March 5, 2014

Time for another update...

Thank you to all of you for taking the time from your busy schedules to meet with me last week.

Please start to bring in your gently used children's books for our Primary Grades Book Exchange. Please ensure that these books are at a Grade 1-4 reading level (approximately). Each child who donates at least one book will be invited to choose a different book to keep. All books that aren't selected by students will be donated to classroom libraries. In the next couple of days, I  will announce the date of the Book Exchange. I will also be looking for 1-2 volunteers to assist.

2B students proudly displaying their Kindness Kids Club application forms.

"You've been RAC'd, Tirzah!" 

Theme: Last week was R.A.C. week. Some highlights included hugging former teachers, making RAC notes with our Kindergarten buddies and delivering them to office staff and administrators, and bringing flowers to our lunch supervisors and cheesecake to the janitorial staff. On the hundredth day of school, we challenged each other to complete 100 acts of kindness (collectively). This goal was easily met by both groups of students.

Our 100th Day display with photos.

Speaking of the 100th day of school, we celebrated rather noisily... The poor preschool class below us must have thought there was an earthquake. You can see photos on display in our classroom.

How many times can you hop up and down in 100 seconds?

We also enjoyed learning about the winter olympics and keeping track of the medal count. A highlight for both classes was watching the Canadian Women's hockey team win the gold medal!

2A shows off their Olympic booklets.

What a terrific job the students have done with their Community Worker presentations! I'm so happy that a representative from each family was able to attend for each child. I have had several former students in my classroom over the past few weeks, looking at our milk carton town and reminiscing over their own presentations. I am confident your children will also remember this experience for years to come!

Our next topic of study is Matter (Solids, Liquids, and Gases). On Monday, we will have a scientist from High Touch High Tech demonstrate all kinds of hands-on experiments. Prepare to get a little bit messy!

Math: I hope that the package I provided during conferences does a good job explaining some of the mental math strategies we have been using for adding and subtracting 2-digit numbers.  This week and next, we will be sorting 2D shapes and 3D objects using two attributes, as well as identifying these shapes as part of objects in our environment.

Language Arts: Thank you to everyone who brought home the Pet Pals for a weekend. We will be mailing Rufus and Tigger back to Saskatchewan and eagerly awaiting the arrival of our own pet pals, whom we haven't seen since October.

The first WIN (Writing is Necessary) Home Writing story is due tomorrow. I can't wait to read all about the crazy sandwich inventions!

Reminder: Don't forget that next Tuesday the 11th is our ice skating field trip. If you offered to volunteer and have not heard back yet, please direct your inquiries to our gym teacher, Mr. Noel.

January 13th

2A's Electronicville and 2B's Money Town

We are back in the swing of things once again! Some highlights from before the winter break include:

-Designing Dinosaur Trading Cards

QR Code Scavenger Hunt: Click for more photos!

-Scanning QR codes to decipher the clues to a reptile scavenger hunt
-Making a Frog Wheel (for the life cycle of a frog)
-Learning strategies for adding and subtracting numbers to 18
-Composing postcards to send to schools across Canada

Since returning to school, we have welcomed a new student to the 2B class! Jacob and his family have joined us from Montreal.

This past week, we have been busy learning about birds. Each student chose a bird to research and completed a mini bird booklet, with a diagram and interesting facts. We are in the process of presenting the projects aloud to the class.

Paper Mache: Click for more photos!

Paining our houses

We also named and assembled our class towns. 2A's town is called "Money Town" and 2B's town is called "Electronicville". We paper mached and painted milk cartons, which we then decorated to look like houses. We assembled the town on garbage bags and added trees and cars. Each student will choose a profession to take on in our town.

Please watch for Community Helper Project information to come home on Tuesday, January 14th. Please help your child to complete his or her research and return the rough draft to school on Thursday, January 23rd. You are invited to come to school to watch your child's presentation.  If the date and time do not work for you, please feel free to contact another parent to see if their child can switch with your child.  Please make sure to let me know if there are any changes to the schedule. 

