Music Concert
What a fantastic music concert! Mrs. Friesen does a wonderful job with the students and they work so hard to please her! I was giggling in the back as I watched my class demonstrate their trademark enthusiasm throughout the performance!
Conferences
I look forward to seeing each of you this coming week. I think you will enjoy the time with your child. I will try to answer any questions about the remainder of the year and next year. I will highlight some of the progress your child is making!
Art Start
Ms. Pamela Penney has done a great job coming in to the classroom and teaching about fiber art. We have dyed our own yarn and fabric using kool-aid. We designed our quilt squares and started some applique. Next week we will begin doing some stitching. All the while we have been learning about our states and how to do some research. Mr. David Kindler came and took some pictures of our endeavors. The link is posted to the left. Enjoy! Please check out Oak Park Education Foundation's website. It is a wonderful organization and deserves our support!
Reading and Research
Next week we begin an exciting unit on Fossils and Dinosaurs. This complements our earlier study of rocks and soil. Students will be doing a research project on a dinosaur here at school. There will also be a home component. Detailed instructions will follow and other homework will be adjusted prior to the due date.
Math
We completed our unit on geometry and have started a unit on computation. Please continue to practice math facts.
Science
This week we added to our buoyancy chart. We learned that in addition to the type of material and bubbles in the water, shape also affects buoyancy. Fun experiments and hands on lessons have allowed children to explore buoyancy while thinking scientifically.
Animal Camouflage
As we finished our unit on animal camouflage we did two activities that allowed students do demonstrate an understanding of types of camouflage. We worked in the computer lab using a painting program called Pixie to "paint" pictures of animals camouflaged. We also did an project with our reading buddies. We designed animals that were camouflaged somewhere in the room.
Friday, January 15, 2010
January 15, 2010
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR SPELLING BEE PARTICIPANTS!!!
Tija, Garrett, Josh, Jackson, Jack, Drew, Jonathan, Sophia and Ana Paula ALL did a great job representing room 100! They were poised, confident and brave! Our Sophia hung in there and won third place! I was proud of all of them for participating.
Conferences
The conference schedule is posted to the left. Please make sure you arrive on time, particularly if there are people scheduled before and after you. You will have an opportunity to see your child do some math, read and go over some recent writing. You and your child will get a glimpse of some of the third grade goals and expectations. You will see what kind of progress your child is making towards these expectations.
Behavior
We had several class meetings this week to discuss ways we can follow directions and be productive. Students needed reminders about keeping hands and feet and objects to themselves. Sigh.
Reading
You may have noticed the last reading assessment came home with a score that did not reflect the work on the test. Students spent some time this week fixing, finishing and polishing their extended response and comprehension questions from last week's test. We are working really hard on writing an extended response question that is organized, answers the question and uses good mechanics.
Writing
Ask your child about his or her non-fiction/expository book!
Math
We have enjoyed the hands on nature of the geometry lessons. Please continue to practice the basic addition and subtraction facts. Review time and money whenever you think of it!
Science
Ask your child what affects buoyancy. (The material the object is made of will affect buoyancy.) We made some predictions about whether or not size will affect buoyancy. We'll test those predictions Monday!
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR SPELLING BEE PARTICIPANTS!!!
Tija, Garrett, Josh, Jackson, Jack, Drew, Jonathan, Sophia and Ana Paula ALL did a great job representing room 100! They were poised, confident and brave! Our Sophia hung in there and won third place! I was proud of all of them for participating.
Conferences
The conference schedule is posted to the left. Please make sure you arrive on time, particularly if there are people scheduled before and after you. You will have an opportunity to see your child do some math, read and go over some recent writing. You and your child will get a glimpse of some of the third grade goals and expectations. You will see what kind of progress your child is making towards these expectations.
Behavior
We had several class meetings this week to discuss ways we can follow directions and be productive. Students needed reminders about keeping hands and feet and objects to themselves. Sigh.
Reading
You may have noticed the last reading assessment came home with a score that did not reflect the work on the test. Students spent some time this week fixing, finishing and polishing their extended response and comprehension questions from last week's test. We are working really hard on writing an extended response question that is organized, answers the question and uses good mechanics.
Writing
Ask your child about his or her non-fiction/expository book!
Math
We have enjoyed the hands on nature of the geometry lessons. Please continue to practice the basic addition and subtraction facts. Review time and money whenever you think of it!
Science
Ask your child what affects buoyancy. (The material the object is made of will affect buoyancy.) We made some predictions about whether or not size will affect buoyancy. We'll test those predictions Monday!
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Happy New Year! I hope 2010 will be a wonderful year for each of the students in my class!
There are a couple of reminders and curriculum updates.
