Update from Ms. R

Homework 

The homework for this week is to complete the math review worksheet. Each child was also given a "homework writing journal". This journal will be used every two weeks for the students to write a story. This week the challenge is to write a story, fiction or non-fiction, about the owl picture stamped on the first page of the journal. This homework is due on Friday, September 30th.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR ALL PARENTS

It is unfortunate news that four classes in the English primary division are being forced to reorganize. Our classroom will now be a combined class of grade 2 and grade 3 students. This means that half of the students in our class will be reassigned to different teachers and we will welcome 10 new grade 3 students. These changes will officially occur as of first period, on Monday, September 26. At this time, I do not have an official list of the students who will be leaving and which students will be staying.

Please know, that the principal, Mrs. Farrelly, fought very hard against this reorganization. However, the Ministry and the school board said the rules must be enforced. The final decision was made at noon on Friday. This did not leave a lot of time to do the reorganization of the classes! Ordinarily, the school would have shared the changes with parents by the end of the school day on Friday, but because there was no internet access, this could not be done.

This is a difficult time for the students and for me as their teacher. I have personally been through this type of situation many times and although the changes are difficult at first, children are very resilient and adapt to new circumstances quickly and easily.

Please let me know if you have any questions about this.

Important Dates

Wednesday, October 5 - Room 204 a Thanksgiving celebration 

Thursday, October 6 - Curriculum Night (6:00 - 7:00)

Thursday, October 6 - Terry Fox Run ("Bring a toonie for Terry" fundraiser for cancer research)

Friday, October 7 - P. A. Day - no classes

Monday, October 10 - Thanksgiving Day holiday - no classes

News for September 23

News for September 23

The students were busy this week...from researching facts about squirrels to measuring trees on the playground to determine their age...

In math, the children practiced skip counting forwards (addition) and backwards (subtraction). We looked at patterns in the 100 chart. We reviewed strategies for simple addition. They also practiced working with a partner on two occasions this week, so that they have "two brains" to help solve more complicated word problems. They are getting better at drawing pictures to help them solve more difficult math problems, then translating that to equations and word sentences to show their understanding of the problem and the answer.

In science the students began the unit on "Understanding Life Systems: Growth and Changes in Animals". We began by doing a research project on squirrels together as a class. First the students discussed what they already thought they knew about squirrels. Next they generated questions about what they wanted to know about squirrels. These questions helped to guide our research. Then they compiled the facts we researched and created books to demonstrate what they learned.

In writing, the class started to write fiction stories about Frisko the Squirrel (a furry squirrel puppet), as a link to their non-fiction writing about squirrel facts. By the end of the week, many students had already begun to edit their work (correct mistakes) and finally, write the good copy for publication.

Our class was asked by our principal Mrs. Farrelly, to do some research on the large tree that bends over toward the parking lot in our playground. She asked us to do this because many children are playing and climbing on the tree and hurting it. We agreed that if the other students knew more about the tree, they would understand why the children are not allowed to climb it. We measure the tree and figured out that it was over 105 years old and planted in 1911! (We then went and measured the silver maple tree on the edge of the playing field and figured out it was 121 years old and planted in 1895!) We used books to figure out what type of tree it was and we had trouble. We asked the head caretaker, Pat, and he had to email someone at the school board office to see what kind of tree it was. It's a Manitoba Maple. Next week, we will write a letter to the principal to tell her what we learned and let her know our ideas about how to help the children treat the tree kindly.

In our class, there is a large poster on the classroom door of the famous scientist, Albert Einstein. The students were very curious about this man, so we read aloud two books about his life. Did you know that as a child he began his interest in science when he was given a compass? Did you know that he didn't like wearing socks and as an adult, he never wore them?

Books read aloud this week:

The Secret Life of Squirrels by Nancy Rose

One More Acorn by Don Freeman

Ask Albert Einsein by Lynne Barasch

On a Beam of Light: The Story of Albert Einstein by Jennifer Berne

Six Dinner Sid by Inga Moore

The Little Red Pen by Jennifer Stevens

Update from Ms. R

The homework this week is to complete the math and language review worksheets that were sent home with the students on Friday. This homework is due on Friday, September 23rd.

IMPORTANT NOTE TO PARENTS

There will be a reorganization of all the primary classes at the end of next week. Over 30 new students unexpectedly enrolled at our school at the beginning of the school year. Because of TDSB rules around the numbers of students allowed in primary classrooms, we need to reorganize where the students go. Our class will change from a grade 2 class to either a grade 1/2 or grade 2/3. This means that some students will leave our classroom, some will stay and we will welcome new children to our class. The changes will be announced next Friday. If you have any questions, please contact me.

*** A note about birthday celebrations at our school

At the beginning of the year, our principal announced a change in policy around celebrating birthdays at school. Please DO NOT bring food items to share with friends as we have several students with life-threatening allergies in the school. In Room 204, the students always make a card for the birthday child, but if you wish you may send pencils, stickers or other small gifts, for the birthday child to give to his/her friends.

News for September 16

News for September 16

The first full week of school had the students in Room 204 doing lots of different activities!

In math, the children reviewed the cardinal numbers 0-100. Each child created his/her own 100 chart and as they wrote the numbers into the grid, they noticed the patterns. For example, all the numbers going down a column have the same digit in the one's place. We also looked at odd/even numbers and practiced skip counting by 2's, 5's and 10's. (We also looked at skip counting by 25's, 50's and 100's). The students used what they know about skip counting to quickly count large groups of items.

In writing, the children finished writing their first stories of the year. After planning the stories and writing the rough draft, each child edited his/her story with me. I then typed each story and the students stapled the published stories to black construction paper to be displayed with their paintings in the hall outside of our classroom.

