It was great to see so many of you at conferences this past week.  The progress made both individually and collectively has been amazing!

Word Study

Our 2^nd graders have been working on the y vowel sound as well as the oo vowel sound in words.  Students practiced sorting words by the sounds these vowels made.  For example with y ending words they determined whether it was an e sound or an i sound. Most recently we revisited our study of prefixes to add an understanding of suffixes.  By learning the meanings of these suffixes they can better understand word meanings.

Reader’s Workshop

We’re jumping into a new unit with reading by studying characters and the challenges they face.  Throughout the past two weeks we are digging into stories with characters who have clear needs, wants or problems.  Students are learning to tune into these problems and collect information as they read regarding the problems.  Next, we looked at how characters get what they need or solve their problems.  One strategy we’re using to keep us connected to the problem is prediction.  Readers are finding that as they read they can confirm or revise predictions they are making about the character and his/her problem.

Writer’s Workshop

We have also started a new writing unit of study.  Writing and revising realistic fiction takes us into personal narrative writing.  We have learned that personal narratives focus on small moments from our lives.  These are meant to be true stories told with a beginning, middle and end.  This writing piece has a strong lead and is told in sequence.  To begin this unit, students were taught to create a “seed list”.  This list holds many different ideas for future stories.  Next, various graphic organizers were introduced and used for story planning.  Each student has made beginning plans for 3 different stories.  We ended the week by picking one of these plans and creating different leads for the story.  Next week, we will decide on our best leads and then proceed with the middle of the story.

Math Workshop

Over the past couple weeks we have spent a large amount of time reviewing skills for both our 1^st quarter benchmark and our unit 3 progress check.  Students performed well overall on both.  We also are practicing skills with telling time and coin counting. We find that many students become confuse with time when it is near a new hour.  If you have an analog clock at home, please review with your child.  While making change with coins is a newer concept for your child, counting coins should be more solid at this point.  If s/he is struggling with counting coin combinations the best way to practice this is with real coins at home.  If you have a small amount of time set up a play store with some items around the house and practice paying for them.

Our next math unit digs deeper into addition and subtraction with higher, double digit numbers.  You should see the home link with Unit 4 family note soon.

Social Studies

We are learning about maps and their features.  Students have had opportunities to explore different types of maps, look at keys and symbols and identify the 4 cardinal directions.  Ask your child if s/he remembers how to name these directions in the order they appear on a compass rose.  If s/he gets stuck, it starts with the word “never”.

Science

Thanks for the plant clippings.  We will be delving into our plant unit this coming week.

Important Classroom News:

·       November 20^th:  Students will be participating in whole school 7 habits lessons.  Students will be placed in mixed grade level groups for a short activity this afternoon.

·       November 22^nd:  Walled Lake Parenting Fair…if you have never attended, please consider going!  There is a wonderful speaker and break-out sessions.  Many staff members have found it helpful with their own parenting.

·       November 27^th- Dec. 2^nd Thanksgiving break