November 13, 2013

I hope everyone enjoyed their long weekend. We are back into the swing of things once again! Here's a short update.

Math: Congratulations to our top five competitors in the Sumdog Math Challenge (based on the number of correct answers):

Josh, Shem, Chanel, Adam, and Brody

2A & 2B ranked 37 out of 94 schools across Canada. Considering there were just thirty-one of us participating against entire elementary schools, this is a feat worth celebrating!

Playing a math game with a deck of cards and a dry erase marker.

The alligator always eats the larger number!

We also learned about "less than" and "greater than". One of the games we played at school can also be played at home. All you need is a deck of cards and a piece of paper. To build a two-digit number, flip over two cards and line them up next to each other. Then, build a second two-digit number by taking two more cards and placing them beside the first two. Which two-digit number is greater? Write the equation on a piece of paper. Remember, the alligator's mouth always faces the bigger number! For example: 64 > 26.

Those of you with older children who were previously in my class might recognize that you are seeing less worksheets coming home than you are used to seeing. This is, in part, because we are trying to conserve paper by using plastic pockets with dry erase markers, and also, in part, because we are playing more math games to reinforce skills. This allows for differentiation for students at varying levels of ability.

Please Note: I have updated the page for Mrs. Andersen's Math to include some information about our upcoming unit - Addition and Subtraction to 18. If your child is wondering where all of his or her favourite games went, please help him or her to scroll down the page.

Langauge Arts: We wrote a story extension to the book, "Where the Wild Things Are" and rehearsed a readers' theatre play about ocean animals.

Home Reading Update: Thank you for continuing to read "good fit books" with your children for fifteen minutes each evening. Students who are reading at grade level are on levels J-P for Raz-Kids and can read 60-90 words per minute with 95% accuracy. We call this stage "Early Fluent Readers." If your child is not yet at this stage, we will discuss some at-home strategies at the upcoming parent-teacher conferences.

Some of you are probably wondering how your child will learn to read better if he or she already knows most of the words in the books he or she is bringing home. Please remember that reading is not just about word fluency but also about comprehension. If a child is struggling to decode the words on the page, she or he will quickly lose sight of the meaning. When a student can decode most of the words, she/he is able to focus on the meaning of the text. Here's how you can help build comprehension skills at home:

Ask your child questions about the book and connect the events to his own life.

Help your child make connections between what he reads and similar experiences he has seen in a movie or read in another book.

Teach him to continually ask himself whether he understands what he's reading.

Help your child go back to the text to support his answers.

Discuss the meaning of unknown words.

Read material in short sections and check to make sure your child understands.

Discuss what your child has learned from informational texts, such as science books.

Theme: We completed a WebQuest in the Learning Commons. Students searched for specific information about the FRAMB animals, using the Sheppard Software website. In the classroom, we wrapped up our study of sea animals by learning a song about sea stars, labeling a diagram of a fish, drawing the life cycle of a salmon, and comparing and contrasting fish to human beings. This week, we will continue to look at animal classification, before delving into our study of mammals.

I apologize for the lack of photos this week. I had an iPad malfunction (the charger overheated and caught on fire while plugged into the iPad). To make a sad story short, I lost my iPad and, therefore, all of my photos and video.

November 4, 2013

Fun Friday Free Choice!

Some highlights from the past couple of weeks...

Fun Friday: You may have heard that the 2A and 2B classes earn behaviour points during lunch hour. Each point translates to one minute toward Fun Friday, which is held on the first Friday of each month. Classes can earn up to three points per day. For the month of October, 2A earned 18 points and 2B earned 19 points! Students enjoyed some free choice time in the classroom last Friday.

"Odd" House

Math: We built Odd & Even Street, with odd and even house numbers. There is a small display outside the classroom, but unfortunately, we didn't have enough room to put up all of the houses.

