All Saints' Day Costume Theme

After discussing and taking a vote, the second grade students chose the costume theme of "Super Heroes" for the All Saints' Day celebration on October 31st. In case you are interested in preparing your child's costume early, any kind of super hero would be appropriate (ex: Batman, Batgirl, Spiderman, Spidergirl, Superman, Supergirl, any of the X-Men, Captain America, etc...) DISK is trying to steer away from scary costumes in order to promote the school's mission statement.

Tuesday, October 7th, 2014

We spent most of today reviewing for our language and spelling, reading and phonics, science and math exams. The students did well with the revision activities, but they are still instructed to keep going through the prepared study guides tonight and tomorrow night. I know that every student in grade two can do well, but I want them to feel positive and confident with their performance!

The students will have 1/2 days on Wednesday and Thursday. They will have their language and spelling, reading and phonics, and science exams tomorrow. They will have their math and social studies exams on Thursday.

Tonight's homework: Continue to review for:

• language and spelling exam
• reading and phonics exam
• science exam

Monday, October 6th, 2014

The grade two students worked hard in homeroom today:

• reviewing singular and plural (regular) nouns in language and spelling
• adding two-digit and three-digit numbers in math
• solving word problems in math
• reading "Diary of a Spider" and practicing retelling the story
• reviewing My Communities (Unit 1)

Hard at work!

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.

There will be no spelling quiz next Monday, or homework assigned for next Monday. I would like to give my second graders the chance to relax and enjoy the 10-10 holiday. If you would like your child to be assigned some homework for the long weekend, just write me a note in the assignment book. Thank you!

Friday, October 3rd, 2014

Happy Friday! We're blessed to still be enjoying warm, sunny days in October. I hope that you are your family are able to enjoy some sun this weekend.

I have received most of the elective requests and some of the slips regarding attendance at next Tuesday's meeting. Thank you!

I put the paper copies of the study guides for the 1st quarter exams (language and spelling, reading and phonics, math, science, and social studies) in your child's assignment book. Please let me know if you have any questions.

Tonight's homework:

• Write your spelling words five times (from Journeys pg. 86-87: insects dangerous, scare, sticky, rotten, screaming, breeze, judge.)
• Complete Journeys Practice Book pg. 31-34.

Thursday, October 2nd, 2014

Posted below are all of the study guides for the major subject exams. I will give your child a paper copy of the study guides tomorrow so that they are able to review over the weekend. I do not want you or any of the students to feel overwhelmed as you prepare, so I designed the study guides to succinctly and accurately describe what the students should study. Please let me know if you have any questions.

The students completed the Christian Living and Chinese exams today, so they are now finished with the minor subject exams. I will endeavor to prepare them as much as I can for their major subject exams! Thank you for your help in assisting and encouraging your child.

I have stapled the latest newsletter into your child's assignment book.

• There is a sheet announcing the initial meeting of DISK  - Parent Assistant League (PAL.) Please complete the return slip stating if you are able or unable to attend the first meeting, which will be next Tuesday, October 7th from 2:30 - 4 p.m. 
• There will be a Spelling Bee on Saturday, November 15th at Morrison Academy in Kaohsiung. If your child is interested in attending, please complete the form and return it with the registration fee by November 10th.
• With the 2nd quarter arriving, the students will have the opportunity to choose a new elective. Please help your child complete the elective form and return it to me as soon as possible. Thank you very much!

One final note, the dance teacher stated how well-behaved, polite and thoughtful the students were during her class yesterday. I love to hear praise about your children and am happy to pass it on!

Tonight's homework:

• Complete Math Practice 2.4
• Complete Math Worksheet 1.3-1.4 (two-sided worksheet)

1st Quarter Exam Study Guide: Science

First Quarter Study Guide for Science

*Please review the textbook Science Fusion Unit 1 "Work Like a Scientist" (pg. 3-40).

Lesson 1: How Do We Use Inquiry Skills? (pg. 3-12)

Be able to:

-observe a picture and write about what you observe

-match the eight inquiry skills to their definition

Key Vocabulary:

·         observe

·         compare

·         measure

·         infer

·         plan an investigation

·         classify

·         predict

·         make a model

Chapter 2: How Do We Use Science Tools (pg. 13-22)

Be able to:

-match the science tools to their definition

-choose the correct science tool for the activity

-list things that you can measure with a specific science tool

Key Vocabulary

·         tape measure

·         balance

·         thermometer

·         measuring cup

·         hand lens

·         ruler

·         scale

Chapter 4: How Do Scientists Think?  (pg. 25-40)

Be able to:

-list the four steps that scientist take when they investigate:

1-observe and ask a question

2-make a hypothesis

3-test and draw conclusions

4-communicate

Key Vocabulary:

·         investigate

·         hypothesis

·         draw conclusions

·         communicate

1st Quarter Exam Study Guide: Reading and Phonics

First Quarter Study Guide for Reading and Phonics

*Please review the workbook Phonics Unit 1 (pg. 4-22) and Unit 2 (pg. 23-36.)

Phonics

Be able to:

-write the first letter that you hear in a word

-write the middle letter that you hear in a word

-write the last letter that you hear in a word

-differentiate between hard g and soft g (ge, gi, gy)

-differentiate between hard c and soft c (ce, ci, cy)

-differentiate between the short vowel sounds (a, e, i, o, u)

-count the number of syllables in a word

-make one-syllable rhyming words (ex: can = man, pain = rain)

*Please review the textbook Journeys pg. 10-113:

-Lesson 1 pg. 10-24

-Lesson 2 pg. 34-52

-Lesson 3 pg. 62-76

-Lesson 4 pg. 86-112

Reading

Be able to use:

-read a short story and answer questions about it

-select the correct word to finish the sentence

Wednesday, October 1st, 2014

Welcome to a new month! We greeted the first day of October with smiles, fun and hard work. The school's theme for this month is JOY, and I am happy to report that spending my days with your children brings me a great deal of joy!

As you can see below, I have posted the study guides for the first quarter exams for social studies, language and spelling and math. I will post the study guides for reading and phonics and science tomorrow. On Friday, I will send home a paper copy of the study guides so that the students are able to fully prepare over the weekend, Monday and Tuesday.

The students have their exam in Chinese class tomorrow. I have not given the students their study guides yet as I don't want them to deviate time and attention away from studying for their minor subjects. We will be reviewing next week in class, as well!

Tonight's homework: No homework! I hope the students can use the time to study for their Chinese exam.

1st Quarter Exam Study Guide: Math

First Quarter Study Guide for Math

*Please review the textbook Math Unit 1, Chapters 1 and 2 (pg. 1a-48).

Chapter 1: Number Concepts Through 50 (pg. 1a-26)

Be able to:

-order numbers through 100

-compare numbers through 50

-estimate amounts through 50

-choose the most reasonable answer

Key Vocabulary:

·      number line

·      before

·      after

·      less

·      more

·      greater than

·      fewer

·      less than

·      estimate

Chapter 2: Addition Facts (pg. 27-48)

Be able to:

-add two and three numbers in any order

-add zero

-count on using a number line to find a sum

-use doubles and doubles-plus-one facts to find the sum

-find the sum of 10 and a 1-digit number

-make a ten to find sums to 18

-draw a picture to solve a problem

  Key Vocabulary

·      add

·      sum

·      equal sign

·      double facts

·      double-plus-one facts