Happy Friday!

I hope you have all had a wonderful week!  We have been very busy in Room 27!

Here is what we have been working on and will work on next week!

Reading/Writing
Our reading and writing times for the week all focused on taking notes and then using those notes to write an informational piece.

This week, we worked on taking notes from an informational article.  The students all took notes about elephants from an article.  They had to identify the main idea of the entire article, then the main idea of each paragraph as well as details.  They also researched about either dinosaurs or health (they decided) and took notes that will be used to create a book for Showcase.

The students then used their notes to create a 5 paragraph informational writing about an elephant.  They learned that you have a lead paragraph, one paragraph for each of your main ideas and then a conclusion paragraph to wrap it all up.  Their elephant writing will be in the hallway next week.  Be sure to check it out when you come for conferences!

Next week, we will be writing our books over dinosaurs or health and creating a poster to accompany the books.  These will be displayed at the RBE Showcase which is Monday, February 29 from 10:30-11.  I hope you can come see all their wonderful work!

Math
This week in math, we started our subtraction unit.  This week the students learned how to use tens frame and hundreds charts to solve subtraction problems.  They also practiced solving problems that were stacked for subtraction without regrouping.

Next week, we will introduce the idea of regrouping with subtraction.  This can be a tricky concept at first, especially since it is a new concept, so we will spend multiple days on this concept.  Please continue practicing basic facts at home because it makes the more challenging concepts easier if they know their math facts "in a snap."

Book Fair
The book fair will be set up in the library again this time for conferences.  Our class will be going down on Monday morning for the students to make their wish lists.  Scholastic gives money back to our school based on the amount of books sold.  We really appreciate all the support!

RBE Reading Week
RBE Reading Week is just a few weeks away!  We have some wonderful Mystery Readers signed up.  If you haven't signed up and would like to, please do so!

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0c45aca62ca2fb6-reading

RBE Showcase
The RBE Showcase is Monday, February 29.  The 2nd grade portion is from 10:30-11.  The students will be sharing their health or dinosaur projects. I know your student would love to show off their hard work.  :)

Conferences
Parent Teacher Conferences are next week.  I look forward to meeting with everyone!  Due to Parent Teacher Conferences, there is no school next Friday, February 26.

I hope you get to enjoy this beautiful weather!  My fingers are crossed that it is here to stay!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Mrs. Ross and Miss Rottjakob

Happy Thursday!

Happy Thursday!

First off, I want to thank everyone who helped out with our fabulous party today.  The kids had a blast and I know all the Veterans at the Veteran's Hospital will appreciate the cards!

Reminders/Important Upcoming Dates

• No School tomorrow, February 12 or Monday, February 15, enjoy your 4 day weekend!
• If you haven't returned your Parent Teacher Conference Confirmation form, please do so next week.  Our goal is 100% attendance!
• If you haven't signed and returned your student's math test, please do so next week.
• Friday, February 19: PJ Day
• Week of February 22: Parent Teacher Conferences and Book Fair
• Monday, February 29: RBE Showcase from 10:30-11

Reading Week
If you haven't signed up to be a Mystery Reader (remember family, friends, coaches, etc. can sign up also) in the classroom and would like to, the link to the Sign Up Genius is below.

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0c45aca62ca2fb6-reading

Here is some information about Reading Week.

Reading
This week we worked on character development, the students did a wonderful job this week explaining how and why the character changed throughout the course of a book or a story.

Next week, we will start focusing more on nonfiction books and comparing the information from different books on the same topic.  This will also be helpful as we continue researching for our informational writing.

Writing
We are continuing to work on our informational writing unit.  This week, the students learned how to take notes from an article and also chose a topic for the RBE Showcase.

Next week ,the students will start to research for the RBE Showcase.  The students decided to study either health or dinosaurs.  After we do some research, the students will start to write an informational book about their topic.

