This week in reading we will wrap up our unit on questioning. We will extend the strategy of asking questions this week by discussing thick and thin questions and lingering questions. Thick questions are questions that lead to group discussion, often have a long extended answer and require the reader to use their skills of inferring and activating schema in order to answer them. Thin questions can be answered with a word or a sentence and often times the answer lies right in the text. They are simple answers and do not lend themselves to discussion. Lingering questions are questions that remain with the reader when the book is finished. Lingering questions allow the reader to use their skills of inferring and predicting to develop possible answers to these types of questions after the story is over. Our literature connection this week is The Incredible Paintings of Felix Clousseau. We will also use our class read aloud book Holes and guided reading books to practice these types of questions.
In writing, we will take a look at simple plurals ending in s and es. For our craft lessons, we will be looking at red flag transition words in the main event of our personal narratives. Red flag words bring excitement and sentence variety to stories as well as help transition to different events.
We will assess Unit 6 in math today. We will begin Unit 7 on Tuesday. Unit 7 focuses on Patterns and Rules. Our lessons this week will address extension compliments of 10, patterns in counting, and mental math. We will continue to revisit subtraction with regrouping as well. We will give our Mid Year Assessment this week. This assessment will cover material taught over the first half of the school year.
In science, we continue to talk about the water cycle. We will finish up our study cards and they will be sent home for additional practice. Students should know the four stages of the water cycle and be able to describe each stage. The assessment will be given next Monday. An optional word bank will be provided for the assessment. We will work on making an interactive poster to help extend our knowledge of the water cycle this week.
Our field trip to Mechanics Hall is next Friday. If you have not submitted your permission slip and 9.00 payment, please send it in this week. If you need another copy, please let me know! Our chaperones will be Anderson, Gilmore and Ghidella. Thanks to all who volunteered!
We have plenty of openings for Guest Reader from now to the end of the year! Please let me know via email if you would like to come in any Monday from 230-3!
Monday, January 28, 2013
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Weekly Update 1.22.13
This week, we will continue working on the strategy of asking questions. We will continue to discuss the questions that arise while reading text both before, during and after reading. Our text connection for the week will be The Paper Crane. Guided reading groups will also be working on this strategy both in discussion and in reading response writing. We will also introduce our reading response journals this week. The reading response journals will be a place for students to write about their interpretations, thoughts, feelings and insights about books they are reading during independent time. We will be doing a lot of modeling on how to create a strong reading response written piece. This ties in with our persuasive and expository writing curriculum.
In writing, we will continue to work on the main event in our personal narratives. This week we will be discussing red flag words as part of our main event. Red flag words are transitional phrases used at the beginning of sentences to provide sentence variety. Some examples of red flag words include "In the blink of an eye", "Just then", or "All of a sudden".
We will finish up Unit 6 in math this week. Our lessons will focus on multiplication, division and also a review of Unit 6. We will have our assessment on Monday. We will also be working on multiplication word problems and using arrays or drawings to show our work.
In science, we will be starting our second mini-unit in regards to weather patterns. We will be working on the water cycle for the next couple of weeks. Students will be expected to know the four stages of the water cycle (precipitation, collection, evaporation and condensation) as well as be able to describe each stage.
We welcome Marcia Stech to our classroom as our student teacher. Marcia currently works in our classroom as a child specific aide, but will take on the additional role of student teacher starting this week. Mrs. Stech has worked in Shrewsbury Public Schools as a child specific aide/instructional aide for the past ten years. As Marcia begins her work as a student teacher for her education license, she will start by observing and teaching one or two lessons in reading or math a week. By the end of her practicum in April, Mrs. Stech will take over all the responsibilities of the classroom, and teach all subject matters, for a two week period. Please let me know if you have questions!
Stay Warm!!
In writing, we will continue to work on the main event in our personal narratives. This week we will be discussing red flag words as part of our main event. Red flag words are transitional phrases used at the beginning of sentences to provide sentence variety. Some examples of red flag words include "In the blink of an eye", "Just then", or "All of a sudden".
We will finish up Unit 6 in math this week. Our lessons will focus on multiplication, division and also a review of Unit 6. We will have our assessment on Monday. We will also be working on multiplication word problems and using arrays or drawings to show our work.
In science, we will be starting our second mini-unit in regards to weather patterns. We will be working on the water cycle for the next couple of weeks. Students will be expected to know the four stages of the water cycle (precipitation, collection, evaporation and condensation) as well as be able to describe each stage.
We welcome Marcia Stech to our classroom as our student teacher. Marcia currently works in our classroom as a child specific aide, but will take on the additional role of student teacher starting this week. Mrs. Stech has worked in Shrewsbury Public Schools as a child specific aide/instructional aide for the past ten years. As Marcia begins her work as a student teacher for her education license, she will start by observing and teaching one or two lessons in reading or math a week. By the end of her practicum in April, Mrs. Stech will take over all the responsibilities of the classroom, and teach all subject matters, for a two week period. Please let me know if you have questions!
Stay Warm!!
