Spelling words for the week of December 12

sooner

soonest

hotter

hottest

busier

busiest

happier

happiest

smaller

smallest

fatter

fattest

angrier

angriest

straighter

straightest

          

                         Words for the week of Dec. 5

find

child

sky

bright

will

fly

right

flight

spider

cry

blind

myself

frighten

arrival

identify

spelling words for the week of November 27th

basketball

 someone

 weekend

 something

 birthday

riverbank

 bathtub

 backyard

 driveway

 bedtime

 raindrop

 mailbox

Quick Reminders:

*  Pen pals will be visiting next Wednesday!!!
*  Report cards come out tomorrow.
*  Be looking for our creative Thanksgiving writings coming home.
*  2nd grade is responsible for bringing in toothpaste or any toiletry items to fill baskets to go to the elderly              for Christmas.  The class with the most items brought in gets an ice-cream party!

Happy Thanksgiving

Just a reminder that it is a short week this week due to the Thanksgiving holiday.  There are only two full days of school - Monday and Tuesday.  Wednesday is a two hour abbreviated day.  We will not start a new story or any new content this week.  We will take this time to review and enjoy Thanksgiving activities.  We hope that each one of you enjoy this time with your family and enjoy every moment.  Take this time to make memories.

{Spelling reminders}

Please make sure your child is doing 3 things with the spelling words each week. They are spelling sentences, 5 times each, and ABC order.  They are due on every Friday of each week.  Please make sure each assignment is on its own paper.

Week of November 7th

Here are the spelling words for the week of November 7th.  They all have a long e that is spelled -ee or --ea.  Please make sure you help your child with this pattern.  A link is below to help your child study for their words by playing battleship.  Happy studying!

1.  read
2.  feel
3.  easy
4.  deep
5.  seat
6.  party
7.  wheel
8.  leave
9.  windy
10. sleep
11. teeth
12. team

bonus:
13. wreath
14. season
15. eagle



http://www.quia.com/ba/109568.html

Bats!

We made a KWL chart this week on bats.  The kids done great with this and I think we all learned something.  The thing that the kids found most interesting was the fact that a bat is a mammal.  We had a great discussion on mammals and I loved seeing all of the information the kids brought in on mammals.  We are definitely going to spend some more time on it next week.

Pumpkin Estimation

 Thursday was tons of fun outside estimating and counting pumpkin seeds.  How many seeds would you think a pumpkin of this size would have?

                                        

The kids were quick to give their estimate and one student got pretty close.

 We took the seeds out and grouped them in tens so that we could count them more easily.  I was surprised at the number of kids who didn't like touching the inside of the pumpkin.

 Some, didn't mind touching it at all :)

258

pumpkin seeds

Caden made the best estimation...way to go Caden!!!

After counting, we cast votes as to how we would carve our pumpkin.

Here is what the class voted on...

                                              

Spelling words for the week of Oct. 23

The Bremen Town Musicians

1.  note
2.  notes
3.  lunch
4.  lunches
5.  story
6.  stories
7.  tune
8.  tunes
9.  switch
10. switches
11. baby
12. babies
13. crumbs
14. centuries
15. supplies

spelling words for the week of Oct. 10

One week to go until fall break!!! I hope everyone has plans to just take a deep breath and relax.  Enjoy your kids and spend some quality time as a family.  And try to sneak a little reading in there too!  Here is the spelling list for this week.

PLEASE NOTE!!!!!!!:  Test will be this Friday for spelling and reading due to fall break.  Please don't let it slip up on you!


Here is a link for hang man using this weeks spelling words! Enjoy.
http://www.quia.com/hm/315962.html


1.   her
2.   person
3.   nurse
4.   dirt
5.   turn
6.   birth
7.   serve
8.   curb
9.   curl
10.  skirt
11. purse
12. turtle

Bonus:
13. hamburger
14. perfect
15. surface

Fiction = fake!

We are beginning to talk about fictional traits like characters, setting, plot, main idea, the problem and solution.  A great way to help your child know these is by repeated exposure and what better way than talk about each book you read.  Each fictional book you read has traits that can be discussed.  A way we remember the difference between fiction and nonfiction is this little phrase:  fiction equals fake!  Happy reading!