The class practiced writing sentences beginning with capital letters and ending in periods or questions marks. They also learned about how to recognize rhyming words.

The students worked in partners to write "cooperative stories". Using a die and different coloured pens, the partners rolled the die and only wrote the number of words that matched the number on the die. For example, if a five is rolled, the student writes the next 5 words of the story. The result was some very funny stories! Finally, the children gathered on the carpet and shared their stories as a group.

The class learned how to fold origami paper elephants. After learning a bit about elephants (did you know they are the largest land animal on earth?), I read them an article about how 35,000 elephants are hunted each year for their tusks. The Wildlife Conservation Society is trying to beat a Guinness World Record to assemble together the largest number of origami elephants ever, to bring attention to this problem. We managed to fold 152 paper elephants on Monday to mail to New York City to meet the deadline.

In science, the class learned about the reasons for the seasons and why we have both warm and cold weather in Canada. It's because the earth is tilted! The earth takes one year (365 days) to make a trip around the sun. For half the year, Canada is tilted toward the sun, so we have warm weather in spring and summer. For the other half, Canada is tilted away from the sun so we have cooler weather in fall and winter. The students heard a read aloud book about this and saw a video. Here is the link:

https://shar.es/1xfzCi

After hearing a read aloud story, the children discussed, then wrote about, the four main parts of a story: characters (who?), setting (where? when?), problem (what?) and solution (how?).             

The students did a Reader's Theatre activity based on the nursery rhyme Old Mother Hubbard. This type of activity has the children doing repeated readings of text to improve their reading fluency and expression. The class worked in groups and then presented their plays in front of the class. At the end of each presentation, the children discussed what went well and what could be done next time to improve the group performances.

The students reviewed the parts of a book and then made their own books! They learned how to fold an origami book and each student made several models. They then got creative and filled the books with their own pictures and stories.

Books read aloud this week:

Life Size Zoo: From Tiny Rodents to Gigantic Elephants by Teruyuki Komiya

DK Braille: It Can't Be True by DK Books

What? Cried Granny by Kate Lum

Pig Pig Gets a Job by David McPhail

Books! By Murry McCain

The Reasons for Seasons by Gail Gibbons

Update from Ms. R

Welcome to Room 204!

Please check here each week to read news from our classroom. I post updates every Sunday.

The homework for this week is to complete the "A Little Bit About Me" two-sided worksheet. This homework is due on Friday, September 16. 

Note to Parents:

1. Agendas - In grade two, we use agendas to bring papers to and from school. We also use them to record and practice the Word Wall Words (spelling words) for the week. I may write notes to you there and you may write notes to me there. Please help your child remember to bring his/her agenda to school each day.

2. Homework - There is both daily and weekly homework in our class. Daily homework is done each day, at home, and consists of studying the weekly assigned word wall words (spelling) and reading for a minimum of 20 minutes (of course reading more is encouraged). Weekly homework is assigned every Friday and is due the following Friday.

3. Water Bottles - The students are encouraged to bring a water bottle to school. The students may keep their water bottles on their desks, but only if the bottles contain water. At this age, there are often spills and cleaning up plain water is a lot easier than energy drinks or fruit juices.

News for September 9

'

News for September 9

Ah! The first week of school...new routines, class work and some fun too!

The students worked in groups to discuss how to behave at school so everyone gets along and can do their best work. The four groups looked at rules in the classroom, the halls, the playground and the lunchroom. We read everyone's words and it looked like the common ideas were to follow the rules, work hard and be nice. That way everyone is happy at school.

In math, the class reviewed the "100 chart". It's a chart that shows the numbers 1- 100 and is set up in ten rows of ten. The children practiced skip counting by 2's. 5's, 10's, 25', 50's and 100's. They worked in partners to use the 100 charts as game boards to play "Race to 100" using a die. They also listened to oral cues and placed markers on the appropriate numbers to create a design on the chart.

In writing, the students reviewed writing the 26 uppercase (capital) letters and lowercase letters. They also reviewed how to write a perfect sentence (beginning with a capital letter and ending in a period ( or ? or !)

The children created large paper letters by colouring and cutting out letter shapes of their own creation. We used these letters to spell out, "Welcome Back Everybody! From Room 204" in the hall outside of our classroom.

In visual art, the children worked on creating large paintings. First, they planned their pictures using pencil. Next, they used tempra paint to give their art some colour. Then, they used the "artist trick" of adding a thin black outline to the images to make them stand out. Finally, they made a frame for their paintings using strips of coloured tissue paper and staplers.

The students began to write their first stories of the year! Using the ideas in their paintings, they planned their stories and most students started to write their sentences. The paintings will be the illustrations for their stories.

The children were each given an empty jar to create a treasure box (or jar) to safely hold any little treasures that they find. Children are encouraged to bring in small things that they personally treasure to put in this jar. For example, many students found small rocks at recess that they found interesting. I also gave the students a few small treasures to start them off. Later, the class will use these treasure boxes as part of a personal class project.

The class had the first of their weekly LEGO time. During the first period of Day 3, the students are encouraged to create things with our two big bins of Lego (the former collection of my two sons). Children who do not wish to play with Lego may create their own art projects or read a book.

Books read aloud this week:

The Incredible Book Eating Boy by Oliver Jeffers

The Book That Eats People by John Perry

Do Not Open This Book! By Michaela Muntean

The Good Little Book by Kyo Maclear

Waiting for the students to arrive...

Room 204 is ready and waiting for the students to arrive on Tuesday! I'm looking forward to learning and creating with a new group of grade two children this school year.

Please check this classroom blog every week, to see photos and commentary on the work the class does each week. (The updates are posted every Sunday.)

Welcome to the world of Room 204!