If your student has any resources at home (books, magazines, etc) they would like to bring in to use for their research, they can definitely bring them in.  :)

Math
This week in math, we reviewed concepts that we have learned throughout the year.  We worked on arrays, word problems and different addition and subtraction strategies.

Next week, we will start our unit over subtraction.  This will be a new concept for students, especially as we introduce regrouping.

Please continue to practice facts at home.  It makes it so much easier for the students if they know them "in a snap."

Have a wonderful 4 day weekend and again thank you for our wonderful party!

Mrs. Ross and Miss Rottjakob

Happy Friday! (February 5!)

Happy Friday!

I hope you have had a wonderful week!  We have had a lot of fun learning occurring this week. 

Health

This week in health, we learned about the nervous system.  We learned that the main organs are the brain, spinal cord and nerves.  They also learned the main parts of the brain.  Below is a picture of them wearing their "brain caps" that we made today.

Next week, we will learn about the muscular/skeletal systems.  This will wrap up our health unit.  Some of the students will be studying more about the body systems for the RBE Showcase on Monday, February 29.

Reading

This week in reading, we learned about characters and how they changed throughout the story.  We will continue working on this next week.  The students have been doing a nice job identifying the changes in the characters as well as the reasons why the characters have changed.  

Math

We wrapped up our addition unit today and the students overall rocked the test!  I am so proud of how hard the students worked throughout this unit.  I will be sending this test home next week to be signed.  

Next week, we will do some reviewing of concepts we have covered thus far this year.  The following week, we will start our 2 and 3-digit subtraction unit.

Writing

We continued learning to research this week.  We used a strategy called close reading to read over articles and identify the main idea and then details through repeated readings.  We discussed looking at the articles through different lens each time you read it.

Next week, the students will choose their topic to research for the RBE Showcase.  They will be researching dinosaurs or body systems.  They all seemed very excited this afternoon when we were discussing the topics.  

Next Week's Homework

Next week's homework will look a little different.  For reading, there will be a passage and response for Monday.  The passage is 3 pages and the students will need to identify how the characters (the parents specifically) changed throughout the story.  Their response will be due on Tuesday next week.  Tuesday and Wednesday night will have normal reading (15 minutes or more).  The math homework will be just like normal homework.

Valentine's Day Party

Our Valentine's Day Party is scheduled for Thursday, February 11 at 1:45 p.m.  We will pass out Valentines at the party.  Please have your child write who the valentines are from, but leave the to line blank.  This makes passing out the valentines faster which means more time to have fun at our party!  We will decorate bags at school for our Valentines, but if your child would like to make a box at home they can and then bring it in on Thursday.

Lori Hauxwell is planning our Valentine's Party.  She has set up a Sign Up Genius for parents to bring in items or help at the party.  http://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040d44aba92aa02-valentine

Reading Week 2016

Reading Week is schedule for March 7-March 11.  This will be a week to enjoy and encourage our students to read!  

We have already had parents, grandparents and other family members sign up to read.  If you or someone you know would like to come read, please sign up!  It can be coaches, family friends, etc.  The students love having books read to them!  http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0c45aca62ca2fb6-reading

We will have dress up days during Reading Week also.  

Monday: "Hats off to Reading", students can wear hats.

Tuesday: "Reading Rainbow", students can wear as many colors as possible.

Wednesday: "Relaxing with a Good Book", students can wear their PJ's.

Thursday: "Lasso a Good Book", students can wear Western wear.

Friday: "Book Character Day", dress as your favorite book character. 

RBE Showcase

RBE Showcase is scheduled for Monday, February 29.  The 2nd grade Showcase is from 10:30-11.  The students will be creating invitations as we get closer to the date.  This is an opportunity for the students to show you all their hard work they have done creating their informational writing pieces. 

Maker Space

Today, we went to Maker Space and got to play with some fun robots.  Check out the pictures!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Mrs. Ross and Miss Rottjakob