Monday, May 16, 2011
Saturday, April 30, 2011
May Day! May Day!
WOW! Can you believe MAY is here?! Time flies when you're having fun :)
We have wrapped up the drama unit! The students did a great job with their play presentations. Each group took a very simple play, modified the script to accommodate more or less characters, added stage directions, costumes, prop lists and set design. Their creativity ran wild! The scenery and costumes were very well detailed - down to the last crackling ember in a fire place, whisker in an animal mask, and fake facial hair to show their characters' ages. (I was also rather impressed with our students' repertoire of accents!) Way to go class - two very enthusiastic thumbs up :)
Our second to last unit of study in language arts this year will be Novels. As I mentioned in previous posts, students will be working in literature circles again. Thus, their typical homework assignments for reading/language arts will be to either read, complete a literature circle role, or answer a response question in their Reading Response Journals (RRJ). One of my fellow teammates, Ms. Saenger, has shared a great resource with me. It is a list of "Sentence Leads (or starters) for Reading Response Journals." I plan to have each student attach a copy of this inside his/her reading response journal to use as a resource for future journal writing assignments. I want to provide the students with a little more freedom in their journaling assignments, but I also want them to have some guidance as well. You'll see in this week's assignments that they are to write two free choice responses in their journal by Friday, May 6th. I expect students to still refer to their blue rubrics as a writing guide, and to select a "Sentence Lead" from the list to prompt their writing. Looking forward to reading and discussing these responses in group!
Students will have time during centers to work on their literature circle and reading response assignments, I hope this will help to alleviate the work load at home :)
This past week in math we've reviewed and extended our skills in finding fractions of a region and fractions of a set. This coming week we'll be continuing those skills, as well as identifying mixed numbers and improper fractions. With the 50th Anniversary Celebration and Strawberry Festival coming this Friday I will wait until next week to quiz these skills.
Monday we will have an assembly from the Arc of Frederick County. This presentation will provide students information on persons with disabilities. The Arc is such a positive part of our community, this should be a very informative presentation.
As I'm sure you've heard, Friday is Urbana Elementary School's 50th Anniversary Celebration and Strawberry Festival!! There will be all sorts of fun games and activities for families to participate in - including the sponge toss at the teachers (myself included - yikes!!). Hope to see all of you there!
Enjoy this lovely weekend :)
We have wrapped up the drama unit! The students did a great job with their play presentations. Each group took a very simple play, modified the script to accommodate more or less characters, added stage directions, costumes, prop lists and set design. Their creativity ran wild! The scenery and costumes were very well detailed - down to the last crackling ember in a fire place, whisker in an animal mask, and fake facial hair to show their characters' ages. (I was also rather impressed with our students' repertoire of accents!) Way to go class - two very enthusiastic thumbs up :)
Our second to last unit of study in language arts this year will be Novels. As I mentioned in previous posts, students will be working in literature circles again. Thus, their typical homework assignments for reading/language arts will be to either read, complete a literature circle role, or answer a response question in their Reading Response Journals (RRJ). One of my fellow teammates, Ms. Saenger, has shared a great resource with me. It is a list of "Sentence Leads (or starters) for Reading Response Journals." I plan to have each student attach a copy of this inside his/her reading response journal to use as a resource for future journal writing assignments. I want to provide the students with a little more freedom in their journaling assignments, but I also want them to have some guidance as well. You'll see in this week's assignments that they are to write two free choice responses in their journal by Friday, May 6th. I expect students to still refer to their blue rubrics as a writing guide, and to select a "Sentence Lead" from the list to prompt their writing. Looking forward to reading and discussing these responses in group!
Students will have time during centers to work on their literature circle and reading response assignments, I hope this will help to alleviate the work load at home :)
This past week in math we've reviewed and extended our skills in finding fractions of a region and fractions of a set. This coming week we'll be continuing those skills, as well as identifying mixed numbers and improper fractions. With the 50th Anniversary Celebration and Strawberry Festival coming this Friday I will wait until next week to quiz these skills.
