2B Classroom News

Lost Books!

2010-05-24T09:53:00.002-07:00

Thanks to all the parents who contributed to help pay for the lost books! :)

Lost Books!

2010-05-24T09:53:00.001-07:00

Weekly Gazette (May 24th-May28th)

2010-05-24T09:40:00.001-07:00

What's Going On This Week?

Reading- We are practicing and presenting the play Pushing Up the Sky.

Math-Multiplication Practice!

Social Studies-Goods & Services

Writing-Freewriting

No new word wall words!

Reminders

*Field Day is tomorrow, May 25th. Students may wear their p.e uniforms.

*Awards Day for 2B is this Wednesday, May 26th at 11:00 a.m. I hope to see all parents!

*Free Colors Day this Friday, May 28th.

*Early Dismissal this Friday at 11:00 a.m.

Missing Books!

2010-05-17T17:04:00.000-07:00

2B is missing the following books. Please check to see if your child has them at home. If we do not find them, each student will be responsible for contributing a small fee to help pay for the books. Thanks.

1. Thank You Amelia Bedelia

2. I Am Not Going to Get Up Today (Dr. Seuss)

3. The Elves and the Shoemaker

4. At 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue

We will also continue looking at school! :)

Weekly Gazette (May 17th-May 21st)

2010-05-17T09:20:00.000-07:00

What's My Child Learning This Week?

Reading-We continue reading the play, Pushing Up the Sky. Students will perform this play for first grade next week!

Math-We are reviewing problem solving with multiplication. We are also reviewing math skills from the entire school year.

Social Studies-We are learning about goods and services. Students each have a job, and they are learning how to budget money!

Writing-Students are freewriting (choosing their own ideas!) They are also reviewing writing samples from the entire year and sharing them with their classmates!

Word Wall- There will be no new word wall words for the remainder for the year. Yeah!!!

Tests/Quizzes

*Multiplication timed test Friday, May 21st. Students will be tested on facts 3-4.

Reminders

*Students are not expected to turn in reading logs anymore this year.

*Color's Day is this Friday for 5 lps.

*Next Tuesday (May 25th) is Field Day. Students need to wear their PE uniforms on this day because our class T-Shirt color is white.

*Awards Day for second grade is next Wednesday, May 26th. A formal invitation will be sent this week with specific information. Parents are encouraged to attend. It will be great! :)

HAVE A GREAT WEEK! :)

Weekly Gazette (Week of May 10-14)

2010-05-10T13:10:00.000-07:00

What's My Child Learning This Week?

Reading-We continue reading Pushing Up the Sky. We focus on the skill problem/solution. Students will be presenting this play to other classes in the primary! :)

Math-We are practicing multiplication problem solving strategies. Students are learning facts 3-5.

Social Studies-We begin a unit on goods and services. We learn the process that goods go through in a factory.

Writing-Students are working on end-of-the-year writing portfolios.

*NO WORD WALL WORDS THIS WEEK! (due to musical)

*NO TESTS OR QUIZZES THIS WEEK! (due to musical)

*Because of the musical, there will be no homework given this week. Students do not have to do word wall practice or read for the required fifteen (15) minutes. It is completely the parents' decision.

Reminders

*Elementary School Muscial "The Best of Broadway" at 7:00 pm. this Thursday and Friday. You don't want to miss you. Please check your email for an official school invitation! :)

HAVE A GREAT WEEK! :)

Family Literacy

2010-05-03T09:39:00.000-07:00

YOU ARE INVITED TO THE FAMILY LITERACY WORKSHOP:

Reading Aloud to Your Children

Who: Parents in grades 1-5

Where: Multipurpose Room in the Elementary School Building

When: Tuesday, May 4, 2010 at 1:15 pm

Why: To help parents learn strategies to read aloud with their children in the most effective way.

PLEASE SEE NEWSLETTER IN YOUR CHILD'S HOMEWORK FOLDER! :)

Weekly Gazette (May 3rd-May 7th)

2010-05-03T09:21:00.000-07:00

What's My Child Learning This Week?

Reading-We are reading Pushing Up the Sky (we will focus on various reading skills); we are also practicing a small play about Mother's Day! :)

Math-We are learning mulitpication facts up to 5.

Writing-Students are free writing about events in their lives.

Science-This week is the science fair! Those students who are participating will present their projects in front of the class.

Word Wall- The words this week focus on Mother's Day: mother, gift, relaxation, flowers, May.

Tests/Quizzes This Week

*Word Wall quiz Friday, May 7th.

*Multiplication timed test Thursday, May 6th. Students will be assessed on facts 0, 1, and 2. They will have three (3) minutes to answer fifteen (15)facts.

Reminders

*Mother's Day celebration is this Friday, May 7th. The celebration will begin at 1:40 p.m in your child's respective classroom. If the location is changed to the MultiPurpose Room, there will be a sign on the classroom door. :)

Weekly Gazette (April 26th-April 30th)

2010-04-26T05:55:00.000-07:00

What's My Child Learning This Week?

Word Wall- Our word wall words this week focus on prefixes and suffixes: teacher, cheerful, unkind, rewrite, homeless. We will focus on words with prefixes and suffixes for the next two weeks.

Reading- We begin a new unit, a story called Pushing Up the Sky. The main focus skill/strategy is problem, solution, and visualizing. The text is written as a play! Text book pages are 198-211.

Math-We continue with multiplication. Students are learning what multiplication is and how to apply it to everyday situations. Students need to begin practicing multiplication time tables. Timed tests will begin next week.

Science-This is our last week studying simple machines. We are also preparing for the science fair!

Writing-Students are learning how to write a good conclusion for a story. Students are sharing and publishing their work this week!

Tests/Quizzes This Week

*Reading comprehension quiz Thursday, April 29th. Study guide went home Monday, April 26th.

*Word Wall quiz Friday, April 30th.

*Plato Test begins this week. This is a school-wide computerized math assessment. Students were assessed in September and January. This month, students will take the final exam. It is very important that students do their best. Please talk with your child about taking his or her time and doing the best job! :)

Important Reminders
*Color's Day this Friday. Students need to bring two (2) books in Spanish in order to be excused for the Color's Day.

*Please return graded papers by the due date. Thanks!

*Presentation to Grades 1-5 parents "Como Manejar el Acoso entre Ninos (Bullying)" 11:30 Multipurpose Room (Thursday, April 29th)

Weekly Gazette (Week of April 19th-April 23rd)

2010-04-20T09:31:00.000-07:00

What's My Child Learning This Week?

Math-We are beginning multiplication!

Reading-We are reading about Earth Day, how to keep our planet beautiful.

Science-We continue our unit on simple machines.

Writing-Students are reviewing writing with a beginning, middle, and end.

Word Wall- No new words this week!

NO TESTS/QUIZZES THIS WEEK!

Weekly Gazette (April 12th-April 16th)

2010-04-12T08:59:00.000-07:00

What's My Child Learning This Week?

Reading-We continue reading The Ugly Vegetables. We focus on the skills of questioning and sequencing important events.

Math-We begin a unit on probability- the chance that an event is likely, unlikely, certain, or impossible to happen.

Science-We are working on the unit: Simple Machines/Force and Motion. This week, students will learn six simple machines and their characteristics.

Writing-Students will begin content writing integrating the information from the science unit Simple Machines. We are learning capital cursive letters!

Word Wall- The words this week have prefixes: unhappy, rewrite, misbehave, unkind, disagree, bicycle

Tests/Quizzes

*Reading assessment quiz on sequencing Thursday, April 15th. Students will have to sequence events from the story The Ugly Vegetables.

*Math quiz on problem solving Wednesday, April 14th.

*Vocabulary quiz on Force/Push/Pull Friday, April 16th. Study guide will be sent home tomorrow.

*Word Wall quiz Friday.

*Writing assessment Tuesday, April 13th. The purpose of this assessment is to monitor/view students' individual writing progress so far this year.

Important Reminders

*THERE IS NO SCHOOL NEXT MONDAY, APRIL 19TH in honor of Dia de las Americas.

Weekly Gazette (April 5th-April 9th)

2010-04-06T09:58:00.000-07:00

What's My Child Learning This Week?

Reading-We begin a unit this week on various reading skills. The unit will be covered for the next three or four weeks. The primary reading text is The Ugly Vegetables from the reading basal. This week, our focus skill is sequencing events.

Math-We practice problem solving skills; we review three-digit addition and subtraction.

Writing- We will work on ideas for writing. We will also be doing an interactive writing about the virtue of the month: humility. We begin capital cursive letters this week!

Word Wall- The words this week come from our reading text: blooming, prickly, muscles, aroma, scent, trade. Please help your child use a dictionary to understand these words.

Science-We work on our science fair project. Also, we begin a unit on simple machines.

Tests/Quizzes this week

*Word wall quiz Friday, April 9th.

Weekly Gazette (March 22-March 26)

2010-03-22T03:23:00.000-07:00

What's My Child Learning This Week?

Math- This week, we finish learning about congruency (same size and shape) and begin learning three-digit subtraction and addition. We will also integrate these skills with problem solving.

Reading-This is our last week focusing on Splish Splash. We focus on comparing and contrasting the various animals presented in the text. We also review the questioning strategy.

Writing-We will be doing shared writing/interactive writing about the traits of good readers. We finish lower case cursive letters this week.

Science-This week, we begin preparing for the science fair! 2B will present a class project. Students may do an individual project if they wish. Information will be sent home later in the week.

Word Wall-This week's word wall words are irregular past tense: shook, hurt, made, taught, flew.

Tests/Quizzes

*Word wall quiz Thursday, March 25th.

*Double-digit subtraction timed test Wednesday, March 24th.

*Symmetry quiz Wednesday, March 24th. Study guide will go home today.

*Reading quiz on Splish Splash this Thursday. Students need to be able to compare/contrast the animals presented in the text. Also, students will have to write five to six questions based on the story.

Important Reminders

*Parent-teacher conferences this week! Please check your schedule time and return as soon as possible.

*Color's Day this Friday for 5 lps.

*Early dismissal is this Friday, March 26th at 11:15 a.m.

*VOG Charla about Positive Education and Social Empowerment (friendship) is this Thursday, March 25th at 11:30 a.m. See you there!

HAVE A GREAT WEEK AND SEMANA SANTA!!!!!!

Word Wall

2010-03-15T16:59:00.000-07:00

There are no new word wall words this week! Students do not have to do word wall activities for this week!

Weekly Gazette (March 15th-March 19th)

2010-03-15T07:57:00.000-07:00

What's My Child Learning This Week?

Reading-This week in reading, we focus/review asking questions while reading. There are three main types of questions: Right There questions have the answer directly stated in the book. Author & You questions don't have answers directly stated in the text, but the author gives picture and/or context clues to help the reader figure it out. Third, Think & Search questions are the hardest. Students have to be able to infer the answer to the question based on experience/prior knowledge. While we will use various texts to explore this strategy, we also continue reading the text Splish Splash.

Math-This is our last week studying geometry. We focus on symmetry and congruency. We explore parallel and perpendicular lines.

Science-This is our last week studying animals. Students are sharing thier animal research projects!

Writing-We finish lowercase cursive letters this week! Students are finally publishing a piece for display. Yeah!!!

Important Reminders

*Father's Day celebrations are this Thursday, March 18th. All second grade sections will celebrate from 1:30 to 2:20 p.m.

*Empty Bowls is this Thursday beginning at 5:00 p.m.

*Fourth (4th) quarter begins tomorrow, March 16th.

