Newsletter
March, 2020
I greatly enjoyed with with each of you at conferences. It is very rewarding and exciting to see all the growth the kids have made. It will be very hard for me to send them on to third grade, but I know they are ready and will do amazing things.
In math, we are continuing our study of larger numbers. The kids have estimated and then counted over 2,000 popsicle sticks and over 2,000 unifix cubes. They are very good about knowing when to regroup form one place value to the next. We are trying to finish up Unit five by the end of March. Here are some fun games that the kids can play to practice place value. Click here to find a fun variation of Yahtzee.
We have taken a couple week break from Phonics and are participating in reading March Madness. Each day we listen to two books read online and vote on the one we like the best. At the end, it will come down to one final winner. We have had some good discussions as to why we like some and not others. Interestingly enough, some of our decisions come down to who is reading the book. They are seeing first hand how fluency and expression are so important.
In reading, we are busily working on group projects focused around the five biomes of the world; desert, tundra, forest, prairie and aquatic. The kids chose a biome and are working in a group to create a Google presentation to present to the class. In the end, we will all be experts on all five biomes. The kids are still reading fiction books in book groups and discussing them. Our next reading focus will be on character traits and how characters change from the beginning to the end of a book and how they change throughout a series.
In writing, we just finished up our ant opinions which were shared at conferences. We will be moving back into informational writing with our focus question being "How do animals survive in their biomes?" The kids will become experts on various animal adaptations and write about their learning. I love this study as the kids do all the research and organizing of facts and then the final writing. This project will lead us into our research and design of our websites.
In science, we are finishing up our Balance and Motion unit. The kids thoroughly enjoyed Lollipop Park. They are now busy designing and creating new and improved models of amusement park rides. If you can stop by next Friday morning, you can see all the rides. I will also be posting some videos on SeeSaw. Our next science unit will be Plants and Animals. We will be growing plants in many different ways and experimenting with what makes them grow and what does not.
Upcoming Events:
*Wednesday, March 11th at 7:00- Second Grade Music Program at Fox Hollow.
*Friday, MArch 13th in the afternoon- In school field trip about animal adaptations presented by the Denver Museum.
*Friday, May 15th- Website Launch Party- More information to come.
*Thursday, April 15th- Fox Tank- More information to come.
*Tuesday, May 19th- Balance and Motion field trip to Skate City- More information to come.
*Friday, May 22nd- Last day of school!
February, 2020
The year continues to speed by. I can't believe that we have only three months left of second grade! Where has the time gone? I am so grateful to have such an exceptional group of children. I look forward to talking about them at conferences.
In math, we are finishing up our study of measurement. The kids have had fun measuring things in and out of the classroom. We will be taking our Unit Four test next week. Unit Five will focus on adding and subtracting with larger numbers up to 1,000. We will also be focusing on money and solving story problems. The kids should be able to mentally add and subtract 10's and 100's from numbers in the thousands place. Click here for an overview.
In Phonics, we have been learning how to break up tricky words into parts. The kids have done a great job applying the new skills to both reading and writing. Click here to see some strategies for tackling multi-syllabic words.
In reading, we have been working on reading with fluency to improve comprehension. Click here for an overview. Make sure to look at SeeSaw often as we will be posting our accomplishments with improving our reading fluency. When we finish this unit, we will be moving back to reading nonfiction to become experts on a topic of choice. The kids will be choosing a topic, asking guiding questions, researching, writing and then designing a website to show off their expertise. We will be inviting family and friends to celebrate our websites. Look for more information to come.
In writing, we are working on forming an opinion based on the text, Hey, Little Ant, and then writing out an opinion with reasons and details. Below are the state standards that we are focusing on:
Write opinion pieces in which they introduce the topic or book they are writing about, state an opinion, supply reasons that support the opinion, use linking words (e.g., because, and, also) to connect opinion and reasons, and provide a concluding statement or section.
In science, we are continuing to work on Balance and Motion. This unit will lead into our field trip to Lollipop Park to explore how amusement park rides use balance and motion. We will then become engineers by designing our own scale model amusement park rides that show both balance and motion. This is a highlight of second grade. Please start saving any materials that you think the kids might use to create rides. A list of specific materials will come home next week.
