Sixth Week

Hello Families!

We need to get the order forms for grade level t-shirts in ASAP.  The forms have been sent home (Mrs. Cooper's will be sent tomorrow!) so you can tell us what size to order for your child.  Please don't let your child miss out on the t-shirts!  We will wear them on the field trip, play day and other special days.  If you haven't sent in your money you can send it in with the order form.

Parent/Teacher conferences will be held November 5 - 7.  You will be hearing more from your teacher.

THIS WEEK'S LEARNING:

MATH:  Paired Numbers, patterns in numbers, CBA (testing)
READING:   Monitor Comprehension; Search for information
ENGLISH:  antonyms, nouns, syllables
SCIENCE:  weather
SOCIAL STUDIES:  Communities

College Facts:

There are 60 women colleges in the United States in 24 states.  The state with the most women’s colleges is Massachusetts with 8.  Pennsylvania comes in second with 7.

Week 5

Hope you enjoyed another long weekend!  The teachers were busy at meetings preparing to better teach your children.  We're looking forward to using our new knowledge.

Special Note:  Popcorn will be sold for $.25 on Friday.  The students should bring their quarter in early so teachers may place their "order."

Remember, breakfast is 7:15- 7:45!  If you want to eat, don't be late!

Studies for the Week:

Reading:  Monitoring Comprehension; Asking Questions 
Writing:  Writing information text
Spelling:  Hard and soft g and c
       This weeks words:
cabin, came, cash, circle, cent, circus, giraffe, giant, gym, golden, glue, guy
Math:  Patterns, patterns and more patterns!
Science:  Weather and Air
Social Studies: Types of Communities

College tid bit for the week:

The first college established for African-American students was the Ashmun Institute on April 29, 1854.  It was named after Jehudi Ashmun (1794-1826), an American minister who helped establish Liberia.  In 1866, Ashmun Institute was renamed Lincoln University.

Oberlin college was the first college to grant degrees to women in 1841.  It was also the first college to grant a bachelor degree to an African-American woman in 1862.

Week Number Four!

Last week we practiced place value but also had a little fun building!

School and Second Grade Information:

Breakfast begins at 7:15 and closes promptly at 7:45.  Anyone who comes at or after that time will not be able to eat breakfast.

Fridays are designated college days.   Your child may wear a college t-shirt or colors on that day.  We want to encourage them to go to college even in the Second Grade!

College Tidbit of the Week:  In the United States, there is little difference between the terms “college” and “university”.  However, the term “college” in other countries, such as Canada, refers to a junior college or trade college, whereas a “university” is larger, more research focused, and usually contains multiple colleges.

We will be ordering the t-shirts as soon as the printer gets back to us.  There will be an order form sent home so you can see what the shirts will look like and choose the size for your child.  You will be able to order a shirt for yourself if you'd like.  If you haven't already please send in the shirt money.  

What We Are Learning This Week:

Reading:  Monitoring comprehension

English:  Nouns and proper nouns; Writing

Math:  Subtraction Strategies; Problem-solving

Spelling:  2 syllabe CVCe words with blends and digraphs

Science:  Air

Social Studies:  Freedom Week

This year our school is emphasizing going to college by designation every Friday as "wear your college shirt or college colors" day.  We also are learning various facts about the colleges some of our teachers have attended.

Canisius College, located in Buffalo, NY, has a mascot called the Golden Gryff.  Their mascot is like the Gryffindor in the Harry Potter series.

The University of Texas at Austin was founded in 1883.  It currently has an enrollment of 51,245 students.  Can you name a Galloway teacher that graduated from UT?

Wow, that's a lot of students!

Parents, remember that the tardy bell rings at 7:55.  Please have your child here on time!

Individual school pictures will be this Thursday.  Be sure your child is wearing dress code appropriate clothes.

What we are learning:

Comprehension:  Monitoring comprehension; re-read when something doesn't make sense.

Spelling and Phonics:  CVCe words; words that end with an e usually have a long vowel sound. Example:  cake

Math:  Ordering and comparing numbers to 99

Science:  Air

Social Studies: Communities

Have a great week!

Welcome to a new week of learning!  

