Please send you child with a sport top water bottle during these HOT first days of school!
Reading Workshop
Second-grade students grow like beanstalks in reading, and they have been hard at work with reading each day. I am reading aloud to the students every day. We've read many great picture books to kick off the year and to remind students that real readers are THINKERS! In addition to a read aloud, I use a workshop model of instruction that includes explicit instruction about reading strategies and time for students to put that instruction into practice. I confer with students and small groups about their progress with the strategies they are working on, and we share our successes at the end of our reading time. During the first seven days, we have talked about how students need to choose good fit books to grow as readers. We have also discussed how to look at a book to understand how it should be read, how to build stamina by reading for longer and longer periods of time, how to scoop phrases rather than individual words to improve fluency, and how to ALWAYS stop and think as we read and retell what we comprehend. Ask your child to tell you about the strategies s/he uses!
Word Study
The children are learning routines related to studying words and learning common spelling patterns in the English language. We are working on a sort that differentiates between the beginning consonant blends br-, tr-, dr-, gr-, fr-, and cr-. The students have written their words, cut and sorted them, and chose from several activities to practice writing the words. Starting the week of Sept. 10, the students will be working on sorts at their own levels. Daily homework for word study will begin September 10.
Sight Words and Handwriting
Each day the students learn a new sight word. We write the words, identify rhyming words, synonyms, antonyms, and create sentences using the words. Sight words do not always follow common English spelling patterns, so students have to memorize them. You should have seen half sheets of paper coming home each day showing the sight words we've worked with so far.
Students are also working on using a correct pencil grip and writing with their very best printing. Please ask your child to show you his/her pencil grip. Using the correct grip and proper letter formation will make writing less laborious and will enable your child to move smoothly into cursive handwriting. Thank you for your support with stressing proper pencil grip with your child. If you have questions about this. please let me know.
Math
Our first five days of school the students worked with math activities following a program called "Week of Inspirational Math." The emphasis of this program was to help students realize that EVERYONE can be successful with math. We also began our first Investigations math unit called Number Strings and Story Problems. The children will review many different concepts related to counting, understanding the base ten number system, telling time, money, and tools to help students have success with mathematics. We used tools such as the number line and the hundreds chart to support their thinking. Children are starting to learn routines for math and will explore each day by choosing from a variety of math games and activities. Motivation is high among the students, and I am learning a great deal about their existing math skills.
Writing Workshop
The children are hard at work writing personal narratives, which are also known as small moments. Students have learned that small moments are about one time or event in their life. They stretch the experience over many pages and write detail to bring their stories to life. The students look at the work of published authors such as Jane Yolen's Owl Moon, and Crab Moon by Ruth Horwitz. By studying published authors, the students are inspired to write as they do.
Social Studies - Culture and History Theme
Our first social studies theme called Culture and History. The beginning focus is on communities and family. We established a set of community rules for our classroom community. We read Mrs. Mingo's First Day of School by Jamie Harper to reinforce the importance of being yourself and accepting everyone's differences in a community. We also read the first lesson in our social studies book.
Benchmark Testing
Your children will take benchmark assessments for reading and math using the Aimsweb Plus online testing program. They will take the math portion of the test on Weds., Sept. 5, a reading portion on Thursday, Sept. 6, and a final reading portion on Wed., Sept. 12.
Open House is Thursday, Sept. 13
Don't miss the Open House where teachers will present an overview of your child's experiences planned for the year. Here's the schedule:
6:30-6:55 - K-1-2 Teacher Presentations in Classrooms
7:00-7:25 - Casey Presentation/PTO Meeting in Auditorium
7:30-7:55 - 3rd/4th Teacher Presentations in Classrooms
Author Visit: Linda Ragsdale
On Friday, September 14th, we are excited to welcome Author Linda Ragsdale to Lincoln School. She is an author that encourages peace in her wonderful children's books. Your child has received an order form if you would like to order one of her books. Any questions, please contact Mrs. Brauweiler directly.