NO TESTS OR QUIZZES THIS WEEK!

HAVE A HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!!!!!!!!

Weekly Gazette (March 8-March 12)

2010-03-08T08:53:00.000-08:00

What's My Child Learning this Week?

Reading/Science-We are integrating the two subjects. Students begin reading a story called Splash! Splash! We focus on learning about different kinds of animals. We focus on the strategy generating questions and the skill compare and contrast.

Math-We continue our unit on geometry. We discuss symmetry and characteristics of solids.

Writing-We continue with cursive. We are almost done with the lower case letters! Also, we continue learning how to revise our writing for good ideas and details with one main idea.

Word Wall-The words for this week focus on synonyms and antonyms: large, huge, noisy, quiet, empty, full, laugh, giggle.

Tests/Quizzes

*Word Wall quiz Friday, March 12th.

*Geometry quiz (names of solids and their characteristics) Thursday, March 11th.

HAVE A GREAT WEEK! :)

Weekly Gazette (Week of Mar.1-Mar.5)

2010-03-01T08:27:00.000-08:00

What's My Child Learning This Week?

Reading-We continue reading Dig, Wait, Listen: A Desert's Tale. This week we focus on vocabulary development through word sorts. We revisit author's purpose; a more in-depth look at why author's write and what they are trying to tell us.

Math-We begin a two week unit on geometry! Student will learn shapes, solids, and their characteristics. They will also observe geometry in real-life situations.

Science-We begin a unit on animals/habitats! Students will learn about different animals and the biomes in which they live.

Writing- We continue with the writing process! Students are learning how to revise, looking to see how well a writer uses ideas and details in his or her writing!

Word Wall-This week, we focus on plural nouns: schools, pencils, berries, foxes, fish. Some of these words follow irregular patterns!

Tests/Quizzes

*March 5th is Word Wall quiz.

*Writing quiz on capitalization/punctuation Thursday, March 4th.

*Timed subtraction quiz Thursday, March 4th.

*Cursive writing assessment Wednesdy, March 3rd.

Reminders

*Family Day is this Saturday, March 6, 2010

Weekly Gazette (February 22-26)

2010-02-22T08:38:00.000-08:00

What's My Child Learning This Week?

Reading- We continue our unit on author's purpose. We are learning that authors write for one or more reasons: to persuade, to inform, and/or to entertain. The primary text is from the reading basal: Dig, Wait, Listen, A Desert's Tale. We continue to review how to use context clues when reading independently.

Math- We are finishing our unit on measurement. This week, we review gallons, quarts, pints, and cups. We are also reviewing time to the hour, half hour, quarter, and to five minutes. We also review calendar patterns and temperature.

Social Studies-This is our last week learning about changes over time. This week, we focus on inventions!

Word Wall- The words this week are compound words: spadefoot, butterfly, bookmark, girlfriend, and sunflower. We will also review plural and singular nouns. Home word wall activities resume this week.

Writing-We continue learning about the writing process. We are learning how to generate and elaborate ideas! We continue with cursive writing of lower case letters.

Tests/Quizzes

*Word Wall quiz this Friday, February 26th.

*Subtraction timed test Thursday, February 25th. Most students are now taking double- digit subraction. Please study daily with your child.

*Measurement quiz on time, temperature, and calendar this Friday. Study guide will be sent tomorrow.

Important Reminders

*A literacy workshop for parents 1-5 will be held for all parents and students this Thursday, February 25th. It begins at 2:45 p.m and ends around 4:00 pm. Parents, you are highly encouraged to attend. The workshop will focus on how to help your child improve his or her writing skills. An attendance slip was sent by email to each household. Please read and return it as soon as possible.

*Any gently worn shoes that are not being used at home would be greatly appreciated at the American School. The school is collecting shoes for a children's charity/organization.

*Students may purchase tickets to view the premiere of Alice in Wonderland. Tickets will be sold during lunch this week. The cost is 200 lempiras.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND! :)

Weekly Gazette (Feb.15-Feb.19)

2010-02-15T08:35:00.001-08:00

What's My Child Learning This Week?

Reading-We begin a unit on author's purpose. Generally, an author writes for three reasons: to persuade, to inform, and/or to entertain. The primary reading text is from the basal: Dig, Wait, Listen, A Desert's Tale. We also focus on using context clues to define unfamiliar words.

Math-We continue our unit on measurement. We focus this week on liquid units: cups, pints, quarters, and gallons. Students will be formally introduced to the "gallon man".

Social Studies-We continue our unit on Changes Over Time. We focus this week about life in the "olden days". We will revisit the skills of main idea and compare/contrast.

Word Wall-There are no new words this week. Instead, we will identify nouns (plural and singular, verbs, adjectives, synonyms, compound words, and contractions. No word wall activities for this week!

Writing-We are reviewing and writing the steps to the writing process. We are reviewing how to generate and elaborate ideas! We continue with cursive writing of lower case letters.

Tests/Quizzes

* Reading comprehension quiz Friday, February 19th. (Study guide will go home today.)

*Subtraction timed test Thursday, February 18th. Some students will take basic subtraction while others will take double-digit subtraction. Students know which test they will take. Please practice at home.

*Word Wall quiz this Friday.

*Changes Over Time/"Olden Days"(social studies) main idea quiz Wednesay, February 17th. Study guide will go home today.

*Measurement quiz on feet/inches Thursday. A study guide will not be sent home. Students have daily practice in class. This quiz will also include problem solving.

HAVE A GREAT WEEK! :)

Weekly Gazette (Week of Feb.8-Feb.12)

2010-02-08T07:31:00.000-08:00

What is My Child Learning This Week?

Reading-This week, we are reviewing various skills through centers and small group instruction with the teacher. Some of the skills include character traits, compare and contrast, context clues, vocabulary development, main idea, making inferences, and cause and effect. The primary reading text will be a story called Head, Body, Legs: A Story From Liberia.

Math- We officially begin our unit on measurement. Our main focus will be feet, inches, cups, pints, quarts, and gallons. We will work on this unit for three to four weeks.

Social Studies-We delve into our unit about changes over time. Students will begin learning about how people lived in the past, how they live in the present, and predictions for the future. We will be reading a story called Winter Days in the Big Woods.

Writing/Word Wall-We are reconstructing our word wall! We will interactively rewrite all of the word wall words. Therefore, there are no new words this week, and students are not responsible for the word wall assignments for this week. We continue with cursive writing.

Tests/Quizzes
NO TESTS OR QUIZZES THIS WEEK! :)

Important Reminders

*Thursday, February 11th, the American School will celebrate Valentine's Day! Students may bring to school Valentine cards and something small to share with classmates if they wish.

*This Thursday is FREE COLORS DAY!

*NO SCHOOL THIS FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12TH. (WINTER BREAK HOLIDAY!)

Weekly Gazette (Week of Feb.1-Feb.5)

2010-02-01T08:20:00.000-08:00

What's My Child Learning This Week?

Reading- We continue with cause and effect. We are finishing the story Click, Clack, Moo Cows That Type.

Math-We continue with double-digit subtraction. We also begin focusing on feet and inches (measurement). We will review these skills through problem solving.

Social Studies-We begin our unit on past, present, and future. Our story focus will be Little House in the Big Woods from the social studies textbook.

Writing-Students begin writing Valentine mail. We also continue with cursive writing.

Word Wall- don't, kicked, one, won, won't (We are reviewing contractions, regular past tense, and homophones.)

Tests/Quizzes This Week

* Word Wall quiz Friday, February 5th.

*Double-digit subtraction quiz Friday.

*Subtraction timed test Thursday, February 4th.

*Cause and effect quiz Thursday, February 4th. (Study guide went home today.)

100th Day of School!

2010-01-27T13:25:00.000-08:00

2B,

You may wear a 100th day of school shirt tomorrow. However, if you do, you must still wear your uniform pants. Tomorrow will be so much fun! See you then! :)

Ms. Love

Computer Class Virtual Homework

2010-01-26T12:41:00.000-08:00

http://www.astcomputerlab.blogspot.com/

Physical Education Virtual Homework

2010-01-26T12:40:00.000-08:00

http://clzavalapeandsports.blogspot.com

Virtual Day (Wednesday, January 27th)

2010-01-26T10:23:00.000-08:00

Good Morning 2B,

Although we are not in school today, you have virtual homework for all your subject areas. If you have a printer, you may print the information, but a printer isn’t necessary. You may copy answers onto a piece of paper or into a notebook. You must bring all completed work to school on Thursday, January 28th. Good luck and do your best! :)

Word Wall

Assignment 1: Every week, you have to practice your word wall words. Today you will practice them by putting them in ABC order. Afterwards, stair step each word. You should be familiar with both of these activities.

Assignment 2: Yesterday in class, we did an activity called Reading/Writing Rhymes. Our vowel pattern focus was ___aid/___ade words. Below is the list of words we created as a class. You need to choose ten (10) words from this list and illustrate them. You may color them after you have drawn them. Please make sure your pictures are neat and clean.

___ aid words

maid said raid paid laid aid braid afraid mermaid

___ade words

made grade trade shade wade blade fade jade spade lemonade parade

Reading

Directions: Read the story, and answer the questions that follow. Make sure your
answers are in complete sentences.

The Best Sandwich

1 Ray followed his nose into the kitchen. Taking a deep breath, he looked in the oven window.

2 "The bread smells so good, Mom," said Ray. "Is it almost done?"

3 Mom nodded. "I am almost ready to take the loaves out of the oven."

4 The electronic oven timer on the refrigerator began beeping. Mom tapped the button to turn it off. Pulling on her oven mitts, she opened the oven door. A wave of hot, sweet-smelling bread rushed into the room. Ray took a deep breath and sighed. One by one, she laid the three browned, crusty loaves on the stove top.

5 "Those smell so good," said Ray longingly. "When can I taste some?"

6 "We need to let the loaves sit for a few minutes," said Mom. "If you don't mind waiting, I can cut you a couple of slices for a late lunch. What would you prefer, peanut butter and honey, salami, or ham and cheese?"

7 Ray thought about it for a moment. "They all sound good, but peanut butter and honey are especially good on homemade bread."

8 He sat at the kitchen table. He liked being in the warm room. When he thought of home, he thought of the kitchen. It was always the best room in the house.

9 Mom poured him a glass of apple juice and sat a plate in front of him. Then she placed jars of honey and peanut butter on the other side of it.

10 It seemed like no time at all when she shook the loaves from their pans. She sat one on the wooden cutting board. The sharp bread knife easily cut the firm, sweet smelling loaf. Mom plucked up two thick slices and placed them on Ray's plate.

11 "Are you going to have a sandwich too?" he asked.

12 "No, I like warm bread with just butter melted into it." Mom got herself a slice and buttered it. Then she took a bite. "Mmmmm. That is good bread."

13 Ray finished making his sandwich. He took a bite and smiled. "That is good," he agreed. "I have always wondered though, why do they call it a sandwich? It seems like a silly name."

14 "That is a story all by itself," said Mom. "It comes from the name of the man who invented it. He was an English nobleman who lived more than 200 years ago, who liked to gamble. His name was the Earl of Sandwich. The problem was he did not like to stop gambling in order to eat. He solved that problem by having his cook cut up his meat and put it between two slices of bread. That way he could eat it while he played. The idea soon caught on."

15 "You mean people didn't eat sandwiches before then?" asked Ray.

16 "Well, not really," said Mom. "People who carried their lunches with them would sometimes have a lump of cheese or a hunk of bread. Sometimes they might have a meat pie. They did not have meals like we do now."

