Almost Vacation

Dear Families,

This is our last week before winter vacation.  After Friday there will be no school until Tuesday, January 4th.
When we return next year 2nd grade will be starting our classroom economy.  The students will be responsible for doing jobs around the classroom & will get paid for these jobs.  They will keep their money in a bank and have to balance their accounts.  There will also be a store for students to use their money to buy goods.  The break would be a great time to work with your student on recognizing coins as well as adding and subtracting money.

Don't forget about the field trip to the Science Center on Friday, January 7th.  Money & permission slips are due THIS FRIDAY!  We will be doing a science lab about weather & meteorology.  Your student will NOT want to miss this experience.

Weekly Spelling Words:
sled  nose  race  pull  start  turn  climb  white  snow  ice  children  frost  winter

Friday, December 17th is our HOLIDAY PARTY.  If you have not signed up to help but wish to there is a sign-up sheet on our window. 

Tonight come to Fresh and Easy at University & 32nd between 4-8pm.  A part of the proceeds will go to IA.  The staff will be there and the hip-hop class will be performing.

Last week Kim Blough came in the share her art expertise with us.  She taught the students all about clay.  Then the students made pinch pots & coil pots.  She is generously firing them for us over the vacation and then we will glaze them.  Here are some photos from the day.

                                                                              

We are wrapping up our meteorology project.  This past week in class we talked a lot about the water cycle and are in the midst of an experiment about the water cycle.  We created a miniature environment in a plastic tub that had dirt and a lake.  We covered the tub with cellophane, which will act as the troposhpere.  As the water from the lake evaporates we will record what see happening.                      

 

 

   

 

Thank you for reading!

December

Dear Families,

We have 2 weeks left until winter vacation.  During those 2 weeks your students will be working on 3 digit addition and subtraction.  We will start to touch on money so that we can begin our class economy after winter break.  If anyone has ideas or little trinkets for the classroom store I would appreciate the help.  In LA we are continuing our lit. circles and also working on point of view.  Thank you to those families who have sent in jars for our science experiement.  We will be growing crystals in the shape of snowflakes and each student needs a jar to grow his/her crystal.

Spelling words: (double consonants)
summer   call   matter   tall   flatten   allow   cotton   clapping   happy   collect   mall   kitten

Reminders & Upcoming Events:

Field Trip to the Reuben H Fleet Science Center is January 7th.  I only have money from 4 students.  If you would like your child to attend please fill out the permission slip & return it with your $9.00 ASAP!

Fresh & Easy Shopping Night is December 13th.  Come from 4-8pm to the Fresh & Easy at 32nd & University to do your weekly grocery shopping.  Part of the proceedes will go to IA.  The staff will be there to greet you and bag your groceries.  I will be there from around 6-8pm.

Last but not least....here are some photos from the Fables play that your students put on.  If anyone has a video recording of the play I would love to make a copy of it for some of the parents that could not attend.  Please shoot me an e-mail or come find me at school!  Thank you.

                                                                                          

     

End of November

Dear Families,

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving break.  I reflected a lot this past week and want to express how thankful I am to have families like you!  Thank you for being so supportive and helpful with your time & donations.  IA would not be the school it is without families like you.

Here are some photos from our Thanksgiving feast:

                                                              

  

As part of our fall class work the students created graphs called Turkey Glyphs.  Glyphs are pictures that are created in a specific way in which each piece of the picture tells a specific information. 

 

News:
IA Family Night Thursday, December 2nd
   5:00-6:00 is an information meeting about possible school sites for next year.  It will be led by Christine.  Location is TBD.
   6:00-7:00  come to the classroom with your favorite fruit or dessert to spend time with the 2nd grade families and discuss experiences and future ideas for IA.
There will be NO SCHOOL on Friday, December 3rd.

Field Trip
    Friday, January 7th.  The 2nd graders are going to the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center for a workshop on meteorology.  They will also have time to explore the exhibits.  It will cost $9.00 for students and we can have 7 adult chaperones.  The form will go home with your student Monday, November 29th.  Please fill it out & return as soon as possible.

IA Shopping Night at Fresh and Easy
   Monday, December 13th shop at the Fresh & Easy on 32nd & University.  A percentage of your bill will go to IA.  The teachers will be there to greet you & bag your groceries.