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Weekly Update 1.7.13
This week in literacy we will continue talking about the comprehension strategy of questioning. OUr literature connection for the week will be Galimoto. We will discuss our questions before, during and after reading as well as record them in writing. Students will also practice this strategy in guided reading and independently during their read to self time.
During Writer's Workshop, we will introduce the main event. In a personal narrative, the main event is the heart of the story containing actions, thoughts and observations. The main event of the story tells, in detail, the experience that the author is sharing with the reader. To introduce this important topic, we will discuss the difference between a fully developed main event and a summary. We will be looking at different writing samples in order to show high standards of writing.
Unit Six continues on in math this week. Our lessons will focus on gathering data, graphing data, word problems and double digit subtraction. We will introduce the concept of subtraction with trading (also known as regrouping or borrowing). This is the first introduction of this skill. It is not a secure skill at this point, but it is by Trimester Three. While working on the Unit Six content, we will also continue practice core skills such as double digit addition, coins, time and place value.
In science, we have begun our weather unit. We are starting this unit by talking about the season cycle. Students will be working on a project in class to answer our driving question: "What is the best season for someone to visit Shrewsbury?" We will also discuss the change in seasons as it relates to the Earth's position to the sun.
If you wish to order from the Scholastic Book Orders this week, please submit your paper or electronic form by Friday!
Homework as usual this week! Nightly math homework Mon-Thurs and reading homework due on Friday!
During Writer's Workshop, we will introduce the main event. In a personal narrative, the main event is the heart of the story containing actions, thoughts and observations. The main event of the story tells, in detail, the experience that the author is sharing with the reader. To introduce this important topic, we will discuss the difference between a fully developed main event and a summary. We will be looking at different writing samples in order to show high standards of writing.
Unit Six continues on in math this week. Our lessons will focus on gathering data, graphing data, word problems and double digit subtraction. We will introduce the concept of subtraction with trading (also known as regrouping or borrowing). This is the first introduction of this skill. It is not a secure skill at this point, but it is by Trimester Three. While working on the Unit Six content, we will also continue practice core skills such as double digit addition, coins, time and place value.
In science, we have begun our weather unit. We are starting this unit by talking about the season cycle. Students will be working on a project in class to answer our driving question: "What is the best season for someone to visit Shrewsbury?" We will also discuss the change in seasons as it relates to the Earth's position to the sun.
If you wish to order from the Scholastic Book Orders this week, please submit your paper or electronic form by Friday!
Homework as usual this week! Nightly math homework Mon-Thurs and reading homework due on Friday!
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Weekly Update 1.2.13
Happy New Year! Before the brief outline of this week's classroom curriculum connections, I would like to thank everyone for the class holiday gift. It was very thoughtful and extremely generous! I hope that the holiday season was enjoyable and memorable for you all!
This is a short week, but we are back into full swing in the classroom! This week, all reading groups will be starting new books for reading and book discussion. Guided reading groups will begin to focus even more on book discussion and reading response writing as this is a critical skill as second grade moves forward. As a whole class, we will begin to talk about the comprehension strategy of asking questions. Readers ask questions before, during and after reading. This week we will introduce the strategy and question words. We will also model the strategy with our whole group read aloud of The Ghost Eye Tree. We will also introduce and practice contractions.
In math, we will begin Unit 6. Unit 6 will focus on whole number operations and numbers stories. This week, our lessons will be about addition of three or more numbers and comparison number stories. There will be regular math homework Wednesday and Thursday evening.
We will introduce our new science unit this week about weather. One of the repeating patterns in weather that we will be studying are the four seasons. The literature connection this week is The Reason for Seasons.
We have many opportunities for Guest Reader! Some of our available dates include:
Jan 7
Jan 28
Feb 4
Feb 11
Feb 25
Our regular guest reader time is Monday from 230-300. This allows enough time for one book and a small craft or activity or 2-3 books of your choice! Please let me know if you would like to come in for guest reader! Repeat visits are welcome!!
This is a short week, but we are back into full swing in the classroom! This week, all reading groups will be starting new books for reading and book discussion. Guided reading groups will begin to focus even more on book discussion and reading response writing as this is a critical skill as second grade moves forward. As a whole class, we will begin to talk about the comprehension strategy of asking questions. Readers ask questions before, during and after reading. This week we will introduce the strategy and question words. We will also model the strategy with our whole group read aloud of The Ghost Eye Tree. We will also introduce and practice contractions.
In math, we will begin Unit 6. Unit 6 will focus on whole number operations and numbers stories. This week, our lessons will be about addition of three or more numbers and comparison number stories. There will be regular math homework Wednesday and Thursday evening.
We will introduce our new science unit this week about weather. One of the repeating patterns in weather that we will be studying are the four seasons. The literature connection this week is The Reason for Seasons.
We have many opportunities for Guest Reader! Some of our available dates include:
Jan 7
Jan 28
Feb 4
Feb 11
Feb 25
Our regular guest reader time is Monday from 230-300. This allows enough time for one book and a small craft or activity or 2-3 books of your choice! Please let me know if you would like to come in for guest reader! Repeat visits are welcome!!
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