Second-grade students grow like beanstalks in reading, and they have been hard at work with reading each day. I am reading aloud to the students every day. We've read many great picture books to kick off the year and to remind students that real readers are THINKERS! In addition to a read aloud, I use a workshop model of instruction that includes explicit instruction about reading strategies and time for students to put that instruction into practice. I confer with students and small groups about their progress with the strategies they are working on, and we share our successes at the end of our reading time. During the first seven days, we have talked about how students need to choose good fit books to grow as readers. We have also discussed how to look at a book to understand how it should be read, how to build stamina by reading for longer and longer periods of time, how to scoop phrases rather than individual words to improve fluency, and how to ALWAYS stop and think as we read and retell what we comprehend. Ask your child to tell you about the strategies s/he uses!
Word Study
The children are learning routines related to studying words and learning common spelling patterns in the English language. We are working on a sort that differentiates between the beginning consonant blends br-, tr-, dr-, gr-, fr-, and cr-. The students have written their words, cut and sorted them, and chose from several activities to practice writing the words. Starting the week of Sept. 10, the students will be working on sorts at their own levels. Daily homework for word study will begin September 10.
Sight Words and Handwriting
Each day the students learn a new sight word. We write the words, identify rhyming words, synonyms, antonyms, and create sentences using the words. Sight words do not always follow common English spelling patterns, so students have to memorize them. You should have seen half sheets of paper coming home each day showing the sight words we've worked with so far.
Students are also working on using a correct pencil grip and writing with their very best printing. Please ask your child to show you his/her pencil grip. Using the correct grip and proper letter formation will make writing less laborious and will enable your child to move smoothly into cursive handwriting. Thank you for your support with stressing proper pencil grip with your child. If you have questions about this. please let me know.
Math
Our first five days of school the students worked with math activities following a program called "Week of Inspirational Math." The emphasis of this program was to help students realize that EVERYONE can be successful with math. We also began our first Investigations math unit called Number Strings and Story Problems. The children will review many different concepts related to counting, understanding the base ten number system, telling time, money, and tools to help students have success with mathematics. We used tools such as the number line and the hundreds chart to support their thinking. Children are starting to learn routines for math and will explore each day by choosing from a variety of math games and activities. Motivation is high among the students, and I am learning a great deal about their existing math skills.
Writing Workshop
The children are hard at work writing personal narratives, which are also known as small moments. Students have learned that small moments are about one time or event in their life. They stretch the experience over many pages and write detail to bring their stories to life. The students look at the work of published authors such as Jane Yolen's Owl Moon, and Crab Moon by Ruth Horwitz. By studying published authors, the students are inspired to write as they do.
Social Studies - Culture and History Theme
Our first social studies theme called Culture and History. The beginning focus is on communities and family. We established a set of community rules for our classroom community. We read Mrs. Mingo's First Day of School by Jamie Harper to reinforce the importance of being yourself and accepting everyone's differences in a community. We also read the first lesson in our social studies book.
Benchmark Testing
Your children will take benchmark assessments for reading and math using the Aimsweb Plus online testing program. They will take the math portion of the test on Weds., Sept. 5, a reading portion on Thursday, Sept. 6, and a final reading portion on Wed., Sept. 12.
Open House is Thursday, Sept. 13
Don't miss the Open House where teachers will present an overview of your child's experiences planned for the year. Here's the schedule:
6:30-6:55 - K-1-2 Teacher Presentations in Classrooms
7:00-7:25 - Casey Presentation/PTO Meeting in Auditorium
7:30-7:55 - 3rd/4th Teacher Presentations in Classrooms
Author Visit: Linda Ragsdale
On Friday, September 14th, we are excited to welcome Author Linda Ragsdale to Lincoln School. She is an author that encourages peace in her wonderful children's books. Your child has received an order form if you would like to order one of her books. Any questions, please contact Mrs. Brauweiler directly.