September 16, 2017

Happy Weekend!

I hope this message finds all of you doing well. What a great week we had in 2nd grade. Lots of learning is taking place every day. Time flies throughout the week when we’re doing so much! Let’s talk about it:

Reading: Every day we have a new learning target almost. Students are diving into books at their level and we are focusing on different elements and/or strategies that help us become stronger readers. I tell the students that they are just like beanstalks. Realistically, the beanstalk doesn’t grow overnight. With lots of nurturing and time, the beanstalk grows and grows and becomes stronger and stronger. As readers, in time, we will become stronger and stronger. I also relate our reading to exercising and getting stronger. We cannot simply walk into a gym and pick a pair of 50 pound weights and expect to lift them effortlessly. Over time, with practice and lots of motivation, we will be able to get to our goals!

This week’s goals related to stopping and jotting, author’s intentions and forming ideas, thoughts, questions with our texts. I introduced a new discussion format called Kagan Structure. This structure is powerful because it puts students in groups of 4. Each student is responsible for a reading element. For example, what questions do you have, what connections do you have, what do you like/dislike about the story, what was the author’s intention with this story, etc.. Students read the same book and in the end, they discuss their part they were responsible. This helps the students see how the book clicks together and we create multiple ideas throughout reading our books. Mrs. Roybal will be in on Wednesday to watch the students in action with this practice!

Writing: In writing this week, students are continuing their small moment piece. The students probably feel like they have been focusing on this one story forever, but do not worry!! We are getting to the end of this story. Students are learning the editing process and how writers can always add to their pieces as they re-read and peer edit. Students are focusing on capitals, periods, adjectives, dialogue, leads, transitions, and conclusions. Lots of content to cover! We will be finishing up with these stories this week.

In addition to small moments, students are participating in a fun writing activity called Cliffhanger Writing. If you have not heard of this activity yet, it’s a great one! Students are given the beginning of a story that always ends with a huge (you guessed it!) cliffhanger! For example, this week we read about a boy who gets on a dinosaur roller coaster that he suspects will be boring. His cart enters a dark warehouse where he finds himself sitting in front of a huge, scary T-Rex. The boy was terrified when the t-rex approaches him and then… From there, students write the rest of the story in their own words for 10 – 15 minutes. This helps students write freely, use strategies we have practiced in class, practice vocabulary, write fluently and builds stamina.

Math: Students finished Unit 1 this week that tested understanding of number racks, addition to 20 and introduction to story problems. In the upcoming unit, students are going to be forming groups of 10 up to 100 to help them add and subtract double digit numbers. We have started number jumping that students will utilize the entire year. It is a great strategy that helps kids see how they can break apart numbers by 10s, 5s and 1s to help with addition and subtraction. I will be posting more about this in the week with an anchor chart that can help YOU and your child at home.

News: This week at Pine Ridge, we are doing a spirit week that helps support a Texas and Florida school in need. These schools are in need and Pine Ridge wants to help! By bringing in a dollar or more a day, your child is going to be able to get entered in a drawing to have pizza with Mrs. Roybal, munch on popsicles, sip on lemonade, wear hats and get a free homework pass! Lots of fun and all for a great cause!

Our Fun Run was a roaring success. Thank you to all of the parents who volunteered and supported their child and PRE in this activity. I want to take a moment to thank Mrs. Sadovinik in creating our AMAZING Class Dojo themed shirts for our big day. The students loved them and we looked so stylish as we ran! Thank you so much!!!

Keep an eye on our future blog posts. Soon I will be sending out a Signup Genius request for parents to help with our Fall Party!! We will have this party the week we track off in mid-October.

Have a great weekend!