Thursday, December 18th, 2014

Important notices:

• The Christmas concert begins at 2 p.m. tomorrow. The students may wear their P.E. uniform to school tomorrow so that it is easy for them to change into their costumes. If you haven't done so, it is a good idea to write your child's initials on the tag of their clothing (shirts, pants, skirts, etc.) so that they won't get mixed up with another students' clothing. Thanks!

• The homework for the Christmas break will be for the students to keep a holiday journal. They can do so in their language and spelling notebook or in a notebook of their choosing.

Directions:

• Write ten entries (ten days or ten times.)
• Write the date at the top of each entry.
• Write at least 2-3 sentences per entry (more is welcomed!)
• The students can include pictures if they wish.
• The students are encouraged to share their activities, thoughts and feelings.

Sample entry:

Monday, December 22nd, 2014

Today I went to visit my grandparents in Pingtung. We ate dinner together, played a game and watched TV.

Picture Day!

I forgot to post earlier that tomorrow (Thursday, December 18th) will be picture day! I look forward to seeing my students' bright, shining smiles!

One Week Until Christmas!

Wednesday, December 17th, 2014

The students practiced for their Christmas concert dance and tried on their costumes today. I love watching them practice!

We also spent some time in the computer lab, making Christmas crafts and discussing holidays.

I have almost every students' second quarter exams returned. Thank you!

We will have our Christmas Mass tomorrow morning and our dress rehearsal at 2 p.m. tomorrow.

We're almost there, guys!

Tuesday, December 16th, 2014

What a great day in grade two!

After the mass and Christmas concert rehearsals, we spent the day eating pizza and other treats provided by various parents (thank you!), played games, watched cartoons, created art, and just had a lovely day relaxing and playing.

Important notice:

The students are allowed to wear their P.E. uniforms tomorrow and Friday, when we'll be having our Christmas concert at 2 p.m.

Good Day Party!

We will have our "Good Day Monsters"/Christmas party tomorrow starting at 11:45!

We will have pizza for lunch, play games and watch a Christmas movie. Your child is welcome to bring games or treats to share with the class if they would like to.

Monday, December 15th, 2014

The quarter two exams are over! We reviewed our exams today. I have sent them home in your child's assignment book for you to look over and sign during this coming week. Please let me know if you have any questions.

Apart from reviewing our exams, we had our weekly assembly and rehearsed for the Christmas mass and Christmas concert today. We also practiced writing in cursive, learning Christmas vocabulary and traditions, and completing our dream classrooms.

There will be no homework for this coming week. 

The Scholastic book orders have arrived as of last Friday and are ready for you to pick up in the library if you haven't done so already.

Thursday, December 11th, 2014

The students completed their quarter two math and science exams today.

We will have our reading & phonics and language & spelling exams tomorrow.

I would like to thank you for helping your children prepare so thoroughly! Only one more day. I reminded the students that the finish line is in sight. A well-deserved break is fast approaching.

Thanks to Benson for bringing in some stuffed toys for needy children! 

The sixth grade will be collecting toys through next week.

A special congratulations to Peter and Wilsoni, our latest kindness stars! Peter works hard to get along well with others in work and play, and help out where he can. Wilsoni is quick to cheer up a sad classmate, wipe a messy table, or lead her team to positive action. 

Well done, you two! 

Wednesday, December 10th, 2014

Today in the second grade, we reviewed for our science and math exams and took our social studies exam.

I have encouraged the students to continue studying 
for their science and math exams at home tonight. 
Tomorrow and Friday will be half-days with the students being dismissed at 11:45.

We have also begun decorating for Christmas! We will have more time next week to finish decorating and engage in holiday-related activities.

The sixth grade is collecting toys and teddy bears for needy children. If you have any toys or teddy bears at home that aren't being played with and you are happy to part with, please send them along with your child on Thursday or Friday. Thank you!

Tuesday, December 9th, 2014

We continued to review for our quarter two exams in the second grade today.