Spelling Words:  (double consonants)

bell   egg   off   all   add   will   grass   messy   hill   well   pass   fall

The Latest Activities in 2nd Grade

Dear Families,

Your students have been busy working & creating.  Last week we learned about Veteran's Day and made cards to send to soldiers serving our country abroad.

   

On Friday, Reyna came in to teach her weekly architecture class.  The students learned about how to make a sturdy structure with reinforcement.  They created their own skyscrapers with marshmallows & toothpicks.  It was so much fun and the students learned a lot about why working slowly and carefully is important. 

 

This week our class will be talking a lot about what we have in our lives to be thankful for.  We will be doing an art project and a writing sample to show our gratitude for the many wonderful people & things we have in our lives.  Don't forget to join us on Friday, November 19th for our Thanksgiving Feast!  We will be having the feast in the classroom from 12:15 - 1:15.  We still need another main course & a few more side dishes.  Thank you!

Thursday, November 18th is the class play.  Please join us in our old classroom from 2:30-3:00 for the play.  The students have been practicing for many weeks & are excited to showcase their talent!  There will be snacks to follow.

* Remember, there will be no school the week of November 22nd for the Thanksgiving Break.

* Upcoming Field Trip:  January 7th We will be going to the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center for a workshop on meteorology.  More information to come after the Thanksgiving break.

Is it November Already?

Dear Parents,

Our Halloween celebration was a great success.  We had cupcake decorating and ghost making as some of the exciting activities. Thank you so much to Kim for organizing the party and thanks to all the parents who came to help and celebrate with us!  It is so exciting to see everyone so involved in IA's learning community!

 

 

 We are continuing our Meteorology Project.  Throughout the week the students take time to go outside and observe the weather.  We saw a huge difference in the 90 degree weather last week to today's 63 degrees.  The students are also learning about tools meteorologists use as well as the different types of clouds that form in the sky.

In math we will begin double-digit subtraction with re-grouping.  Once the students are comfortable with this we will move on to three-digit addition & subtraction.  This will lead us into money. 

I am greatly enjoying the writing that is taking place in the classroom.  If you have a moment before or after school stop in and ask your student to show you a story that he/she is working on.  There is so much creativity!

Absences & Tardies:  I have noticed a rise in tardies over the past few weeks.  Please try to bring your child to school every day and bring them on time! 

Upcoming Events:

Thursday, November 18th the 2nd graders will put on their presentation of "Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears."  The show will begin at 2:30 and then be followed by the November birthday celebrations & treats until the end of the day.

Friday, November 19th is our Thanksgiving Feast.  Please bring a side dish, main course, or dessert that is from your heritage/culture. 

THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY:  No school from November 22nd - November 26th

Into October

Dear Families,

     Thank you so much for taking the time out of your busy schedules to meet with me for the student goal-setting conferences.  I really enjoyed having the time to speak with you and your students about their hopes and goals for the year.
     This week 2nd grade will begin rehearsals for our fables play.  We will be putting on a performance of Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears.  We are planning to be ready to perform during the week before Thanksgiving break.  I will be sending home a formal invitation to all families as the date comes closer.  As part of the play your students will be making paper mache masks.  I am hoping that parents can bring in newspaper this week to help with the project.  We will begin covering the balloons on Tuesday.
     In math we are moving from addition onto subtraction.  Basic knowledge of addition & subtraction facts are such important building blocks for your student.  It is critical that your student have a quick recall of their addition & subtraction facts in order for them to feel confident as we move on to borrowing, regrouping, and even into multiplication and division.
     Upcoming Events:
      - School photos will be next Wednesday from 8:30-9:00am.  Please try to be time that day!
      - This Thursday will be the celebration for October birthdays.  We will have the celebration during the last half hour of the school day.  Luci Duncan is making arrangements.  Please contact her if you would like to bring anything for the celebration
      - Friday, October 29th will be our Halloween celebration.  If you would like to help with the party please sign up on the sheet outside of the classroom or talk to Kim Carpenter.
 Posted below are photos from our field trip to the park.  The students had such a great time! 

     Eating lunch in park was so fun!

Thank you parent volunteers!

