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!