Fall is here!
The students generated a great list of things they might see around them as the season changes. Our discussion talked about how animals and people might prepare for colder weather. They are encouraged to bring in pictures of fall things from old magazines, flyers, real photos, etc.

Sept. 30 is our Terry Fox Walk in support of the Marathon of Hope.

In math, we are continuing to work on Patterns and Number Sense. We have been creating, describing and extending patterns using attributes like color, shape and size. We have been reviewing counting by 2's, 5's, and 10's forward and backward. This is difficult for some children so please practice this often, orally and written. Students should be able to use ordinal numbers: first, second, third, etc. We have also been playing the Mystery Number game on the Hundreds Chart. This is a great way for the children to use the math vocabulary like even and odd numbers, greater than or less than, etc. A Hundreds Chart has been provided in the yellow homework duotang. Please use it to have your child identify a number, count in different ways, etc. Next week we will be starting addition strategies. I will send home flashcards and hints for helping your child learn the math facts.

Please continue to work on printing with your child. I have been stressing the proper way to form upper and lower case letters as well as proper spacing between words. The purpose of communicating in written form is so that someone else can understand it. Students are learning how to write in sentences using capital letters at the start and punctuation at the end. We have had a lot of fun with the word families. We were able to make over 50 words together with the letters in "Autumn is here!" Please have your child review the songs/poems in the yellow duotang.

I am excited about the skills the children used in completing the Clifford Stations. Please take the time to have your child show you their booklets.

We are almost ready to start our reading groups. When a school book is assigned for home reading, remember that it may need support but the book shouldn't be too difficult. I am working on getting to know each reader so watch for books (and bookmarks) next week.

Thanks for all the notes, healthy lunches and well rested children. They are a wonderful group of boys and girls!

Sept. 22

Today I introduced the class to www.starfall.com.
It is a wonderful educational site for many skills: letter recognition, distinguishing between uppercase/lowercase letters, sounds, word families, etc. I recommend you and your child use it regularily. Your child can also navigate it independently. It teaches skills, reinforces the skill and then has your child practice the skill. Enjoy!

Week of Sept. 20

This morning we started "Clifford" learning stations in the library. Students worked in small groups to complete different tasks that support the Language Arts outcomes. The stations included working with the glossary and index of non-fiction books about dogs; searching the computer database for book info.; reading a poem and locating rhyming words, 2 syllable words, etc.; answering questions about the story; editing a paragraph about Clifford, etc. It was also intended to be a co-operative experience to foster teamwork and independence. The class seemed to enjoy it.

Tonight your child has brought home a homework duotang as well as the agenda.It should be returned each day. It will have supports for you and your child as well as a reading log sheet. Please record the title of the book you read with your child each night and sign the page. I will check these each Friday and award stickers to encourage nightly reading. I also included a page of suggestions to talk with your child about after the book is shared. We used some of these last week when the class brought books from home to share. Finally I have provided printing pages for you to review and use regularily to aid in your child's printing. We have a printing book in class as well. It's important that your child is forming the letters properly. The printing behaviours for Grade 2 include: holding a pencil corectly, writing on the lines with spaces between words, formation of each letter, left to right direction starting at the margin, use of upper and lower letters appropriately and legibility. Please provide your child with the necessary tools at home so that they can practice printing, make book, write a note,etc. We have discussed that writing is communication and that they each have great ideas to share. Not everyone will need regular practice but spend some time working on the letters to discover what your child may need help with. The large blank page is where your child is to practice tonight and bring tomorrow as homework. The pages in the duotang are a place for your child to trace with a finger or a model to look at. Please don't mark on the resource pages or remove any pages from the duotang.
Other:
Scholastic book orders due tomorrow as well as Highlights and Chickadee magazine offers.
Photo day is Wed.
School fund-raising due next Mon. Sept. 27
National Terry Fox School Run/Walk Sept. 30. $1 donation/child is appreciated.

Welcome Back

2B - Grade 2 English
Welcome Back to school! I hope each and everyone had a wonderful summer vacation.

The first few weeks of Grade 2 will include activities that will help create a positive learning environment for everyone. Students will have an opportunity to get-to-know their classmates, celebrate similarities and differences and learn the importance of respect. We will work on being good citizens which I hope will last all year.
Our first literacy focus is learning about choosing just right books. Then the children will be taught to self-monitor: asking themselves who, what, when, where, why and how. Good readers are always thinking when reading and this is essential for comprehension. It is my hope that the girls and boys will get hooked on reading this year. The "Top Ten Ways" to become better readers are: 1.read, 2.read, 3.read, 4.read, 5.read, 6.read, 7.read, 8.read,9. read and 10. read. By reading at home, you are being a great role-model for your child.
We will be doing a review of the math outcomes from Gr. 1 and then launching into patterning as our first unit. Our new curriculum is very hands-on where the children learn by doing so I will be sending home math games/activites from time to time.
Your child has an agenda and a homework pouch which should come to school daily. Please use the agenda as a communication book with me. Check it nightly for any assignments or news. I will try my best to update this blog weekly. H.W. will mainly consist of nightly reading with your child and review of such things as math strategies, math facts, sight words, and "no excuse" words (spellings).
I'm looking forward to a great year with your children. I hope to meet you at Parent Night on Sept. 14 at 6:30 p.m.