Second Grade Rock Stars
Tour News!
Next on tour: Upcoming Events
Coming on Tour Soon:
- 05/19: Spirit Day: Mix and Match Day (Wear mixed and matched socks, shoes, or clothes. You can also wear spirit wear)
- 05/20: Mrs. Martin graduates with her Master's degree
- 05/21: GLEE at the Rivercats game
- 05/24: OPEN HOUSE! (6:00-7:00 pm)
- 05/25: Finance Committee Meeting (5:00 on Del Paso Campus)
- 05/29: No School
- 06/01: WAVE Board Meeting (6:30-7:30 pm on DP Campus)
- 06/06: Drama Club Performance (6:00 pm at the NP3 Gym)
- 06/08: Governance Meeting (5:00 pm on Pebblewood Campus)
- 06/08: WCS Board Meeting (6:30 pm on Pebblewood Campus)
- 06/14: Last Day of School
Get your Yearbooks! Click HERE to place and order (We will also be having our own class yearbooks as well for our classmates to reflect on the year as well as sign).
Our Highlights: What We've Been Rockin' At!
We took flight at the beginning of our unit with a flyover of a few different countries and left from SMF. We learned a little about each country from the pilot (Mrs. Martin) as we flew over them. We also received our passports in order to board! This helped lead up to our current work of our country research. We are creating what they chose would be the best way to engage audiences by using Google Slides to show pictures and explain during presentations on Open House night (on the 24th). Students have been hard at work learning and creating their slides, they have also been giving feedback to their peers, and even seeking out the help and feedback from their big buddies. The positive response to constructive feedback and the ability to give others specific feedback is definitely a fantastic skill that this group has gotten so much better at! They are now looking for feedback and seeking advice from others to make their work the best it can be! We can't wait to show you what we have learned about our countries!
In math, we have been doing a little review while also continuing to learn about measurement and build our knowledge of time, money, shapes, fractions, and graphing. Volume 1 math books went home last week, so feel free to use blank pages as a review for your child if you would like. We will be continuing to use hands-on tools when applicable since the abilities and skills of doing math are just as important as solving them with a pencil and paper. The more ways we can use to help students grasp concepts, the deeper their understanding will be!
Book Club have begun and some groups have already met together. Book Clubs are a place where we follow a reading, have activities to think more deeply about the book and extract the vocabulary, and we discuss the book with others. So far, students are enjoying the opportunity to ask each other and answer thick questions about the book they are reading.
Students have been loving creating poetry! They have been begging to do it even during our in-between times when there is a minute break before recess! Ask them about their shape poems! Take a peek at the picture at the bottom of the newsletter for how they like to "get comfy" while writing, you can see how the movers and shakers are in their element while composing great poems.
Topping the Charts in Reading
Rockin' and Rollin' into the Future!
Reading: Different forms of writing. We will explore speeches, song lyrics, instructions, and poetry.
Writing: As students finish up their biography books, we will begin learning about persuasive writing and how to support an opinion with supporting details.
Social Studies: We will begin our travel unit and begin exploring the world. Students will be researching one country and trying to persuade someone why they should travel to that country. Students will be presenting their arguments and artifacts on Open House night.
Spelling: Click for the Spelling Word List and Challenge Word List
Feedback from our Buddies on our Country Presentations
Questions to ask your child...
- How much money is this? (pull out some change and have your child count it)
- What is the difference between inches and centimeters? Do you know how many inches in a foot? How many feet in a yard?
- Can you show me how to measure? (Hand your child a ruler or measuring tape)
- What book are you reading for Book Club? What are you most excited about for Book Club? What do you like most about the book so far?
- Can you explain and show me how to subtract 179 from 300?
- Who would you consider to be a good friend? What makes them a good friend? How are you a good friend back?
- Have you answered the Math Monday problem? Click Here to answer it!
Resources and Readings:
- Spending time with your child is of vital importance and there is something about spending it in nature that makes it more special. Go for a hike or a bike ride together! You can travel some of the American River Trails, other trails in and around Sacramento, or plan a hike for once a month.
- If none of the above are your style, check out the Top 10 Things To Do With Your Kids in Sacramento article
- The Dream Big Podcast is a family friend podcast that inspires children to follow their dreams. It interviews people with big achievements and focuses on how they accomplished their dreams.
- Replace a bedtime read aloud once a week with Bedtime History! At right around 7 minutes each, they are a great way to learn about people like Nellie Bly and events like the building of the longest underwater tunnel.
- The Whole Child website has some great resources as your child continues to grow. Take a look at The Importance of Play, Healthy Disciplining Techniques, or Dealing with Anger.
- The Kids Health website has everything from medical tips for when your child has a fever, to emotions and behavior help, even school and family life help.
- Already have third-grade on your mind? Check out Scholastic's Guide to 3rd Grade. Want to focus on math? See William Floyd's Third-Grade Math Guide. Or you can view Colorin Colorado for a third-grade reading guide.
Contact the Band Manager!
Second Grade Teacher
Westlake Charter School
Twitter: @MrsMartinsRoom
Remind 101:
Messages that pertain to our class: text @4rockstar to the number: 81010
Email: jmartin@westlakecharter.com
Website: http://MrsMartinsRockStars.weebly.com
Phone: 916-567-5760