Stellar Second Graders
Mrs. Coffey, Mrs. Mayo and Mrs. Zerbel
October Birthdays- HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!
Math Workshop:
We are wrapping up our first unit on place value. We learned how to represent numbers in standard (numeral form), written form, base ten model form and expanded form. Later in the year we will learn how to add and subtract using these forms. We also learned how to compare these forms using <,> and = symbols. Students worked on skip counting by 1's, 5's, 10's and 100's starting from any number. (For example: 241, 246, 251, 256, 261, 266.)
Our next unit will focus on addition and subtraction strategies, proving odd/even numbers, adding/subtracting mentally by 10 or 100 and using an open number line to add or subtract numbers up to 1000.
Reading and Language Workshops:
As we work through our Community Unit, we continue to use our language workshop stories as mentor texts to build our reading skills such as finding the central message of a story, looking for hidden meanings and analyzing a character's feelings. Students are then given the opportunity to apply these skills to their own reading. We have also been digging into many Nate the Great stories in preparation for our next field trip.
Monthly Reading Logs/Book It!
In second grade the homework expectation is to read 20 minutes. Starting this month, we are sending home monthly reading logs to help students work towards this nightly goal. Reading logs should be signed and sent back to school at the end of each month. We decided to record these logs on the Pizza Hut Book It program logs so students will not only be fulfilling their homework expectation, but can also earn a free personal pan pizza each month. You do not have to use the Book It coupons, however, we are asking that the monthly reading log be completed each month and returned.
Writing Workshop:
We are wrapping up our first personal narrative unit. This week students chose their favorite small moment story to take through the writing process. After prewriting and writing a first draft, students then learned how to revise, edit, peer edit and put their story into final draft form. We can't wait to share all of the amazing final drafts with you at our showcase of excellence later in the year.
Social Studies:
Our first unit was about our community. Students learned about rural, suburban and urban communities. We also analyzed where and why people live in certain places and why people move to and away from communities.
Planetarium Field Trip:
It's always amazing to sit under the stars at the planetarium. We enjoyed watching the show and learning about our solar system. We then got to see exactly what the position of the stars and constellations would be that evening. What a wonderful way to learn!
Audience Etiquette
Although we had a great trip, our students had a bit of difficulty attending to the show. In order to be ready for our next field trip to a play in a couple of weeks, we are focusing our social skills weekly lessons on audience etiquette. We would truly appreciate you following up with this topic at home. Thank you!
Headphones
Please make sure your student has working headphones at school. They are used daily throughout the school year in second grade. Thank you!
Feel free to contact us with any questions!
Kelly Coffey kcoffey@waukesha.k12.wi.us
Diana Mayo dmayo@waukesha.k12.wi.us
Marissa Zerbel mzerbel@waukesha.k12.i.us