Terrific Thursday - April 26

OOPS! I am so sorry! I had written up our final fabulous day and forgot to post it!  I am so sorry as I know I had put in the student's agendas to check the blog - so here is our final day!

Our amazing day started with our morning smile in which the students were working on a word search of "Miss Clarke's favourite things!"  We then read some of the Flat stories that arrived :)  The students were then off to drama....with their pencil crayons and markers (I began to wonder what was up...I found out later!).

After nutrition break the students and I made our very own rain drops using wax paper and tissue paper - they turned out so beautifully and we all had such a wonderful time working through the creative process!

After the second nutrition break the students had a surprise for me and I had a surprise for them!  I presented the class with a new book about animals as I know their next science unit is all about animals and many of the students LOVE animals!  The students then surprised me with a teacher's dream gift - a cart on wheels with a handle (hard to explain but amazing to carry all my stuff in!).  The students then presented me with a book about teaching advice from the Grade 2's - this was what the students were working on in drama, such sneaky kids! :)  The advice was too cute!  I then presented the students with brand new animal, sports, and spring pencils and a flower cookie!  We had a wonderful period reading through the different books and eating our cookies!

In the last period we went to the computer lab and finished up our mapping unit by reading books about people and places on bookflix!

THANK YOU so much to all my amazing students for making this teaching block so incredible!  I learned so much with the students and feel like this experience has made me become the teacher I always wanted to be.  To the parents and families of my amazing grade 2's, thank you for all the support you provided me as a new teacher and for taking part in the Flat Stanley project!  I have an incredible experience and will be back in a few weeks to volunteer!

Below are some pictures from our classroom that are new and amazing!!

Wonderful Wednesday!

Today was a wonderful day in grade 2!  We began the day with our morning smile in which the students used clues to make a spring item - we will finish it tomorrow to find out what the spring item is!  After the students and I read our Flat Stanley book and read some of the Flat Stanley adventures that arrived today in the mail.  After the students wrote a paragraph using the success criteria about the country that they had been researching for social studies.


After nutrition break the students were engaged in a problem solving task for math.  We read a story about seating plans and then the students worked in small groups to find the perimeter and area of different seating plans and then they got to make their own.  The students did an amazing job problem solving today!  We then moved into science and we reviewed the simple machines test from last week and discovered simple machines that are in our kitchen!  The students were then given some time for quiet reading.


The students then had lunch!  After lunch the students had gym class and said they played at different stations and then got to play zombie tag!  For our last period of the day our fabulous reading buddies came and the students got to read some of their favourite stories with their buddies!


The homework for tonight was the mathtastic duotang...but Miss Clarke forgot to send it home with the students!  Sorry!  Tomorrow the students will bring home their mathtastic duotang and their "I can read like a pro" duotang.


There is no spelling test tomorrow :)


And....tomorrow is Miss Clarke's last day :(  I am going to miss my amazing grade 2's so much but am looking forward to tomorrow and having a fun final day!

fanTastic Tuesday! April 24

It was a fanTastic day in Grade 2 today.  We began the morning with our morning smile.  The students first had to estimate and then they used a ruler to measure the lengths of different pencils - please keep practicing with students at home on how to use a ruler :) We then moved into language and worked on "determining importance".  The students helped me to determine what was important to take to dinner (wallet and keys) and what items were not important (ruler and book).  The students then practiced this skill in regards to items that I wanted to bring camping with me.  We are beginning to work on determining importance first through pictures and then through text.  


The students then had nutrition break and we had an indoor recess.  In third period we did some math!  We learned about perimeter and area.  We first found what the area and perimeter was of different items using rockets and then using graph paper.  The students then completed a job for me in determining which garden I should plant my flowers in.  The problem solving the students were engaged in was so amazing to see!  The students were then off to music class in which they were a part of a huge drum circle - it sounded and looked like a lot of fun!


The students were then able to go out for their second nutrition break.  We then finished up our math from the morning and then worked on our social studies projects - we are comparing a warm country to Nunavut.  The interesting facts the students are learning and finding in the books are so amazing - they are great researchers!  We then had Tribes :)  we worked on becoming bucket fillers and talked about how important it is to be a bucket filler instead of a bucket tipper - ask the students about this.  We ended the day with a wonderful community circle.


The homework for tonight is to read, read, and read some more! :) 

Magnificent Last Monday - April 23

Today was my official "last Monday" as a grade 2 teacher.  I have 3 days left and am very sad to be leaving such amazing students!  Today was a super fun day though!  We began the morning in the library reading a wonderful story and then looking for some new books to check out.  The students were then off to the mass choir.