We participated in a national math competition on the SumDog website. The contest is open until November 7th, so please encourage your child to participate at home. As of Sunday evening, we had completed close to 1000 math questions altogether!

We learned how to represent two-digit numbers with tens and ones, using rods and cubes.  Students also enjoyed building their own numbers using the free iPad app, Number Pieces Basic and having a partner guess their number. The students in the photos extended their knowledge of base ten blocks by building three-digit numbers!

"Work on Writing" during Daily 5

Language Arts: We wrote autumn poetry (on display in the classroom) and completed a story starter about a scarecrow.

As of November 1, students have begun to track their choices for Daily 5 on a record sheet. "Work on Writing" has been a popular choice lately with students eager to design their own word search activity for the current spelling words.

Game Pass!

Every week, students are held accountable for making sure they have completed their home reading. The students in the photo are playing a board game they earned from their turn at Homeworkopoly.

Just a friendly reminder that every student currently has one or two books they have borrowed from the classroom library. Many students are choosing to read books from their personal collections instead. If this is the case, I kindly ask that you please return our classroom books, so that other students can borrow them.

The "Drawing Pad" app in action

Theme: Students used the iPad apps, Drawing Pad and Strip Deisgner to create a sea animal project. First, students chose an animal from a book, drew it on the iPad, imported the drawing into a comic template, and typed their names, a title, and a sentence about their animal. Students had free reign over the design elements of their projects, including fonts, colours, and text boxes. Strip Designer, in particular, is an app we will utilize often for quick projects.

A proud student shares his Pet Pal journal entry.

Edit: Thanks for all of the offers. Our Pet Pal now has a place to call home for the following weekend! Don't forget to email me to sign up for future visits.

October 21, 2013

Students had a treasure hunt with my pirate twin, Captain Andersen.

Autumn Trees

A few reminders...
Please send in a pair of in-ear headphones by Wednesday. These will be kept in the classroom all year and used only by your child.

If your child would like a turn to bring home our Pet Pal, please click on the link in your email to check the schedule. Then, email me with your date request.

Lastly, Friday is a Pro D day!

Ten Frame Name

Math:  We explored patterns on a number chart and number line. We continued to identify odd and even numbers and practice counting by 2s, 5s, and 10s. Some of the students were fascinated by the fact that they could tell if any number, no matter how large, was odd or even, based on the digit in the ones place! This week, we will count by 5s and 10s using coins, describe order using ordinal numbers (for example: first, second, third) and estimate and count groups of objects.

We played Wack a Mole and various ten frame games on the computer.

Daily 5: Listen to Reading

Language Arts: We continued to rehearse our Reader's Theatre play for "Where the Wild Things Are". We did some work work with autumn vocabulary (and drew a fall picture). We also added the listening station to our repertoire for Daily 5 and drew heart maps for the covers of our writing folders. The items on our heart maps are topics we might like to use in our writing.

Daily 5: Work on Writing

When your child comes into the classroom, we spend the first part of the day engaged in Daily 5. Students make a choice between Read to Self, Read to Someone, Listen to Reading (either on the laptop or dektop computer or with the CD player at the Listening Station), or Work on Writing. Sometimes, students also work with me in a small group at the Teacher Table. Halfway through the block, the students are asked to make a second selection for Daily 5, so that they work their way through two of the five choices each day.

Theme: Students made fall trees by tracing their own hands for the tree trunk and gluing on tissue paper leaves. I am so impressed by how well they turned out. Please have a look at our display if you're in the school this week. Soon, we will write autumn poetry and other autumn themed stories.

We have been busy exploring ocean animals and many students were excited to watch the live web cams from the aquarium.

We are looking forward to another fun week at school!

October 15, 2013

Click on the photo to see all of the maps!

I hope everyone enjoyed the long weekend! We have lots of exciting things happening this week, but first, here's a recap of last week!

