 31, 2009
Homework - 8/31
2. Spanish word search
3. Recite continent poem for our October show
4. Read for 20 minutes
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Week of August 31st
Language Arts
Reading - Frog and Road All Year by Arnold Lobel; Life as a Frog by Victoria Parker
Leveled Readers - A Surprise for Squirrel and Rabbit by Dot McHarry; Bump! by Dot McHarry; The Surprise by the Stream by Dot McHarry
Phonics - Short Vowels /e/e, /o/o, /u/u; Inflections -s, -es
Spelling - not, best, run, job, bed, spot, get, mud, ten, duck
High Frequency Words - covered, everything, guess, through, woods
Fluency - Accuracy
Comprehension - Characters and using graphic organizers
Robust Vocabulary - ventured, described, edge, hesitate, anonymous, unselfish, satisfied, neighborly
Grammar - Statements and Questions
Writing - Form: Paragraph
Trait - Ideas
Mathematics
* Partner study routines
* Addition facts
* Grouping by tens - $1, $10, $100
* Introducing the Student Reference Book
* Math Box routine
* Working in small groups
* Place Value patterns on number grids
Social Studies
* North America
* Map Basics
* Understanding Directions
Science
* Scientific Method
* A visit to the science lab on Wednesday
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
We made it!
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Dear Parents
I strongly believe in the importance of including the family in all aspects of your child's educational programs and I enthusiastically encourage and welcome your involvement and partnership.
You can expect me to provide for your child:
1. A safe and structured learning environment
2. High expectations for learning and behavior
3. A classroom that values independence and cooperation among children and adults
4. A program that will be adapted to meet his/her needs through the implementation of effective teaching techniques
5. A program that will encourage your child to express him/herself through various forms of expression
I expect that your child will:
1. Do his/her work to the best of his/her ability
2. Behave in a respectful and cooperative manner toward classmates and adults
3. Exemplify the Lower Division Motto and come to school with a positive attitude
4. Return completed homework and assignments on the day that it is due
5. Come to school on time
During the week, your child will also see the following teachers:
Anna Baralt - Instructional Technology - Tuesday from 9:15-10:00
Dotti Smay - Library - Tuesday at 12:10 (every other week)
Bethsabe Bockman-Pedersen - Spanish - Monday and Wednesday from 9:10-9:40
Valerie Diaz Leroy - Music - Thursday at 12:00
Amy Pope, Woodward Every, Jeffrey Deidrich - P.E. - Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday at 10:45
Sue Rowe - Art - Monday at 12:00
Homework is assigned Monday through Thursday. It should take approximately 15 minutes or so to complete, varying somewhat with each child's personal work habits. In addition, I encourage each student to read for at least 20 minutes.
Important Date: Back to School Night - August 24th at 7pm (Janet Root Theater).
Again, welcome to Second Grade! I look forward to working with you this school year. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Welcome to Second Grade
What did you all do during the break? I was lucky enough to go back to Australia and spend time with my family and friends. It took us 20 hours on the plane to get there, but it was well worth it. My daughters had the chance to experience the Aussie way of life and explore many interesting and beautiful places, including the natural landscape, friendly locals and amazing flora and fauna. I have lots of pictures to share with you.
See you soon. I can't wait!