After snack we learned about the differences between centimetres and meters. The students did an activity in which they had to decide what the best unit was to measure different items - such as the school playground or their wrist.  The students then worked independently on a task that had them measuring different lines using different tools.  The students did a fabulous job!  We then moved into social studies and the students continued their research on their country and many groups began comparing their country to Nunavut using a venn diagram.  The students are working so well in their country groups, it is amazing to watch and learn with them.


The students then had lunch and an indoor break where they finished watching the Charlie and the Chocolate movie.  The students were then introduced into my paragraph about "Toast" and had to use our success criteria and bump it up wall to bump up my paragraph.  The students have become so familiar with what a paragraph is, how it is written, and what is needed.  All of the students were able to identify how to bump up my paragraph - I am looking forward to reading their paragraphs very soon.  For the last period of the day some of the students joined their guided reading groups while others silently read in class.


There are NO spelling words for this week :) 

Fantastic Friday - April 20

It was a fantastic day in grade 2!  Today at FM we celebrated Earth Day and began the day with an Earth Day activity in which the students had a word search and abc order it up words.  After the students were off to drama!  Then, after nutrition break, we had a double period of art!  The students made their own Earth person and they look really cute!

After our second nutrition break we had an Earth Day assembly and we saw different movies on Earth Day, met different superheros, and sang the FM song.  It was a great assembly and a perfect reminder of how precious the Earth is.  Last period we went to the computer lab and the students enjoyed playing on BookFlix and EdHead.

Have a super fun weekend and enjoy Earth Day on Sunday.  The homework for the weekend is to do the "I Can Read Like a Pro" reading and have the students cut and paste the missing words!

I am sad to say that next Thursday (April 26th) will be my last day in Grade 2.  I have had the most amazing 7 weeks with the students and have enjoyed every minute learning with them :)  Thank you for all your support over the past 7 weeks, esspecially with the Flat Stanley project!

Terrific Thursday!

It was a wonderful day in Grade 2.  We began the morning with our morning smile - the students practice their measuring skills and did a spring word search.  After the students and I unscrambled a paragraph and wrote it in proper structure using our success criteria.  The students then unscrambled another paragraph (on spaghetti and meatballs) and then wrote it in proper paragraph form - they all did such a great job and used our success criteria so well!


After nutrition break the students learned how to use a ruler and then measured different animals.  They loved this activity as they finally got to use a ruler and measure real life images.  We then began our final task for social studies, looking at a country near the equator and comparing it to Nunavut (what we have been studying for the past week together).  The students all got their groups and got to work - the enthusiasm the students projected in this activity was so amazing to see!


The students then had gym class and played soccer!  We then ended the day with our shared reading and then the students had some quiet reading time - perfect way to end the day :)


EXCITING NEWS - we received two flat friends today!  It was so much fun to read the adventures of these friends!  Hopefully we receive more in the mail very soon!  

Wow! It is already Wednesday - April 18

This week is flying by, I cannot believe it is already Wednesday.

The morning began a bit differently as we had our volunteer appreciation assembly :)  It was such a nice assembly to recognize our amazing volunteers.  The presentations put on by the students were so sweet - great job to all my students in primary choir!  After the assembly the students finished up their morning smiles and then we worked as a group to develop success criteria for writing a paragraph.  


After nutrition break the students had a mini quiz on the different simple machines.  We then had another fun math lesson in which we created our own measurement sticks!  The students then used these measurement sticks to measure different items around the classroom - they did such a great job.  The students should have brought home their measurement sticks to do their math homework for tonight.


Ms Fink and I enjoyed the students at recess (as we had duty) and it looked like everyone enjoyed getting outside and seeing the sunshine.  The students then had gym and they all came back with smiles on their faces and all tired (must have been fun).  We then read our shared reading together, a few quick stories, and then the students had reading buddies with our grade 5 friends.


The homework for tonight is to practice the spelling words and do the fun measurement work sent home in the mathtastic duotang! 

Too Awesome Tuesday - April 17

Today in Grade 2 we did lots of fun things!  We learned about paragraphs, we measured with straws, candy, and money, finished up our art, and had a beautiful community circle :)

The morning began with our morning smile that allowed students to practice their word wall words and make sentences with them.  We then did some finish up work with our bunny brochures and had some quiet reading time.  After, the students and I investigated what makes a level 2, 3, and 4 paragraph and the students came up with lots of ideas on how to write a paragraph and what words should be on our bump it up wall!

