The 2A Express
The Weekly Roundup
Week Eighteen....
Greetings, Parents and Caregivers,
This week flew by!
I'm not sure if the students felt the same way I did, but by the time I realized what day it was, the weekend was already beckoning.
2A was busy. In fact so busy that there weren't that many photographs taken this week, so the length of the newsletter is probably much more compact than most weeks!
In our realistic fiction reading and writing unit we are still taking our time in studying the many parts that make these stories successful, taking notes from our mentor authors and transferring these ideas into our own planning and drafting of our realistic stories.
This week saw 2A begin a new Math unit that focusses on adding and subtracting 2 digit numbers up to 200. This week was a chance to review some familiar number strategies and be introduced to new ones. If you would like to gain a more deeper understanding of this unit and what our expectations are, please sign up for Carol Little's 'Let's Do Math' workshop for parents. It will be very rewarding and strengthen the number talks that you and your child can have when discussing their math learning.
During Science this week 2A focused on the seasons and how these times of the year happen and why there are differences in the hemispheres during the course of the year.
Next week is another busy period , as MAP assessments will be taking place for the first hour of every morning from Sunday to Wednesday and the students begin to swipe themselves into and out of school.
Please take the time to look through the newsletter as there is some important information regarding the next few weeks, click on the images of your child engaged in learning and feel free to contact me with any queries or issues that may arise.
The Eighteenth Week
The Subjects
Math
This week has seen 2A review addition and subtraction strategies and be introduced to new ones that support mental math notation.
Students practiced decomposing numbers into tens and ones, with number bonds, in order to add by place or make the nearest ten.
The arrow way notation was practiced with addition and subtraction allowing students to add up or count back at their comfort level.
Also, if you have not signed up for our Math coordinator, Carol Little's 'Let's Do Math' workshop, below is a link to indicate that you would like to participate. It should be a very rewarding session.
Also, below is the unit link by Eureka Math housed on YouTube embedded in the newsletter. This is a cluster of short videos that provides parents, students and teachers with an overview of the strategies that are being taught this unit lesson by lesson, and how to solve some of the questions that students are exposed to.
It's a great way to see how the teaching of math has shifted since the days that we were taught.
IXL Second Grade Resources
Reader's Workshop
This week 2A continues to their study of realistic fiction stories and ‘Following Our Character’s Footsteps’.
Similar to how students warm-up for sport, they also ‘warm-up’ for reading by previewing the story. This allows the reader to begin to make predictions based upon the illustrations on the cover, the blurb and chapter titles. These predictions are further solidified by their understanding of a characters want, problems that they may encounter and possible solution or resolution.
As the readers of 2A begin to read stories across a series they are beginning to notice the way a character acts, reacts and interacts with the other characters and situations they find themselves in. Getting to know a character has strengthened their understanding of what it means to invent a 'realistic' character. However, we can still be surprised at the characters actions when the author decides to provide a twist.
While listening to the range of books that are read aloud, students are thinking about why they think the way they do about a character. We’ve been practicing supporting our thinking using sentence frames: I think Character’s name is _________ because ______________________.
No matter which fiction book your child is reading, there will usually be a who, wanting something, acting a certain way for a certain reason. The discussion part usually leads to "Why is the character behaving that way?".
We’ve had some wonderful discussions this week!
Discussing the Character Traits of Characters in Realistic Fiction Stories
Writer's Workshop
In this new Realistic Fiction genre students are investigating the structure of stories and the conventions that an author incorporates into their stories to show the reader what the character is feeling, rather than telling the reader in a rather blunt fashion.
Authors develop characters through various techniques to allow readers to connect/empathize. The authors of 2A have been noticing and/or practicing using dialogue in their own stories. They have also been experimenting with writing about character's actions that 'show-don't-tell', and looking to create characters that are believable to readers through their actions, motivations, struggles, etc.
Below is a list of traits that we can draw from as authors developing realistic characteristics. We have not discussed what all of these mean, but we are discussing them as each lesson progresses, attaching the way some will talk if they exhibited these traits and the facial expressions that would compliment these.
Many students have planned and are currently drafting a story. Some are working on various parts of their story, and each student is learning more about what is required to write this type of genre.
Drafting and Crafting Realistic Fiction Stories
A Selection of Character Traits
Science
This week the 2A scientists were introduced to the concept of seasons.
While some places have 4 distinct seasons others may just have 2, a dry and wet season.
Students also learned that seasons are different in the northern and southern hemisphere.
Take a moment to talk about the seasons in your home country with your child and decide how many seasons there are.
Exploratory Time
Stay tuned!
In Other News.....
Haya Discusses the Beauty of Snow Globes
Things To Know:
Reminder: Principals’ Coffee
Our next Lower Elementary Principals’ Coffee is scheduled for January 19, 2016.
Our music teachers will be hosting a music education session to introduce parents to the Elementary music curriculum and the role of music in a child’s life.
Please attend the Principals Coffee for more information.
New Entry to Campus Procedures
Starting January 17th, 2016 there will be some changes for students and parents entering the ASD Campus supporting student safety.
All students will be required to scan their Dragon Wristband entering and exiting the campus. It is recommended that you remind your child to wear their wristband daily. Replacement Dragon bands may be purchased at the front desk of the Administrative entrance for 50 qr. Wristbands will be distributed to Lower Elementary Students next week by their teachers. Your childs dragon band will be labeled with their name by a key tag. We kindly ask parents to keep this label on the wrist band for easy identification.
Parents and domestic staff will not be permitted through Gate 5 for morning drop off. Students
may enter through Gate 5 using their wristbands and teachers will be there to supervise starting at 7:40 AM. Parents wishing to accompany their children to classes are asked to enter through Gates 8 & 10.
Pick-up procedures will remain the same, parents will be able to enter and exit the campus through Gate 5 from 2:45 - 4:15 PM. Pick up procedures for PACT Tuesdays and our Pre-K Students will also remain the same, parents will be able to enter through Gate 5 at 12:15 PM. We kindly ask parents and guests to enter through Gate 8 during the school day. We thank you for your continued patience and cooperation as we work to keep our school safe and continue the improvements to the ASD campus.
Change to logging on to NVS
Next week, or soon after, you will get an email containing the new password. This password should be used from then on when you log onto NVS.
If you have any problems or questions please feel free to contact the Lower Elementary Technology Integrator, Phil Blacklock directly by email at pblacklock@asd.edu.qa or myself at ccampbell@asd.edu.qa..
Arab Mothers Association Fundraising Activities
January Dates At A Glance
- January 17-20 - MAP Testing
- January 19 - Full Day of School
- January 21 - No School
- January 24-28 - Visiting Artist – Danny Gregory
- January 28 - Spirit Day: Dress as Your Future Self
Mr Craig Campbell
Email: ccampbell@asd.edu.qa
Location: American School of Doha, Al Bustan Street, Doha, Qatar
Mrs. Danijela Delic-Domazet
Email: ddelic@asd.edu.qa
Location: American School of Doha, Al Bustan Street, Doha, Qatar