Language Arts:  
     Word Wall Words:  when, were, old
     Comprehension:  Activating Background Knowledge
     Phonics:  CVC (consonant/vowel/consonant) words with
                     blends and digraphs
     Spelling:  CVC words with blends and consonants
                      Words:  dishpan, cabin, hotdog, helmet, punish
                                    finish, robin, habit, contest, public, napkin,
                                    subject

Math:  Addition strategies:  doubles, near doubles (neighbors), 
                      counting on,  making tens and big and bigger
                       numbers

Science:  Air

Social Studies: Being a good citizen; Identifying historical figures

Welcome back to school!  The new year has started off with a bang!  We are practicing our routines so classrooms will run smoothly this year.  Phonics will be a huge focus this year in the second grade.  The students have already been reviewing short vowels and blends. We will have our first spelling test on Friday!  Be sure your child turns in their spelling homework tomorrow as well.  We are also writing our autobiographies and practicing comprehension strategies.

In Math we have been reviewing single digit addition using the strategy "part-part whole."  We are using correct vocabulary such as addends and sums.  In Science and Social Studies we are learning about rules and safety.

We are excited with the wonderful group of boys and girls we have in the second grade.  Thank you for sharing your precious children with us!

School's Out For Summer!!!

It has been a year of growing up together, learning, and fun for your students and us.  Thank you for allowing us the opportunity to work with your students.  Today we said good bye to the kids and look forward to summer.
Remember that on August 23 there will be a Meet the Teacher and drop off school supplies night so this can be done before school begins.
Enjoy your summer!

PlayDay 2012

Playday 2012 began like the opening ceremony to the Olympics with the students coming out to the tune of Chariots of Fire.  Second grade carried out the banner with the Olympic Rings

Then it was on to the races.  The kids went through many activities and there were lots of winners.

Some races were just the girls

And some were just the boys

But overall, it was a great day for the classes to pull together and really feel like a team.

Even a time for friends to enjoy good sportsmanship among teams

I want to take this time to thank the parents who had the opportunity to come out and celebrate with the students.  I know it brightened their day to see you there!

Now time to get ready for our end of the year party and sending this second grade class on to 3rd grade:)

Week 35 May 21-25

Class party pizza money and item sheet is due to teachers by Wednesday, May 23.

Reading CBA on Wednesday, May 23

Math CBA on Thursday, May 24

Play Day on Friday, May 25.  Make sure students wear sunscreen, class t-shirts, tennis shoes, and appropriate shorts or pants.

There will be a concession stand at playday.  Items range from .25 to 1.00.  Money will go toward PTA.

Since we have play day in the morning, then lunch, the afternoon will be a GAME DAY, so please bring board games or card games you would like to share with your friends.

Monday, May 28 there will be NO SCHOOL because it is Memorial Day!

Our learning this week:

Reading:  Poetry and review for CBA on Wednesday

Grammar:  Verb Review

Writing:  Poetry

Math:  Finish up place value review and review for CBA on Thursday

Science:  Magnets and how they are used in everyday life

Social Studies:  Patriotic places, symbols, and holidays

Week 34 May 14-18

We sincerely hope everyone had a fabulous Mother's Day!

End of the Year Luau letters will be coming home shortly, please keep an eye out for those, sign up for items, and return to your teacher as soon as possible.  Items will be on a first come basis.

ALL library books (school, teacher, and guided reading) need to be brought back to school by Thursday, May 17.

Playday is May 25th.  Please make plans to attend now.

Our learning this week:

Reading:  Poetry

Writitng:  Poetry

Grammar:  Apostrophes

Math:  Rounding and Place Value to the thousands place

Science:  Changes in Heat Energy

Social Studies:  Patriotic places, symbols, and holidays

Children's Book Week!!!

We had so much fun wrapping up Children's Book Week by dressing as our favorite Book Characters!

Nate from Big Nate Boredom Buster

Judy from Judy Moody

 Edward and Jacob from Twilight

Tiger from Ten Apples Up On Top

 Nancy from Fancy Nancy

Bubba the Cowboy Prince

 Sally from The Cat in The Hat

 L'il Dobber from It's All in the Name

 Tricia from My Rotten Redheaded Older Brother

 Eugene from Mr. Lincoln's Way

 Cinderella from Cinderella

 Greg from Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Belle from Belle and the Castle Puppy

Emily, Ashley, Kaitlyn, Claire from Shoe-La-La

Week 33 May 7-11

This is Children's book week!  Each day there will be something special to do or wear at Galloway!