17 Ray licked some honey that was about to drip from the edge of the bread. Then he smiled, enjoying the sweetness.

18 "You know what, Mom?" he asked. I'm glad I didn't live a long time ago, because this is the best sandwich ever!"

Read paragraph four (4) again. Use context clues to figure out the meaning of mitts.
___________________________________________________________________

What is the main idea of paragraph fourteen (14)?
___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Why did Ray take a deep breath when he walked into the kitchen?
___________________________________________________________________

How many loaves did mom take out of the oven?
___________________________________________________________________

Why did mom say the bread needed to sit a few minutes before eating?
__________________________________________________________________

What did mom do after she poured Ray a glass of apple juice?
___________________________________________________________________

How does Ray’s mom like to eat her bread?
___________________________________________________________________

How did the loaves look?
___________________________________________________________________

Who is the sandwich named after?
___________________________________________________________________

Why did Earl invent the sandwich?
___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Write three nouns in the story. _________ __________ __________

Write three verbs from the story. _________ __________ __________

Math

Directions: Answer the story problems. Please show your work. Remember, there is no one
way to solve a problem. Afterwards, answer the subtraction problems.

1. Ms. Love wants to buy a new dress. The dress costs $48. Ms. Love has $93 in her purse. How much money will she have left over after buying the dress?

2. Ms. Love is twenty-nine (29) years old. Ms. Jakobsen is twenty-eight (28) years old. If you add our ages together, what is the total?

3. Rudy has three quarters and two pennies in his pocket. He buys an ice cream cone for twenty-three cents. How much money does he have left?

4. When we arrived to school, the temperature was 13 degrees. At the end of the day, the temperature was 21 degrees. How much did the temperature rise?

84 35 82 52
-38 -10 -27 -14

Writing

Assignment 1: Practice cursive letters l and h. Practice both letters on the same page.

Assignment 2: Write two or three paragraphs about an invention that you would like to
invent. What would it be? How is it going to help people?

Science

What Is Inside the Earth?

1 Long ago, people used to think the Earth was flat. They believed if they sailed a boat far out into the ocean, the boat would fall off the Earth! Now people know that this is not true. We know the Earth is not flat. It is shaped like a ball. The Earth only looks flat to us because it is so large. We can only see a small part of the Earth's surface when we are standing on it. Have you ever wondered what the Earth is like underneath the surface?

2 Have you ever seen a peach that has been cut in half? If we could see inside the Earth, it would look very much like a peach. The Earth has four layers. The outer layer of the Earth is called the crust. The crust of the Earth is like the skin of a peach. The skin on the peach is very thin. It is only a small part of the peach. The crust of the Earth is also very thin. It is only a small part of the Earth. The crust is the Earth's thinnest layer.

3 The crust is made up of rocks and soil. The land you walk on and the land on the bottom of the ocean make up the Earth's crust. The crust under land is thicker. The crust under the ocean is thinner. The crust is made up of many large pieces called plates. When two plates push toward each other, mountains can form on the Earth's crust.

4 Under the skin of the peach is the sweet fruit that is good to eat. The layer of the Earth under the crust is called the mantle. It is mostly made of rock. Some of the rock inside the mantle is partly melted. This is the thickest layer of the Earth.

5 When a volcano erupts, some of the hot melted (or molten) rock comes out. Inside the Earth, the hot melted rock is called magma. When it comes out of a volcano and reaches the Earth's surface, it is called lava. The plates of the Earth's crust float upon the mantle. When a plate is pushed below another plate, a volcano can form. The plates only move or float a few centimeters each year.

6 After you get down past the fruit, you come to the hard peach pit. This part of the peach is like the Earth's outer core. If an adult takes a sharp knife and carefully pries on the peach pit, it will open up. You will see another part inside the pit. This seed inside the pit is like the Earth's inner core.

7 The Earth's outer core, between the mantle and the inner core, is mostly hot liquid metal. It is liquid because the core is so hot. The Earth's inner core is made of solid iron and nickel. The inner core is the hottest layer. The temperature of the core is almost as hot as the surface of the sun! It is solid because of the weight of the Earth pressing down on it. In the same way, when you press down on a handful of snow it becomes a solid ball of hard ice. Pressure makes it more solid.

8 No one has seen inside the Earth's center. The Earth's mantle and core are too far down to reach. How do scientists know what it is like? They study the inside of the Earth from the outside. Movements of the Earth's crust give information about the inside of the Earth. Scientists also use tools to find out about the inside of the Earth.

1. How many layers does the Earth have?

2. Which of these is not one of Earth's layers? Circle one. Outer core Inner mantle Inner core Crust

3. Which layer is the thinnest?

4. Which layer is the hottest?

5. The Earth's crust is the same thickness all over the Earth. Circle one. False True

6. What is the Earth's crust made of?

7. The crust is made up of many large pieces called what?

8. Which layer of the Earth is made of partly-melted rock?

Optional Activity: Using materials that you have at home, make a model of the Earth’s layers. Bring to school tomorrow to share with the class! :)

Weekly Gazette (Week of Jan.25-29)

2010-01-25T07:44:00.000-08:00

What's My Child Learning this Week?

Reading- We continue with the story Click, Clack, Moo Cows That Type. The skill we are focusing on is cause and effect. Every action has a reaction.

Math- We continue with double-digit subtraction with and without regrouping. We integrate this skill with problem solving this week.

Writing- Cursive Writing!

Science-Students are completing a mini unit about the layers of the Earth. This unit will last only a week.

Word Wall: beautiful, family, sale, write, writing. We are focusing also on words that end in y but change to i when -er or -es is added to the end. (e.g. puppy-puppies).

Tests/Quizzes

*Word Wall quiz Friday, January 29th.

*Subtraction timed test Wednesday, January 27th. Students have three (3) minutes to complete thirty (30) problems.

*Double-digit subtraction quiz Friday, January 29th.

Reminders
*Please remember to review all graded papers with your child and return them when done.
*Color's Day this Friday, January 29th for five (5) lempiras.
*Report cards go home this Friday! :)

Virtual Homework!

2010-01-21T07:17:00.000-08:00

Hello 2B,

Click below to access your homework assignment. Remember, if you don't have a printer at home, just write the information on a piece of paper. If the assignment says to print and read something, you may just read it from the computer screen.

Do the best that you can. You may work with a partner if you want. Please turn in all completed work tomorrow when you return to school. Good luck, and I'll see you tomorrow! :)

Second Grade Dinosaur Webquest

http://olc.spsd.sk.ca/DE/webquests/dino/dinowq.htm

Blog Updates

2010-01-19T04:07:00.000-08:00

Parents,

For some reason, some of my blogs are not updating appropriately. I thought that the blog of yesterday, January 18th had posted successfully, but many of you contacted me to inform me otherwise. The blog has now been updated.

I'm sorry for the inconvenience. Please be patient with me. Technology is great, but sometimes it has its faults. Students will not be penalized for missed word wall practice for Monday. Thanks!

Ms. Love

Weekly Gazette (Week of Jan.18-22)

2010-01-19T04:00:00.001-08:00

What's My Child Learning This Week?

Math-This week we begin learning about double-digit subtraction with and without regrouping.

Reading- We review/reinforce cause and effect. We will also be integrating science into reading by learning how to locate basic information within a textbook.

Writing- We continue to draft/publish our dinosaur compare/contrast papers. We also begin cursive writing this week!

Science-We are learning about fossils this week! Students will finally be visiting the science lab!

Word Wall- black, green, little, name, rain

Tests/Quizzes
*Word Wall quiz Friday, January 22nd.
*Timed subtraction quiz Thursday, January 21st.
*Dinosaur vocabulary quiz Wednesday, January 20th.

Reminders
*Early dismissal this Thursday, January 21st.

Weekly Gazette (Jan.11-Jan.15)

2010-01-11T07:17:00.001-08:00

What's My Child Learning This Week?

Reading- We continue with multiple-meaning words/context clues. We continue with "Teach Us, Bedelia Amelia".

Math- We review double-digit addition and subtraction strategies/fact families.

Science- We begin learning about fossils. We continue with dinosaur characteristics. Student begin their dinosaur diorama projects.

Writing- Students begin writing personal narratives.

Word Wall- caught, said, saw, wanted, were

Tests/Quizzes

*Word Wall quiz Friday, January 15th.

*Timed test Friday.

*Reading quiz on basic comprehension skills Thursday, January 14th. (main idea, story
elements, sequencing, vocabulary, context clues)

*Math quiz on fact families and double-digit addition.

Important Reminders

*Please return graded papers by the due date. Thanks! :)

HAVE A GREAT WEEK!!!!

Weekly Gazette (Week of Jan.4-Jan.8)

2010-01-04T07:18:00.000-08:00

What's My Child Learning This Week?

Math-This week, we begin double-digit subtraction. We will also review double-digit addition and rounding to the nearest ten (10). We will also practice using mental math to recall basic addition and subtraction facts.

Reading-We begin a unit on context clues/multiple meaning words. We will use a variety of fiction and nonfiction texts. Our book focus this week is "Teach Us, Amelia Bedelia" by Peggy Parish.

Writing- We focus on adding a great lead to the beginning of a story. We will review/discuss elaborating details for a main idea.

Science-We continue our unit on dinosaurs! This week, students are learning about the characteristics of certain dinosaurs.

Word Wall- Our word wall words this week have multiple meanings: bowl, light, roll, spring, star.

Tests/Quizzes

* Word Wall quiz Friday, January 8th.

*Timed addition/subtraction tests this Friday, January 8th. Students know whether they are taking addition or subtraction.

*Writing Prompt this Thursday. Students will be assessed on how well they are progressing in writing.

Important Reminders

*Specials' schedule for this week:

Monday, January 4th (Music, Library)

Tuesday, January 5th (Literacy, VOG)

Wednesday, January 6th (Art, Estudio Sociales)

*Graded papers go home this Thursday! :)

*Please make sure your child is reading daily and recording the information on the reading log. Thanks!

Ms. Jakobson and I would like to say THANKS FOR ALL THE BEAUTIFUL CHRISTMAS GIFTS. We love them! :)

Weekly Gazette (Dec. 14th-Dec.18th)

2009-12-07T12:21:00.001-08:00

What's My Child Learning This Week?

Math-This week, we begin rounding to the nearest ten (10).

Reading- We continue learning about cause and effect. We have finished our story about Alvin Ailey.

Writing-Students are free writing about international fair!

Social Studies- This week, students are presenting their countries for international fair!!!

Word Wall-There are no new word wall words for this week!

No tests or quizzes this week!!!!!!!!

HAVE A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS VACATION!!!

Weekly Gazette (Dec.7-Dec.11)

2009-12-07T12:21:00.000-08:00

What's My Child Learning This Week?

Reading-This week, we focus on cause and effect.

Math-We begin subtraction, differences up to twenty (20). We review problem solving.

Science-We begin learning about characteristics of dinosaurs!

Writing-We are writing our Christmas lists to Santa!

Word Wall: didn't, house, or, they, trip

Tests/Quizzes

Word Wall quiz Friday, December 11th.
Addition timed test Thursday, December 10th. Those students who pass with A+ will move on to subtraction timed test beginning next week.

Reminders

Second grade international fair is next week! Please continue researching and practicing with your child.
Color's Day this Friday for 5 lps.

Questions or concerns: thurmiere@gmail.com

Weekly Gazette (Nov.30-Dec.4)

2009-11-30T11:20:00.001-08:00

What's My Child Learning This Week?