Spelling words for the week of Sept. 26

Below is a word search using this weeks spelling words:
http://www.quia.com/ws/1107584.html

Below is a memory/matching game using this weeks spelling words:
http://www.quia.com/cc/1107584.html

1.   part
2.   hard
3.   born
4.   horse
5.   before
6.   more
7.   smart
8.   farm
9.   porch
10. corn
11. chore
12. score

BONUS:
1.   cardinal
2.   morning
3.   therefore

Math Vocabulary

Here is a list of the Math Vocabulary that we have already covered this year.  The students should have a copy of these in their ROCKS binder.

add : when you add, you join groups together
addition sentence: 3+4=7 or three plus four equals seven
part: each group of the counters is a part.  The 2 parts together make a whole.
equals: "is the same"
sum: the amount in all after you add
plus: added to
join: put together
whole: add 2 parts to make the whole
minus: to take away or subtract
difference: the amount that is left after you subtract
subtraction sentence: 9-3=6 or nine minus three equals six
subtract: when you subtract, you find out how many are left or which group has more
fewer: use fewer to talk about having a lesser amount
separate: to separate can mean to subtract
more: the group with a greater number of objects has more
related: addition facts and subtraction facts are related if they have the same numbers.
doubles: addition facts in which the two numbers being added are the same
addend: the numbers that are added are called the addends
number sentence: a mathematical sentence with an operational symbol and an equal sign.

Know them like the back of your hand!

Students should already have their addition facts memorized!  It was a skill that was taught in first grade.  If your child is struggling with them, please take the time each evening to practice them.  The Math program builds on the fact that they should already know the following:

plus 0 (0+0, 1+0, 2+0, 3+0, 4+0, 5+0, 6+0, 7+0, 8+0, 9+0)
plus 1 (0+1, 1+1, 2+1, 3+1, 4+1, 5+1, 6+1, 7+1, 8+1, 9+1)
plus 2 (0+2, 1+2, 2+2, 3+2, 4+2, 5+2, 6+2, 7+2, 8+2, 9+2)
doubles (0+0, 1+1, 2+2, 3+3, 4+4, 5+5, 6+6, 7+7, 8+8, 9+9)

Flashcard are great for this.  We used index cards and made some to use in the classroom.

Parts may come and go!

Besides using the "Rockin' Behavior" chart in our classroom, which is individual behavior, we are also using Mr. Potato head as a whole group behavior incentive.  When the class is caught being good or behaving appropriately as a whole, we allow a student to add a Potato Head body part.  Once Mr. Potato Head is completely together, we have a celebration.  We finally got him put together a week or so ago and the kids got to have an ice cream party.  You might want to ask the kids each evening how Mr. Potato Head is looking.  His parts may come but they can also go. We are hoping to have a party soon! 

Spelling words for the week of Sept. 19

Here is a link to help your child study spelling words by playing hang man. Enjoy!!!

http://www.quia.com/hm/313665.html

1.  bunch
2.  that
3.  wish
4.  patch
5.  when
6.  what
7.  math
8.  them
9.  shape
10. whale
11. itch
12. chase


BONUS:
1. Whiskers
2. switch
3. shrimp

fiction vs. nonfiction

We are beginning to talk about books that are make believe and books that have facts.  There is a perfect opportunity to help your child discover about nonfiction books and their traits this week by talking about thier story, A Walk Through The Desert.  As you read with your child, please point out the real life pictures, labels on the pictures, and maps.  Ask them to find facts in their books about animals that they read.  This will help your child be prepared for the upper grades and thier terminology.  Thanks for all you do! It's showing.

Spelling list for the week of Sept. 12

1.  talked
2.  talking
3.  dropped
4.  dropping
5.  excited
6.  exciting
7.  lifted
8.  lifting
9.  hugged
10.  hugging
11.  smiled
12.  smiling

Bonus:
1.  dragging
2.  amazed
3.  danced

Parent newsletter

Please look for this paper every Monday.  It contains Spelling words, vocabulary words and information about the story of the week.  Keep it at home and use it to study by.  

Spelling words for the week of Sept. 6

Spelling words

1.   stop

2.  strap

3.  next

4.  hand

5.  brave

6.  ask   

7.  clip

8.  stream

9.  mask

10.  twin

11. breeze

12. state

BONUS WORDS:

1.  browse

2.  straight

3.  skeleton

Bonus words are worth 1 point per piece for extra credit.

Here is a link that lets your child play battleship with this weeks spelling words.  Have a good time studying!! 

http://www.quia.com/ba/108260.html

"Acting out" ...in a good way!

 Check out our little rabbits that we used to illustrate subtraction

 next up were the skunks

I thought the kids were very creative with using their leg as the skunk's tail

we all know what happens when skunks are around...shoo weeeee!

