Ms. Bell's 2nd Grade Class

Week of 10/17 - 10/21

I always say that we are so busy in the Beach Buddy Classroom...but it's TRUE!!  We work, work, work!  (and play hard, too!)  This week wraps up the 1st semester!! :)  Time is just FLYING BY!!  download this week's newsletter below:

Download 10-17-11 newsletter

We have been working on strategies to monitor our comprehension called "I don't get it."  Good readers realize when something (a word, a sentence, a section) don't make sense.  We practiced stopping when you "don't get it" and looking for strategies to figure out what to do.  Here are the strategies we practiced:

• Back up and reread the passage
• Adjust the reading rate (like slow down)
• Read ahead and see if it makes sense
• Identify unknown words (e.g. sound out, break into parts, use context clues, look it up in the dictionary)
• Ask somebody

Students should practice these strategies at home! :) 

In writing, we are wrapping up personal narratives.  I have learned so much from reading their personal stories about themselves and their experiences!  They have such interesting lives.  :)  We are moving towards story/fantasy writing.  This week we had a funeral for overused beginnings.  The first one to be buried in the Graveyard was "Hi, My name is...".  It was very sad to see our dear friend go! :) 

In math, we contonued to review skills in counting bills and coins and finding equivalent sets with certain amounts.  Please, please, please practice counting money with students!  It is an important life skill and certainly something that needs A LOT of practice!   Next week, we are moving into multiplication.

Science is all about soil and fossils. 

Here are some dates and reminders:

• NEXT WEEK IS EARLY RELEASE SCHEDULE!!  STUDENTS ARE DISMISSED AT 12:25 ALL WEEK!!!!
• Thursday, October 27th - Cowloween at Chick-fil-a
• Wednesday, November 2nd - Picture Retake Day
• Thursday, October 3rd - PTA Meeting (5th Grade Performance) 6:00
• Saturday, November 5th - Turkey Trot 8:00am - 11:00am
• Tuesday, November 8th - Student Holiday

Picture Highlights for the Week:

 

 

 

Week of 9/26

Hi Beach Buddies! 

We have been learning all kinds of things this week!  Beach Buddies have been busy practicing addition and subtraction together.  We have been continuing personal narratives and focusing on those "small" moments that we can write about!  (Ask about Jack and the Tortilla Chips!!)  They are becoming more comfortable with choosing their "good fit" books.  they are working on being able to tell me what they are thinking as they are reading (metacognition).  I am proud of the work they are doing!

Here are some picture highlights from the week:

 
 

Beach Buddies Are the BEST! Week of 9/23

This week seemed to FLY by!!  It was exciting to see all the growing and working that was happening in the Beach Buddy classroom this week!

Please see the newsletters & pictures  below:

Download 9-12-11 newsletter

Download 9-19-11 newsletter

 
 

Want to Practice Subtraction?

Use Virtual Manipulatives to Subtract!

Subtracting With Virtual Manipulatives

Addition and Subtraction Puzzles

Do You Know the Diffy???

Find the Diffy!

Week of 9/12-9/16

Things are buzzing as usual with the Beach Buddies this week.  Besides the regular happenings, we also had a visit from the Chick-fil-a Traveling Cow.  It is an exciting program that promotes writing.  This week every Beach Buddy received a notebook to keep as a journal.  Many were very excited about using it to free write!  We also visited Mrs. Kauffman in the Science Lab.  She showed us different types of rocks.  We were able to practice hardness tests by scratching rock samples on tiles. 

Next proves to be a busy week, too.  We will be visiting the library to check out "IPICK Good Fit" books.  We will also visit Mr. Tener in the computer lab to work with a program called Inspiration to create thinking maps.

In reading, we will continue to work on comprehension strategies and picking good fit books.  This week, the students were introduced to "Reading to Someone".  They really like it because they get to practice their fluency with a partner.  Be sure to ask them what to do when you "Check for Understanding" when your partner is reading.  We will also be learning new strategies in our literacy CAFE (Comprehension, Accuracy, Fluency, and Expanding Vocabulary).

In writing, we have really enjoyed sharing our personal narratives!  The objects and pictures have been so fun.  We are continuing to work on personal narratives.  Many students have finished their first memory and have moved on to their next piece.  One-on-one conferences have begun.  It is great to see the writing that is going on in the room!

In math, we have started reviewing addition strategies like:  estimating to the nearest 10, 100, and 1,000, finding the missing addend, and front end estimation.  Please go over the papers that were in this week's Friday folder.  They will provide valuable information as to your child's strengths and weaknesses.  Next week, we continue to practice addition skills.  Keep working those math facts!!!

Science is exciting!  The class is continuing learning about rocks and minerals.  Also, we will have a visit from WellStar this week to talk about Health.

The student newsletter will be posted next week.  The news crew have a few things to add before publishing.  It looks great and I cannot wait to see the final paper.

Here are some photos from our awesome photographer this week:

 
 
 

Beach Buddies 9/6 - 9/9

 
It's great to be a Beach Buddy!

This week was busy and challenging!  The students have been working on place value and rounding numbers to the nearest 10, 100, and 1000.  Check out the post below for some online rounding practice!

In the Friday Folders, there is some important information for you to review.  Mrs. Meharg sent home a letter discussing classroom information.  There is also a letter explaining the problems with the phones yesterday.  I know many of you received some automated phonecalls about attendance.  It was NOT true! 

Please review the work that was sent home in the Friday Folders.  It will let you know how your child is progressing in math and language arts.

Next week, we are beginning to think about our reading.  We will be using metacognitive strategies (thinking about your thinking) to help our reading comprehension. 

Check out the highlights from our week in the picutures below.  Also, here is an electronic copy of the newsletter that our student news crew wrote this week.  Have a great weekend!

Download 9-6-11 Newsletter

            

More Rounding and Place Value Practice

Fun Brain Place Value Puzzler

Spaceships? Rounding?? What fun!

 Keep Practicing Rounding! It's Out of this World!!!

Rounding Spaceships!

Beach Buddies 8/29-9/2

 
We had a great week in the Beach Buddy classroom!!  Click on the week below to see the color version of our class's newsletter.  It was written and created all by members of our class!  Way to go!

Also, here are some pictures of our week's learning!  See you on Tuesday!

Download 8-29-11 Newsletter (If you do not have Word, a hard copy went home Friday.)