The students then had nutrition beak.  After we did another super fun lesson on measurement.  I hired the students to be a part of my knitting store.  They got three different items of clothing and 3 different measuring tools.  The students worked in groups to measure the items and find out which tool works best with each item.  The students did a fantastic job and are all amazing mathematicians!  The students were then off to music to play on the drums!

After the second nutrition break the students were given some time to work on their butterfly art projects from last week!  The students made some beautiful butterflies (I will put up a picture soon).  After art we then had Tribes.  We had a community circle about how "we are feeling in class".  Everyone had such positive and wonderful things to say about our classroom - it warmed my heart :)  We then did a group activity where the students had to use non-verbal cues and make different shapes with their bodies in groups.  The students did a fantastic job!!

Tonight was to read, read, and read some more and to practice the spelling words! 

Tomorrow is the volunteer tea, so please come and join us if you have been one of our amazing volunteers!

Magnificent Monday - April 17

Today was a great way to start the week!  We began today with a trip to the library and a lovely story read by the librarian.  The students then enjoyed a few minutes picking out new books and I noticed many of them looking at Flat Stanley books - so exciting to see that!  After our library visit, the students wrote down their 5 new spelling words in their agendas and then it was off to choir!


After snack, the students and I began the new math unit on measurement!  We read about measurement, brainstormed ideas about measurement, and then got to do some measuring!  The students were set up into groups and then sent off to work at 5 different stations.  The students practiced their estimating skills, measuring skills, perimeter skills, and area skills.  You will have to ask your child about what activity they liked best - I think it may have been the marshmallow centre!


After second nutrition break we did some more work on our social studies unit on mapping.  We explore more about the Northern parts of Canada and their life.  The students then completed a chart that compared their life to a child's life in Nunavut.  The students learned that they had a lot in common with children in Nunavut but that we have different seasons and as such dress differently.  The different connections that the students made were amazing!


To end the day we had some quiet reading and writing time :)


Tomorrow we will be learning about paragraph writing, doing some more measuring, and having a community circle in tribes!

Freaky Friday - April 13

Although it was Friday the 13th, we didn't let that scare us in grade 2!


We began the day with our morning smile that had the students working on their mapping skills using North, East, South, and West.  The students then had their spelling tests and all did so great!  After, I read them a chapter from the newest Flat Stanley story.  The students then finished up their rabbit brochures - many of them had some creative writing ideas!  After snack, Ms. Fink gave the students a lesson the the butterfly art that they were doing.  The students got right to work and did an amazing job - they looked so beautiful!  


Miss Clarke and Ms. Fink then had to leave to go to a meeting but the students, I'm sure, had a fabulous afternoon.  They were going to finish up their butterfly art, make some compound words using the "spring shaker", and then go to computer and go on Bookflix - a class favourite!


The homework for the weekend is the "I can read like a pro" duotang with the poem about "April Shower Brings May Flowers" and on the back are a few questions I would like the students to do :)


Have a lovely weekend! :) 

Terrific Thursday - April 12

It was a terrific day in grade 2 today!  We sent our Flat Stanley's home, learned about Arctic communities, played ringette in gym, and did a much needed desk clean out!

We began this morning with our morning smile that focused on our word wall words - their, there, and they're (name is the other word wall word).  The students did a great job learning the definitions and applying them.  We then read a chapter from our Flat Stanley book about ninjas!  As a group we put together our Flat Stanley envelopes and the students have brought them home - please make sure to read the information  before sending him off!  Ms. Fink then did a making words lesson with the students and they made some amazing words!

After nutrition break the students and I read a story about Arctic communities and brainstormed some ideas together and then in small groups the students did some research about the communities and put their information in a graphic organizer.  The students worked so well together and learned so much - I was very proud of them!  As a large group we then compiled all of our information and had a great discussion on the different topics.  The students then got to do a MUCH needed desk clean out!  We found socks, old books, and even some "missing" work!  The students were all very happy to have had done that and the classroom is much cleaner and the students are much better organized.

Then after second nutrition break the students went to gym class and played a fun game of ringette - I went to check on the class and they were all smiling and having fun!  For the last period of the day we read our shared reading and then we had a pep rally for the school's basketball teams.  We cheered on the players and gave them high-fives!

