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Updates!

10/6/2016

Gummy Worms in Math

This week we have been exploring non-standard units of measurement. You may have seen the little green and yellow rulers we made on Twitter. Today we will engage the students in their by doing an measurement activity with gummy worms. It's hard for second graders to work with candy and not be able to taste any of it. Due to a variety of dietary restrictions students have, I plan on sending home one gummy worm for each student in a Ziplock bag so they can show you what they did in class and then EAT IT at home (if you choose to let them).
Please let me know if you have any further questions or concerns about this. Thanks!

Changes to "Fast Facts"

At a recent workshop I attended with Math guru Jo Boaler, I was inspired to change some of my math practices. Instead of focusing on SPEED of math facts, I am focusing on FLUENCY and strategy. Therefore, the "Fast Facts" rotation of guided math is now changed to "Fact Fluency" and there will be options besides Xtramath (Addition War, Flash Cards, and more to come). The kids were excited about this change. Check out my tweets from last Friday if you'd like to see more about what I learned at the workshop. Better yet, look up Jo Boaler's work on youcubed.org and you can read about the Math Mindset Revolution.

Celebrations!

9/16/2016

Our First Sub!

I had a meeting this morning and the sub reported that the class was wonderful! They did two rounds of Daily: Read to Self and Listen to Reading (if they have headphones).

Goal-Setting

Yesterday, we reviewed the skills we have been learning in "Social Learning" (Second Step): Be respectful, Focus Attention and Listen. Each student picked a goal to work on that day, wrote it on a post-it note, and kept it on their name tag all day as a reminder. Then they earned their TEAM reward today by keeping all their letters yesterday!

We also set goals in Writer's Workshop. Some students are working on additing transition words, others are working on stretching their stories by adding details.

"The Best Recess"

After a great morning with the sub and before our Math MAP test, we snuck out for a "sneaky recess." They had so much fun on the swings- the perfect brain break.

Making Predictions Using Schema

We have read many Scaredy Squirrel books to build our schema about this squirrelly character. Here are some things we notice happen in every book that help us make predictions for the next one:

There's a warning at the beginning
He's afraid of something
Something happens that "was not part of the plan"
He plays dead
He ends up overcoming his fear!

"I Spy" Science Home Learning & Reminders

9/13/2016

Tomorrow I will be sending home an "I Spy" Home/School connection sheet. This will be a fun way to encourage scientific discussion with your child, including scientific vocabulary. We have been studying PROPERTIES and MATERIALS, so please play "Science I Spy" and return the sheet by next Monday, 9/19.

If you need more time, please send me an email. You know my philosophy on homework, and I believe this is a worthwhile home activity.

Don't forget to do your PARENT HOMEWORK from Open House. Please send that in when you are done.

Please send in a pair of headphones for your child to use in the classroom.

Coming soon...
I will send home a sheet to get your child started on XtraMath at home. This website is a good resource for practicing addition/subtraction facts. If you prefer using flash cards or doing real-world problems, that's fine too. Just please make sure you are continuing the discussion/practice of math facts at home.

I sent home the first Book Order form. You can access the link from my blog under "Policies & Info" ---> "Scholastic Book Orders." Remember that every dollar you spend gives me bonus points to get free books for my classroom library!

Open House Presentation

9/9/2016

If you missed Open House last night, or needed info from the presentation- here it is!

A Few Reminders

9/7/2016

Open House is Thursday night at 6:30. I'm looking forward to seeing you all!

Your child needs a pair of headphones to keep at school for the year for various iPad and computer activities that we will be doing. They will be sent home at the end of the school year. Thanks!

Please send an old shirt or a smock to school for your child to use during our weekly art class. Thanks!

If you would like to donate to our classroom, check out our Amazon Wishlist.

Art & Music on Twitter

9/6/2016

A message from Ms. Lee, Indian Trail's art teacher
What exciting activity is happening in art class?
Follow Twitter postings of daily or weekly updates and pictures of art class activities at:
IT Art Room @itartroom
ART CAN GET MESSY
If your child is concerned about their clothes, please have them bring a smock to school. Some examples are an old large t-shirt, and old button-down shirt, or a School Smart full protection vinyl smock. Students should try to avoid wearing their best clothes and shoes on the day they have art.
______________

Ever wonder what your child does in music class? Please join my Twitter account to find out. I will post daily/weekly updates and pictures of our class activities at
¿Alguna vez se preguntó lo que su hijo hace en la clase de música? Por favor únase a mi cuenta de Twitter para estar bien informado. Voy a publicar las últimas noticias y fotos diarias/semanales de nuestras actividades durante la clase en:
IT Music Class @aluthardt124

Music Performance Dates- Mark Your Calendars!

9/1/2016

Math Game

8/30/2016

After playing Winning Track Challenge as a class (teacher vs. the class, then table groups against each other), the kids independently played the game with a partner! It is a big step to manage the materials and rules of a game!

How to describe the feelings of the first days...

8/25/2016

The feelings of coming back to school are intense and mixed.
Nervous and excited: they don't know me. Will I like them? (yes) Will I explain everything and answer all of their questions? (yes, in good time). Will they get to do their favorite things in 2nd grade? (I hope!)
Patient, yet eager: they patiently listen to all the directions, the new routines, the wheres, the hows, the whats of our new grade and new classroom. But they want to know more...more than their summer-rested brains can handle in just two days. All in good time. "What's that?" they say and think and wonder. All in good time. Soon, our classroom will run like a well-oiled machine, but now we are just getting all the gears in place, slowly and steadily.
It's all about EXPECTATIONS now. And we've covered a lot of those.

PBIS ASSEMBLY

We had a school assembly where teachers acted out skits showing students how to be SAFE, RESPECTFUL, and RESPONSIBLE (and humorously acted how NOT to be). It was very entertaining and a great reminder of how we should behave in school.

Our First Writer's Workshop

Our first Writer's Workshop was a "cold prompt" - I asked the students to write a small moment narrative. It took them a few minutes to get settled, but soon the room was filled with only the sound of classical music and pencils moving!

Wecome New 2nd Graders!

8/15/2016

Dear New 2B Families,

Welcome to our blog! How exciting to start a new school year!
I have already been busy in the classroom getting things ready. Believe it or not, school begins on Wednesday, August 24th! Our day begins at 8:40am, I will be waiting to greet each of you on the blacktop. The students will be dismissed at 1:40pm. Don't forget to send a lunch. The first full day of school is Thursday, August 25th.

I believe that parent/teacher communication is extremely important to ensure a positive and successful second grade year for your child. Be sure to subscribe to our blog so you can stay up-to-date and please don't hesitate to get in touch with questions or concerns Prefer Twitter? We are there too! I'm looking forward to working with all of you this year.

Mrs. Buti