2G students have been knocking my socks off!  They are developing skills in all areas and they're having an amazing time while they learn.  It always stays sunny in 2G...even on rainy days!  Please enjoy these highlights of our week:
Literacy:  In our guided reading groups, readers are learning to read carefully and to pay attention to punctuation.  We are focusing on reading the written words on the page, avoiding insertions and omisssions.  In addition, students are working on reading for meaning - taking the time to determine what a new word may mean in context. 
Fundations:  "ai" and "ay" words were our vowel teams this week.  2Gers learned that "ai" is used in the beginning and middle of words and "ay" is found at the end (suffixes are coming soon!).  Hooray!
Math:  Masters of 10! Mathematicians have been comparing given amounts using the "greater than", "less than", and "equal to" signs.  We use the notion of a "greedy duck" to remember that the opening of the duck bill faces the larger amount.  Mathematicians are learning to organize their thinking and use math facts we know to help add a string of multiple numbers. 
Science:  Scientists explored friction in their experiments.  We used everyday classroom objects with different surfaces and tried to move them across our rug.  We had wonderful discussions about the factors that make an object harder to push - ultimately determining that more friction slows objects down! 
Friday Jokes:  At the end of the week, students have Choice Time where they can play games, do puzzles, design at our drawing/craft table, play on the computer, etc.  After Choice Time, we end the day with 10 minutes of jokes where all budding comedians are welcome to share a joke.  We have shared many laughs together and we look forward to this Friday tradition every week.  Ask your son/daughter to share some with you!
Have a great week. 

It was so wonderful to see you all at Open House on Wednesday!  This was a very special week in so many ways.  We enjoyed a wonderful performance by Art Barn that taught us that everyone has different strengths and we should be proud of them.  In addition, we had an incredible, sunny nature walk on Friday!  Students sketched elements of nature in their observation journals.  We enjoyed a picnic with the entire second grade - a wonderful community event.  Please enjoy these highlights of our week:
Math:  Mathematicians completed their first chapter this week.  To celebrate, we designed our own math book inspired by the book, 12 Ways to Make 11.  Our version, "20 Ways to Make 11" will be coming soon to a website near you!  Our new lessons focused on sums greater than 10.  We learned to play a new game called, "Close to 20"...a fan favorite.  
Literacy:  Readers are doing an amazing job in their guided reading groups and literacy centers.  We introduced a few new centers this week - "Computer Center" where students can work on Raz-Kids and "Making Words Center" where students build words.  In our guided reading groups, students have their own word rings.  Each session, we add new "trick words" to our word rings for readers to practice. These are often words that are not pronounced the same way that they are spelled.
Social Studies:  Students were introduced to our Flat Stanley project this week. They designed their own Flat Stanleys to send around the world.  We are so excited to learn about other people and places!
Fundations:  Our phonics focus this week was on words that end in bonus letters - "ff", "ss", and "ll". Students used their magnet boards and dry erase boards to practice and tap out new words.  It was a thrill!
I hope you all enjoyed the three-day weekend. 
Have a great week!

We have a new member of 2G on Thursdays!  Erica Lauria, a pre-practicum student from Boston College will be joining 2G every Thursday this semester.  Erica is THRILLED to be a part of our classroom community and students gave her a very warm welcome.  Please enjoy these additional highlights of our week.
Math:  Mathematicians worked on identifying intersections this week to begin an exploration of multiplication.  Students looked at the number of rows that intersect with columns (example: 2 rows crossing 3 columns = 6 intersections).  
Literacy:  Readers heard the stories, Some Birthday! and Firetalking by Patricia Polacco.  After these beautiful read alouds, we had the opportunity to make text to self connections.  In addition, students learned about a new center called, "Word Ladders" where new words are built upon on another by changing vowels and consonants.
Observation Journals:  Scientists used Loupes to observe the details in fall leaves this week. The Loupes helped us see the network of tiny veins in leaves.  We sketched our observations carefully and we can't wait to bring our journals on our upcoming nature walk!
Science:  Does height affect speed?  After an experiment involving marbles and tracks set at different heights, scientists came to the conclusion that, "The higher, the faster, and the lower, the slower."
Compliments:  Our wonderful 2G members began our compliment chart this week.  Every day, students are assigned a "compliment buddy".  They are in charge of writing down a nice compliment to their buddy and putting it into a designated pocket for their buddy to pick up at the end of the day.  We get to leave each day with something kind that a classmate has shared!