The homework for tonight is to finish the mathtastic duotang work and to study for the spelling test tomorrow.  Remember tomorrow is crazy hair day too!  Also, Flat Stanley was sent home so please get him out to a friend or family member soon :) 

Wonderful Wednesday - April 11

Today was a wonderful day in grade 2!  We did some shopping, Flat Stanley writing, and map making!


Today was a switch day, so today was a "Monday" even though it really was a Wednesday.  We began the day in the library reading a book with the librarian and choosing new books to read!  After our visit, Ms. Fink introduced students to the butterflies that we will be welcoming to our classroom at the end of April.  Then the students were off to choir to sing!

After nutrition break was SHOPPING!  The students made their wish lists for their shopping trip and got to choose one of their lists and go shopping at Miss Clarke's store.  The students brought home their purchases home tonight so you will have to find out what they bought :)  We then began our new Flat Stanley story and then finished writing our Flat Stanley adventures!  The students will be bringing home their Flat Stanley letters tomorrow with instructions so make sure to check their backpacks when they get home!  


*This picture is of our shopping centre*

Then it was time for lunch!  After lunch the students watched a book on tumblebooks about "a big mistake" and travelling the world.  The students really enjoyed the story!  Then we learned about continents and sang a song about them.  The students then got to work together to create a map with the 7 continents.  For our final period of the day the students were either quietly reading or were writing stories - a great way to end an amazing day!


The students brought home their mathtastic duotang tonight and will be working on subtraction questions.  We will be sending home the Flat Stanley projects we have been doing in class tomorrow - so be sure to check them out!

Totally Tuesday - April 10

Although it felt like a Monday, it was TOTALLY Tuesday!  We began the morning with our morning smile which had the students counting with quarters.  We then moved into a "bump it up lesson" in which the students examined (in pairs) two different paragraphs and had to identify what makes a "level 3" paragraph.  The students came up with some amazing answers and this discussion then lead to our success criteria for writing our Flat Stanley adventure paragraph.  Students then spent the second period writing their Flat Stanley adventures and many of the ideas were so imaginative!  


After nutrition break the students and I began our shopping trip!!!  As a final task for our money unit, the students got to browse Miss Clarke's store and the different items that were up for sale.  From there the students could plan their wish list - they had 98 cents to spend!  Each table group was able to come up and check out Miss Clarke's store.  Tomorrow the students will get to shop at Miss Clarke's store and will come home with their purchases!  The students then went to music and got to play with drums!


After the second nutrition break the students completed a second column on their bunny information sheet in regards to a bunny's behaviours.  The students worked very hard during this time!  We then had a finish up period which allowed for the students to work on their Flat Stanley adventures and finish up their math from the morning.

Tomorrow will be a super fun day as we get to pretend it is a Monday but it is a Wednesday!  We will also be shopping and creating our very own continent maps!

Terrific Thursday – Bunny Day!

Today was such a great day to be a grade 2 student (and teacher!).  We had bunny day!  The students first finished up their graphs during our morning smile time.  The students had a lot of fun finding out what the picture was.  Then we made our own bunny ears!  The students all decorated their ears and we then went to the other grade 2 class and did the bunny hop – too cute!  The students then did a short activity where they learned all about bunnies – where bunnies live, what they eat, who their predators are.  The students learned lots about bunnies and many of them knew more information than Miss Clarke did!  After recess Miss Clarke surprised the students with a craft in which they got to decorate their own bunny using pom poms and sequins!  Once their bunnies were dry the students put them into their “bunny bags” to make sure the bunnies had a safe trip home!  Unfortunately, Miss Clarke then had to leave as she had a meeting with her teachers’ college advisors.  The students (I’m sure!) had a fun filled afternoon with Ms Fink as they were going to watch Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, do Easter activity booklets, and go to gym!

Have a great long weekend! :)  I look forward to seeing everyone on Tuesday!  The homework for the weekend is to read the “I Can Read Like a Pro” booklet, finish the math that Miss Clarke sent home in the “Mathtastic” duotang, and to have fun!

Wacky Wednesday - April 4

Today wasn't really a wacky day, it was more of a wonderful day in grade 2!  We began the morning with our morning smile in which the students were following the instructions to a secret graph and revealing a picture!  The students all think it is going to be something about Easter, so we will have to wait and see what the students find when they finish it tomorrow morning!  We then moved into a double period of language arts which was broken into two lessons - one on there, their, and they're and the other on our Flat Stanley letters.  The spelling words for this week do have there, their, and they're and the students need to be able to understand the definitions and understand the word in context.  We did a review today of this and a short activity but please continue to work on this with your child at home :)  Our second lesson was on the Flat Stanley adventure that the students went out.  They got to design their own Flat adventure and we worked on incorporating "first, then, next, finally".  The students had super creative ideas and I am really looking forward to reading more of them this weekend!