We will have your social studies exam tomorrow, our math and science exams on Thursday (half-day), and our reading/phonics and language/spelling exams on Friday (half-day.)

If you haven't done so already, you can sign and put your child's health exam in their assignment book. I will pass them on to Mr. Yanna tomorrow.

We are working very hard in grade two, and I appreciate your help and support in preparing your children for their exams! We will have time for fun holiday activities to celebrate Christmas and the end of the term next week. Only three more days to go!

Tonight's homework:

Keep preparing for the quarter two exams! 

Monday, December 8th, 2014

Today in the second grade, we:

• celebrated the second advent and learned about patience in assembly
• spent the rest of the day reviewing the language arts, math and social studies (we will continue to review for the rest of the week)

Tonight's homework:

• Reading Response Journal (either the worksheet OR 6-8 sentences and a picture in your language notebook)
• Continue to review for the quarter two major subject exams

Animal Groups!

The students were fascinated by the different names that animal groups have, like a "business" of ferrets, so I told them I would post a link to a variety of animal group names.

Here it is: http://www.thealmightyguru.com/Pointless/AnimalGroups.html

Have a lovely weekend!

Friday, December 5th, 2014

Today in the second grade, we:

• identified the position in a word and sound of a variety of consonant digraphs in reading and phonics class
• revised our writing using adjectives that describe sound and touch in language and spelling class
• used place value and patterns to solve equations in math class
• practiced our cursive writing during independent learning
• played phonics games in computer class
• reviewed characteristics and traits of the six kinds of animals in science class

Tonight's homework:

• Complete Journeys Practice Book pg. 80-85
• Start reviewing for the quarter two exams

Recess Snaps!

I have enjoyed being one of the playground monitors this week! I took a few snaps of the students enjoying some fresh air.

Thursday, December 4th, 2014

Today in the second grade, we:

• created and asked concept checking questions for the Journeys story "Animals Building Homes" in reading and phonics class
• found the shortest route to a variety of destinations using tens in math class
• practiced our cursive writing during independent learning
• compared and contrasted insects and fish in science class
• created blueprints for our "dream classroom" in art class

Tonight's homework:

• Complete Math Practice 5.1
• Complete Journeys Practice Book pg. 78-79

*Special Note:

The students are now finished with their minor subject exams for the second quarter-hooray! We will begin reviewing for their major subject exams on Monday. I have stapled the study guides for social studies (front and back), math, science, language and spelling, and reading and phonics to the students' assignment books. I am so proud of the grade two students for working hard this past semester. I couldn't have asked for a lovelier class to spend my days with. Just one more week of hard work-the finish line is almost in sight!

2nd Quarter Study Guides and Exam Schedule

The 2nd quarter study guides for the major subjects have been posted on the blog. I will attach paper copies to your child's assignment books tomorrow. We will review for our exams next Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

I have decided to give one exam next Wednesday, December 10th so that the students don't have to take three exams in one day. I believe that the social studies exam will be the most difficult for the students, so I scheduled it on Wednesday. The exam schedule is as follows:

Wednesday, December 10th:

Social Studies Exam

Thursday, December 11th: (1/2 Day: Students are dismissed at 11:45)

• Science Exam
• Math Exam

Friday, December 12th: (1/2 Day: Students are dismissed at 11:45)

• Reading and Phonics Exam
• Language and Spelling Exam

2nd Quarter Study Guide: Science

Second Quarter Study Guide for Science

*Please review the textbook Science Fusion unit 2 "Technology and Our World" (pg. 41-73) and unit 3 “All About Animals” (pg. 77-102.)

Be able to:

-write about the stages of the design process

-identify different kinds of engineers

-identify different pieces of technology

-identify how technology can help or hurt the environment

-explain basic needs

-write about different kinds of animals and their traits

Key Vocabulary:

• engineer
• design process
• materials
• find a problem
• solution
• test and improve
• plan and build
• technology
• environment
• survive
• lungs
• gills
• shelter
• oxygen
• mammals
• fish
• birds
• reptiles
• amphibians
• insects

2nd Quarter Study Guide: Reading and Phonics

Second Quarter Study Guide for Reading and Phonics

*Please review the workbook Phonics Unit 2 (pg. 37-52) and Unit 3 (pg. 53-75.)