Word Wall- The words for this week: Christmas, made, brothers, best, decorations. This week we also focus on present to past tense (adding -ed).

Reading-We continue working on main idea/summarization. We are reading the story The Alvin Ailey Kids: Dancing as a Team.

Math-We continue learning about fractions and how we can use them in our everyday life. We also explore problem solving strategies!

Science-We begin our unit on dinosaurs!

Writing- Students continue to publish their pen pal letters. Students also begin to work on the Christmas bulletin board.

Tests/Quizzes

Fraction quiz tomorrow, December 1st. Students completed a study guide in class and also have a practice sheet for homework today.

Addition timed test Wednesday, December 2nd. Practice sheets went home this Monday.

Reading quiz on main idea/summarization Thursday, December 3rd. Study guide will go home tomorrow.

Word Wall quiz Friday, December 4th.

Important Reminders

Photo with Santa (160 lps.) this Thursday, December 3rd.

Please donate clothes for Navidad Sin Frio. Thanks!

2nd Grade International Fair is the week of December 14th. A schedule was sent home today and invitations will be sent later this week!

Questions/Concerns: thurmiere@gmail.com

Weekly Gazette (Nov.23rd-Nov.25th)

2009-11-23T07:45:00.000-08:00

What's My Child Learning This Week?

Reading- This week, we are finally beginning the story "The Alvin Ailey Kids: Dancing As a Team". We focus on the skill of summarizing.

Writing- We are beginning to publish and illustrate our pen pal letters!

Social Studies- We are practicing a Thanksgiving play to present to section KB this Wednesday. Students are very excited!

Math- We begin learning about fractions, parts of a whole. Students are creating a project called "Fraction Pizzas"!

Word Wall- There are no new word wall words this week! We are reviewing previous words. Students do not have to turn in word wall practice this week!

No tests or quizzes this week!!!!!

Important Reminders

No reading logs will be required for this week.
No word wall practice is required to be turned in this week.
There is no school this Thursday and Friday. (Thanksgiving holiday)

THANKS SO MUCH!

2009-11-20T05:07:00.000-08:00

2B wants to thank Katherine Enamorado (Luis Felipe's mom) for donating a microwave. It is very much appreciated! THANKS SO MUCH! :)

Weekly Gazette (Week of Nov.16-Nov.20)

2009-11-16T07:38:00.000-08:00

What is My Child Learning This Week?

Reading- This week we focus on summarizing the most important events from a story.

Math- We continue with double-digit addition.

Writing- We are writing letters to our imaginary pen pals.

Social Studies- We begin learning about the compass rose and its directions: north, south, east, west.

Word Wall- cousin, I, make, right, vacation

Quizzes

Word Wall quiz Friday, November 20th.
Addition timed test Friday also.

Important Reminders

WE HAVE SCHOOL THIS SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21ST. THE SPECIALS ARE COMPUTER AND PE.

Reminders!

2009-11-08T09:27:00.000-08:00

Saturday, November 21st is a Make-Up Day! Teachers and students must attend! :)

The Specials for Room 2B are Computer Lab and PE. Please make sure your child wears tennis shoes.

Saturday, November 21st is a FREE COLORS DAY! However, tennis shoes must still be worn because they have P.E that day.

Weekly Gazette (Week of Nov.9-Nov.13)

2009-11-08T09:01:00.000-08:00

What's My Child Learning This Week?

Reading- This week, we review various reading skills such as main idea, story elements, sequencing, locating basic information, and inferencing (character traits). Students will read texts based on their individual reading level. Students will also have an opportunity to review grammatical skills such as nouns, verbs, compound words, possessives, and context clues.

Math-We continue working with two-digit addition. This week, students will also be introduced to three-digit addition. No regrouping is involved. Students continue to practice basic addition facts so that they may add quicker.

Social Studies- Finally, students receive information for their country projects! We continue learning about maps and Earth's landforms. Students will begin creating a map of the elementary side of the American School.

Writing- This week, students begin letter writing! They will have an imaginary pen pal from another country! Within writing, we also focus on writing complete sentences with proper punctuation.

Word Wall- Word Wall practice resumes this week. The words for this week: clock, could, played, pretty, sister.

Tests/Quizzes This Week

Addition timed test Friday, November 13th. Students have four (4) minutes to answer thirty (30) problems.

Word Wall quiz this Friday.

Double-digit addition quiz Thursday. (no regrouping)

Map quiz Wednesday, November 11th. Students need to know the parts of a map, the purpose of a map, and how to use a simple map.

Important Reminders

Make-Up Day is November 21st. Teachers and students much attend. Specials for Room 2B is Computer and PE. Students need to wear their tennis shoes.

Saturday, November 21st is a FREE COLOR'S DAY!

Some parents have asked about the classroom microwave. The microwave stopped working about a year ago. The school is not going to purchase one because the microwaves were a gift from the Room Mothers a few years ago. Therefore, the only option is for someone to donate one. If you have any suggestions, please let me know. Thanks.

Parent/teacher conferences for Room 2B are this week! Hope to speak with each of you. Please bring your questions and concerns. Report cards will be distributed at this time.

Questions or concerns: thurmiere@gmail.com or tlove@amschool.org

HAVE A GREAT WEEK!

Reminders!

2009-11-03T07:43:00.000-08:00

Ms.Love returns next Monday, November 9th.

Students and teachers must attend school Saturday, November 21st.

Students do not have to turn in word wall practice for this week. There are no new words this week!

Weekly Gazette (Week of Nov. 2-Nov.6)

2009-11-03T07:12:00.000-08:00

What is My Child Learning This Week?

Reading- sequencing events from a story using transition words (first, last, next, then, etc.)

Math-adding 10 (e.g. 43 + 10); drilling/practicing basic addition facts

Writing-Students continue with the writing cycle. All students should have a piece published by the end of the week.

Social Studies-Students continue learning about landforms, and they begin learning the purpose and characteristics of maps.

Word Wall- Because of my absence, students will not have new words this week. They may practice five previous words that are tricky or hard for them. Students do not need to turn in word practice this week! It will resume the week of November 9th.

Tests/Quizzes

Addition timed test this Friday, November 6th. This is students' first timed test. They will have four (4) minutes to answer thirty (30) basic addition facts. The sums are up to 20. Please practice with your child at home using a timer.

Word Wall quiz this Friday, November 6th.

Sequencing quiz (reading) Thursday, November 5th. Students will read a story and sequence the events.

Oral quiz on landforms vocabulary is Friday.

Reminders

Parent/teacher conferences for 2B will be postponed. Ms. Love will send out notices by this Friday. Conferences will be the week of November 9th.

Early dismissal this Friday at 11:15 a.m.

Students and teachers must attend school Saturday, November 21st.

Please remember to have your child read daily and question them afterwards. You may ask about the main idea, main characters, setting, characters' feelings, sequence of events, etc.

Important Notes

2009-10-29T04:31:00.000-07:00

Ms. Love will be absent next week. Please email for any questions or concerns.

Because of her absence, all parent-teacher conferences will be rescheduled for the week of November 9th. Conference dates and times will be sent home next week.

The country projects' information will be sent home once Ms. Love returns.

The blog will post as normal for the upcoming week.

Please continue to practice weekly word wall words and turn in reading logs on Friday! :)

Halloween Parade begins at 1:10 pm. this Friday. Parents are welcome to attend the parade!

Remember, there is school Saturday, November 21st. Teachers and students must attend.

HAVE A GREAT REST OF THE WEEK!

Weekly Gazette (Week of Oct. 26-Oct.30)

2009-10-26T08:21:00.001-07:00

What is My Child Learning This Week?

Reading- sequencing; putting events in order

Writing- Students are drafting/publishing their first piece of writing.

Math- double-digit addition; problem solving

Social Studies-Earth's landforms; continents, oceans,

Word Wall-ate, island, knew, new, who

Tests/Quizzes

Word Wall quiz Friday October 30.
No other tests/quizzes this week.

Important Reminders

Halloween Parade at 1:10 pm this Friday, October 30.
Free Color's Day this Friday. Students may wear Halloween costume. This is completely optional.
Parent-Teacher Conferences begin next week. A time and date will be sent home tomorrow. Please return ASAP. Thanks!

HAVE A GREAT WEEK!

Specials' Classes

2009-10-19T04:53:00.000-07:00

Special Classes for October 26th Make-Up Day

On Monday, October 26th, section 2B will have Computer Lab and P.E.

Please also remember that Saturday, November 21st is a make-up day. Teachers and students must attend that day.

Weekly Gazette (October 19-October 23)

2009-10-19T04:35:00.000-07:00

What is My Child Learning This Week?

Reading-This week we review main idea and begin learning how to sequence events from a text.

Writing-We continue writing a nonfiction piece with focus on beginning, middle, and end. Students will also learn how to revise and edit using a checklist.

Math-Problem solving using Pictures, Numbers, and Words. The main focus will be adding doubles and sums of ten.

Social Studies-We begin our unit on Earth and its landforms.

Word Wall-We focus on homophones: there, their, they're, and would. Only four words this week.

Tests/Quizzes

Word Wall quiz Friday, October 23rd.

Math problem solving test Friday, October 23rd.

Math skip counting quiz Thursday, October 22nd. Students will be assessed on skip counting by 2, 5, and 10.

Important Information

Please don't forget to read important information about AST on the school's website: www.amschool.org

Please review all graded papers with your child and return by due date. If you need more time, just let me know.

Halloween parade is Friday, October 30. Students may dress in costume. Participation is optional.

Special Classes for October 26th Make-Up Day

2009-10-12T12:42:00.000-07:00

On Monday, October 26th, section 2B will have Computer Lab and P.E.

Today, October 12th, students had Literacy and VOG. Thanks!

Weekly Gazette (Week of Oct. 12-Oct.16)

2009-10-12T11:28:00.001-07:00

What is My Child Learning This Week?

Reading: We continue working on main idea and character traits. We focus more on the skill of main idea. Please remember to ask your child questions about the books he or she is reading at home. Ask about the most important ideas from each chapter or section.

Writing: We continue working on writing a beginning, middle, and end of a story.

Math: We begin skip counting by 2, 5, and 10.

Science: We finish our unit on the Solar System. We learn new vocabulary words and do a project to explain why we have day and night.

Word Wall: city, shook, that's, to, too, where

Tests/Quizzes

Word Wall quiz this Friday, October 16th.

Please don't forget to check the American School website for important school news: www.amschool.org. If you are not receiving emails from the school, please check with the elementary secretary.

Remember, this blog serves to inform you of issues concerning our class (2B). Occassionally, information pertaining to the school may be posted.

However, most if not all information related to the school including class schedules, calendars, important events, etc. can be viewed on the school's website. Other important information is emailed to you by the school.

HAVE A GREAT WEEK! :)

Weekly Gazette (Week of Oct.5-Oct.9)

2009-10-05T08:14:00.000-07:00

What is My Child Learning This Week?

Reading-We continue working on character traits and main idea. Main idea is a very difficult skill. Please practice asking your child about the main idea of what he or she is reading at home.

Math- We will work on comparing and ordering numbers. We review writing numbers in pictures, numbers, and words. We begin learning about ordinal numbers (first, second, etc.)

Writing- We work on making sure a story has a beginning, middle, and end. We alsof focus on adding important details.

Science-We continue working on the Solar System. We are doing some really cool experiments this week!

