Halloween Snaps!

Thank you for your help today, parents and grandparents! It was a bit chaotic, but I thought the students looked adorable and awesome in their costumes. I couldn't have done it without your help!

Below are some snaps from my phone camera. I apologize for the quality! Happy All Saints' Day!

Friday, October 31st, 2014

Today in the second grade, we:

• reviewed our target vocabulary for our spelling quiz on Monday and made a shopping list in reading and phonics class
• developed a character in language and spelling class
• celebrated All Saints' Day with a special movie (the 1966 classic, "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!"), candy and participated in the school-wide fashion show

I will be posting pictures of the students in their costumes soon! 

This weekend's homework:

• Write spelling words five times (from Science Fusion pg. 42-59: engineer, design, process, improve, materials, redesign, technology, communicate.) Prepare for quiz on Monday.
• Complete Journeys Practice Book pg. 54-57.
• Prepare for the math quiz on Monday, November 3rd: chapter 3 "Subtraction Facts."

Have a beautiful weekend!

Thursday, October 30th, 2014

Today in the second grade, we:

• reviewed our target vocabulary, reviewed hard and soft g, and cited the main idea and the supporting details of several short paragraphs in reading and phonics class
• practiced using number lines, discussing fact families and answering word problems in math class. We will have our chapter 3 quiz on subtraction on Monday.
• shared our lists of everyday technology and discussed where we can find specific technology in the rooms of our homes in science class
• practiced printing in independent study
• created "helping hands" in art class

Tonight's homework:

• Complete Math Practice 3.4-3.5
• Complete Handwriting Connections pg. 30-32 (all of the students have started this and many  finished it in class.)

*Special Notes:

• I try to be careful to assign homework that should be able to be completed in 30 minutes or less (as long as the students stay on task!) If you find that your child has worked solidly for 30 minutes, is not finished and wishes to stop (or if they have other things to do), please just write a note in their assignment book and I can help them complete their work during a break or lunch recess the next day. I appreciate your help!

• Tomorrow is All Saints' Day! The celebration will start at 2 p.m. in the gym. Parents are welcome to come help their children get ready starting at 12:45. Don't worry if you are unable to come, I am happy to assist the students as needed.
  

Special Thanks/Five-Pocket Folders

I just wanted to let you parents know how much I appreciate your support with your child's education. There are certain moments as a teacher when you can identify tangible social and academic growth within your students, and this week has been full of those moments. Thank you for your support in preparing your child and their materials for school. Thank you for encouraging them to complete their homework to the best of their ability. Thank you for providing them with English books to capture their imagination and help their decoding skills and fluency grow by leaps and bounds. Thank you for your kind words and helpful suggestions! I am blessed to have your support. Please know that I am here and eager to continue listening to your thoughts and concerns about your child's education.

Five-Pocket Folders

Please let me know in the assignment book whenever you would like your child to bring home their five-pocket folder. Inside you will be able to check out their worksheets and quizzes.

Wednesday, September 29th, 2014

Today in the second grade, we:

• reviewed the target vocabulary for the week, reviewed long vowel sounds and worked on a crossword in reading and phonics class 
• reviewed our chapter on subtraction in math class. We will have a quiz on subtraction on Monday, November 3rd.
• differentiated exact nouns from specific nouns in language and spelling class 
• reviewed our pop quizzes on the design process and learned more about technology in science class
• discussed the foundations of the government in social studies class

Tonight's homework:

• In your science notebook, make a list of ten pieces of technology that you use everyday. 
• Complete Handwriting Connections pg. 27-29 (some of the students have finished this in class.)

*Some of the students were asking about where I am renting my costume from. There is a costume shop on the corner of ZhongShan and SiWei, kitty corner from the bowling alley, next to Aurora. It has a pink sign with the number 537.9118 on it. It closes @ 7. They rent adult and children's costumes for a reasonable price.

Tuesday, October 28th, 2014

We are only three days away from the All Saints' Day celebration! I encouraged the students to prepare their costumes if they haven't done so already. Again, the theme for our grade is Super Heroes if you are looking for costume ideas.