Math: We practiced skip counting by 2s, 5s, and 10s and worked with numbers that come before, after, and in between (to 100). Maybe you also heard all about our skip count dancing. If not, you can find the videos HERE to practice at home. We also made a Ten Frame Name, on display in the classroom. This week, we will use ten frames to determine how many more to make ten. At home, you can roll a die or flip a playing card. Then, ask your child, "How many more to make ten?" For a challenge, you can add two die together, and ask "How many more to make 20?" We will also focus on odd and even numbers this coming week. Click HERE to print a copy of Odd Todd and Even Steven to play at home!

We are continuing to use Mathletics at school twice per week. As students get more familiar with logging in quickly, they will have more time to practice their skills. You can access Mathletics at home, too, using the login and password info sent home on Curriculum Night.

Language Arts: Student used a writing prompt to compose a story in their creative writing books. We also began a mini literature unit focusing on Maurice Sendak's "Where the Wild Things Are". This week, we will launch the much anticipated "Work on Writing" component to Daily 5. We will design heart maps to remind us about the writing topics that are near and dear to our hearts. For those of you using SpellingCity at home, we will be working on List #3.

Thank you for your continued support with the Home Reading program. Did you know that you can have access to your child's activity and progress on Raz-Kids? Please watch for a hard copy notice to come home on Wednesday.

Theme: Students presented their treasure maps to the class by showing us the path their pirate must take to find the treasure. Students were encouraged to use the cardinal directions, north, south, east, and west, when interpreting their maps. Please click on the photo above in order to see all of the maps!

As a culminating activity to our mapping unit, we will have a special visitor in our classroom on Wednesday, but that's all I can tell you right now...

We will begin to learn about fish and other sea creatures. For a fun treat, don't forget to check out the webcams at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. As always, click on the "Themes" page for lots of great online activities to explore at home!

(By the way, anytime you see aqua coloured font in my blog posts, it means that the text is clickable).

October 7, 2013

We made it through our first full week of school! I don't know who was more exhausted - me or the students! All kidding aside, we had a great week, full of some wonderful learning.

Increasing Patterns

Math: We wrapped up our Patterning Unit by demonstrating our knowledge of repeating and increasing patterns. Students used manipulatives to create both kinds of patterns and then translated that same pattern into paper squares on a piece of construction paper. I apologize if your child came home last week singing "This is the House That Jack Built" as we sang this nursery rhyme while learning about increasing patterns. I know the song was stuck in my own head for what seemed like way too long...

Math Games

We have now moved onto our next math unit, Numbers to 100. Students will be focusing on place value of ones and tens, skip counting by 2s, 5s, and 10s, odd and even numbers, estimating quantities, equality (less than and greater than), ordinal numbers, and ordering numbers (least to greatest and greatest to least). There are lots of great activities and games posted on my math page. Also, please don't forget to encourage your child to play Mathletics at home! His or her username and password is on the binder ring sent home on Curriculum Night.

Domino Game

We played Domino Addition to practice our math facts. You can also try Domino Subtraction. To play at home, you will need:
-1 piece of 8 1/2 by 11 paper
-1 pencil
-16 dominos (or 16 playing cards or 2 dice)

1. Fold the piece of paper so that you have 16 squares.
2. Divide the top left square in half with a pencil line. Write the names of each player in the top part of this square.
3. Player 1 chooses a domino and adds (or subtracts) the two numbers.
4. Player 1 writes the equation and its sum (or difference) in one square.
5. Player 2 does the same with a different domino and a different square.
6. The winner is the player with the biggest sum (or smallest difference). Put a tally mark next to the winner's name.
7. Play continues until all of the dominos have been used and there are no empty squares.
8. Turn over the piece of paper and play again!