Upcoming Dates:
* Field Trip to Lollipop Park: Friday, February 28th.
* Report cards go home February 28th
* Parent-Teacher Conferences: The week of March 2nd. Please sign-up on Sign-Up Genius.
January, 2020
I hope you all enjoyed your winter break.
In math, we are starting our study of standard measurement. We will be learning about inches, feet and yards and experimenting with measuring different things in and around the school. Click here to see an overview of the unit. Also, expect to see the Unit Three tests come home in Thursday folders. The kids did an amazing job not only computing the answers but showing their work as well.
In phonics, we are starting our second unit of study which is the study of tackling multisyllabic words. In this unit, the kids will learn many strategies for decoding difficult words. Many kids come to a difficult word and zip right over it. Your child might come home and say they are learning to read words from tip to tail.
In reading, we will be continuing our non-fiction study and applying our new found skills to becoming an expert on a famous person. Each child has chosen a person to research, keeping in mind the essential question of how the person changed the world or their community. They will then create a cereal box celebrating the person, and present their box to their fourth grade buddies.
In writing, we are moving back to narrative or story writing. The kids recently learned about similes and using strong verbs and adjectives in their writing. They will take this knowledge and apply it to a story about their adventures being trapped inside a snow globe. In the past, these have been some of my favorite stories as they are very creative.
In science, we will be studying balance and motion. This is a great unit which will lead into a field trip to Lollipop Park to investigate how rides move and then into the kids creating their own miniature rides that show balance and motion. If anyone has the old fashioned Webles that don't fall down, I would love to show the kids. Click here for an overview in English. Click here for an overview in Spanish.
I am excited to be back and seeing the kiddos. I missed them!
December, 2019
December is upon us and with it comes all the fun aspa_3e_balance_and_motion_hc_connections_sp.pdfnd stress of the upcoming holidays. I try and keep this in mind when assigning homework. Click here for an interesting article on helping kids deal with holiday stress.
In math, we are continuing to work on adding and subtraction on a number line and by breaking apart the numbers. Breaking apart for subtraction. Adding and subtracting on a number line. The kids are doing a great job. We are practicing different levels of the same concept during our WINN time (What I Need Now). We have also started to look at measuring.
In Phonics, we are working on looking at powerful patterns in words that will help us decode many more words. These patterns are ill, ock, oon, own, ot, og, ay, ook, at, ick, ake, and ack. Next week will will also look at ight and ice. These patterns appear in many words and are helpful when decoding multi-syllabic words. The kids have a word wheel and were excited to find many new words.
In reading, we are continuing our non-fiction study. The kids will be choosing a famous person to research and write about. They will be using books, encyclopedias, movies and other resources to research and create a cereal box that will include a timeline, a paragraph, a list of keys words, a surprise in the box that represents their person and some other details. Don't worry as this will be done at school. Click here to see all that the kids will be doing. Pretty impressive for a second grader! Click here for the rubric.
November 1, 2019
October flew by. I find myself wishing that time would slow down. I would like to thank you all for the kind words about my dad's passing. It has been a very difficult time for us but our faith and family ties are holding us up. I also want to thank you for coming in to share all about your child. I am so thankful each day to be your child's teacher.
In math, we recently took our Unit Two test. The kids did a great job. The tests will be coming home in Thursday Folders. We are also starting Unit Three. In Unit Three, we will be exploring addition and subtraction within 100. The kids will be learning several strategies to add and subtract. They might even be able to add faster than you!
In phonics, we have been working on homophones. Click here for some more information. The kids have had some fun illustrating and visualizing some funny homophone sentences. We are also working on the tricky homophones; there, their and they're, to, too and two and your and you're. So far we have just learned about there, their and they're. You can support your child at home when discussing these tricky words.
In reading, we have begun our non-fiction unit. The kids are learning the difference between fiction and non-fiction. They will also be learning how to read non-fiction and how to identify/utilize non-fiction text features. As a culminating activity, each child will be choosing a person to study and then creating a "Wheaties like" cereal box to show case their person. If you could please send in an empty cereal box for your child, it would be greatly appreciated. Click here to learn how to support your child's non-fiction reading.
