A few updates -

First Grade Math - We have been working on tens and ones.  We have learned how to relate additions problems, such as 3+4=7 and 30+40=70.  We also have been working on greater than, less than, and equal to.

First Grade Phonics - We are continuing to work on basewords and suffix -s.

Reading - This week in word work our focus is pronouns. The students continue to work hard in their reading groups and Daily 5.  Daily 5 is a big chunk of our morning.  It's our reading block.  We have six different reading groups.  When I'm not working with a group, the students are working on one of the Daily 5 - Read to self, Read to Someone, Work on Writing, Listening, and Word Work.  Read to Self and Read to Someone - self explanatory.  Work on writing - the students have lots of choices - write a friendly letter, write a card, hand art, stencils, squiggle, sticker stories, story blocks, story cubes, etc.  Word Work - a weekly word focus and practice spelling words with play doh, wikki sticks, rainbow spelling, or Spelling City on  the ipads.  Listening - Listen to stories.  The students can use the ipads to listen to stories on Storia or use the computers to listen to stories on Tumblebooks.  The students may also go on to Odyssey on the ipads during Daily 5.

Religion - Our Promise Paper this week focused on talents.  The rest of our Religion classes this week were spent practicing for our mass.  :)

Snack Reminder - We do have snack time every morning.  Please remember to send a healthy snack with your child each day.

Second Grade Math - Second grade has had an interesting week in math. Friday is our "math story" day.  Last Friday we read a book about different kinds of apples with a lesson about fractions.  On Monday, I brought 4 kinds of apples (Cortland, Granny Smith, Red Delicious, and Macintosh) to school and we tasted and rated them.  Then we made bar graphs with the results. Here's what we decided:  Cortland won as best tasting, Red Delicious was the sweetest, Granny Smith was the most sour, and Macintosh was the softest. I wish I would have taken pictures...sorry!  Next time!

We are still working on adding and regrouping 2 digit numbers.  Students are learning 2 methods:  Show All Totals, and New Groups Below.  Most of the kids have their preferences, and that's fine.  I tell them to use whatever method they prefer. I'd be happy to give anyone a "crash course" in Show All Totals.  New Groups Below is pretty much the way most of us learned to add.   

Second Grade Phonics - We are working on suffixes again this week.  I feel that I rushed through the last lesson, so I'm reteaching -s, -es, -ing, -ed, -er, -est.  

Gym - During this first trimester, we have worked on throwing, kicking, and teamwork.  We have also done some activities on scooters.  We have thrown and caught tennis balls, kicked soccer balls, and worked on passing and stopping soccer balls without using our hands.  Team work with a class this size is very important.  We will work on some team strategies next trimester.  Your child’s laps have been entered into PowerSchool along with the amount of time they ran.