Monday:  The wonderful wizard of oz - There's no place like the library!  Wear jeans - science is  
                   MESSY!!!
Tuesday:  Chalk it up to a good book!  students can bring in their own side walk chalk to make a class
                   mural of a favorite book.  winning class will get snocone party
Wednesday:  Reading's got my heartbeat running away!  students wear workout clothes
Thursday:  The strange case of origami yoda - May the force READ with You - origami fun
Friday:  Do-nut forget to read - Dress as your favorite BOOK CHARACTER (bring book if you have it)
                    Best Book Character Contest      Prizes will be awarded

PTA Tuesday night at 7 in the cafeteria

Thursday will be an early release day so please make arrangements for your student to be picked up by 1:25

Our learning this week:

Reading:  Poetry

Writing:  writing poetry

Grammar:  Quotations in speaking words review

Spelling:  AW/AUAUGH
strawberry autum  naughty  lawyer  because  taught awful  applesauce  daughter  seesaw audience caught

Math:  Money review and begin rounding

Science:  Classifying matter

Social Studies:  Patriotic places, symbols, and holidays

Literacy Media Research on Natural Disasters:)

Our 2nd graders have been working hard the last 4 weeks researching natural disasters using books, the internet, interviews, news channels, etc.  They have developed questions, researched them well, and finally put together presentations to show their findings.  We hope you enjoy the hard work of our students.

Avalanche Group

Volcano Group

Tornado Group

Hurricane Group

(video found on National Geographic webpage)

Earthquake Group

                                                             Tsunami Group

                    

week 32 April 30-May 4

This is the 4th week of the 6th 6 weeks and progress reports should be coming home. Please keep an eye out for them and sign and return them as soon as possible.

We will kickoff our Major Saver fundraiser tomorrow, May 1, 2012 so get out there and sell those discount cards:)

Our learning this week:

Spelling: IR/ER/UR review
squirm nerd purple squirrel hershey curve girlfriend perfect turf adverb thirty curtain

Grammar: Review capitalization rules for beginning of sentence, proper nouns, and abbreviations

Writing: Research and Media Literacy (final presentations)

Reading: Research media literacy

Math: Problem solving, Decide what to do, and time review

Science: Balance and Motion assessment and Classifying Matter

Social Studies: Solving Problems in the community

week 31 - better late than never

I am so sorry that this post is late. STAAR testing was this week for grades 3-6 and several of our teachers in lower grades (2nd grade teachers included) were testing small groups of students.

This week our learning was:

Reading: Reading for enjoyment

Writing: Writing up the items needed for research presentations on natural disasters next week

Grammar: review of subject/verb agreement

Math: Problem solving/division

Science: rolling wheels/making a roller coaster

Social studies: government and voting

Spelling: ow/ou words
ouch pouch tower crowd frown towel cloud crown sound house coward counter

I again apologize for the lateness of the posting this week.

**Progress reports should come home sometime next week so be on the lookout for those. Also be sure and check your parent portal often as we are entering grades early this time around so we don't feel the crunch of the last couple of weeks.

Week 30 April 16-20

Spring pictures are still needed from a few parents. Please make sure you either send payment or picture packets back to the teacher. Today was the last day and there are still some outstanding.

Our learning this week:

Reading: Continue our research on natural disasters

Spelling: Beginning silent letters wr/kn
wreath knuckle wrinkle kneel wrist knead wrap known wreck knot wrote knack

Grammar: Adverbs of time - before, next, etc.

Writing: Students continue to independently research natural disaster topic

Math: Division

Science: How things move through rolling wheels, tops, and rolling cups

Social Studies: What is the government's role in your community?

Play Day is coming in May on the 25th. Please make arrangements now to attend if you like.

Week 29 - Beginning of the End - April 9-13

Today marks the beginning of the last grading period we get to share as your child's second grade teachers. There are 8 weeks in this grading period and then your sons and daughters will be moving up with the knowledge and skills they have acquired.