Monkey Bars

Rock Wall leading to the Slide

This Week at IA

Hello Families,

     This week we started work on our Numbers Book project.  Each student was assigned a number is learning about key math vocabulary in relationship to their number.
     In Language Arts we began reading groups.  Each week the groups will read a book and learn comprehension, grammar, and spelling skills based around that book.  We are working on using more adjectives in our writing in order to paint pictures in the readers mind.
We are also beginning to wrap up our Fables project.  The project will culminate in a play based on the fable Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears.  Once the students are ready for their theatrical debut we will have a parent day for you to see the show and look through their Fable Portfolio. So that is something to look forward to!
    
     Next week begins Student Led Conferences.  Please check your student's Go Home Folder this Friday for a goal setting sheet.  Take some time over the weekend to fill it out with your student and bring it to your conference.  Also, please make sure that you are looking at the red folders each Friday (or Thursday) and sending them back each Monday (or Tuesday).

     Halloween is around the corner.  One of our Room Moms (Kim Carpenter) has volunteered to plan the celebration.  On our window is a sign-up sheet if you would like to help.  The celebration will begin at 1:00 and go through the end of the day.  Your student is free to wear their Halloween costumes to school that Friday...but please NO BLOOD or WEAPONS.  Also, if the costume involves a mask, students are free to share the mask during morning meeting but may not wear it throughout the day.

Thank you,
Jenn

Thank You!

I would like to thank all of the families and students who made the move to the new classroom possible.  Second grade is now located in the old kinder room at the end of the hall.  Today was a long, tedious day and it wouldn't have been possible without your support and hard labor!

Week 4

Hi Families,

     As we move into week 4 of 2nd grade your students are really beginning to learn the daily routines & work on the expectations we all set together the first week of school. 
     In Language Arts we are working on our Fables Project almost daily.  We have read many fun fables that I encourage you to ask your student about.  Zen Shorts is a great story that teaches 3 great lessons and Hare & Tortoise Race to the Moon is a fable that everyone really enjoyed.  It is a modern twist on The Tortoise & the Hare.  Students are using venn-diagrams to compare & contrast, webs to remember details, and are also writing friendly letters to characters in the stories.  Feel free to come in after school any day & take a look at the work we are compiling!
     In writing we are working on Fantasy vs. Realism.  We brainstormed what we know about these subjects.  We are reading stories that have both elements and identifying which is which.  Eventually this will lead to a writing project where the students will write fantasy stories and realistic personal narratives.
     We began our math this year with many graphing projects in class.  These graphs showed us how to collect and display data.  They also let us know about each other.  Now math is a review of last year.  We are working on our basic knowledge of addition and subtraction.  It is so important to secure these basic skills before moving on to more advanced math.
     Our class pet, Stormy, was very well recieved by the class and I want to thank all of the parents who take Stormy home on the weekends...and those who will take him home in the future.  This support allows us have him in the classroom and helps teach responsibility to the students.
     The Sharing Bag has been a great success at Morning Meeting.  Your students are loving sharing about themselves and we are loving learning about our friends.  Thank you for helping your student fill out the book and select items to share.

WE ARE MOVING!!!

Wednesday, September 22nd we are moving classrooms.  Any parent or friend or friend of a friend that can help us move would be greatly appreciated!  We have to move the furniture out of the kinder class, move our furniture and supplies in, move the kinder furniture into our old class, and then organize the classroom.  The more hands we have the smoother (and quicker) the process will go!

WELCOME BACK TO SCHOOL!

         I am so excited to be a part of the IA community.  I am looking forward to getting to know all of you this year and working together to create a learning community where we can all explore and grow.                          


                                    Second Grade Supply List

• 3 inch binder for portfolio
• sheet protectors
• insertable tab dividers for binder
• 1 package of loose leaf binder paper (wide rule preferred)
• 3 spiral notebooks (wide rule preferred)
• 1 package of pencils (12 pack if possible)
• 1 personal pencil sharpener (covered)
• 1 large pink wedge eraser
• 1 bottle of  glue
• 2 glue sticks
• 1 box of crayons (12 or 24)
• 1 box of markers

Class Wish List:

• printer paper
• colored construction paper
• legos/blocks
• board games
• books for class library
• tempra paint (any color)
• any craft supplies are welcome & appreciated