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!