Word Wall- it's, nice, phone, small, thing, two

Tests/Quizzes

Word Wall quiz this Friday, October 9th.
Math quiz on reading, writing, and drawing three-digit numbers Wednesday, October 7th.
Reading quiz on main idea Thursday, October 8th.
Reading quiz on character traits, Friday, October 9th.
Solar system quiz Tuesday, October 6th. Students will compare/contrast two planets and list facts of each.

Weekly Gazette (Week of Sept.28-Oct. 2)

2009-09-28T15:40:00.000-07:00

What is My Child Learning This Week?

Reading- We focus on two skills: character traits and main idea. We will focus on main idea through nonfiction science texts relating to the Solar System.

Writing-We focus on writing paragraphs and how a piece of writing needs a good beginning, middle, and end. We also begin to focus on grammar such as punctuation, capitalization, and the characteristics of a good sentence.

Science-We continue learning about the Solar System. Students will begin to research characteristics of each planet!

Word Wall-children, can't, the, eating, what, night. We continue working on phonemic awareness activities to facilitate good spelling.

Math-Place value up to 1,000. Students are learning how to read, write, and say three-digit numbers. They are learning how to add and subtract ones, tens, and hundreds.

Tests/Quizzes

Word Wall quiz this Friday, October 2nd.

Reading quiz on story elements Thursday, October 1st. (Hopefully, we will finally have this quiz. It has been postponed twice. We have reviewed material in class.)

Solar System characteristics quiz Wednesday, September 30th. Students will have to list facts they have learned so far about the solar system. They will also have fill-in-the-blank statements relating to basic information they have learned thus far.

Writing assessment Thursday, October 1st. Students will be assessed on how well they are progressing in writing. Weaknesses will be used for further instruction and as feedback to parents.

Important Information

Students will begin using a Reading Log this week. They will begin going home tomorrow, September 29th.

HAVE A FANTASTIC WEEK!!!!!!

Weekly Gazette (Week of September 21st-25th)

2009-09-21T11:43:00.000-07:00

What is My Child Learning This Week?

Math-place value up to 1,000.

Reading-character traits; analyzing how a character's feelings/emotions change throughout a text.

Writing-adding details to a piece of writing.

Science-We begin our unit on the Solar System!!!!! This week, we focus on the order of the planets and characteristics of each.

Social Studies- We continue to work on Fiesta Catracha activities.

Word Wall-We will review words already on the word wall. We will focus on phonemic awareness activities to help strengthen spelling.

Tests/Quizzes

Word wall quiz this Friday, September 25th.
Place value quiz Thursday, September 24th.

Please continue to check the American School website: www.amschool.org

Weekly Gazette (August 31-September 4)

2009-08-31T17:10:00.000-07:00

What's My Child Learning This Week?

Math-We are taking a look at probability- the odds that something may or may not happen. We will learn vocabulary words such as most likely, least likely, and equally likely.

Reading-We are beginning a unit on character traits. We will also review story elements (character, setting, problem, solution).

Social Studies-We are learning about our department, Lempira!

Writing- We continue learning how to get ideas for writing.

Word Wall/Spelling- Our words for this week: because, school, when, what, who

Tests/Quizzes

Vocabulary quiz on the story "David's New Friends" this Wednesday, September 2nd.
Word Wall quiz Friday, September 4th.

Important Reminders

Graded papers will be sent home Friday, September 4th.
Please remember to check the Eagle Courier for important school news.
Email me with questions or concerns: thurmiere@gmail.com

Weekly Gazette (August 24-August 28)

2009-08-23T19:55:00.000-07:00

What's My Child Learning This Week?

Math-We continue working with various types of graphs (bar, circle, picto, Venn Diagram).

Reading-We continue discussing the characters, setting, problem, and solution of fiction texts. Students will have 3-5 minutes to present their summer reading projects.

Social Studies- We are reviewing responsibilities of those in our school community. We will begin to discuss and research information on Lempira, our department for Mes de Patria!

Writing-Writer's Workshop begins this week. Students will learn how to generate ideas for writing.

Word Wall/Spelling- Students will be introduced to the Word Wall and its use in reading and writing. Last week, each student had his or her name added to the Word Wall. This week, we focus on five words: are, boy, girl, favorite, and friends.

Tests/Quizzes

Tuesday, August 25th -Social Studies quiz on school rules and respect.

Thursday, August 27th- Math quiz on graphing.

Thursday, August 27th-Social Studies quiz on school community and the responsibilities of those in it.

Friday, August 28th-Word Wall quiz.

Important Reminders

Please pay the 620 lempiras party money by September 1st. You may pay to either of the Room Mothers or Ms. Love.
I encourage all students to read every night for at least 15-20 minutes.
Check the school's website for current information: www.amschool.org.

Questions or Concerns: thurmiere@gmail.com

Weekly Gazette (Week of August 17-21)

2009-08-19T08:28:00.000-07:00

Welcome Back to School!

You have entered second grade, section B's blog! This is the place to find weekly information about what's happening in your child's class.

What's My Child Learning This Week?

Math: graphing (bar, pictograph, gathering information using tally marks)

Reading: story structure (characters, setting, problem, solution). Our primary text is a fiction story called "David's New Friends". We will also focus on vocabulary development using context clues and dictionary skills.

Writing-Students will learn how to get ideas for writing.

Social Studies-We are focusing on the roles and responsibilities of those in our school and classroom communities.

Spelling/Word Wall-This week, students learn about the spelling patterns in their names. They will learn how these patterns will help them when reading and writing.

Tests/Quizzes

Tests/quizzes will begin next week.

Students will have their first spelling/word wall test next Friday, August 28th.

Quiz on roles and responsibility of those in the school community next Thursday, August 27th.

Quiz on respect/school rules next Tuesday, August 25th.

Math quiz on graphing next Thursday, August 27th. Students will have to answer questions based on the information presented on the graph. Students may also have to create a simple graph.

Summer Reading projects are due next Monday, August 24th. Students will have about 2-3 minutes to present their cube to the class.

Important Information

Open House is this Thursday, August 20th. The presentation will begin promptly at 5:30 p.m.

I will be available to speak with parents about individual questions/concerns from 6:00 p.m until 7:00 p.m.

Please check the school's website for other important information: www.amschool.org.

Contact me: thurmiere@gmail.com

Weekly Gazette (Week of May 18-May 22)

2009-05-18T17:30:00.000-07:00

What is My Child Learning This Week?

Math-We continue with multiplication. Students will have a PRACTICE timed multiplication quiz on Wednesday.

Reading-We continue learning an author's purpose for writing. (to persuade, to inform, or to entertain).

Writing-persuasive writing; fact and opinion.

Word Wall-We continue to do various activities to practice phonemic awareness skills such as Guess the Covered Word, Making Words, and Using Words You Know.

Social Studies-We are finishing our unit on Goods and Services.

No tests or quizzes this week! :)

Reminders

Please return all library books by this Friday, May 22nd. That is the last day to turn in library books.

Parents, next Thursday, May 28th there will be a summer book sale.

Next Monday, May 25th is Awards Day for 2B from 8:15 to 9:00 a.m in the Multipurpose Room. Students are allowed to wear nice "colors" clothes. Each student will be give an award. This is a special event and parents are invited! :)

The Wax Museum was a huge success. Parents, thanks for all your help and support! A special thanks to the moms who helped decorate the Multipurpose Room. It looked fantastic! 2B wishes to send a HUGE thanks to those moms! :)

HAVE A FANTASTIC WEEK!

Weekly Gazette (May 11-May 15)

2009-05-11T15:49:00.000-07:00

What Is My Child Learning This Week?

Math-multiplication in the form of arrays; problem solving

Reading- author's purpose for writing (to persuade, entertain, or to inform). We will use the acronym PIE to help us remember author's purpose.

Writing- We begin persuasive writing. We focus on the skills fact and opinion.

Social Studies- We continue our unit on Goods and Services.

Science-The museum begins this week! Students are very excited.

No tests or quizzes this week.

Graded papers will be sent home this Friday, May 15th.

HAVE A GREAT WEEK!

Weekly Gazette ( May 4- May 8)

2009-05-04T08:16:00.000-07:00

What is My Child Learning this Week?

Math-We continue learning about multiplication. Students will begin practicing multipication facts.

Reading-We are reading "The Ugly Vegetables", a fiction story about a girl and her mom growing vegetables in order to make soup. The focus skill is sequencing events.

Writing-Students continue to write on their own topics. The teacher is conferencing with individual students to target individual weaknesses.

Social Studies-we focus on Goods and Services. Students will learn how products are made and distributed to stores.

Grammar-We will do two word wall activities: Making Words and Guess the Covered Word. These are two great activities to help students strengthen phonemic awareness skills.

Tests and Quizzes

Students will have a reading quiz on "The Ugly Vegetables" this Thursday, May 7th. The focus will be sequencing events.
Word Wall quiz this Friday, May 8th. Please practice sentence dictation with your child. (reading a sentence while he or she writes it.)
Multiplication quiz this Friday, May 8th. The quiz will focus on concept rather than memorization of facts. For example, students will have to show by drawing a picture what 5 X 6 means.

Important Reminders

The museum is next week! Please continue practicing with your child at home. Invitations will be sent home this week to parents! :)
The Talent Show is this Friday at 6:00 pm in the gym.

HAVE A GREAT WEEK!

Weekly Gazette (Week of April 20-April 24)

2009-04-20T08:12:00.000-07:00

What is My Child Learning This Week?

Math-We continue with geometry. We will focus on shapes having symmetry (a line that divides a shape into two equal parts) and congruency (objects having the same size and shape). Students begin the math Plato test this week.

Reading-This week we focus on multiple meaning words. (e.g. star-an object in the sky or a famous person).

Writing-Minilessons in writing this week focus on writing structure such as paragraphs . In the coming weeks, students will be encouraged to write based on their own topics and ideas. They continue to publish their own writing and conference with peers and the teacher.

Science-We are preparing for the museum! Students must memorize their lines.

Social Studies-We are reviewing the skill of main idea/summarization with the theme of recycling/Earth Day.

Word Wall- This week, we focus on the eight parts of speech: verbs, nouns, adjectives, pronouns, prepositions, adverbs, conjunctions, and interjections. Students will group all of the word wall words into one of these categories.

Tests/Quizzes

Comprehension quiz on Dig, Wait, Listen: A Desert Tale, Thursday, April 23rd.
Geometry quiz (shapes and solids) Wednesday, April 22nd.
Word Wall Assessment Friday, April 24th.
Writing assessment this Friday, April 24th. Students will have a choice of three writing prompts. They will choose one and will have forty (40) minutes to write on that topic. Six Traits rubric will be used to assess. Not all traits will be assessed.

Reminders

Early Dismissal tomorrow, Tuesday, April 21st, at 1:00. Please make appropriate arrangements.
If students bring a book in Spanish any day this week, they may wear "color clothes" that particular day. This is in recognition of Dia del Idioma.
Please turn in graded papers by the due date. Also don't forget to return report cards signed.

HAVE A GREAT WEEK!

email: thurmiere@gmail.com

Weekly Gazette (Week of April 13-April 17)

2009-04-13T12:04:00.000-07:00

What is My Child Learning This Week?

Reading-We are reviewing the book project Magic Tree House.

Math-We will review various skills in preparation for the Plato Test. Some of the skills include comparing and ordering numbers, patterns, addition, subtraction, geometry, measurement, and problem solving.

Writing-We once again focus on punctuation and capitalization. These are very important skills that students are not transferring well to their independent writing. We revisit the activity Who Took Our Caps? We continue learning the cursive capital letters.