In writing, we are learning how to become expert non-fiction writers. We are writing about the most important topic ever, ourselves. The kids are choosing important big ideas about themselves and then learning how to write a topic sentence, add supporting details and then wrap it up with a conclusion. We will be publishing them in a flip book.
Notes:
* Send in an empty cereal box.
* Send in any used newspapers you may have. We need a lot for paper mache.
* Vision screening is tomorrow
October 1, 2019
It's hard to believe that we have been n school for almost eight weeks. The time is flying by. The kids are well into our routine and learning and applying new skills.
In math, we have started our second unit which focuses on place value and measurement. Please click here for an overview of the unit. Click here for some great online games to reinforce place value. I also found a great overview of what we are discussing in math in regards to place value.
In phonics, we have been learning about different ways words are spelled and then how to read these words in our stories. We have focused on Sneaky "E" at the end of a word, vowel teams that make the first vowel say its name, the "Bossy R" and Blends. We have also just started our study on punctuation. I am expecting to see a big difference in the kids writing and reading as they learn to apply these new skills.
In writing, we are finishing up our first narratives. Te kids wrote some very creative stories and are now in the process of publishing them. I will share their accomplishments at conference time. Shortly, we will be moving into opinion writing. Our first opinion piece will be on which candy is the best. The kids will be doing some taste testing, coming up with information about each type of candy and then taking that information and forming an opinion as to which is the best. Click here to see what I will be looking for in their writing.
In reading, we are working on building our reading stamina, keeping track of our thinking by stopping and jotting as we read, attacking tricky words and becoming more fluent readers. I have shared with the kids how I stop and jot about my thinking as I read. Click here for some ideas to help your child become a deeper thinker about their reading. Our next unit of study will focus on Non-fiction reading. This is always a favorite of the kids.
We have started our Second Step program which focuses on the social/emotional development of students both in and outside of the classroom. We have been discussing respect and how that looks. This program also ties into the Seven Habits. Click here for an overview of the first unit.
Spelling: This year we are focusing on phonics instruction which will directly impact your child's reading, writing and spelling. We will have some spelling tests in school that practice the skills we have been learning but there will not be formal lists coming home. You can help your child at home by practicing the Power Words on the back on the reading skill card that comes home in their book bag. New skill cards will be sent home as your child progresses in their reading development.
Notes:
* We will be doing a pumpkin math day and will need pumpkin donations. Look for a Sign-Up Genius to donate and volunteer.
* Report cars go home November 1st.
*Conferences will be the week of November 4th. Look for a Sign-Up Genius soon.
* Please check SeeSaw often as I upload videos and pictures often.
* Remember, I have an open door policy. Come and volunteer when you have some free time.
Please feel free to email me or stop by with any questions or concerns. You have wonderful children who have a great to desire to learn.
September 1, 2019
I hope you all are having a relaxing long weekend. I made some updates on my website that you might want to take a look at.
Math:
I added some fact fluency songs and links. We are currently working on learning our doubles, make ten facts, add ten facts and double plus/minus one. Research shows that if children learn these fact groups, the rest of the facts come easily. These would be a great thing to practice at home.
Phonics:
I also added a Phonics tab. Fox Hollow is starting a new phonics program. Click here for an overview. I have added some songs that reinforce the skills we will be working on. I will also add games and activities.
Science:
We will be starting our first Science unit which is the Study of Air and Weather. Click here for an overview.
English Spanish
Writing:
We are starting our first writing project focusing on Narrative writing. In first grade, the kids focused on writing personal narratives or stories about themselves. In second grade, the kids will be encouraged to write narrative stories that include setting, characters, events, problem and solution. This craft will develop over the course of the year. We will be stating our first narrative this week. Click here for a brief article on narrative writing. For a look at what we will be looking for in your child's writing, click here.
Google Drive:
Last week the kids learned to access their Google Drive accounts and how to create a new document and then share it with me. We will be doing some homework in Google Drive, so I wanted to share how to access it.