Monday we will have an assembly from the Arc of Frederick County. This presentation will provide students information on persons with disabilities. The Arc is such a positive part of our community, this should be a very informative presentation.
As I'm sure you've heard, Friday is Urbana Elementary School's 50th Anniversary Celebration and Strawberry Festival!! There will be all sorts of fun games and activities for families to participate in - including the sponge toss at the teachers (myself included - yikes!!). Hope to see all of you there!
Enjoy this lovely weekend :)
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Hello and welcome back! I hope you and your families had a pleasant, relaxing spring break.
We will be wrapping up the drama unit this week, and moving on to novels next week. Please keep an eye out in your child's agenda books for potential prop and costume needs as they will be presenting their one-act plays at the end of this week. Not to worry - no shopping trips required :)
For the novel unit we will be following the literature circle model again as we did in the beginning of the year. There will be a packet that comes home with specific reading and comprehension assignments that will need to be completed. Any extra literature circle roles that are completed will be counted as extra credit.
In math we are continuing to study fractions and decimals. This unit should take us throught the next 3 weeks or so.
With spring upon us, and an increase in extra-curricular activities, I will be providing the students more time to work on assignments in class - and this includes homework. I hope this helps to alleviate the work load at home :)
I hope you have a great week - thank you for your continued support!
We will be wrapping up the drama unit this week, and moving on to novels next week. Please keep an eye out in your child's agenda books for potential prop and costume needs as they will be presenting their one-act plays at the end of this week. Not to worry - no shopping trips required :)
For the novel unit we will be following the literature circle model again as we did in the beginning of the year. There will be a packet that comes home with specific reading and comprehension assignments that will need to be completed. Any extra literature circle roles that are completed will be counted as extra credit.
In math we are continuing to study fractions and decimals. This unit should take us throught the next 3 weeks or so.
With spring upon us, and an increase in extra-curricular activities, I will be providing the students more time to work on assignments in class - and this includes homework. I hope this helps to alleviate the work load at home :)
I hope you have a great week - thank you for your continued support!
Monday, March 28, 2011
Top of the 4th Quarter!
Just a few reminders about this week -
Field trip to Urbana High School on Wednesday morning!
Class pictures, Thursday morning!
Spelling quiz has been moved to next Friday, due to the delay in the spelling lists getting home.
Thank you for all your continued support and communication - have a great week!
:) KM
Field trip to Urbana High School on Wednesday morning!
Class pictures, Thursday morning!
Spelling quiz has been moved to next Friday, due to the delay in the spelling lists getting home.
Thank you for all your continued support and communication - have a great week!
:) KM
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Springing Forward...
...into DRAMA!!
We have started our drama unit in language arts. The students have historically had a great time with this unit - the creative juices really get to run wild! Students will be comparing stories to plays, identifying the components of plays, reading plays and performing plays. As you know, we are also going to be observing a play at Urbana High School on the 30th - Rodger's and Hammerstein's Cinderella.
We will be continuing multiplication strategies in math for the remainder of the week. Students will be learning division strategies beginning next week.
In science, we are wrapping up our Changes unit - which was focusing on the different forms and properties of matter. Our next science unit will be Life Cycles - we'll study the life cycles of plants, meal worms - and butterflies!
The Leprechaun traps were A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! It was great to see such innovation and effort go into these projects. The students clearly put so much effort and planning into their projects - way to go! Additionally, I would like to add how impressed I was with the students' attitudes towards one another's projects. Such positive, encouraging language was heard throughout the room - complimenting each other, asking questions, thanking one another for the exchange of kind words. It was a great, "bucket filling" experience!
"What is this 'bucket filling' you speak of?"