Phonics

Be able to:

-identify compound words (ex: pancake, bookshelf, whiteboard)

-identify the number of syllables in a word

-identify words that have the same y sound (ex: y as a vowel or y as a consonant)

-identify words with r-controlled vowels (ex: ar, er, ir, ur, or)

-match an adjective to its correct description (ex: wind, rain and lightening = storm)

-choose the correct noun to complete a sentence

-identify the number of vowels and syllables that you hear in a word

Reading

*Please review the textbook Journeys pg. 114-180

-Lesson 5 pg. 122-148: “Teacher’s Pets”

-Lesson 6 pg. 162-180: “Animals Building Homes”

 

Be able to:

-read a short story and answer questions about it

-select the correct word to finish the sentence

Wednesday, December 3rd, 2014

Today in the second grade, we:

• identified and pronounced words with consonant digraphs in reading and phonics class
• completed the cumulative test preparation in math class
• revised sentences by adding appropriate descriptive adjectives in language and spelling class
• checked out new books to read from the library during independent learning
• compared and contrasted amphibians and reptiles in science class
• applied our map and globe skills in social studies class

Tonight's homework:

• In your science notebook, write six to eight sentences about your favorite animal. Be sure to include some facts that we have learned about animals.
• Complete Journeys Practice Book pg. 76-77

2nd Quarter Exam Study Guide: Math

Second Quarter Study Guide for Math

*Please review the textbook Math Unit 1, Chapters 3 and 4 (pg. 49-116).

Chapter 3: Subtraction Facts (pg. 49-74)

Be able to:

-subtract two numbers under twenty

-write the missing addend

-use a fact family to solve an equation

Key Vocabulary:

• subtract
• difference
• fact family 

Chapter 4: Data, Graphing, and Probability (pg. 75-116)

Be able to:

-identify data from a survey

-use tally marks

-identify symbols and their meaning from a pictograph

-use a bar graph to answer questions

-locate ordered pairs on a grid

-look at data and find the mode, median, and range

- decide if an event is more likely, less likely, or equally likely to happen

-read a problem and predict if an outcome is impossible, certain, or probable

Key Vocabulary

• survey
• tally marks
• data
• pictograph
• symbols
• bar graph
• ordered pair
• grid
• mode
• range
• median 
• more likely
• less likely
• equally likely
• impossible 
• certain
• probable
• predict 
• outcome

2nd Quarter Study Guide: Language and Spelling

Second Quarter Study Guide for Language and Spelling

*Please review the following spelling words:  

• juicy
• reach
• scooped
• before
• berries
• whole
• moral
• delicious
• government
• law
• tax
• patriotism
• vote
• pride
• services
• choice
• engineer
• design
• process
• improve
• redesign
• communicate
• materials
• technology
• wonderful
• noises
• quiet
• sprinkled
• share
• bursting
• suddenly
• special
• afternoon
• wondering
• expensive
• somersault
• iguana
• disappeared
• election
• appointed
• majority
• ballot
• president
• border
• capital
• property
• congress
• governor
• survey
• tally marks
• data
• pictograph
• symbols
• bar graph
• ordered pair
• mode range
• median

*Please review the workbook Workbook Plus (pg. 37-87).

Be able to:

-read two sentences and join the naming parts with “and,” ex: The balls were yellow. The bats were yellow. = The balls and bats were yellow.

-write the noun that names more than one to complete each sentence (the plural noun)

-choose the correct pronoun (I, you, we, they, he, she, it) to take the place of a noun

-write sentences in the correct order (“I” or “me” going last in an order of people)

-choose the correct possessive noun, ex: my grandmother’s ring, not my grandmothers ring

-choose an adverb from a word box to tell more about an action

-choose the best verb to complete each sentence