The students then had nutrition break and were all curious about what Miss Clarke was setting up!  When the students came back in from recess they found that Miss Clarke had set up a pulley system in the classroom!  We watched a few short videos on pulleys and then learned about pulleys using the one Miss Clarke created.  We had such a fun time learning about different loads and efforts and we used different classroom materials as our efforts and loads such as markers, pencils, and erasers - be sure to ask your student about this as everyone was very excited!  After we did a quick game of simon says to "shake our sillies" and we then moved into some problem solving in math.  We read about a candy store and the different items it sold.  The students then got to go "shopping" for Miss Clarke and Ms Fink with different money amounts and restrictions.  The students came up with great ideas and used their amazing problem solving skills!


After second nutrition break the students had gym - they all came back very tired, so it sounds like they had fun!  We then had reading buddies with our fabulous grade 5's!  Many of the students read the Easter books Ms Fink has put out on our author shelf.  Then it was time to pack up and go home :)


The homework that was sent home tonight was an Easter math sheet (adding) and was in the students' mathtastic duotangs!  Also, please remember that the spelling test is NEXT FRIDAY - April 13th.  

Miss Clarke is very excited for Bunny Day tomorrow - she even went out and got some bunny ears!  See all my little bunnies tomorrow for our fun filled day!! :) 

Flipday "Friday" (Tuesday - April 3)

Today was a switch day at school so although it was really a Tuesday we were following Friday's schedule!  The morning began with the morning smile that had the students doing a colour by number with adding money.  The students were then off to drama which they were all very excited for!  After nutrition break we read a story about "more or less" and discussed money number lines.  The students then created their own money number lines using different coloured baggies with different coin amounts (added up each baggy and recorded it on a number line).  The students all did a wonderful job and used their success criteria to make them super successful!  We then read a chapter from Flat Stanley and brainstormed some ideas for our Flat Stanley letters.  We are going to be writing our adventure paragraph of our letter tomorrow - so bring your creative ideas!


After the second nutrition break we had social studies and explored mini-globes that Miss Clarke bought at the dollar store.  We discussed some new terms such as "equator" "North pole" "South pole" "Northern Hemisphere" and "Southern Hemisphere".  The students are now globe specialists!  For our last period of the day we had computers and we made our own word searches!


We are already half way done the week with it being a short week!  As such, Ms. Fink and Miss Clarke have decided that the spelling test will be NEXT Friday, April 13th.  So the students have lots of time to study and learn the meanings of the words - there, their, and they're.  Miss Clarke will be doing a short lesson tomorrow on the differences and it would be wonderful if at home you could continue this review!


The only homework tonight was to
 read, read, and read some more.  We almost have all our mapping pages back so please send those back to school soon :)  Also, Thursday is BUNNY day and Miss Clarke and Ms Fink are getting very excited for the fun filled day at school!  So practice your bunny hops!

Magical Monday - April 2

Today was a great day in Grade 2!
We were busy beavers today but had lots of
fun learning along the way.  

This morning we visited the library to read a story as a class and then get new library books to take home.  Lots of the students looked at the Flat Stanley stories as we have been reading about him in class.  After library the students copied down their new spelling words into their agendas and then it was off to choir!  After nutrition break the students had math with Miss Clarke - today was a special day as Miss Clarke's teacher came to visit and watch Miss Clarke teach.  We created number lines in small groups based on addition and subtraction questions involving money.  The students worked so well in their groups and did a wonderful job - they are becoming money experts!  We then moved into a shared reading lesson with Ms Fink about Easter.  The students had lots of wonderful experiences to share about Easter!  After the second nutrition break we read a story about treasure maps and then created our own compasses to use when the students explored a map of Canada.  We were having lots of fun navigating around Canada but then there was a fire drill!  We moved quickly out of the classroom and had to practice our new route as the construction at FM has blocked our old door.  Once everything was safe (it was just a practice drill) we finished up our social studies work and enjoyed a few minutes of quiet reading.


The only homework that students have is to read, read, and read some more!  Also, if the students have not returned their mapping information (about where they have travelled or lived) please do that asap.