Time for Telling Time

We had a productive and fun week back from vacation this week!  In math, our class is learning about telling time.  The second grade goal is to be able to tell time to the 5-minute marks (1:35, 5:20, 4:05, etc.).  We began by reviewing telling time to the hour and half hour.  Many students are already confident with telling time in 5 minutes intervals!  If you're looking for more home practice for your child, you might want to have them practice on the IXL math site for telling time or this telling time app free in iTunes!

In other news, today Simonds students met with their base groups for the first time at snack.  We also had P.E., health, and continued to student force and motion in science!

FYI: If your child has a summer birthday, we can celebrate their half birthday here at school!  Our class makes each birthday child a birthday book and everyone is looking forward to having one!

Have a nice (and warm) weekend!

Happy 2014!

I hope your family had a wonderful vacation and happy holidays!  Our class was well-rested and enthusiastic about being back at school!  Highlights in the beginning of our week include creating a January calendar, reviewing our classroom and school rules, writing stories about vacation, double-digit subtraction, and indoor recess!  A busy start but it's great to be back to our routines, being with classmates, and learning together!  You may want to check out this week's Scholastic News article we read about Penguin Spy Cams with your child.  (Our access code is team27.) 

At Tuesday's morning meeting, each student shared one thing they would like to learn about or get better at in 2014! Here they are!

Luke- reading and division

Finn- reading a lot

Joy- taking care of her cats

Mason- division

Devlyn- writing in cursive

Aiden- learn multiplication

Aidyn-learn about cats

Gabe- feeding his dog

Josh- multiplication and division

Caroline- writing in cursive

Terra- third grade math

Lizzie- writing in cursive and math

FYI: Homework packets went home on Tuesday and can be returned by Monday because of the snow day and vacation.   If you're looking for additional home practice for your child, please visit the online link on our blog.  It is filled with educational games and ideas!

Staying Warm in Second Grade

Our Sound Unit
We began our week by creating instruments in science to demonstrate sound.  Using recyclables, children used their creativity to make an instrument of their choice!  This afternoon we showed off our instruments by doing a sound parade through the other classrooms.  Ask your child to tell you about the different instruments they heard!

Parent Guest Reader Wanted!
We were fortunate to have a parent guest reader read a story to us after the December Parent Lunch and would love to have a parent sign up for January.  Parent Lunch Day is Wednesday January 8th.  You could pick a story or I'd be happy to provide one!  Thanks for considering!

Other ideas ask your child about school are:
~What they are working on in Word Study
~The title they chose for their Artists/Writers Workshop book
~What they like to do in the snow on the playground
~The Wee Deliver Letter Writing program at Simonds

Optional Home Activity Ideas

Reading
Pick a story to read and practice it. Then pick someone to read it to.
Read some fast facts about sound.
Research different holidays we celebrate at Scholastic.
Read a holiday book.
Learn about sound at science kids

Math
Grab a handful of change. Write down how much money you counted.
Play a money game online.
Go to mathabout and print up some double addition worksheets. (The PDF is underneath the ad box for printing).
Go to superteacher and print up any of their free adding worksheets.
Play soccer math double digit addition.

Science
Play guess the sound .
Go for a walk around your house or yard. Make a list of all the sounds you heard on your walk
Make a list of different animals or instruments. Tell whether their pitch is loud or soft.
Describe what the holidays sound like at your home.
Learn about pitch and volume by plucking the instruments at Science kids.

Writing
Make a list of ways that you can be a good, helpful, and kind second grader.Create a story about a snowstorm, some friends and hot chocolate.
Write about your favorite holiday person or character.
Create your own holiday song or poem.
Write about a family holiday tradition

Art
Go outside and draw a picture of the sounds you hear: Example- you hear a bird-draw a bird.
Draw something that is special to you and your family during the holiday season.

A Friday Update

Second graders are filled with holiday cheer and eager for the expected snow storm this weekend!  Next week's highlights include finishing our "Time of Day" books in Artists/Writers Workshop, creating instruments that demonstrate sound in science, and practicing addition/subtraction using some winter-themed games and activities.

Friday before vacation will feature the Simonds School holiday celebration which includes several literature-related centers.  Thanks to all the parents who have volunteered to help with this!  Also, next Friday afternoon our class will walk to the Town Hall to view the Town Hall Trees.  We look forward to a productive and festive week!

Have a great weekend and stay warm!

News from a Snowy Week!

Our class was very excited to have snow on the playground for recess this week!  Thank you for helping your child come prepared with snow gear each day!

In math we have been learning about measurement!  Our learning goals are to:
-estimate the lengths of objects and measure to the nearest inch, foot, centimeter, and meter
-compare the lengths of objects
-use different tools to measure objects (yardsticks, meter sticks, and cm/inch rulers)
Ask your child to tell you about what they measured in our classroom!

In science we are exploring sound!  Children have gone to different sound centers and will learn more about sound through these sound websites for kids.  Ask your child to tell you how sound is made and what they did in their centers!  Next week we will be creating our own instruments to demonstrate what we've learned about sound.  If you think of it- please save and have your child bring in any paper towel/ toilet paper rolls, coffee cans, water bottles, etc.

In reading we are working on the reading strategy called "inferring."  Inferring is when readers need to figure out what the author doesn't tell you in a book.  The children are experts at this and I'm sure your child would be excited to "infer" what they are thinking as they read with you at home!

December News

We began the month of December studying sound in science and learning about measurement in math!  Yesterday we went on a sound hunt inside and outside the school and many children were excited to try this as optional homework at home as well.  We also read a measurement story called Measuring Penny which was a huge hit!  The little girl in the story went wild measuring her dog's length, height, and weight!  Our class is looking forward to choosing objects to measure at home for the next homework packet.  The second grade standards for measurement are to measure in inches, feet, centimeters, and meters and be able to compare lengths of objects.  We will also create graphs about our measurements and solve measurement word problems.

Thank you to Andrea LeBlanc for reading the story Trouble with Trolls to our class this afternoon after parent lunch!  Please let me know if you'd like to be a guest reader for our class!