Working on Schema

Be sure to ask your child what schema is :)

We are hoping to create a classroom full of "ROCK STARS"

 Here is our classroom behavior chart that we refer to in the students' black notebooks. It is also something new that we are trying this year.  After meeting all of our students and thinking about the different behavior management systems we have used and seen, we thought this one was perfect for our class.  (maybe because I love the 80's haha) This has been a great tool to keep the kids on task and to promote a sense of "family" in our room.  Here is a list of the rules/class contract that the students came up with that we refer to daily.  They also signed the "contract" saying they would always try their best to do the following:

1. Be safe

2. Always be honest

3. Be kind to others

4. Respect others

5. Don't talk while others are talking

6. Keep your hands to yourself

7. Be grateful

8. Be patient

9. Share

 (Outside our room)

Out with the old and in with the new!

 We have jumped right in this year using our new math series enVision MATH.  We, as a county, previously used Saxon Math, but this year it is out with the old and in with the new. (So far so good!)  We are loving the problem-based interactive learning because we all know that students learn best when they have opportunities to interact with the teachers and other students.  It is important for us to let student's know the purpose of a lesson from the start while connecting the new knowledge to prior knowledge in school or in everyday life. Keep that in mind when you are helping your child with their math.  No one knows their child better than you and if there is a way you can relate what they are doing to their real life, it will have a much stronger impact.    The students are responding wonderfully to this program which makes us excited.  Check these rockin' cool students out while they are working together to learn some new problem solving strategies.

A great big thank you!!!

Thanks for all the scrambling to make our first project a huge hit.  The kids loved sharing about themselves and we loved learning about each of them! Here are a few pictures.

New Reading Series

Wow! One week behind us already!  Please be working with your child on their story in their reader.  I understand that the same story can get very old, but please understand that the comprehension test every Monday will count as 50% of their grade.  I am sending home a copy of the test for Iris and Walter.  I, as a parent, would like to know how to help my child study and I thought it would help to see the test first hand.  I am sending home some homework throughout the week that will also help with comprehension and vocabulary.  If you have any questions at all, please feel free to call or text me at 423-494-9065 or email me at frittsb1@k12tn.net.

A few ways to help your child at home...

Parents,
As adults, we often take things for granted.  In second grade, most students have their first experiences with  text books.  Along with this, it's their first experience with using a table of contents, index, and using vocabulary.  All of these are skills that fall under state standards and are very important to help understand the difference between fiction and nonfiction which we will be later building on.  So, as parents, please take a few minutes every night while reading to go over the table of contents.  We introduced it today so some reinforcement at home will help instill this new information.
Just remember that parents have the biggest influence on their children.  We are so excited to be working with your child.  Thanks for doing all you do!

Bethany and Becky

First day!!!

We had such a good day today! We do have to say that we have the best 2nd grade class ever! Ask your child about our new ways to cheer other students on.  Please keep in touch with the blog to know up to date information.

Homework for Wednesday, August 17

These next few weeks, we are spending a part of the day getting used to each other and beginning to grow as a group.  For this reason, we will have a small project due Wednesday.  Please help your child pick five things that best represent them and put them in a bag to share with the class.  It can be pictures, medals, trophies, toys, etc.  Thanks so much!

Dr. Jean

 I just got back from the most amazing training this evening.  I am so excited to start the year and begin to add all the wonderful things that I have learned from the amazing speakers! Here is a link to one of the speakers, Dr. Jean.  She is referring to younger children, but most of what she says can be taken for 2nd grade.  Enjoy!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qybjsvDgGhQ

Update to wish list

I just found out that CES supplied each student a pack of crayons, paper, pencils, and glue!! So please take them off your list and be sure to give a big thanks when you go through the office!

Wish list for 2011-2012

Here is a link to our wish list for our room this year at the bottom.  We understand that times are hard for some so please only get what you can and don't put yourself out.  We appreciate anything that you can give to help us give your child the best education possible.  Thanks for your support!


http://www.teacherwishlist.com/wishlists/view/5649

It's that time again!!

Hello parents.  We just want to say thank you for allowing us to have your little angels this year.  We are so excited to be at CES! We created Something to chirp about to help serve as a means of communication between us and you.  It also helps you see what goes on during the day in the classroom and helps keep you informed about academics and homework.  You can find anything from pictures of the kids and their activities, wish lists, homework, units of study, students reading their creations, student of the week, etc.  Please make sure this site is saved under favorite because I'm sure you will be checking it often.
Again, thank you for trusting us with your kids.  It's going to be a great year!

Bethany and Becky