We had another busy day:

• using our vocabulary words for next week's spelling quiz, reviewing long vowel o and u words, and identifying nouns that name places and things in reading and phonics class
• distinguishing singular possessive nouns from plural possessive nouns in language and spelling class
• using strategies to answer word problems in math class
• taking a pop quiz on the design process in science class, as well as starting our lesson on technology, and how it aids and assists our lives in many ways
• comparing and contrasting the roles of a mayor with that of a president in social studies class
• choosing new books to read and telling jokes during independent study

Tonight's homework: 

• Complete Social Studies Activity Book pg. 15-16
• Complete Math Worksheet 3.6-3.7 (two-sided worksheet)

Monday, October 27th, 2014

We had a busy beginning of the week in grade 2!

• We started off the morning with the weekly assembly. 
• We then learned about singular possessive nouns in language and spelling class after we took our weekly spelling quiz. 
• In math class, we practiced answering and creating word problems, where the students had to decide if they were going to find the difference or the sum when answering a question.
• In social studies class, we discussed problems and solutions, and how just like we learned about in science class with the scientific method and the design process, problem-solving is sequential. 
• We practiced rhyming long vowel words in reading and phonics class, and then had a bit of time to visit the computer lab before the students had health class. 

It was great to see some of you out on Saturday for the piano concert. I hope that you enjoyed it as much as I did.

Tonight's homework:

• Reading Response Journal (either the worksheet OR 6-8 sentences and a picture in your language notebook)
• Complete Math Worksheet 3.4-3.5 (two-sided worksheet)

Next week's spelling words (for Monday, November 3rd) will come from Science Fusion pg. 42-59:

1. engineer
2. design
3. process
4. improve
5. redesign
6. communicate
7. materials
8. technology

Piano Concert

Our two concert readers!

Friday, October 24th, 2014

I hope to see some of you at the piano concert tomorrow! Remember to be there by 1:30 p.m. before the doors close.

Thank you to each and every parent for turning in the Christmas Concert attendance form. I truly appreciate your help in organizing future events!

Tonight's homework:

• Write spelling words five times (government, patriotism, tax, law, services, pride, vote, choice.)
• Complete Journeys Practice Book pg. 46-49.

Christmas Concert Announcement

I need to know which students will not attend the Christmas Concert on Friday, December 19th. I have stapled a notice into the students' assignment books. I would greatly appreciate it if you could just tick the box and return it to me tomorrow. As always, thank you for your help and cooperation!

Thursday, October 24th, 2014

In the second grade today, we spent the morning:

• reviewing our spelling words for next week's quiz with a whiteboard group game
• discussing and listing adjectives in our language and spelling class
• learning about fact families (wholes and parts) in math class

In the afternoon, we were busy:

• practicing our printing during independent learning (I think we'll be ready to learn cursive in November!)
• using the design process in science class
• creating All Saints' Day decorations in art class

We'll be having our All Saints' Day school-wide costume/fashion show next Friday, October 31st at 2 p.m. Parents are welcome to come after 12:45 to help their children get ready. Our theme for the second grade is Super Heroes, and it would be great if your child could come dressed as a super hero. Please come see me if you need any ideas! I hope that you are having a beautiful week.

Tonight's homework:

• Complete Math Practice 3.2-3.3
• Complete Math Worksheets 2.6-2.7 (two-sided worksheet)

Wednesday, October 22nd, 2014

We presented our "Law" posters in social studies class today. Below are some snaps of some of the students with their posters. Many of the students worked very hard to create a colorful, eye-catching poster that were easy to read from afar!

I was able to visit the students' dance class today while they were practicing for the Christmas concert. They were doing a great job dancing to Mariah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas."