Happy Fall, 2G Families!  Please enjoy these highlights of our week:

We had an amazing week in 2G! Please enjoy these highlights of our studies:
Morning Meeting:  We are now in full swing of our morning meeting routine.  To kick off our share portion of the meeting, our vice principal, Mr. Rosenshine shared a picture of when he was in second grade!  We have had 2 amazing student shares and we look forward to many more.
Math:  Rows, Columns, Number lines, oh, my!  Mathematicians learned to count in an organized way this week.  We are working on keeping track of our counting using one-to-one correspondance on a number line. To celebrate all of our hard work, we played a favorite game of "Tens Go Fish" on Friday!
Writing:  2Gers are working on handwriting and holding pencils correctly during these first few weeks of school.  Writers completed wonderful sentences about what they would like to be when they grow up.  Coming soon to a bulletin board near you!
Social Studies:  Mrs. Gomes introduced an "About Me Collage" on Monday and students created amazing posters of their own. Each student has presented his/her collage and we learned so much about one another.  In addition, we began our study of maps as we looked at our classroom from a bird's eye view.
Fundations:  Students learned about the digraphs, "th", "ch", "sh", "ck", and "wh" this week.   We enjoyed many activities that helped us understand how to use these digraphs appropriately.  Tapping out  our sounds on our fingers as we spell helps with sound recognition.  
Literacy:  Readers have been learning about "Just Right" books to read during D.E.A.R. time (Drop Everything And Read time).  We heard two beautiful stories by Patricia Polacco, The Keeping Quilt and Thank you, Mr. Falker.  Patricia Polacco writes about her personal experiences and we made several connections to our own stories after each reading.  
Homework: Students will receive a homework packet this week that will come home on Tuesday (after the holiday).  The whole red folder with the homework packet should be returned to Mrs. Gomes on Friday.   2G students did an amazing job practicing their homework in class last week.
Keep up the great work!
Have a wonderful week.  

Wow!  We had 2 wonderful days in 2G to kick off a great year.  Students clearly came ready to learn with big smiles and we had a blast! Please enjoy these highlights of our studies:
Getting to know 2G - Students worked together to complete a scavenger hunt on our first day of school.  I complimented the amazing buddy work I saw as students discovered many elements of their classroom. Way to go!
Read Aloud and Respond - I shared a favorite book, The Magic Hat, by Mem Fox with the class. This story highlights the beauty of using your imagination. After the read aloud, students designed their own "magic hats" and wrote about what powers they have.  These creative works are on display on our bulletin board in the hallway. Take a look!
Bookmarks - Students created personalized bookmarks to use as they read throughout the year.
Math - Our first math lesson focused on patterns.  We learned to identify and distinguish between a "growing pattern" and a "repeating pattern".
Time Capsules - Students are working on filling special boxes with writing, measurements, photos, and hand cut-outs.  These time capsules will be buried next week to be dug up and opened the last week of second grade.  
About Me Collages - While there is no homework packet coming home this week, students are bringing home a poster board with directions to complete an About Me Collage.  This collage is due on Friday.  I encourage students to work on their collages a bit each day to get into a routine of doing homework each afternoon.  This is a 10-year tradition in 2G and we can't wait to share them with one another.
Have a wonderful week!

Congratulations! You're in Second Grade!  I can not wait to see everyone and start an amazing school year.  I'll see you soon!