If your child hasn't already shared with you, we read a book a few weeks ago titled, Have You Filled a Bucket Today? I had noticed that we had gotten to the point in the school year where we need to take a moment to remind ourselves of the school rules, and how to treat one another. Another second grade teacher, Mrs. Crawford, had introduced me to this fabulous book. The essence of the story is that everyone carries an invisible bucket around with them. This bucket holds the good thoughts and feelings that each of us have toward ourselves. Each person has the capacity to be either a "bucket filler" or a "bucket dipper". Bucket fillers give encouraging words, compliments, use manners and say kind words. (The best part about filling someone else's bucket, is that you fill your own bucket at the same time!) However, a bucket dipper teases, bullies, says unkind or rude words to others in the hopes that this will fill his/her bucket. Dipping into someone else's bucket is not going to fill your own. This has been a very helpful tool, and a useful language to use with the students in building their own self-confidence, as well as positive relationships with one another. There is a link in the new "Parent-Teacher Connection" section of the blog with more information about this program.
About the New, "Parent Teacher Connection" Section...
During Parent-Teacher conferences, I had shared a few tid bits from various articles that I have read at various trainings and meetings with parents. It was brought to my attention that perhaps I could post these articles on the blog to share with everyone. What a great idea! So, in it's debut, the Parent-Teacher Connection has a few links in it. You'll find the FCPS home page, the link for the Volunteer Training (mandatory to chaperone any field trips), the bucket-filling link, and then two links to the National Education Association's website - featuring two different articles. One, is a link to the Bully Free Starts With Me program. As I'm sure you've heard in the news, the frequency and severity of bullying as increased dramatically in schools across the country. This link provides access to the bully-free pledge, video links about the campaign, and as well as other related links on the topic.
The other link is to an article entitled "The Praise Paradox". In our various trainings and meetings throughout the school year, this has been one of many hot topics of discussion. It has been rather enlightening to me, as an educator, and I encourage you to read it for yourselves, as parents of gifted students.
I hope this will be a good resource for the both of us to use as we continue to work together throughout the rest of the school year.
Finally, I hope you and your families enjoy the long weekend ahead, as well as the last quarter of the 2010-2011 school year! Thank you so much for your continued support and communication.
:) KM
We have started our drama unit in language arts. The students have historically had a great time with this unit - the creative juices really get to run wild! Students will be comparing stories to plays, identifying the components of plays, reading plays and performing plays. As you know, we are also going to be observing a play at Urbana High School on the 30th - Rodger's and Hammerstein's Cinderella.
We will be continuing multiplication strategies in math for the remainder of the week. Students will be learning division strategies beginning next week.
In science, we are wrapping up our Changes unit - which was focusing on the different forms and properties of matter. Our next science unit will be Life Cycles - we'll study the life cycles of plants, meal worms - and butterflies!
The Leprechaun traps were A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! It was great to see such innovation and effort go into these projects. The students clearly put so much effort and planning into their projects - way to go! Additionally, I would like to add how impressed I was with the students' attitudes towards one another's projects. Such positive, encouraging language was heard throughout the room - complimenting each other, asking questions, thanking one another for the exchange of kind words. It was a great, "bucket filling" experience!
"What is this 'bucket filling' you speak of?"
If your child hasn't already shared with you, we read a book a few weeks ago titled, Have You Filled a Bucket Today? I had noticed that we had gotten to the point in the school year where we need to take a moment to remind ourselves of the school rules, and how to treat one another. Another second grade teacher, Mrs. Crawford, had introduced me to this fabulous book. The essence of the story is that everyone carries an invisible bucket around with them. This bucket holds the good thoughts and feelings that each of us have toward ourselves. Each person has the capacity to be either a "bucket filler" or a "bucket dipper". Bucket fillers give encouraging words, compliments, use manners and say kind words. (The best part about filling someone else's bucket, is that you fill your own bucket at the same time!) However, a bucket dipper teases, bullies, says unkind or rude words to others in the hopes that this will fill his/her bucket. Dipping into someone else's bucket is not going to fill your own. This has been a very helpful tool, and a useful language to use with the students in building their own self-confidence, as well as positive relationships with one another. There is a link in the new "Parent-Teacher Connection" section of the blog with more information about this program.
About the New, "Parent Teacher Connection" Section...