Winter Recess
Expect that your child will be outside at least once during the day for at least 25 minutes. Unless the temperature is below 5 degrees or the wind chill is below -5 degrees we will go outside at lunch. Do not count on a warming center. Make sure your child is dressed appropriately!!!
Music Concert
Don't forget to mark your calendars for our second grade music show on Wednesday, January 20 at 6:15. The title of the show is Sing Me to Peace. It is sure to be a treat! Detailed instructions to follow.
Conferences
Conferences are scheduled for the week of February 1rst. Please look for a schedule with your child's homework on Monday. Please return it by Wednesday. Your child will come with you to this conference. You will spend 15 minutes with your child and 15 minutes with me.
Art Start
I hope you had a chance to read about Art Start in the letter that went home on Tuesday. If you are able to volunteer for any of the days, it would be GREATLY appreciated. We will be meeting on Tuesdays from 12:00-1:00. Our first class will be January 12, but volunteers are not needed until the 19th. Your child will receive his/her states on Monday.
Reading
We continue to read in our Open Court book about different animals that camouflage. This week we read about sea creatures that use camouflage. Did you know an octopus can change colors?
I am also really enjoying reading the book The Year of the Dog by Grace Lin with all the students during our small reading groups. Some groups are reading independently and some are reading the book with more support. It is a great novel about a Chinese American Girl trying to make friends, learn about her strengths, and learn about her culture. Each Friday we will discuss the chapters we read during our Book Group. We will finish it in time to celebrate Chinese New Year in February.
Writing
We are learning about organization in writing. We learned that it is important to group similar ideas together when writing a story. We read and looked at a lot of non-fiction books and learned about the characteristics of non-fiction books. Each student will write their own book. Each book will have two paragraphs, a picture with a caption, a diagram and a glossary. This format used can be used again when students do their own research project later this spring.
Math
Students had a great time exploring different geometric concepts this week. We talked about polygons and angles and attributes. In addition we reviewed- through games -place value, time, money, and addition. We also looked at division for the first time through a conceptual game. PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRACTICE ADDITION AND SUBTRACTION FACTS! GET FLASHCARDS OR MAKE FLASHCARDS!
Science
We started a brand new science unit called Sink and Float. At first I was skeptical that the science would be challenging and age appropriate! I learned a lot about buoyancy and surface tension as I prepared for this unit. It is an interesting topic and the students love getting their hands wet!
There are a couple of reminders and curriculum updates.
Winter Recess
Expect that your child will be outside at least once during the day for at least 25 minutes. Unless the temperature is below 5 degrees or the wind chill is below -5 degrees we will go outside at lunch. Do not count on a warming center. Make sure your child is dressed appropriately!!!
Music Concert
Don't forget to mark your calendars for our second grade music show on Wednesday, January 20 at 6:15. The title of the show is Sing Me to Peace. It is sure to be a treat! Detailed instructions to follow.
Conferences
Conferences are scheduled for the week of February 1rst. Please look for a schedule with your child's homework on Monday. Please return it by Wednesday. Your child will come with you to this conference. You will spend 15 minutes with your child and 15 minutes with me.
Art Start
I hope you had a chance to read about Art Start in the letter that went home on Tuesday. If you are able to volunteer for any of the days, it would be GREATLY appreciated. We will be meeting on Tuesdays from 12:00-1:00. Our first class will be January 12, but volunteers are not needed until the 19th. Your child will receive his/her states on Monday.
Reading
We continue to read in our Open Court book about different animals that camouflage. This week we read about sea creatures that use camouflage. Did you know an octopus can change colors?
I am also really enjoying reading the book The Year of the Dog by Grace Lin with all the students during our small reading groups. Some groups are reading independently and some are reading the book with more support. It is a great novel about a Chinese American Girl trying to make friends, learn about her strengths, and learn about her culture. Each Friday we will discuss the chapters we read during our Book Group. We will finish it in time to celebrate Chinese New Year in February.
Writing
We are learning about organization in writing. We learned that it is important to group similar ideas together when writing a story. We read and looked at a lot of non-fiction books and learned about the characteristics of non-fiction books. Each student will write their own book. Each book will have two paragraphs, a picture with a caption, a diagram and a glossary. This format used can be used again when students do their own research project later this spring.
Math
Students had a great time exploring different geometric concepts this week. We talked about polygons and angles and attributes. In addition we reviewed- through games -place value, time, money, and addition. We also looked at division for the first time through a conceptual game. PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRACTICE ADDITION AND SUBTRACTION FACTS! GET FLASHCARDS OR MAKE FLASHCARDS!
Science
We started a brand new science unit called Sink and Float. At first I was skeptical that the science would be challenging and age appropriate! I learned a lot about buoyancy and surface tension as I prepared for this unit. It is an interesting topic and the students love getting their hands wet!
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