"OWL"Standing Classroom News
Mrs. Mullins's Second Grade Class
Classroom Curriculum
Week of November 10, 2014:
Marvelous Math:
Weekly Learning Target: I can subtract 3-digit numbers with and without regrouping.
*Chapter 3 focuses on subtraction of 3-digit numbers with and without regrouping (or borrowing as you may remember it). I sent home a note in your child's folder with more details about our new chapter.
*Math centers are going great! The children participate in 5 math centers each day except on Wednesdays. They work on math facts, a problem solver, games, guided practice with Mrs. Mullins and independent practice on their own.
*I have included the IXL math link below. This is a free math website and an excellent resource for practicing math concepts and skills at home. I am excited to see that many of you have already been using the IXL math website.
Reading Rocks:
Weekly Learning Target: I can ask questions to comprehend a story.
*This week we will continue to work on a comprehension strategy called Asking Questions. Students will learn how to record questions on post-it notes and code them when they find their answers. I will encourage students to answer the questions they generate as they read. Some questions will be answered as they read the text while others might extend outside of the story and need to be found using a different source. Students will store their post-it notes in a reading notebook.
*This week, I will begin meeting with children in reading groups. I am looking forward to getting reading groups underway as it helps me gain more knowledge about each child as a reader. Occasionally, your child will bring home a reading group book. They should read this book during the reading portion of their homework and return the book to school the very next day.
Words are Wonderful:
Writing:
Weekly Learning Target: I can be an author.
*To begin preparing for our narrative unit of study, we are going to discuss a variety of ways that authors find ideas for their stories. We are going to create a treasure map of a special place, a heart that holds things that we love, and a handful of memories. When students are stuck and can't think of a story idea, they will be encouraged to look at one of these organizers to give them an idea.
Word Study:
Weekly Learning Target: I can spell words that end with a ff, ll, ss, or zz.
*Prior to conferences, I gave a dictated sentence assessment to find out how students are retaining previously taught spelling patterns. It seems that most of the students are having a hard time remembering the spelling rule: Sammy Likes Fried Zebras. To review this rule, students will work with new words in the word sort for this week. When a syllable has a short vowel sound and ends with a f, l, s, or z, you need to double the letter at the end.
*Don't forget to visit www.spellingcity.com for a fun way to practice spelling words. See link below.
IB Unit of Study: Where We Are in Place and Time
Weekly Learning Target: I can name an activists either past or present.
*Today, we kicked off a new IB unit of study. During this unit, we are going to study activists who worked hard to make a difference in our world. We will learn why each person was motivated and why they felt responsible to take action. At the end of this unit, students will pick a topic and create their own plan to take action.
More Classroom Volunteers Needed
As my schedule has finally started to fall into place, I am now looking for a few more parent volunteers to help out on a weekly basis. If you are willing and able to volunteer for either of the following days and times, please let me know as soon as possible.
Computer Lab: Wednesdays from 10:15 to 11:00 a.m.
This year, I started something new in the computer lab. The students begin their time in the lab looking up answers to their questions on Google. Because most of them have never done this before, they need a lot of support reading through all of the information to find their answers. It is difficult for me to meet the needs of 26 students who all want my immediate one on one attention. It would be extremely helpful to have one or two extra sets of hands.
Reading Time: Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.
I love using a reading program called Great Leaps to strengthen the fluency skills of each student. In order to use this program, I need one parent volunteer daily to work with each child one on one.
Mark Your Calendar with These Upcoming Events
Tuesday, November 11: PTO meeting at 9:00 a.m.
Thursday, November 13: Hungry Howie's Pizza Night
Friday, November 14: Our First Popcorn Day
Sunday, November 23: State Road Craft Show at the Fenton High School from 10:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Wednesday, November 26: No School: Thanksgiving Break
Thursday, November 27: No School: Happy Thanksgiving
Friday, November 28: No School: Thanksgiving Break
Scholastic Book Club
Typing Web
A few weeks ago in the computer lab, I began to introduce some of the students to a typing program called Typing Web. This is a free online typing program that teaches proper keyboarding skills. In the future, students will be taking state assessments on the computer where they will be asked to type to compose opinion, informational, and narrative pieces of writing. It is going to be crucial that even the youngest of students have a strong knowledge of a computer keyboard. I encourage you to utilize this program with your child at home. I have included the link to the program below. I have set-up an account for each child.
Username: your child's first initial, full last name, and oo... for example, cmullinsoo
Password: your child's first and last initial... for example, cm