During Parent-Teacher conferences, I had shared a few tid bits from various articles that I have read at various trainings and meetings with parents. It was brought to my attention that perhaps I could post these articles on the blog to share with everyone. What a great idea! So, in it's debut, the Parent-Teacher Connection has a few links in it. You'll find the FCPS home page, the link for the Volunteer Training (mandatory to chaperone any field trips), the bucket-filling link, and then two links to the National Education Association's website - featuring two different articles. One, is a link to the Bully Free Starts With Me program. As I'm sure you've heard in the news, the frequency and severity of bullying as increased dramatically in schools across the country. This link provides access to the bully-free pledge, video links about the campaign, and as well as other related links on the topic.
The other link is to an article entitled "The Praise Paradox". In our various trainings and meetings throughout the school year, this has been one of many hot topics of discussion. It has been rather enlightening to me, as an educator, and I encourage you to read it for yourselves, as parents of gifted students.
I hope this will be a good resource for the both of us to use as we continue to work together throughout the rest of the school year.
Finally, I hope you and your families enjoy the long weekend ahead, as well as the last quarter of the 2010-2011 school year! Thank you so much for your continued support and communication.
:) KM
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Dates Updates
Hello all!
~Class picture day: Tuesday, March 15th
~Leprechaun Trap Project: Thursday, March 17th
~Field Trip to Urbana High School to see Cinderella: Wednesday, March 30th
~Class picture day: Tuesday, March 15th
~Leprechaun Trap Project: Thursday, March 17th
~Field Trip to Urbana High School to see Cinderella: Wednesday, March 30th
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Wind in Our Sails! :)
YIKES! It's windy out there!
REMINDER: CLASS PICTURE DAY IS THIS COMING TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 22ND. OUR TIME SLOT IS AT 9:00.
The students are in the process of completing their persuasive paragraphs in response to the "Cartoon Ban" article in the Kids Post from the Washington Post. If you would like to have your child's article sent to the Washington Post, I can email you an electronic copy of their work, along with the address to send it to. Maybe one of our student's responses will be published!
Students have started the process of creating their Second Grade Writing Anthologies. Each student is able to design the cover of his/her book, and compile all the various writing pieces completed throughout the year. Towards the end of the school year, we will be having an "Author's Tea" to give the students the opportunity to share their work with their parents and peers. The students take such pride in presenting their work, and it's a great keepsake!
We have wrapped up our unit on data and probabity and will be moving on to multiplication this week! The students have been so eager to learn more about this mathematical concept, I'm very excited to get the ball rolling.
Coming home on Tuesday will be a half-sheet sign up for Parent-Teacher conferences. These conferences are optional the second time around, but most certainly encouraged should you have any concerns. Please have these half-sheets returned by Monday, February 28th.
I hope you all enjoy the three day weekend!
:) KM
REMINDER: CLASS PICTURE DAY IS THIS COMING TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 22ND. OUR TIME SLOT IS AT 9:00.
The students are in the process of completing their persuasive paragraphs in response to the "Cartoon Ban" article in the Kids Post from the Washington Post. If you would like to have your child's article sent to the Washington Post, I can email you an electronic copy of their work, along with the address to send it to. Maybe one of our student's responses will be published!
Students have started the process of creating their Second Grade Writing Anthologies. Each student is able to design the cover of his/her book, and compile all the various writing pieces completed throughout the year. Towards the end of the school year, we will be having an "Author's Tea" to give the students the opportunity to share their work with their parents and peers. The students take such pride in presenting their work, and it's a great keepsake!
We have wrapped up our unit on data and probabity and will be moving on to multiplication this week! The students have been so eager to learn more about this mathematical concept, I'm very excited to get the ball rolling.
Coming home on Tuesday will be a half-sheet sign up for Parent-Teacher conferences. These conferences are optional the second time around, but most certainly encouraged should you have any concerns. Please have these half-sheets returned by Monday, February 28th.
I hope you all enjoy the three day weekend!
:) KM
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