My Stereo

I definitely don't intend to use this blog as a marketing tool, but a few of you have expressed interest in the portable stereo that I use in class and had out today at the language festival, so I wanted to pass on some information just in case you were interested in purchasing your own.

Two foreigner friends of mind who live out in Niaosong have started a business taking old vanity, luggage and miscellaneous cases and equipping them with excellent stereos. These cases come in a variety of sizes, colors and styles. You can check them out at: https://www.facebook.com/basscasetw

The cases are rechargeable, and hold a 12-hour charge. They are an investment, but each case is unique, one-of-a-kind and loving made. I know that I love mine!

I hope that you're having a wonderful weekend.

Friday, November 28th, 2014

Today in the second grade, we:

• practiced using our weekly target vocabulary and distinguished between the different vowel sounds of y in language and spelling class
• solved problems using a bar graph and a grid in math class
• finished our thanksgiving trees in art class
• celebrated the DISK language festival, where the students presented information on Hong Kong, and learned about Italy and Japan from the other grades

The students did a wonderful job presenting! I'm so proud of them. I was happy to see some moms and dads in the audience, but I apologize for not having much time to stop & chat. Thank you for coming to support your children!  I didn't have my phone on me during the festival, so I didn't take any photos, but Ms. Zeng was able to get a few, and I'll be sure to post them on the blog soon.

Tonight's homework:

• Write spelling words five times (from Math pg. 77-89: survey, tally marks, data, pictograph, symbols, bar graph, ordered pair, mode, range, median.) Prepare for quiz on Monday.
• Complete Journeys Practice Book pg. 72-75.

*Special Note:

The students will have their minor subject exams next week. The schedule is as follows: 

• P.E./Health Exam: Monday, December 1st
• Chinese: Tuesday, December 2nd
• Music: Thursday, December 4th
• Christian Living: Thursday, December 4th 

Have a beautiful weekend!

Thursday, November 27th, 2014

Today in the second grade, we:

• read and identified story clues in our latest Journeys story "Animals Building Homes" in reading and phonics class
• compared and contrasted various animal parts and their functions in science class
• rehearsed for the language festival in independent study
• started the unit 1 performance assessment in math
• created thanksgiving trees in art

Tonight's homework:

• Complete Math Practice 4.8
• Practice singing "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" in Cantonese (using the phonics given to us by Ms. Zeng.) 

*Special Note:

• Tomorrow is the language festival. The grade two and grade one students will be coming together to give a short presentation on "Hong Kong." The students will share information about Hong Kong, teach the audience how to count to ten in Cantonese, sing "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" in Cantonese and serve some Dim Sum treats. You are welcome to come watch! We will the start at 1:30.
• Happy Thanksgiving! We enjoyed a lovely turkey lunch with all of the trimmings today. There is so much for us to be thankful for everyday.

Wednesday, November 26th, 2014

Today in the second grade, we:

• identified and pronounced words with f-blends in reading and phonics class
• reviewed chapter four, writing ordered pairs on a grid in math class
• revised sentences by choosing exact words in language and spelling class
• started our unit on cursive writing and rehearsed for the language festival during independent learning
• started learning about the six different kinds of animals in science class
• found examples of "facts" and "opinions" in social studies class

Tonight's homework:

• In your science notebook, list two kinds of mammals, amphibians, birds, reptiles, insects and fish (twelve animals in total.)
• Complete Math Worksheet 4.4-4.5 (two-sided worksheet)  

Tuesday, November 25th, 2014

Today in the second grade, we:

• had our Thanksgiving mass, sponsored by Ms. Kraft and the fifth grade students
• formed contractions using the "do," "be," and "can" verbs in language and spelling class
• previewed our target vocabulary for the week and started our next unit in reading and phonics class
• created a Venn diagram to show sets of data in math class
• checked out new books to read from the library during independent study
• interpreted a pictograph and learned about exemplary American citizens in social studies class
• compared and contrasted the needs of plants and animals in science class

Tonight's homework:

• Complete Social Studies Activity Book pg. 21-23
• Complete Math Worksheet 4.2-4.3 (two-sided worksheet)

Monday, November 24th, 2014

Today in the second grade, we:

• learned more about humility and practiced for tomorrow's mass in assembly
• took our weekly spelling quiz and practiced using "was" and "were" correctly in language and spelling class
• practiced our problem-solving skills using tally charts, pictographs and bar graphs in math class
• read and listed words with consonant blends in reading and phonics class
• listened to the "Star-Spangled Banner" and discussed the concept of "peace" in social studies class

Happy 8th birthday, Benson! Thanks to you and your mom for sharing this adorable cake with G2. I'm so glad that you are a part of our class, Benson. I love seeing your happy smile and watching you rise to every challenge!

