We have been learning all kinds of neat things about physical science. Our focus has been on Properties and States of Matter and Properties of Materials. In class we have been experimenting with various physical properties, as well as working with activities related to the building blocks of matter. During some of our most recent Explore activities, students have been asked to identify a variety of materials found in Mystery Balloons based on their knowledge of physical properties, as well as test absorbency of different paper towel brands using pennies in Soak it Up. Most recently we participated in The Great Shoe Slide as we discussed the intended purpose of a variety of shoes and then tested out the concept of friction. During our upcoming ones, related to the Engineering Solution, students will be asked to put their designing skills to good use. Being hired by the Laugh'O-Lots Toy Company, they will have to design a toy for their new monster collection. During another one, they will be hired by Marshmallows Inc. to build a model of a new tower that would soon be built. Both of these activities will present with a problem, a challenge, and then criteria and constraints that need to be followed. Students will continue to learn about building, testing, refiguring or redesigning, and retesting. Please ask your kids about what has been going on with Wednesday Science!
Parent-Teacher Conferences
What a wonderful few days! It was great to see so many of you (either in person or on zoom) and to have the opportunity to sit and discuss all the different things that have been going on in school the past couple of months. As we know, some kids come home and share everything that's happening, and then others share just that things are going "good". I was happy to share and show you that we have had a full schedule of things happening academically, as well as socially/emotionally as we have been working very hard to transition and adjust, and learn and follow the structure, routine, and expectations. Building community has also played a major role in coming back to school full time starting right at the beginning of the school year and establishing our second grade classroom family. Please know how important communication between home and school is to me and that I am committed to partnering with you to help make this the most successful year possible. Reach out at any point because no question or concern is too small. We can e-mail, call, zoom, or meet in person throughout the year as needed. Thanks again for meeting with me. Your input is invaluable!
Literacy
Fundations, reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Do these all happen in second grade? Yes, they sure do! In Fundations we have been reviewing many concepts such as closed syllable type, blends, digraphs, glued sounds (as well as exceptions), suffixes, and a variety of trick/sight words. Reading has been taking place in a variety of ways in class. We have been engaging in interactive read alouds with discussions, as well as sometimes written responses, choral reading, guided reading, independent, and partner reading. Literacy is a major focus goal of the district at all levels and I am excited that we are all working together to try out some new things to ensure that all students are getting everything they need to become the best readers and writers possible. Fiction and nonfiction genres have played a key role in our reading experiences so far and we look forward to adding others into the mix. In writing we have been practicing beginning paragraph work, including the concepts of a topic sentence to introduce the topic, including 3-5 supporting details, and ending with a concluding sentence (which is very similar to the topic sentence but just stated slightly differently. We have also been working very hard on narrative writing, in particular small moment writing in which you capture a smaller idea to write about from perhaps a bigger idea (a piece of a vacation, a playdate, a winning game, a birthday party, getting a new pet, etc.). As far as speaking and listening goes, we do this honestly all day long! We work on giving kids a variety of opportunities to express themselves by feeling like they have a voice and are comfortable sharing their thoughts and ideas. The goal then of course is to then learn to listen to your peers share as well, and then be able to learn to make connections with others and then further ask questions or expand on their thinking. So much to learn!
Math
In math we have been working on the concepts of counting in a variety of ways, adding and subtracting within 20, number strings, time, money, story problems, and beginning place value. The emphasis continues to be on developing a variety of strategies for problem solving in order to show your work and explain your thinking. We have also recently begun our study of geometry, focusing on both 2-D and 3-D figures, as well as a variety of characteristics such as sides, angles, faces edges, corners/vertices, etc. Also included are shapes in our world, both in and out of school. Finally, we will be working with parts of a whole, specifically zeroing in on halves, thirds, and fourths.