December 22 - January 9

I count it a privilege to work with these sweet kids each day.  They are such a great group!  Happy Holidays to all of you!  

Thank You to Mrs. Harvat for organizing a wonderful holiday party!  Thanks also to Mrs. Bende, Mrs. Jonuskas, and Mrs. Murphy for helping with games, ornament making, and treats.  We had a great afternoon!  

Thank You to all the parents who sent in cookies and appetizers for our annual cookie exchange.  The treats were delicious and I took home a wonderful assortment of yummy cookies!  Thank you very much!

Dates to Remember

December 22 - January 4 - No School  Winter Break

Mon. Jan. 5 - School resumes

Week of Jan. 5 - MAPS Testing 

Week of Jan. 12 - Benchmark Testing

Reading - We will begin a new unit in Reading, Neighborhood and Community.  Our first story is Officer Buckle and Gloria.  We will focus on main idea/details, and determining the story summary.  Our grammar lessons will focus on contractions.  

Reading logs for December should be returned on Monday, Jan. 5.  Our class has voted to have a popcorn party for everyone who returns a completed log.  I hope everyone can join us!

Math - We will review two digit subtraction when we return from holiday break and take a chapter test.  We'll then move on to our new topic, Place Value to 1,000.  

Continue to practice math facts at home.  This week's fast facts will be +8 (again).  Many of the students had not mastered these facts when they were tested mid December, so we will be working on them again.  Students should no longer be counting on their fingers.  It's important that they memorize the facts.

New Student of the Week -  Aleck

Positive Paw Winner -  Joseph

Happy Holidays

Dates to Remember

Monday, Dec. 15 - *  Holiday Caroling at Fairview
                                      Village   Bring a sack lunch today!
                               *   Wear a Santa Hat if you have one!
                               *   Holidays Around the World

Tuesday, Dec. 16 - Early dismissal  12:00

Dec. 17, 18 - More Holidays Around the World

Friday, Dec. 19 - Classroom Holiday Party  2:00 

Dec. 22 - Jan. 4 - No School  Holiday Break

Week of Jan. 5 - Benchmark Testing

Reading
During our reading block this week, all second grade students will take part in Holidays Around the World.  Students will have a chance to learn about how people in different parts of the world celebrate holidays.  Students will have a passport and travel to the different 2nd grade classrooms as they learn about holidays in Sweden, Poland, Mexico, Israel, and China.  Look for your child’s Holidays folder to come home on Thursday. 

Students should continue filling in their reading logs through the end of December.  Return them to school on January 5.  

No spelling lists or tests this week.  We'll continue our Word Studies in January.  

Math
No Fast Facts this Week.
We will continue working with subtracting 2 digit numbers with and without regrouping.  We'll learn to use addition to check subtraction and finish the week by solving two question problems.  The students have really done well learning this difficult skill.  Thanks for your support at home.  It's important that parents check homework and give encouragement when needed.  

Mitten Tree

We will continue to collect hats, mittens, and scarves for our Mitten Tree.  Donations will be made to local families in need.  

Positive Paw Winner - Ashlyn
December Birthday - Ashlyn   December 17
Estimation Jar Winners - Gage and Lindsy

Stocking Stuffers - Many children could use new markers, colored pencils, dry erase markers, etc to start the new year!  If Santa is coming to your house, maybe you could tell him to add some supplies to your child's stocking!  

Have a wonderful holiday with your families!  

December 1 - 5

Dates to Remember

Dec. 11 & 12 - Holiday Shopping at Ide

Mon. Dec. 15 - Holiday Caroling at Fairview Village
                      * Bring a sack lunch

Fri. Dec. 19 - Holiday Classroom Party 2:00
                    Silly Sweater Day

Dec. 22 - Jan. 4 - No School  Holiday Break

Week of Jan. 5 - Benchmark Testing

Reading

We will conclude our Friendship unit this week by comparing several different texts.  We'll summarize our ideas and write an opinion piece about the special qualities we think are important to have in a friend.  

Our grammar lessons will focus on verbs, past and present tense. 

Math

This week we'll begin Subtracting Two Digit Numbers.  We'll start by using base ten blocks to decide if regrouping is needed.  We'll then move on to subtracting with and without regrouping.  We'll be explaining our steps and write story problems to match a number sentence.

Junior Achievement

Mrs. Jonauskas has been volunteering through the Junior Achievement program to teach the class about communities.  We've learned about different jobs, what it means to have a skill, and what a businesses does for the community.  We've done several fun activities.  Ask your child about it!

Science  

We have finished our unit on Natural Resources and will have a test on Monday. Your child brought home a study guide with vocabulary words highlighted. Please go over that information prior to our test.  

Positive Paw Winner - TJ
New Student of the Week - Marifer 
Estimation Jar Winner - Aleck

Mitten Tree  - Elizabeth Ide is collecting hats, mittens, and scarves for local families in need.  If you are able to donate items, please send them with your child to be added to our Mitten Tree in the library.  Thank you!

Happy Thanksgiving

Dates to Remember

Tues. Nov. 25 - Flashlight Reading Day  Students should bring their own flashlight
Nov. 26, 27, 28 - No School  Thanksgiving Holiday
Mon. Dec. 1 - Reading logs are due
Tues. Dec. 2 - Report Cards go home
Dec. 11, 12 - Holiday Shopping
Tues. Dec. 16 - Early Dismissal  12:00

Musical

The students did such a great job at the concert! They worked really hard with Ms. Wyse and they really enjoyed the music!  I was so proud of them!
If you'd like to order a copy of Bugz Christmas, use the order form below and return it to school by December 2.  

