November 1-5th

Wow, can't believe November is here. Bring on the pumpkin bread and sweaters. We have our November Rock N' Roll this Friday. I apologize, but I will not be here. Katy ISD does not have school on Friday and I need to be home with my children. 

The kids have worked hard on their non fiction writing. I plan to have their writing on their desk Friday morning so you all can spend some time reading them. 

Library Thursday! 

Here's the news for the week. 

Math

I'm impressed in how well the kids are doing with addition with regrouping. I definitely need to make sure I'm challenging them. Not only are we working with addition, but we are also working on word problems. The kids have been introduced to a new problem solving graphic organizer. This allows them to draw a picture, solve them problem, and check their answers using different methods. 

Reading

We have moved on to a new unit. We are working on strategies to tackle tricky words. We have also started a new read aloud, "How to Eat Fried Worms" The kids did a great job at telling me what good readers do before they start reading. 

Writing

Where are all my poets? What a fun genre to study. This unit allow the kids to show me their outside of the box thinking. We are discussing how we can look at things differently using our poets eyes. 

Snap word test on Friday! 

Science

What a fun week it has been. The kids have had many fun experiments so far. Making mazes, catapult stations, etc. We will continue the fun this week. Vocabulary words for force and motion: motion, position, force, rolling, sliding, spinning, direction, etc.  

We have garden day tomorrow. Please make sure your child dresses appropriately. 

October 18-22

We are back to a full week! It's been great meeting with you all and getting to know you. As I said to all of you, I thoroughly enjoy this class. They are the sweetest. Makes my job easy. 

Here's the weekly news. 

Math

We are wrapping up place value. We will have an end of unit test on Tuesday. I will spend some time reviewing place value tomorrow.  After looking at the test, the kids should do fairy well. I want the kids to get practice with test taking skills. Wednesday the kids will have a PSA (Priority Standards Assessment) on the computer. This is new to me so we will do the best we can. The PSA is over place value so it should go well. Just need to learn how to navigate the computer tools. We will then start addition on Thursday.  

Reading

This week for non fiction, we will look at keywords and how we can gather facts on the same topic from a variety of books. I will continue to discuss text features and the characteristics of non fiction. The kids will also have new book clubs this week. 

Snap word test on Friday

Writing

My focus this week will be on leads and editing. My goal is for the kids to start working on their second non fiction piece. 

Social Studies

We are moving on to explorers. We will learn about Christopher Columbus, Lewis and Clark, Marco Polo, etc. 

October 4-8th

This week is a short week. Don't forget we have Friday and Monday of next week off. Enjoy your four day weekend! 

Math

This week in math we are putting numbers (up to 1,200) on a number line, comparing numbers, and placing numbers in order. We will spend more time working in their Think Up math workbook. This is where the reading gets tricky. The kids are spending more time thinking about what the question is asking them. 

Students have been working on the IXL diagnostic test in math stations. I love this test because it tells me what TEKS the kids need to work on and what grade level. I've noticed some kids are ready for multiplication, place value up in the millions, etc. I will work on these skills in small group. My goal is to always challenge the kids and believe me.... they love a challenge. 

Reading

We are continuing with non fiction. So far we have worked on the following lessons....

This week we will focus on text features and key words. If you're reading non fiction together at home,  have the kiddos point out the text features and their purpose. 

Writing

We discussed how non fiction writers write about topics they are an expert on. The kids brainstormed topics they're own topics. My focus for this writing unit is for the kids to write multiple books and then choose one to edit. 

Social Studies

We had some fun exploring times lines. The kids spent time researching past decades. Please see our timeline posted outside our classroom next time we have Rock N' Roll. 

September 27-October 1st

Can't believe October is here on Friday! I'm loving the cooler weather and give me all the pumpkin food/drinks. 

Important Dates: 

Tuesday, 28th- I will be attending a training that will include an overview on our new language arts units. I will be on campus, but just not in the classroom. 

Friday- Rock N' Roll. See you Friday morning to walk your child to class. 

Math

We have finally reached numbers to the 1,200. We will continue place value which includes: ordering numbers, comparing numbers, composing/decomposing, etc. 