*Kindergarten registration begins on Wednesday, April 11, from 5:30-7p.m.

*Report cards come home on Thursday, April 12. Please make sure you view, sign, and return the report cards.

*PTA Food Drive is going on this week from April 9 - April 20. Please bring in those non-perishable items to help those in need.

*Spring Pictures came home last week, if you have not returned them you need to please get either the money and unwanted pics, or the whole packet back to us as they have not been purchased yet. Thank you to those that have gotten them in already.

Our learning this week:

Reading: Expository text with focus on research - researching natural disasters

Spelling: au/aw/augh vowel sounds
shawl sauce taught haunt lawn cause caught yawn thaw haul fault claw

Grammar: Review of time order transition words

Writing: Research carried over from reading

Math: Multiplication and Division

Science: How things move with Zoomers, Twirlers, and Twirly Birds

Social Studies: Our Country's Government

Thank you for all your support and hard work this year. We are looking forward to ending the year on a positive note for us and your students!

Week 28 April 2-5

This is the last week in the 6th 6 weeks!

Any make-up, re-do work, or late work MUST be turned in by Tuesday, April 3, 2012.

Math CBA test on Tuesday, April 3 AND Reading CBA on Wednesday, April 4.

Friday, April 6 is a holiday and that means NO SCHOOL!!!

***Spring Pictures came home today. They have not been paid for yet. You have 3 options:
1. Purchase the entire package for $45.oo
2. Purchase any 1 sheet for $12, 2 sheets for $22, 3 sheets for $32, or 4 sheets for $43
3. Spend no money and return ENTIRE package back to teacher
Please select one of the above and return either pictures or money to teacher by Thursday, April 6

Our learning this week:

Reading: Author's Purpose either implied or stated with fiction text

Spelling: R-Controlled vowels -ir, -er, -ur
churn squirt herd purple first perch surf shirt person germ purse girl

Grammar: Review of all grammar: apostrophes in contraction, apostrophes in possessives, prepositions/prepositional phrases, complete sentences with subject/verb agreement

Writing: Response to fiction writing: What is your favorite or least favorite part of the book and why? Why do you think the author wrote this? Do you like or dislike the book and why? Who is your favorite or least character and why? Whey did the character...? I think...because... Would you act like or not act like the character and why? Does any part of the story remind you of another book, yourself, the world and how?

Math: Review for CBA test

Science: Motion of objects: Twirlers and Twirley Birds

Social Studies: In with the New Technology

ENJOY YOUR 3 DAY WEEK!!! and HOPPY EASTER!!!

Week 27 March 26-30

This is the 5th week in the 5th 6 weeks. That means we have only 9 weeks of school remaining in our second grade year!

Let us remind ourselves and our students that 4th grade will be taking the Writing STAAR, and 5th grade will be taking Reading and Math STAAR over the next 2 days, Tuesday and Wednesday

Friday, April 6, will be a holiday so NO SCHOOL!

Play Day is sneaking up on us.It will be May 25, so mark your calendars now if you plan to attend.

This week in our learning:

Reading: Drawing conclusions, Plot, and Theme of fiction text

Spelling: R-controlled Vowels -ar -or
marker corner army north shark torn sharp short yard thorn harm store

Grammar: complete sentences with subject/verb agreement

Writing: response to the setting of a story ex: Was the setting important to the story? Why or Why not? OR Do you like the setting? Why or Why Not?

Math: Review graphing, comparing 100's, and measurement

Science: Balance and Motion through The Pencil Trick, Mobiles, and Tops

Social Studies: From the Soil to the Shelf

Week 26 March 19-23

Sorry about not having our blog updated yesterday. We had a power outage at school and I couldn't get it done.

Our learning this week:

Reading: Review story elements and inferencing with fiction text

Spelling: double medial consonants.
summer pepper buzzer common spinner rabbit hammer glimmer dinner simmer filler dollar

Grammar: Review complete sentences with subject/verb agreement

Math: Review double digit subtraction and whether to use addition or subtraction

Science: Balance and Motion

Social Studies: producers and consumers