Social Studies-We begin a very short unit on Earth Week/Day and the importance of keeping the Earth a safe and friendly place for all people, plants, and animals.

Science-Students will begin writing and memorizing their lines for the museum project.

Grammar/Word Wall- We will add the last words to our Word Wall this week! Students will practice phonemic awareness activities that help them to see and use regular and irregular word patterns.

No tests or quizzes this week!

Reminders

Graded papers went home Tuesday, April 14th. Please return them by Tuesday, April 28th.

Home practice (reading and math) will be sent home Tuesday or Wednesday of this week. This work is not meant to be returned to school; it is meant as practice for the student. It is a good idea if parents or older siblings help when needed.

Please check your child's homework folder regularly. Thanks :)

HAVE A GREAT WEEK!

Weekly Gazette (March 23rd-March 27th)

2009-03-23T08:15:00.000-07:00

What is My Child Learning this Week?

Reading/Science-We continue reading Dig, Wait, Listen, a desert tale. We focus on visualizing, summarizing, evaluating, and questioning. Students will continue working on the WebQuest and practicing the reader's theater. We are also preparing for the museum in May!

Writing-Students are still publishing a selected piece of writing. We continue with learning capital letters in cursive.

Math-We begin geometry today! This week, students will review shapes and learn six solids: cube, sphere, cone, cylinder, rectangular prism, and triangular prism.

Grammar-This week, we focus on adding -ing to words that double the consonant such as stopping and bugging. We will also review the word sets too, two, to; were, where, wear; and there, their, and they're.

Reminders

This Wednesday, March 25th is an Early Start for students. Students are to report to school at 9:15. Please make proper arrangements.

Parent-Teacher conferences begin next week. A note will go home today regarding time and date. Please return the slip as soon as possible. Report cards will be distributed during conference time.
Graded papers will go home this Friday, March 27th.

Tests/Quizzes

Math problem solving quiz Wednesday, March 25th. No study guide will go home. We have practiced this skill throughout the year and for the past two weeks. In addition, a home practice was sent home with similar problems about six weeks ago. Students have had ample time to practice and prepare.
Word Wall Assessment Thursday, March 26th.

Vocabulary quiz on story Dig, Wait, Listen this Thursday, March 26th. Study guide is in your child's homework folder.

Students need to have a piece of writing published by this Friday, March 27th.

Desert WebQuest

2009-03-18T19:49:00.001-07:00

Check out this SlideShare Presentation:

Desert (Sahara)

View more presentations from thurmiere.

Desert

2009-03-18T19:44:00.000-07:00

Weekly Gazette (March 16-March 20)

2009-03-16T18:51:00.000-07:00

What is My Child Learning This Week?

Reading/Science-We continue with the story Dig, Wait, Listen, a desert tale about a Spadefoot Toad wishing for rain. Our focus is on using context clues to define unknown words, and we will revisit "good reader" strategies such as visualizing, summarizing, making inferences, and questioning using the "magic bookmark".

Students are also practicing a Reader's Theater (a small play) about desert life. Reader's Theater facilitates reading fluency, builds students' confidence in presenting in front of others, and this one in particular teaches facts about animals and people of the desert. This small play is great preparation for the "museum" project that students will present in May!

In addition, students begin a WebQuest this week. This is a guided, online research activity in which students explore and investigate information about the desert. The WebQuest will be done at school and at home. Students record all information on a data sheet given to them by me. This online assignment is very important, for it's a prerequisite for the "museum" in which they will participate in May. The WebQuest may take one to two weeks to complete. Please check your child's homework folder for more information.

Math-We continue with logical reasoning/problem solving. Word problems will involve skills that students have learned so far this year such as measurement, addition, subtraction, fractions, etc. Students are required to show and write a strategy for each problem solved.

Writing-This week, students begin publishing a chosen piece of writing! We will revisit using a rubric and checklist to evaluate writing. Also, students will begin peer editing; they become the teacher and evaluate another student's writing! :) The checklist focuses on ideas, having a good lead, organization, grammar, punctuation, and spelling. We begin learning cursive capital letters today! :)

Word Wall/Grammar-Instead of introducing new words this week, we will review word wall words that give students the most trouble. (e.g. there, their, they're; too, two, to; were, where, wear; and who, how. Students will illustrate these words in poster form and record them with the definitions in their personal dictionaries.

Tests and Quizzes this Week

Subtraction timed test Thursday, March 19th. Please make sure your child studies every night. Students are aware if they are taking double digit or single digit. A practice guide is in your child's homework folder.

Reading comprehension quiz Friday, March 20th. No study guide will be given for this quiz. Students will be tested on sequencing, main idea, cause and effect, story elements, and locating basic information from a story. Because I am assessing these skills and not the story, I feel that it is not important that students know the story beforehand. I want to assess students' reading comprehension in its most authentic form. This will give me a more authentic assessment of each child's progress in reading comprehension.

Important Reminders

Please review graded papers with your child and return them by the due date. If you need more time, just let me know.
Please, please check your child's homework folder daily. Ms. Jakobsen and I are seeing papers in the folder from weeks (sometimes months) before. We don't know if they're being read or not, but we want to be sure that all information is being communicated to parents.
Fourth (4th) quarter begins today. Please talk with your child about continuing to work hard and working to his or her full potential.
Report cards will be distributed within the next two weeks.

THANKS TO ALL THE PARENTS WHO ATTENDED AND HELPED WITH FAMILY DAY! IT WAS A GREAT SUCCESS! THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT! :)

Weekly Gazette (Week of March 9-March 13)

2009-03-09T05:00:00.000-07:00

What is My Child Learning This Week?

Reading/Science-We begin a unit about deserts/habitats. Students will read various texts related to deserts, but the primary texts will be Dig, Wait, Listen, a wonderful desert story in their reading textbooks, Desert Biome, an informational text, and Living in the Desert, a play(Reader's Theater) about animals and the people who live in the desert. We will study this unit for about four (4) to six (6) weeks. Today, we begin Dig, Wait, Listen. We focus on its vocabulary and use of picture and context clues to determine unknown words.

Also this week students will complete two (2) science experiments related to magnets and force/motion. This week ends our unit on force and motion. The last month and half of school will cover social studies topics.

Math-We focus on logical reasoning skills. Everyday this week, students will work in pairs and/or groups to problem solve various mathematical situations and write/explain strategies used to solve them. The goal is for students to make sense of math in their own way. In addition, for about ten (10) minutes daily, we will focus on double-digit addition and subtraction strategies.

Writing-Students continue to write good leads to begin a story. Also, students will be introduced to an activity called "Who Took My Caps?", a very powerful writing and shared reading activity that reinforces the use and importance of using punctuation in writing.

Word Wall/Shared Writing-Students will use the word wall to spell other words. e.g with rain, they are able to spell brain, drain, pain, train, stain, main, and sprain. It is very important for writers/readers to make these connections. We will also work with word families such as -ike and -ould. We do these activities as a group, with students 100% involved in the writing and thinking processes of these activities. The students write, not the teacher. Please work on activities such as these at home to help reinforce how words are related. I have websites posted in the online resources section that have activities such as these also.

Tests/Quizzes This Week

Subtraction timed test this Friday, March13th. Students will have five (5) minutes to complete fifty problems of single-digit subtraction or five (5) minutes to complete twenty double digit subtraction problems. (practice work is in your child's homework folder).

Cursive Writing assessment (only lowercase letters) this Friday. Students begin learning capital letters next week, March 17th!

Word Wall assessment this Thursday, March 12th.

Important Reminders

There is NO SCHOOL next Monday, March 16th. (Spring Break)

Graded papers go home this week. Please return them by Wednesday, March 25th.

Third quarter ends this Friday, March 13th.

Thanks to all who attended FamilyDay! It was fantastic, and the kids had a wonderful time! :)

Please check the Online Resources section of the blog to explore various activities that your child can do at home to reinforce skills in math, science, and language arts.

Update Online Resources!

2009-03-02T03:24:00.001-08:00

Parents, please check the left sidebar. I have added some really great websites. All subjects are included: reading, writing, phonics, math, and science. These sites are great for independent practice of skills! Explore them with your child! :)

Weekly Gazette (Week of March 2-March 6)

2009-03-01T20:09:00.000-08:00

What is My Child Learning This Week?

Reading-This week, we continue to read "How Machines Affect Our Lives". We will focus on important vocabulary and prepare for the test this coming Friday.

Writing-We begin the trait of organization. This trait focuses on having a good lead (beginning sentence), conclusion, and sequence of events. As books are read aloud during class this week, students will evaluate whether the books have good leads.

Math-double-digit subtraction with and without borrowing.

Science-Students will visit the science lab three days this week to work in three science stations. These stations are mini experiments that students will complete in groups. The stations are as follows: 1) Water as a force that changes nature, 2) Wind as a force that changes nature, and 3) Magnetic Attraction. While doing these experiments, students practice recording data in a chart and review the steps of the scientific process.

Cursive Writing- This week, we finish the lowercase letters! Students will learn f, r, s, v, and z. Beginning next Monday, March 9th, students will be required to write in cursive at all times. We will begin learning the capital letters on Tuesday, March 17th.

Word Wall words: before, caught, could, house, use

Tests and Quizzes This Week

Double-digit subtraction quiz Wednesday, March 4th. Study guide went home today, March 2nd.

Word Wall/spelling assessment, Thursday, March 5th. Students will be assessed on spelling using sentence dictation and familiar spelling patterns. This assessment helps me evaluate each student's growth. This is not an assessment for which students need to study; it is taken as an authentic assessment of their spelling skills.

Reading/Science vocabulary quiz ("How Machines Affect Our Lives), Friday, March 6th. (Study guide went home today, March 2nd).

Reading quiz on "How Machines Affect Our Lives" Friday, March 6th. (study guide went home today also).

As you may have noticed, timed tests have not be given recently. Beginning next Friday, March 13th, students who passed the last subtraction timed test with an A+will begin a weekly double-digit addition timed test. (It's not as bad as it sounds.:) Those students will have five (5) minutes to complete twenty (20) problems (with or without carrying). The students who have not passed the one-digit subtraction test will now have five (5) minutes to complete fifty (50) subtraction problems. These students should be studying flash-cards daily/weekly. Now,the grading skill for the one-digit subtraction will be harder. Students are expected to learn these basic facts in order to progress. Grades of B and A- are unacceptable at this time of the year.

Important Reminders

Please return graded papers by the due date. If you need them longer, just let me know.

Students need to read daily. Although we attend library once a week, students are free to visit the library to check in/out books throughout the week. Please encourage them to do so.

Third (3rd) quarter ends Friday, March 13th. How time flies!

Please make a note that March 25th will be a late start. Students will report to school at 9:30 a.m.

Family Day is this Saturday, March 7th at 9:00 am. Don't miss out on lots of food and fun! Hope to see you there! :)

Any questions or concerns, email me: thurmiere@gmail.com. You may also send a note or stop by after school. Thanks. HAVE A GREAT WEEK! :)

Weekly Gazette (Feb. 23-Feb. 27)

2009-02-23T04:18:00.000-08:00

What is My Child Learning This Week?

Math-We are finished with our unit on measurement. For the next two weeks, we focus on subtraction, estimating, and place value up to 1,000.

Reading-We continue with cause and effect. Our primary text this week is Machines in Our Everyday Lives (non-fiction text).

Science-We continue with learning about the six simple machines.