Tonight's homework:

• Complete Science Fusion pg. 53-54
• Complete Math Worksheet 2.4-2.5 (two-sided worksheet)

Tuesday, October 21st, 2014

Today was another busy day in grade two! We spent the morning:

• eliciting and practicing next week's spelling words, writing down the definitions in our social studies notebooks
• learning about laws and the various consequences that come from breaking laws in our social studies class
• identifying and reading long vowel words, as well as  identifying the multiple meanings that one word can have in reading and phonics class
• selecting the correct pronoun to represent various nouns in language and spelling class

In the afternoon, we were busy:

• telling jokes to each other during a joke time! Marianne's joke was a hit! What did the strawberry say to the other strawberry? "If you weren't so fresh, we wouldn't be in this jam!" We were able to draw back to words with multiple meanings with this joke.
• visiting the library to discover new books to read for the week
• walking through the design process in science class and how engineers and everyday people can use it to solve problems
• using addition to subtract in math class

We will begin our new electives on Friday. Below are a list of which elective each student will be participating in: 

• Spanish Conversation with Father Prudencio: Marianne, Beryl, Katie

• Biblical Movies with Sister Loida: Peter

• Yoga with Ms. Zeng and Ms. Kraft: Wilsoni and Kaitlyn 

• Badminton with Ms. Easterling: Yan-Xi, Huan, Grace, Ayrton, Yoko, Benson, Shannon

• School Newspaper/Reporting with Mr. Rector: Eden and Miya

• Computer Club with Ms. Livingston: Andrew and Nathan

Tonight's Homework: 

• Create a poster of a law that people need to follow in Taiwan (ex: No Speeding! or Don't Litter! or Wear a helmet when you drive a scooter or bike!, etc.) The students can use the large piece of paper that should be folded in their assignment books, or any large piece of paper.
• Complete Math Worksheet 2.2-2.3 (two-sided worksheet)

Monday, October 20th, 2014

It was a pleasure to see and chat with many of you last Friday! Thank you for your helpful comments and suggestions. Your feedback is invaluable when it comes to improving the class environment and my lesson plans! I hope that you feel a greater ease to come to me with future feedback.

As suggested by a few parents on Friday, I have scaffolded the students' homework for Monday (their reading response journals.) Rather than writing 6-8 sentences in their language notebook, the students can instead choose to fill out a worksheet that asks about specific story elements (setting, characters, problem/solution, beginning/middle/end, etc.) These worksheets will be an option until all of the students are gradually able to disseminate the most important information in a story and write a summary about it.

The students will also be given an additional daily math worksheet to either help them review what they have learned in class, or to challenge them with different exercises.

Since a few students have had trouble remembering instructions for how to do their homework once they get home, I will review what they need to do twice in class, once at four o'clock, so that it is fresh in their minds!

I would like to welcome our new student, Katie! She is joining DISK after spending some time in America with her family. I am proud of the grade two students for welcoming Katie and helping her to feel comfortable in her class.

Marianne and Wilsoni show Katie how to use the counters in math class. 

Tonight's homework:

• Reading Response Journal (either the worksheet OR 6-8 sentences and a picture in your language notebook)
• Complete Math Worksheet 1.5-1.6 (two-sided worksheet)

Next week's spelling words (for Monday, October 27th) will come from Communities pg. 42-43:

1. government
2. law
3. tax
4. patriotism
5. vote
6. pride
7. services
8. choice

Friday, October 17th, 2014

Tonight's homework:

• Write your spelling words five times (from Journeys pg. 114-116: juicy, reached, sooped, before, berries, whole, delicious, moral.) Prepare for the quiz on Monday.
• Complete Journeys Practice Book pg. 38-41.

I hope that you have a beautiful weekend.

Thursday, October 16th, 2014

Today is full of announcements and notices!

• We reviewed our first quarter exams today. If you do not have a conference scheduled for tomorrow, I have given your child his or her exams for you to go through, sign and return. If you have a scheduled conference tomorrow, I will give you the exams then. If you are busy or otherwise unable to come to your scheduled conference time, I will give the exams to your child on Monday, October 20th. 
• We rehearsed for the Living Rosary this morning. I would be grateful if you could have your child arrive to school by 8:20 a.m. tomorrow so each student is able to get ready for the Living Rosary tomorrow morning. I appreciate your help!
• Tomorrow is a half-day, with the students being dismissed at 11:45 a.m. The rest of the school day will be dedicated to parent-teacher conferences.  There will be staff members available  if you would like to have the conference translated. I look forward to speaking with you! If you are unable to make it and would like to schedule a meeting, please speak with me after school or with Miss Lee about scheduling a time to chat.
• If I have not received the immunization form (flu shot) from you yet, please give it to me tomorrow. Thank you!