2nd grade musical video

Reading

After the Thanksgiving holiday we will be reading our anchor text for this unit, How to Be a Good Friend.  
Vocabulary words will include:  complained, bothered, enemy, ruined, respect, considerate, disagree, and discouraged. 
Grammar focus of the week will be verbs and verb tenses.

Reading logs should be returned on Monday, December 1.  Our class voted to have a Stuffed Animal Day for everyone who returns a completed November reading log!  I'm hoping everyone can participate.  

Our next spelling test will be Fri. December 12.  

Math

We have been working on addition with 2 digit numbers, with and without regrouping.  The students have been doing fantastic!  We will continue to work on this important skill for the next few days. Our chapter test will be the first week of December.  Our next chapter will focus on Subtracting Two Digit Numbers.  

New Fast Facts:       7 + 2       7 + 3       7 + 4       7 + 5
                              7 + 6       7 + 7       7 + 8       7 + 9

Continue to practice math facts at home.  Students who are not fluent with math facts are slower to solve two digit problems.  

Estimation Jar Winners - Aleck, Marifer, and Ashlyn
New Student of the Week - Cam
Positive Paw Winner - Lindsy

November 17 - 21

Dates to Remember                                 

Thurs. Nov. 20 - 2nd Grade Concert
Friday, Nov. 21 - End of 1st Trimester
Nov. 26 - 28  No School  Thanksgiving Break
Tuesday, Dec. 2 - Report Cards go home

Positive Paw Winner - Alyssa 
Estimation Jar Winner - Mikella
New Student of the Week - Joseph


                                       

Reading

This week we'll be reading Tarra & Bella:  The Elephant and Dog Who Became Best Friends.  We'll compare and contrast two books with the same theme ~ friendship.  We'll work on sequencing details in a story and we'll continue to discuss main idea and details.

Our grammar lessons will focus on verbs.    

Math

We'll begin a new chapter this week, Adding Two Digit Numbers.  We'll begin by using models to add a one digit number to a two digit number.  We'll decide if regrouping is necessary.  

New fast facts are:       6 + 2       6 + 3       6 + 4       6 + 5       
                                  6 + 6       6 + 7       6 + 8       6 + 9


Science

A study guide will come home on Friday, Nov. 14.  Students should go over highlighted words.  A test over Exploring Earth's Surface will be at the beginning of next week. 

We'll be doing an investigation using an empty can.  Please send in a washed out, empty can ~ no sharp edges please.  We'll need the can at the end of the week.  

Have a great fall weekend!  

 

Nov. 10 - 14

Dates to Remember

Mon. Nov. 10 - Picture Retakes
Fri. Nov. 14 - Movie Night at PV
Thurs. Nov. 20 - 2nd Grade Music Concert at LV
Nov. 26 - 28 - No School  Thanksgiving Break

Estimation Jar Winners - Aleck, Filip, Cam, and TJ
Positive Paw Winner - Aidan Peterson
New Student of the Week - Brendan

Math

We'll continue working with Mental Subtraction this week.  We'll use a hundreds chart to subtract two digit numbers.  We'll also solve problems with missing information or extra information.  

Fast Facts for this week are:  5 + 2      5 + 3       5 + 4       5 + 5
                                           5 + 6      5 + 7       5 + 8       5 + 9



Reading 

This week we'll be gathering information to write our first research project. We'll fill out graphic organizers with information and later in the week use it to write our first expository paragraph.

Science

We are finishing our first unit on rocks and soil.  We'll review mid week and have a chapter test.  Our next unit will focus on Natural Resources.  We'll start by learning that the Earth has many natural resources that people use and why it is important to protect them.  

November Birthdays
Marifer - Nov. 13
Arianna - Nov. 29

November 3 - 7

Dates to Remember...

No School on Monday and Tuesday, Nov. 3 & 4

Return Reading logs no later than Wednesday, Nov. 5
Mon. Nov. 10 - Picture Retakes
Thurs. Nov. 21 - 2nd Grade Concert
Wed. Nov. 25 - 28 - No School  Thanksgiving Break

Positive Paw Winner - Filip N.
Estimation Jar Winner - Ashlyn M.

Thank You for meeting with me during Parent Teacher conferences!  It was wonderful to be able to share your child's progress and hopefully I answered some questions you may have had.  

Math
We will continue working with Mental Addition this week.  We'll Look for patterns to solve problems, review, take a chapter test on Friday.  Our next chapter will focus on Mental Subtraction.  

Fast Facts will be a review this week of doubles, near doubles, 2s, 3s. and 4s. 

Reading
As we continue working with our text, Owen and Mzee, we'll work on summarizing this week.  Please remember to return October reading logs by Wednesday, Nov. 5.  Our class voted to have lunch in the room as their reward this month!

Science
We are focusing on the Essential Question, What are Rocks, Sand, and Soil?  We have done investigations observing weathering, comparing the physical properties of minerals, and this week we'll learn about the many different types of soils.  

 Halloween Fun

Thank you to Mrs. Harvat for planning a great Halloween party for us!  The kids decorated pumpkin buckets, played games, and had yummy treats! Thanks to Mrs. Doudourekas, Mrs. Peterson, Mrs. Urias, and Mrs. Jonauskas for helping with games and refreshments.  Thanks also to Mrs. Barowski, Mrs. Mesker, Mrs. Bende, and Mrs. Butterfield for sending in juice and paper goods, and treats. Arianna brought in fun goody bags for the whole class!  We had a great afternoon!

Enjoy the long weekend!