A GREAT Start to Our Year!

What a great first week of school we've had!

We spent the week getting to know each other, practicing classroom routines and procedures, and building our caring, classroom community. We're all set up for a fabulous year together!

  

We thought about what a great classmate is (and what they aren't!), what they say, and what they do---it's clear to me we've got a classroom FILLED with great classmates!

 After reading the book Chrysanthemum, we also talked about the importance of being kind and using kind words. After the story, we completed a "wrinkled heart" activity which sent a powerful message:

We'll revisit these ideas next week as we begin drafting our "Hopes and Dreams" for our second grade school year.

*Thank you all for your help sending in books with you child celebrating their "reading life". The students were excited to share their books with their friends and did a FANTASTIC job talking about the stories and why they chose them. 

We will continue to learn more about our reading lifestyles this week as we study reading habits, just right reading, and building our stamina. Reader's Workshop is a truly magical time in the second grade classroom.

*In math this week, we had fun using our brand new whiteboards as a math tool. We will begin each math lesson with our "whiteboard warmups" as a way to complete some math reflexes (and have a little fun along the way!). This week, we also explored some other math tools we will be using and played a fun math game: Number Line Squeeze. Game materials and directions were sent home. There is also an app available through the iTunes store for additional, virtual practice.

*On Friday, our scientists engaged in their very first inquiry science project: dissecting owl pellets (a HUGE hit among our owl class!)! Each student received their very own owl pellet to dissect. They quickly got to work digging out the bones!

 After they finished their dissection, the real work began! They were challenged to identify the type of animal, or animals, the owl had eaten based on the bones they uncovered. It was hard work, but these scientists drew some excellent conclusions!

 One thing's clear: we have a group of scientists on our hands! We're destined for a great year filled with inquiry, discovery, and experimenting!

********************************************************************************

Questions to promote "School Talk":

-Which continent do you sit at? Who sits at your table?

-Who was our Classroom Manager this week? What does the Manager get to do?

-What is your classroom job?

-Where is your book nook?

-What's been your favorite part of second grade so far?

********************************************************************************

********************************************************************************

Important Dates (always available at the top of the blog page for convenience) :

Wednesday, Sept. 7th: Name Homework Due

Thursday, Sept. 15th: Picture Day
Thursday, Sept. 15th, 6:30pm: PREK-2 Curriculum Night
Friday, Sept. 16th: International Dot Day
Wednesday, Sept. 28th: Early Release (12:50 dismissal)

Hope you had a great, holiday weekend!