Writing-We continue focusing on the Ideas trait. Students are learning to use ideas from books to help in their writing. Also, we focus on adding more details to help the writer visualize our thoughts. We continue with cursive writing.

Word Wall words: We are reviewing past words this week.

Tests and Quizzes this Week

Measurement quiz on Friday, February 27th. Study guide will go home tomorrow.

Simple machines quiz Thursday, February 26th. Students may prepare for the quiz by reading pages 314-317 in science textbook.

Reading quiz on cause and effect Thursday, February 26th. Study guide is in your child's homework folder today.

Reminders

Color's Day this Friday, February 27th for five (5) lempiras
Graded papers go home this Thursday.
Mardi Gras party tomorrow!, February 24th :)

Weekly Gazette (Week of Feb.16-Feb.20)

2009-02-16T12:37:00.000-08:00

What is My Child Learning This Week?

Math-We are almost finished with our unit on measurement. This week, we are exploring cups, pints, quarts, and gallons. Next week, we will prepare a delicious recipe in the Science Fair using these measurements! :)

Reading-We are integrating reading with science for the next two weeks. We are learning cause and effect (related to simple machines) and will be reviewing main idea/summarizing using non-fiction text.

Writing-For the next six weeks, we are exploring writing through the Six Traits: conventions, ideas, voice, sentence fluency, organization, and word choice. For the next two weeks, we will focus on ideas. Students will focus on adding more descriptive details to their writing and focusing on one main idea/topic. We will also explore creative writing! Rubrics will be sent home as we study in depth each trait. We continue with cursive writing.

Science-We continue with force and motion. This week, students will be introduced to the six simple machines: wheel & axle, pulley, inclined plane, wedge, screw, and lever. During the next two weeks, students will participate in various experiments related to this theme to faciliate deeper learning of the concept.

Word Wall words for the week: can't, caught, could, found, it's (focus is contractions and irregular past tense).

Reminders

Progress reports will be distributed Tuesday, February 17th. Progress reports are distributed only to students achieving significantly below standards or minimally approaching standards. Students may also receive a report based on social concerns.

Spanish Spelling Bee is Wednesday, February 18th from 8:30 to 9:50 a.m.

Please write to me requesting a conference if you are concerned about your child's Plato scores or any other areas.

Tests & Quizzes This Week

Subtraction timed quiz this week. (Friday, February 20th). Parents, your child needs to study. This is so important. In about a eight weeks, we will begin three digit addition and subtraction. If your child isn't succeeding in the basic facts, they will continue to struggle in the other areas.

Weekly Gazette (Week of Feb.9- Feb. 13)

2009-02-09T06:43:00.000-08:00

What Is My Child Learning This Week?

Math-We are reviewing inches, feet, and temperature. Students will explore measuring liquids using a cup, pint, liter, and gallon.

Writing- For the next two weeks, students will learn how to evaluate writing pieces using the Six Traits writing program rubrics. The traits include Ideas, Word Choice, Voice, Sentence Fluency, Conventions, and Organization. Students will learn that a good piece of writing includes all six traits. Everyday for the next two weeks, students will be freewriting (writing independently) using their own topics. Using the Six Traits rubrics, students will evaulate their daily writing and the writing of their peers. We continue with cursive writing this week.

Reading- We continue learning about the tradition of Mardi Gras. We will focus on interactive editing/main idea with the Mardi Gras nonfiction story. In addition, students will learn how to ask good questions from a piece of text using the 5 Ws + 1(who, what, when, where, why, how).

Science-Science Fair is this week! I hope that you received an invitation. In addition to Science Fair, we begin our unit on Force and Motion.

Word Wall Words for this week: rain, their, there, they're, very

Grammar Lesson: irregular past tense verbs

Tests and Quizzes for This Week

No subtraction timed test this week!

Mardi Gras comprehension quiz on Wednesday, February 11th. Study guide is in your child's homework folder.

Mardi Gras vocabulary quiz on Tuesday, February 10th. Study guide is in your child's homework folder.

Math quiz on measurement (inches and feet) this Thursday, February 12th. The study guide is your child's homework folder. The study guide is homework for tonight.

Students will have two graded writing prompts this week.

Reminders

Early dismissal is this Thursday, February 12th at 1:00 pm. Please make proper transportation arrangements.

NO SCHOOL THIS FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13TH. (Winter Break holiday!)

Valentine's Day party is this Thursday at 12:15. Students may bring cards and/or treats to pass out to their classmates.

Please sign and return graded papers after reviewing them with your child. Thanks! :)

Weekly Gazette (Feb.2-Feb.6)

2009-02-03T02:43:00.000-08:00

What Is My Child Learning This Week?

math-double-digit subtraction with borrowing

reading-We are taking a break from Magic Tree House for the next two weeks. We are reading about the Louisiana holiday of Mardi Gras. Skills we will cover are cause/effect, main idea/summarization, locating information in a text, visualization, character traits, and vocabulary. We are reading from two texts, one fiction and the other non-fiction.

writing-Students are learning how to evaluate writing samples. We are using the rating scale A+, A, A-, and B. This helps them to evaluate their own work. We continue with cursive writing.

science-force and motion; students are also learning how to present information to an audience in preparation for the science fair!

Tests/Quizzes

Subtraction timed quiz on Friday, Feb. 6.
Science quiz on the scientific process on Thursday, Feb. 5. Students have to describe the steps of the scientific process. Study guide is in your child's homework folder.
Cursive writing quiz Thursday, Feb. 5. We have learned the letters l, h, k, i, u, t, and e. Students need to practice these letters in preparation for the quiz.

Reminders

Science Fair is next week! Invitations coming soon! :0)
Field Trip to Chiminike is tomorrow, Feb. 4th from 9 to 11 am. Please have your child bring a snack/breakfast to school; they will be allowed to eat before the field trip @ about 8:30 because they will miss recess. Students may also bring money to purchase food items at Chiminike.

Weekly Gazette (Jan. 26-Jan.30)

2009-01-26T04:21:00.001-08:00

What is My Child Learning This Week?

Math-We continue our unit on measurement. This week, our focus is temperature. We also begin learning double-digit subtraction with regrouping.

Reading-We will be reading chapters two (2) and three (3) of Magic Tree House. Skills include identifying important details, cause and effect, and summarizing.

Writing-Students continue writing their science reports for the science fair! We continue with cursive writing.

Science-We begin our unit on Force and Motion. Students continue working on their science fair projects. Everything is coming along great!

Grammar focus- Our focus is sentence fluency which means having a variety of sentence structures within a writing piece.

Tests and Quizzes

Timed subtraction quiz Friday, January 30th.

Reminders

Color's Day is Friday, January 30th.
Students need to bring their Magic Tree House book to school everyday.

HAVE A GREAT WEEK! :)

Our New Class Pet!

2009-01-21T16:22:00.000-08:00

We have a new friend in our classroom. His name is Max Thumper, and he's a Chia Pet! This post is to send a thank you to Mrs. Love (Ms. Love's mom :) ) for sending Room 2B a new friend. Thanks Mrs. Love!

Weekly Gazette (Week of Jan. 19th-Jan.23rd)

2009-01-18T20:50:00.000-08:00

What is My Child Learning This Week?

Math-reading and writing time from an analog clock; elapsed time; the four seasons; 100th Day of School activities!!!!!!

Reading-chapter book, Magic Tree House: Night of the Ninjas. We are reviewing this week the skills of summarization, story elements, and how to strategically locate information in the text.

Writing-We are publishing our dinosaur stories; students will begin to draft their science reports this week. We continue with cursive writing.

Science-This is our last week studying dinosaurs and fossils. We will be focusing on our science experiments this week! (yeah!!!)

The grammar focus this week is on using transition words in writing such as also, too, in addition, next, etc. Also, we will focus on combining smaller sentences to make more complex sentences.

Tests and Quizzes This Week

Friday, January 23rd is the subtraction timed test (4 minutes for 30 problems).
Time/elapsed time quiz this Friday also. Study guide is in your child's homework folder.
Quiz on Magic Tree House (prologue and chapter 1) this Thursday. Study guide went home today.
Vocabulary quiz on fossils/dinosaurs this Wednesday. Study guide went home today.

Reminders

The 100th Day of School is this Thursday, January 22nd. Students may wear a special shirt.
Please return report cards no later than Wednesday, January 28th.

Weekly Gazette (Jan. 12-Jan.16)

2009-01-12T12:59:00.000-08:00

What is My Child Learning This Week?

Math-We begin learning about time to the hour, half hour, and 5 minute intervals. Elapsed time will also be reviewed.

Reading-We begin the chapter book, Magic Tree House: Night of the Ninjas. We will cover various skills such as story elements, character traits, cause and effect, summarization, inferencing, fact/opinion, etc. EAch skill will be mentioned as we discuss it. This week, however, we are focusing on vocabulary development from chapters 1-3.

Writing- Students are continuing the writing process with their dinosaur stories. We have been focusing on irregular spelling patterns such as -tion and -ize. Students began cursive writing this week.

Science- fossils; students are beginning to learn about the scientific process/method.

Important Reminders/Dates

Students will have a timed subtraction quiz this Friday, January 16th. They will have 4 minutes to answer 30 problems.
No other tests and quizzes this week.
Report cards will be sent home this Friday, January 16th.
Please don't forget to return graded papers by January 23rd.
3-ring binders are to be in no later than January 23rd.

Weekly Gazette (Dec.1-Dec.5)

2008-12-02T07:21:00.000-08:00

What is Your Child Learning This Week?

Reading-character traits/feelings

Math-fractions; rounding numbers to the nearest 10 and 100

Science-We are beginning our unit on dinosaurs!

Writing-letter writing; students will begin writing letters to Santa.

Word Wall- I am revising the Word Wall block in order to make it more integrated with the other subjects. A note detailing the information about this will go home next Monday, December 8th. Therefore, there are no new words for this week, and there will be no Word Wall quiz this week.

Tests and Quizzes

*Friday, December 5th is a test on landforms, continents, and map skills. The study guide went home Tuesday, December 2nd.

*Thursday, December 4th is a Fractions quiz. Please use the study guide that went home Tuesday, December 2nd to study.

*Next Monday, December 8th is a context clues quiz (reading). Study guide went home Tuesday, December 2nd.

*Those students who passed the addition math timed test with an A+ will begin subtraction timed test this Friday. The other students will continue with addition. The test is this Friday. Students have three (3) minutes to answer thirty (30) problems. The graded timed tests are in your child's homework folder!

Important Information/Reminders

*Graded papers will go home this Friday, December 5th.

*The Social Studies project is due next week. Although all students have to turn in a project on the due date, each student has a day to present his/her information. Please check the note for your child's presentation day. Remember, students must come dressed as a person from their country! :)

*THANKS to all who attended the VOG Charla and Math Parent Night. Both events were a huge success! :)

Weekly Gazette (Week of Nov.10-Nov.14)

2008-11-11T07:26:00.000-08:00

What is My Child Learning This Week?

Reading-We are beginning a unit on context clues and multiple-meaning words. This skill helps students use word and picture clues to figure out the meaning of an unknown word.

Math-comparing and ordering numbers to 1,000; writing numbers in words

Social Studies-Students are beginning to make a travel guide related to our unit on landforms and maps. This is their first big project. Detailed instructions and the due date will be sent home tomorrow.

Writing- Students are learning how to write a good sentence and how to use more vivid words instead of boring, overused words.