 

Tonight's homework:

• Reading Response Journal (either the worksheet OR 6-8 sentences and a picture in your language notebook)
• Complete Math Worksheet 3.8-4.1 (two-sided worksheet)

Next week's spelling words (for Monday, December 1st) will come from Math pg. 77-89:

1. survey
2. tally marks
3. data
4. pictograph
5. symbols
6. bar graph
7. ordered pair
8.mode
9. range
10. median

Friday, November 21st, 2014

Today in the second grade, we:

• reviewed our weekly target vocabulary and practiced reading and listing words with consonant blends in reading and phonics class
• created sentences using "is" and "are" correctly in language and spelling class
• answered word questions using charts and graphs in math class
• practiced our printing and engaged in story-time in independent study
• played phonics games in computer class
• reviewed the key vocabulary and concepts from our first lesson on animals in science class

Tonight's homework:

• Write spelling words five times (from Horizons pg. 52-73: governor, president, congress, election, appointed, majority, ballot, property, border, capital.) Prepare for quiz on Monday.
• Complete Journeys Practice Book pg. 68-71.

 

Thursday, November 20th, 2014

Today in the second grade, we:

• practiced making connections (text-to-self, text-to-text, text-to-world) using the story "Teacher's Pets" in reading and phonics class
• predicted and recorded the outcome of an event in math class
• continued to practice our printing in independent study (We will finally begin learning cursive next week!)
• discussed the food chain and how animals rely on plants in science class
• created more animal montages in art class
  
  
  Happy 8th Birthday, Wilsoni! 
  Thank you for sharing your delicious cake with the class! 
  Your leadership and lovely attitude help make our school a better place. 

 Make one secret wish!

 I hope it comes true!

 Katie brought in her new Play-Doh kit to share.

Shannon's practicing hard for the Christmas concert!

Tonight's homework:

• Complete Math Practice 4.5-4.7
• Complete Handwriting Connections pg. 58-59

Wednesday, November 19th, 2014

Today in the second grade, we:

• reviewed our weekly target vocabulary and identified words with r-blends (br, cr, dr, fr, gr, tr) in reading and phonics class
• practiced using "did," "done," "gave," and "given" correctly in language and spelling class
• predicted if the probability of an event was certain, probable or impossible in math class
• finished our iguana montages in art class
• practiced printing in independent study
• determined appropriate ways to demonstrate patriotism and identified different patriotic symbols in social studies class
• continued to develop our understanding of basic needs in science class

Happy Birthday to Katie! 
I am so glad that you joined our community last month.

Tonight's homework:

• In your science notebook, list five animals that use gills to breathe and five animals that use lungs to breathe.
• Complete Handwriting Connections pg. 56-57.

P.E./Health Quarter 2 Outline

PE/Health quarter 2 outline: Grade 2

Health:

Your Health text book pages:  p. 70-79, p. 84-85, p. 108-109, p. 112-114, p. 118-119 

*Students should read and review the information in these pages and class worksheets.

P.E:

Quarter 2 sport: soccer

Basic rules:

• 11 players on one team
• Only the goal keeper can use hands

Positions:

• Goal keeper, defenders, midfielders, strikers

When the ball goes out on a side line:

•  Both feet must touch the ground when doing a throw in, ball over your head

When the ball goes out behind the goal: 

•  Corner kick from the corner of the field when defending team touches the ball last
• Goal kick on the grass in front of the goal when offensive team touched the ball last

Free kick:

• When you foul (trip, kick, push, hold) another player, they will get a free kick from the place of the foul.

Tuesday, November 18th, 2014

Today in the second grade, we:

• previewed our weekly target vocabulary and practiced using "saw," "seen," "went," and "gone" correctly in language and spelling class
• created a "Reader's Theater" with "Teacher's Pets" in reading and phonics class
• practiced probability and discovered what conditions make something more likely, less likely or equally likely to happen in math class
• told jokes and checked out new books from the library during independent study
• listed biological needs and wants in science class
• compared and contrasted Sun Yat-Sen with George Washington in social studies class

We also celebrated our latest kindness stars, Kaitlyn and Miya!