Go to Mycherrycreek. Your child will then login with their user name and password. I will have them write these two things in their planner just in case they forget it. Once in, they find the Google Drive tile. Once they have created a new document, they click on share and type in Lynn Kelly. My name will show up. Then they hit share. It will come to my email.
Notes:
*Be on the look out for a Sign-Up Genius for being a guest reader.
* Please make sure to send in a water bottle and snack each day. The kids get very hungry in the morning.
* Check SeeSaw often for new pictures. This week we will also begin completing assignments in SeeSaw.
Thank you for sending such sweet and capable kids. They have been a joy to work with and learn from.
August 21, 2019
Hello All,
I hope this finds you happy and getting settled back into a school routine. I know I was exhausted by Friday of last week. The kids were amazing and did a great job! I bet they were tired on Friday as well.
We have started the school year with building our sense of community, getting to know each other and deciding on how we want others to see us as learners and leaders. One of the things we have been talking about is being Proactive. This is one of the Seven Habits. Each week we will learn about another habit. You can go to the Fox Hollow website to learn more about the Habits of Highly Effective Kids. Click Here
7 Habits of Highly Effective Kids From: The Leader in Me
by Stephen Covey
1. Be Proactive
I have a “Can Do” attitude. I choose my actions, attitudes and moods. I don’t blame others. I do the right thing without being asked, even if nobody is looking.
2. Begin With the End in Mind
I plan ahead and set goals. I do things that have meaning and make a difference. I am an important part of my school. I look for ways to be a good citizen.
3. Put First Things First
I spend my time on things that are most important. This means I say no to things I should not do. I set priorities, make a schedule, and follow my plan. I am organized.
4. Think Win-Win
I want everyone to be a success. I don’t have to put others down to get what I want. It makes me happy to see other people happy. I like to do nice things for others. When a conflict arrives, I help brainstorm a solution. We all can win!
5. Seek First to Understand
I listen to other people’s ideas and feelings. I try to see things from their viewpoints. I listen to others without interrupting. I am confident in voicing my ideas.
6. Synergize
I value other people’s strengths and learn from them. I get along well with others, even people who are different from me. I work well in groups. I seek out other people’s ideas to solve problems. I know that “two heads are better than one”. I am a better person when I let other people into my life and work.
7. Sharpen the Saw
I take care of my body by eating right, exercising, and getting sleep. I spend time with family and friends. I learn in lots of ways and lots of places.
8. Find Your Voice and Inspire Others to Find Theirs
You find your voice when you combine your talent, passion, and conscience to fill a need in the world and help others to do the same.
In reading, we have started to learn all about reading to self and reading to someone and what that looks like. We have been practicing building our stamina. Click here for ideas on how to read at home.
In math, we took our first pre-test to determine what we still need to learn. Unit one focuses on establishing our math routines and thinking about what math means. We have already started to write about our thinking in our math journals. We will also be building on our number sense, operations and fact fluency through 20. At this time we are working on learning our double facts as these are the basis of learning all other facts. Click here to see an overview of Unit One.
Testing: This week we have started the iReady test. This test looks at the strengths and areas that need work. The kids are working very hard and learning how to take their time on tests. I will be sharing the results at our first conference.
Notes:
* SeeSaw- I will be using a website called SeeSaw this year to do many online projects. All the projects will be available for you to see once you have signed up. A letter went home in last week's Thursday folder. If you haven't had a chance to sign-up, please do.
*Homework- Please check your child's homework folder and planner each night as it will contain their homework and other important papers. The planner helps them practice Habit Two: Begin With the End in Mind: Have a plan.
Important Upcoming Dates:
Picture Day: August 29th at 9:15
Field Day: August 30th from 8:30-10:30. Please contact Mrs. McKenna if you would like to volunteer or just come out and enjoy the festivities or you can click here to sign-up. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050D48AFAB22AB9-field2
I will be updating my website often so check back. I will also send out an email blast each time I update the site. My website will take the place of a written newsletter. This time only, will you please email me to let me know that you received the email and that you were able to access the site. Thank you for your time and your wonderful kids. I
This year will be filled with learning and laughter.
Lynn