Word Wall- All the words this week are homophones: write, right, know, no, peace, piece, etc. Students do not have to be able to spell these words perfectly, but they are expected to know which one to use in a sentence. A list of words will be sent home today. Students are NOT expected to know all the words for Friday's quiz. The quiz will cover past words from the word wall.

Tests/Quizzes

Friday, November 14th is a Word Wall quiz on past word wall words. Remember, students are able to use their portable word walls during the test.

Timed test on addition facts this Friday, November 14th. Students have three minutes to answer thiry problems.

Students will have a writing sample assessment this Thursday, November 13th. This is something that they can't study for in order to do well. It's simply a way for me to assess writing strengths and weaknesses.

Reminders/Important Information

Please don't forget to donate clothes and/or blankets for Navidad Sin Frio.

Please make sure your child has his/her personal dictionary bound and returned to school by December1st. Thanks!

Graded papers will be sent home this Friday, November 14th.

Weekly Gazette (Nov.3-Nov.7)

2008-11-03T16:43:00.000-08:00

What is Your Child Learning This Week?

Reading-We continue to work with main idea/details and how to put the most important ideas together to write a summary. Our primary text is the Social Studies textbook.

Writing-We are learning what is a good sentence and how to add details to make the sentence more interesting.

Word Wall-We are continuing to learn about homophones. Our words for the week: or, are, too, two, to.

Social Studies-We continue with the characteristics of the Earth and its landforms.

Math- We continue with double-digit addition and are beginning to practice writing and saying

numbers up to 1,000 (place value).

Tests and Quizzes

Word Wall quiz this Friday, November 7th.
Addition timed test this Thursday, November 6th.
Main Idea quiz Friday, November 7th. (study guide will go home Tuesday).
Double-digit addition problem solving quiz Thursday, November 6th. (study guide will go home Tuesday).

Reminders

Please check the Eagle Courier.

Parents, please make sure your child is on-time and present at school everyday. Every day missed is one more day that he or she becomes behind.

Please sign and return your child's report card as soon as you're done reviewing it.

Although 2B's library time is every Friday, students are welcome to check-out books throughout the week once they have finished reading the other ones. They just need to ask the teacher for a pass, and they may go to the library during lunch or recess time.

Questions or concerns, email me: thurmiere@gmail.com

Weekly Gazette (Oct.27-Oct.31st)

2008-10-28T14:04:00.000-07:00

What is Your Child Learning This Week?

Math-adding and subtracting 10/two-digit addition. We continue with writing numbers in words and putting them in order from least to greatest or greatest to least.

Reading-finding the main idea; summarizing important information

Word Wall-This week we are focusing on words that sound the same but are spelled differently such as or and are (homophones). The words of the week are too, two, to, write, right.

Social Studies-Students are beginning to learn about landforms(mountains, valley, island, etc.) found on Earth. We are integrating this skill with finding the main idea.

Writing-Students are continuing to write Halloween stories. We are also focusing on using more vivid words in place of boring words. (e.g, frightened instead of scared or enormous instead of big).

Important Dates/Reminders

There will be no Word Wall quiz this week. This is a short week and Ms. Jakobson and I have fun Halloween learning activities prepared for the students on Friday!

Addition timed test is Friday, October 31st. Students have three (3) minutes to answer thirty (30) problems. Study! Study! Study! :)

The Halloween Parade is this Friday, October 31st at 1:40 p.m. Students need to come to school dressed.

Early dismissal is next Monday, November 3rd at 11:15 am. in order to have parent-teacher conferences. Report cards will be distributed at this time. Please return the conference form inside your child's homework folder by Friday. Thanks!

*Please email me with any questions or concerns: thurmiere@gmail.com. Thanks!

Weekly Gazette (October 20th-October 24th)

2008-10-20T09:38:00.000-07:00

What is Your Child Learning This Week?

Math- Students will continue learning how to add two-digit numbers. In addition, students will review comparing and ordering numbers and writing numbers using words. All of these skills will be integrated.

Word Wall- The words for this week are my, I, are, or. Students are beginning to work more on their personal dictionaries. These dictionaries will be sent home this week so that students may begin to get them bound.

Social Studies- We are beginning our social studies unit on landforms and Earth's geography. We will integrate this topic with the reading objective of locating the main idea/details.

Reading-Students are learning how to locate the most important idea of a paragraph while supporting it with details. We will also focus on using illustrations to help find the main idea.

Writing-Students are writing Halloween stories!

Tests and Quizzes This Week!

Quiz on Double-Digit Addition Friday, October24th.
Word Wall quiz Friday, October 24th.
Solar System quiz Tuesday, October 21st. Study guide was sent home last week.
THERE WILL BE NO ADDITION TIMED TEST THIS WEEK!

Reminders/Important Dates (PLEASE READ!)

Graded papers will be sent home Tuesday, October 21st. Please review them with your child. :)
Colors Day is Friday, October 24th. The cost is five (5) lempiras.
Don't forget to check the Eagle Courier.
There is NO SCHOOL next Monday, October 27th in honor of Armed Forces Day.
First quarter ended last Friday, October 17th. Please talk with your child about how the beginning of second quarter is an opportunity to make new academic and behavioral goals!
Parents, thanks so much for all the candy we have received! We really appreciate it! The candy sale has been going very well, and second grade is very appreciative of all your support!

Any questions or comments, email me at thurmiere@gmail.com

Weekly Gazette (Week of Oct. 6-Oct.10)

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What is Your Child Learning This Week?

Reading- We are continuing with learning how to summarize the most important parts of a text. We will focus on the story elements (characters, setting, problem, events, solution) when summarizing fiction and main idea/details when summarizing non-fiction.

*This is a very difficult skills. While we will also review/incorporate other skills as needed, summarization will be our primary focus for the next two weeks.*

Math-Students will be introduced to place value (up to 1,000) and two-digit addition. Students will be expected to read and write numbers in various forms as well as use correct place value operations when adding. We will focus on these concepts for the next three weeks.

Writing-Students are continuing with the writing process as they continue drafting their personal narratives.

Word Wall-There will be no new words this week. We will continue to focus on the words from last week: crashes, played, pretty, school, truck.

*Students are beginning to work on their Special Dictionary project. This is a dictionary that focuses on blends, diagraphs, vowel patterns, sight words, and any other spelling needs relevant to the student. Each dictionary is personalized, meaning that it will contain words needed only by that particular student. These dictionaries will be used all year. Words will be added based on the student's needs. Students will work on the dictionary at school and at home for the next month or so.

Science-Students will learn why there are four seasons (summer, spring, autumn, winter). They will also visit the science lab and experiment with gravity, solar power, and Earth's characteristics. Students will continue researching information about the planets.

Important Dates

Friday, October 10th, students will have a quiz on the characteristics of the planets. Students will have to list characteristics of some of the planets. Students will use their planet research information as a study guide. The research is reviewed and discussed in class daily.

On Friday, October 10th there will be a Word Wall quiz.

Timed test on addition facts is this Thursday, October 9th. Students will have three (3) minutes to complete thirty (30) problems.

Reminders

Please make sure to check the Eagle Courier at www.amschool.org

Please make sure your child brings a water bottle to school! :) This helps maximize class time, for students are not leaving to drink water or fill water bottles.

Reading logs are due every Friday. Please make sure your child is reading every night! :)

Don't forget to review your child's graded papers and return them by the due date.

Weekly Gazette (Sept. 8-Sept. 12)

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Reminders

Tuesday, September 9th is early dismissal at 1:00 pm. Please make transportation arrangements.

First (1st) and second (2nd) grade students who are part of the Eagle League will have practice Tuesday, September 9th at 1:00 p.m.

Check the Eagle Courier through www.amschool.org.

Please make sure that your child keeps his/her nails cut short. Doing so helps with appropriate typing formation on the keyboard in computer class.

Please review graded papers with your child and return them by the due date.

Important Dates

o Word Wall quiz Friday, September 12th.

o Addition timed test on doubles and sums of ten (10) Friday, September 12th. Students will have three

(3) minutes to answer twenty-five (25) questions.

o Wednesday, September 10th is Children’s Day! Students will receive a free popsicle at recess!

What are Students Learning This Week?

Reading- Students are beginning a unit on how to use comprehension strategies. Comprehension strategies are behaviors that good readers exhibit when reading. These strategies help readers better understand the text, and they also facilitate the learning of other comprehension skills. The ultimate goal is for students to use these strategies independently. The comprehension strategies include the following:
· Predicting (using pictures, titles, and word clues to think about what will happen next in a story).
· Clarifying (breaking big words into smaller words, using context clues to make sense of unknown words).
· Summarizing (retelling the most important events or ideas of a text).
· Questioning (asking questions about unclear information or about the author’s decisions about the problem, characters, etc.)
· Making connections (connecting the text to a personal experience, another book, or a worldly experience).
· Visualizing (creating mental pictures as the text is being read).

***We will focus on these strategies over the next month. Although we will practice these strategies using various texts, our primary texts will be Frog and Toad are Friends and informational text pertaining to the Solar System.

Writing- We will begin Writer’s Workshop this week. Good writing contains elements from six traits: conventions, ideas, voice, sentence fluency, organization, and word choice. For the first quarter, we will focus on the traits of conventions and ideas. Conventions is the part of writing that focuses on spelling, punctuation, capitalization, format, and paragraph formation. Ideas focus on the writer’s ability to elaborate details, focus on a main idea, and choose an appropriate topic.

Math- We will review doubles and focus on sums of ten (10). We will also focus on mathematical language such as equal, add, sum, double, greater, etc. and begin creating our math word wall.

Science- Students will learn rules/procedures for using the science lab. Wednesday is “Science Exploration Day” where the students will participate in science stations and experiment with static electricity and how some chemicals react to one another. This day serves to show to students how fun science can be! Thursday we begin our unit on the Solar System!

Word Wall/Spelling: black, brothers, clock slow, trip. All the words this week contain a blend (bl, br, cl, sl, tr). We will focus on blends and rhyming words this week.

September Calendar

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Weekly Gazette-September 1-5th

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What is My Child Learning This Week?

Reading-sequencing; vocabulary development (context clues)
Writing- how to use a checklist; generating ideas for writing
Math-adding doubles; addition strategies
Word Wall Words-boy, children, cousin, girl, nice
Social Studies-map skills; characteristics of a community

Tests and Quizzes

Sequencing quiz on Tuesday, September 2nd. (rubric sent home Monday, Sept. 1st)
Math Timed test on doubles Friday, September 5th. Students will have four (4) minutes to answer twenty-five (25) problems.
Word Wall test Friday, September 5th.

Important Dates/Reminders

Students will begin taking Diagnostic Reading Assessment (DRA) this Monday. Please make sure your child gets enough rest and a good breakfast all week! :)

Summer Reading Projects are due Tuesday, September 2nd.

Please pay party money to Ms. Love, Ms. Jakobsen, or any of the room mothers if you have not done so. Thanks!

Please check the Eagle Courier and the monthly calendar for upcoming events.

Welcome to 2B's Blog

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Hello parents and students! This is Ms. Love! I am excited to introduce to you this alternative means of communicating important information pertaining to our classroom. Presently, a primary goal of the American School is to use as little paper as possible. Therefore, one of our classroom goals this year is to use less paper also. That means that as the school year continues, I will rely less on paper communication and will depend more upon this blog as a communication device of important upcoming dates and events in our school and our classroom.

This blog will also serve as a means of displaying student work, and I will also share with you online websites that may be useful in helping to reinforce students' academic skills.

This blog is interactive, meaning that parents can post comments and concerns relating to material published. Please peruse the blog! There's more soon to come! :)