Tonight's homework:

• Complete Social Studies Activity Book pg. 19-20.
• Complete Handwriting Connections pg. 54-55.

Monday, November 17th, 2014

We're already midway through the second quarter! It is hard to believe how fast time is flying by. I'm proud of my students for working hard during these busy days.

Today in the second grade, we:

• learned more about humility  in assembly
• took our weekly spelling quiz and practiced using "run," "ran," "come," and "came" correctly in language and spelling class
• interpreted data using tally charts, pictographs and bar graphs in math class
• practiced syllabification in reading and phonics class
• discussed the different branches of the U.S. government in social studies class

Tonight's homework:

• Reading Response Journal (either the worksheet OR 6-8 sentences and a picture in your language notebook)
• Complete Handwriting Connections pg. 52-53. 

Next week's spelling words (for Monday, November 24th) will come from Horizons pg. 52-73. We will now have 10 words assigned for our spelling quiz:

1.election
2. appointed
3. majority
4. ballot
5. president
6. property
7. border
8. capital
9. congress
10. governor

Community Service Day: Fo Guang Shan

Below are some snaps of our day spent at Fo Guang Shan. We spent the morning touring the grounds and performing before we had lunch and a bit of downtime. We then spent the afternoon cleaning! As you can see below, the students worked hard to pitch in and tidy up the beautiful monastery. Thank you, parents and grandparents, for supplying your child with everything they needed for the day.

The Arts in G2

Thursday, November 13th, 2014

Tomorrow will be community service day. We will leave by school bus to Fo Guang Shan at 8:30 a.m. 

*Special Notes:

• The students should not bring their regular school bags or any of their books. They are also advised not bring any toys or anything that could get lost during the field trip. 

• the students should: 

• wear their P.E. uniform
• bring: their water bottle, a small towel to clean with, mosquito repellent and sun protection (hat, sunglasses or sunblock lotion) and a healthy snack if they so desire

• At the monastery, we will take a tour, perform our songs, clean and have lunch.
• If you are coming to Fo Guang Shan and wish to leave with your child at the end of the day or at any point during the day, please just let me know!

Tonight's homework (due on Monday):

• Complete Math Practice 4.1-4.4
• Write spelling words five times (from Journeys pg. 127-148: special, afternoon, neighbors, wondering, expensive, somersault, iguana, disappeared.) Prepare for quiz on Monday.
• Complete Journeys Practice Book pg. 64-67.

Wednesday, November 12th, 2014

Today in the second grade, we:

• used our target vocabulary in teams and did more practice creating and deconstructing compound words in reading and phonics class
• placed ordered pairs on a grid and discovered the mode and range in a survey in math class
• practiced the songs we will sing on Friday in independent study
• wrote original sentences using the past tense of regular verbs in language and spelling class
• located cities and states on a map in social studies class
• took our unit two quiz on technology and previewed our next unit on animals in science class

Tonight's homework:

• In your science notebook, write 6-8 sentences about your favorite animal (please use at least seven words in each sentence.)
• Complete Handwriting Connections pg. 50-51 (most of the students have already started this, and some have finished it in class.)

*Special Note:

For Community Development Day on Friday, the students are asked to:

• wear their P.E. uniform
• bring a small cloth to clean
• bring their water bottle
• mosquito repellent 
• (they may also bring a cap and/or sunglasses)

Tuesday, November 11th, 2014

Today in the second grade, we:

• previewed our weekly target vocabulary, read and answered comprehension questions about "Teacher's Pets" in reading and phonics class
• practiced using regular past tense (+ed) verbs correctly in language and spelling class
• located and identified points on a grid in math class
• reviewed the key concepts and vocabulary from unit two in science class. We will have our quiz on unit two tomorrow.
• compared and contrasted the national government of the United States with the state government and discussed why states and cities need laws in social studies class
• told jokes and checked out new books in independent study

Tonight's homework:

• Complete Social Studies Activity Book pg. 18.
• Complete Handwriting Connections pg. 48-49 (most of the students have already started this, and some have finished it in class.)

Monday, November 10th, 2014

Today in the second grade, we:

• learned how it is important to put others first and practiced for our visit this Friday to the orphanage in assembly
• took our weekly spelling quiz and created sentences using the third person in the present tense in language and spelling class
• identified, separated and created compound words in reading and phonics class
• conducted surveys and collated data using tally charts, pictographs and bar graphs in math class

We also spent some time today chatting with my dad, who came last Friday and will leave tomorrow. It was wonderful to introduce my father to the students he has heard so much about! He is impressed with how intelligent, kind and curious they are.