 Tonight's homework: Complete Math Practice 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 3.1

Wednesday, October 15th, 2014

Our "Kindness Wall" has been filling up! Every time we reach 30 notes/acts of kindness, we will announce our "Kindness Stars." We have two stars this week! Grace and Beryl have both been working hard to help out Huan during class while he has had his injury. Grace is also very kind to include others in games and activities, while Beryl is always ready to help others in need.

Way to go, Grace and Beryl!

Tonight's homework:  In your science notebook, write 6-8 sentences about a problem you had and how you solved it.

First Quarter Parent-Teacher Conferences

Below are the scheduled times for the parent-teacher conferences posted again for your convenience:

12:10-12:25: Shannon

12:30-12:45: Nathan

12:50-1:05: Marianne

1:15-1:30: Kaitlyn

1:35-1:50: Benson

1:55-2:10: Peter

2:15-2:30: Huan

2:35-2:50: Yoko

2:55-3:10: Beryl

3:15-3:30: Miya

3:35-3:50: Wilsoni

3:55-4:10: Grace

4:15-4:30: Eden

I look forward to chatting with you about your child's progress!

Tuesday, October 14th, 2014

It has been a fun and busy day in the second grade! We spent the day:

• reviewing short vowel a words in our phonics class
• creating a readers theater with "The Spider and the Swallow" in reading class
• revisiting next week's spelling words and creating irregular plural nouns that end in "es" in language and spelling class
• discovering the meaning for "difference" and what happens when you subtract zero from a number in math class
• previewing new units in science (technology) and social studies (government)

In the middle of all of this, we still found time for a pizza party to celebrate our 10 good day monsters!

Watching a bit of the oft requested "Lego Movie."

Thanks to Shannon, Marianne and Kaitlyn for bringing in some games to share.

A special thanks to Shannon for the special treats!

We'll have another party as soon as we have 10 good day monsters lined up! 

Stapled into your child's assignment book is a form for immunizations.

I have also written down your child's assigned elective for the second quarter. I hope that each student enjoys what they he or she will be doing on Friday afternoons for the next nine weeks!

Tonight's homework: Social Studies Activity Book pg. 13-14

Monday, October 13th, 2014

I hope that everyone had a great long weekend. We began the first day of our second quarter today.

Some announcements for today:

• Yan-Xi was announced as the "Angel of the Week!" I'm so proud of how hard Yan-Xi works in and out of the classroom. He is a valued and valuable member of his school community.  

 Congratulations, Yan-Xi! 
We love your wonderful enthusiasm and kind heart!

• We will have our class party tomorrow after accumulating ten "good day monsters!" We will eat pizza and other treats, play a game and watch a bit of the Lego Movie (which is requested on a daily basis). 
• Thank you for completing the school-wide surveys and sending them in. They will help inform the school about future decisions.  
• I was sick this morning and had to go visit the doctors, so I was unable to review the students' midterm exams with them. I will do this on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Tonight's homework: In your language notebook, write 6-8 sentences about a book that you have just finished or are currently reading. Include a drawing and the book's title.

Next week's spelling words (for Monday, October 20th) will come from Journeys pg. 114-116:

1. juicy
2. reached
3. scooped
4. before
5. berries
6. whole
7. moral
8. delicious

Thursday, October 9th, 2014

Grade two has officially finished their first quarter exams! I have assigned no homework for the weekend, and the students will not have a spelling quiz next Monday.  I will have the exams marked and handed back next week, so that we will be able to review anything that the students had trouble with. Please have a beautiful 10-10 weekend!