Reading

We are starting a new genre this week. We will spend some time in non fiction for awhile. We will discuss the purpose of non fiction and characteristics. I'm starting book clubs this week.  

Writing

We've wrapped up small moments. I will spend this week grading their small moment piece. I'm taking two grades on this assignment. One grade will be on structure and the second grade will focus on  conventions. 

We will start learning about non fiction writing. 

Grammar: Subject/Predicate

Social Studies

What a fun week. Students will be creating timelines with important events. We will look back at important events that happened here at Wilchester and put them on a timeline. Then students will do some research on past decades and placing important events on their decade timeline. 

Homework: a new snap word menu will be passed out tomorrow. Math worksheet will be due on Friday. 

September 20-24

Housekeeping: 

Monday: We have pictures tomorrow. 

Tuesday: See you at 5 for curriculum night. Please start in the cafeteria and then we'll make our way to the classroom. 

Math

We are continuing with place value but working with numbers up to 900. The kids have been doing well. Just need a little practice with number lines and looking at numbers in a pattern. 

Reading

This week we will be talking about what authors are trying to teach us. We will look at different themes using the picture books we've read so far. I love teaching themes because it brings good conversation. If you're looking for talking points when reading at night, you can ask "What do you think the authors message was and how do you know?"

Writing

The kids first writing piece is due this week. I've given the kid a checklist to help them with their piece. Lessons this week will focus on noticing and naming craft in writing. 

Science

This week's focus is forms of energy. We'll end the week with a fun Kahoot game. 

September 13-17th

What a crazy week! I hope you all are safe and with power after storm Nicholas. I lost power from 3 am - 10 am, but I can't complain too much. Glad to be back tomorrow because we have a lot to cover. 

Math

We are continuing with place value up to 600. We will end the week with composing and decomposing numbers. For math stations, I've been introducing new math games that allows the kids to practice their math facts. They are having fun. 

Reading

Two more running records and I'm about done! Whoo-hoo! I'm looking forward to starting my reading groups. This week we will notice what craft moves authors do and discuss the message the author is trying to teach us. For reader's workshop, we are continuing to build our reading stamina. 

Writing

The kids are working on their graded small moment piece. I've been stressing the steps to writing a small moment piece. We've discussed writing a small moment worth telling, writing across the pages, and developing our characters by making the talk and think. Some students are having a hard time thinking of an idea. Ask your child what they plan on writing about and/or think of small moments together. 

Snap words: A new snap word menu was passed out yesterday. Test will be next Friday. 

Social Studies

This week is all about Freedom Week. 

Please make sure your child brings a set of headphones to bring to school. We use them daily and I have limited ones in the classroom for the kids to share. 

Let's make it a great week! 

September 6-10th

I hope everyone had a great Labor Day weekend. The weather was hot but I'll take hot/sunny over a rainy weekend. 

We have Garden day tomorrow. Please make sure the kiddos wear their tennis shoes. 

Math

We are continuing with place value but with numbers up to 600. We will discuss how to represent numbers in different ways, place numbers on a number line, and compare numbers. I've been impressed with how well the kids are doing with place value. I'm working on having them read word problems that involve place value. This is an area where the kids are a little unsure. 

Reading

We are in bend two of our  "Second Grade Reading Growth Spurt" unit. This bend contains lessons on how to solve tricky words. I will discuss how to use different strategies to sound out words, making sure what we read makes sense, and working on vowel teams. 

The kids are continuing to check out just right books during readers work shop. I am half way done with my running records. I will continue to assess their reading this week, 

Snap Words: Students will be tested on their snap words this Friday. They also need to complete two activities from their snap word menu by Friday. 

Writing

This week in writing, lessons will include writing our stories in small steps, unfreezing characters, and making our characters think and feel. We are continuing to share seed ideas to give the the kids plenty of ideas to write about. 

Science

This week is all about changes in matter by adding and removing heat. We have a couple of experiments lined up. Fun times ahead. 

Homework

Read 20 minutes, complete two snap word menu activities, math sheet to be passed out Tuesday morning, and practice math facts up to 20. Ex. 9+7=? or 13-6= ? (this could be done by using flash cards, Xtra Math, parent asking math facts, or there are plenty of kid math apps to help) We do practice our math facts daily during station time as well.