Take one...

 Take two!

Tonight's homework:

• Reading Response Journal (either the worksheet OR 6-8 sentences and a picture in your language notebook)
• Complete Handwriting Connections pg. 42-43. 

Friday, November 7th, 2014

Today in the second grade, we:

• took a quiz on long and short vowels and reviewed the target vocabulary in reading and phonics class
• identified the correct way to write verbs in the first, second and third person in the present tense in language and spelling class
• found data using tally charts, pictographs and bar graphs in math class
• practiced printing in independent learning
• learned about roller coaster engineers in science class

Tonight's homework: 

• Write spelling words five times (from Journeys pg. 122-123: wonderful, noises, quiet, sprinkled, share, bursting, noticed, suddenly.) Prepare for quiz on Monday.
• Complete Journeys Practice Book pg. 60-63.

Happy Weekend! I hope you and your family have a beautiful one.

Thursday, November 6th, 2014

Today in the second grade, we:

• reviewed our target vocabulary, as well as identified and corrected the grammatical, spelling and punctuation mistakes in a paragraph in reading and phonics class
• compared and contrasted different styles of pictographs, as well as created and conducted our own surveys in math class
• discussed ways that we can improve technology in science class
• created textured animal pictures in preparation for our next unit in science in art class

Andrew, Wilsoni and Huan answering each others' surveys.

 Printing practice (and giggles.)

Tonight's homework:

• Complete Math Practice 3.6-3.8.
• Complete Handwriting Connections pg. 40-41 (most of the students have already started this, and some have finished it in class.)  

Wednesday, November 5th, 2014

Today in the second grade, we:

• practiced using our target vocabulary, as well as reviewed short and long vowels in preparation for our unit 2 quiz this Friday in reading and phonics class
• expanded the depth of our sentence writing by adding adverbs and adjectives in language and spelling class
• conducted a class-wide survey on lunch food using a tally chart and discussed the merits and drawbacks of surveys in math class
• identified ways to minimize the ecological impact of technology in science class
• discussed the benefits and disadvantages of majority rule in social studies class (I am delighted with the great questions and observations that the students have regarding the formation and fairness of former and present governments!)
• practiced printing in independent study

Tonight's homework:

• Complete Science Fusion pg. 67-68.
• Complete Handwriting Connections pg. 38-39 (most of the students have already started this, and some have finished it in class.)  

Tuesday, November 4th, 2014

Today in the second grade, we:

• previewed the target vocabulary for the story "Teacher's Pets" in reading and phonics class
• proofread and revised a story: adding capital letters, end marks, details and ensuring that we had a clear beginning, middle and ending in language and spelling class
• learned how to create tally marks and decipher a pictograph in math class
• told jokes and practiced waiting before telling the punch line, as well as checked out new books to read in independent study
• brainstormed ways that technology is created to keep us safe in science class
• reviewed unit 2: lesson 3: the voting and election process in social studies class

"A book is a gift you can open again and again." Garrison Keillor

Tonight's homework:

• Complete Social Studies Activity Book pg. 17.
• Complete Handwriting Connections pg. 35-36 (most of the students have already started this, and some have finished it in class.) 

*Special note:

Welcome to our new student, Reila! 

Monday, November 3rd, 2014

Today in the second grade, we:

• learned the difference between "boastful" and "humility" at the weekly assembly
• took our weekly spelling quiz (everyone passed!) and created story maps in language and spelling class
• took our chapter 3 quiz on subtraction and started chapter 4: "Data, Graphing and Probability" in math class
• read about and discussed "Animal Homes" in reading and phonics class
• found out how leaders can either be voted, born or fight their way into a leadership position in social studies class

Tonight's homework:

• Reading Response Journal (either the worksheet OR 6-8 sentences and a picture in your language notebook)
• Complete Handwriting Connections pg. 33-34 (most of the students have already started this, and some have finished it in class.)

Next week's spelling words (for Monday, November 10th) will come from Journeys pg. 122-123:

1. wonderful
2. noises
3. quiet
4. sprinkled
5. share
6. bursting
7. noticed
8. suddenly

*Special Note: 

Is anyone missing a size 40 girl's school jumper? Miya's mom found it among Miya's things after the All Saints' Day celebration and was very kind to wash it and return it! Just let me know in the assignment book and I'll send it home with your daughter.