Star of the Week
Show & Tell

Language Arts: Students learned how to alphabetize their spelling words. This is a skill we will revisit each week. We will be working with List 2 next week, should your child wish to practice his or her spelling words on Spellingcity.com

Pet Pal, Zap

Pet Pal, Mayor

We also wrote individual notes and a class letter to our Pet Pal class in Shellbrook, Saskatchewan. We have mailed a stuffy ("Zap" in Grade 2A and "Mayor" in Grade 2B) to the boys and girls in grade 2 at Shellbrook Elementary. They will each have a turn taking home home one of our stuffies to write about their experiences together in rural Saskatchewan. We will also receive a couple of stuffies from Shellbrook, so we can write about our experiences in the big city! Watch your email this week for sign up details!

We also began to work on an "All About Me" activity for our Pen Pals in Toronto, Ontario. We are still waiting for a few more photos from home, so that we can compose our letters.

Theme: We have completed our treasure maps and will be presenting them to the class next week.

Daily 5: "Read to Someone"
Sitting EEKK (Elbow-to-Elbow, Knee-to-Knee)

A Few Reminders: Students are welcome to exchange their Home Reading books on Monday through Thursday. Fridays are reserved for our In-Class Book Bags. We also have a book exchange in the Learning Commons (aka library) on Tuesdays, where students are encouraged to sign out up to three books.

Thanks for reading all the way to the bottom! As always, feel free to post a comment below.

September 30, 2013

Now that we are beginning our first full week of school, you will start to see weekly updates on the blog. Our first few weeks, although short, have been incredibly busy!

First off, I would like to thank you all for coming to Curriculum Night last Monday. I truly appreciate that you gave up some of your precious after work hours to spend time in our grade 2 classroom. I hope by now you have had a chance to read through the Parent Handbook and will let me know if you have any questions.

Math: With a focus on repeating and increasing patterns, we have been naming and copying patterns, extending the core of a pattern, showing the same pattern with different materials, predicting what comes next in a pattern, and representing patterns with symbols, numbers, letters, words, and actions.

Extending a pattern

We also visited the Learning Commons, where we played Mathletics for the first time. Your child can access this program from home, either on your computer or via the free mobile app.

Playing Tugboat Addition

Another computer favourite
has been Arcademic Skill Builders. Students practiced their addition and subtraction facts by racing boats and cars against the computer and each other.

Building our stamina for Daily 5: Read to Self

Language Arts: 
One of the highlights so far has been meeting our Kindergarten Reading Buddies. I do not have permission to post those photos here, but hopefully you received a link in your email last week.

If you have not already done so, please bring in a photo and some stickers for our pen pal letters (to be completed in class this week).

Please watch your email this week for some information about our "Pet Pal Exchange". You will be able to sign up for a turn by clicking on the link in your email.

Readers' theatre rendition of "If You Take a Mouse to School"

Watch for a home reading book to come home on Monday after school. Please ensure you have read about our Home Reading Program by clicking the link HERE or referring to your Curriculum Night package. Students will be re-introduced to Raz-Kids during their computer time this week (2A on Tuesday and 2B on Wednesday) and will be able to log in from home as well.

We will have our library book exchange every Tuesday. Most students chose to bring home some books last week, so please make sure these books find their way back into your child's backpack to be returned or renewed this coming Tuesday.

We will also begin our formal in-class spelling program this week. Should your child wish to work with his or her words at home, you can find the lists on SpellingCity.com. There is also a free iPhone/iPad app available from iTunes. Please Note: There will not be a weekly spelling test.

Theme: We have been learning about mapping through an integrated social studies / language arts Pirates theme. Students painted and decorated (with a pattern, of course!) treasure chests to be used for an upcoming top secret activity. We have also been working hard to design our own treasure maps with a compass and legend. Photos coming next week!

Students enjoyed sharing their ME BAGS
during the first week of school.

I am so impressed by what a diligent group of learners we have in our classroom. I am looking forward to an amazing school year!

Please post a comment below to let me know what your child enjoyed most about the first few weeks of school. That way, I'll know who has read this update!