Wednesday, Oct. 9

We have parent/teacher conferences tonight, tomorrow and Friday morning!  I'll see you soon!

LEFT at Home:

• Box Top Challenge (yellow half)

RIGHT Back to School:

• Math Homework 1-16

Our Day:

• Joke of the Day: What happens to cows during an earthquake? [They give milk shakes!]
• Daily 5:

• Read to Self: Today we talked about the strategy Predict What Will Happen, while reading The Berenstain Bears and the Ghost of the Forest
• Writing: We worked on our stamina for writing
• Computers:  We learned how to log into World Book Encyclopedia!  We can research our animals using this website.  You can even log onto the website and research from home by visiting Ms. Pritzl's "Library Resources" from the district website.
• Math: Unit 1, Lesson 16
• Today we practiced solving all kind of word problems.  Whew!  Compare problems are soooo challenging!  We will take a quiz tomorrow.
• Science:  We watched a video on amphibians.  Did you know that if an amphibians skin gets dry, it could die?!  That's why they need to live near water!
• Gym: We used our pedometers today.  Our goal was 1300 steps.  Many of our students surpassed the goal, and the others were really close!  Nice job second graders!

For Thursday:

• We have Art, an Assembly, and Early Dismissal (2:15pm)

Tuesday, Oct. 8

LEFT at Home:

• Red Ribbon Week Activities (white)

RIGHT Back to School:

• Neenah/Menasha Fire Dept. contract (White)
• Math Remembering 1-15

Our Day:

• Daily 5/CAFE:
• Read to Self:  Today we revisited "Good Fit" books.  These books are not too difficult and not too easy.  Good Fit books help our brains become strong!
  
• Writing:  We only had a few minutes to work on writing, but it is really enjoyable!  We are tuning into our writing to make sure we are writing in sentences with uppercase letters at the beginning and punctuation at the end.
  
• Fire Safety Assembly:  The Neenah Menasha Fire Department came to Wilson Elementary today to teach us about fire safety!  We learned about Stop, Drop, and Roll, having 2 exits from any room, calling 911 in an emergency, and we even got to go outside to see the fire truck and to learn about their special equipment.

  

  The firemen opened the truck up for us to see all of the equipment, and they explained what the equipment was used for!

  
  

  

  After putting on all his gear, the fireman put on his oxygen mask and talked to us in a voice very similar to Darth Vader. :)

• Math: Unit 1 - Lesson 15: More Compare Problems.  These problems are challenging!! Remember to go back and reread the problem to determine who has the most, and then draw comparison bars or make a matching drawing.  
• MEGA Math: Click here to play a game with Carnival Stories Level O: Launching Paint Balls!

• Science: Today we worked with Mrs. B. to make an Animal Groups Foldable!  Thank you Mrs. B.!!
• Math Games: Mrs. K. worked with groups at the carpet making math equation chains!  Thank you Mrs. K.!!
• Special Project:  Mrs. S. worked with groups in the hallway with our Fire Safety Project!  Thank you Mrs. S.!!
• Writer's Workshop: I had the great opportunity to meet with almost every student in this class on their personal narrative.  A personal narrative is a "small moment" story.  Our personal narratives should be nearly complete, and we will begin publishing the stories soon!

Monday, Oct. 7

LEFT at Home:

• Scholastic Book Fair Flyer
• Old T-shirt for Art (half white)
• Sat. Oct. 12 Family Fun Day (orange)

RIGHT Back to School:

• Math Homework 1-14

Our Day:

• Daily 5/CAFE:
• Comprehension Strategy: Making Connections based on Prior Knowledge  Today we read "It's Mine!" by Leo Lionni and made connections to the book by thinking of how the frogs reminded us of our brothers and sisters.
• Read to Self:  We read soooo well, that I had to stop the timer at 25 minutes!! Nice work!!
  
• Writing:  Again, what a fantastic day for literacy!  We wrote quickly and quietly for 20 minutes!
  
• Read to Someone: We are still working on our stamina for Read to Someone.  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Math: Unit 1 - Lesson 14:  Today we worked on solving Compare Problems.  Compare problems use language like more or fewer.  These problems are difficult because it feels like there's an extra step involved with the critical thinking process.  
• MEGA Math: Click here to play a game with doubles at Carnival Stories Level M: Fishy Fun

• Science: Today we watched a video on mammals! 


• Tomorrow we have library check-out, and it's a POPCORN day!  Bring 50 cents!

  

  http://www.hudson.lib.ia.us/

  

Thursday, Oct. 3

What a FANTASTIC Thursday!!!  We had 10 friends all on AMAZING!!  Wow!!  I can't say how much I LOOOVE this class!

LEFT at Home:

• Overdue Book Slips (white half-sheet)

RIGHT Back to School:

• Math Homework 1-13 (1-4)
• Parent Volunteer forms for next week (White for Tuesday, Pink for Wednesday - Friday):  I sent home 3 volunteer forms to parents that I have spoken to about volunteering.  If you would like to volunteer, send me an email and I will send a form home with your child.  I'd be THRILLED to have you join our classroom!
  
• Conference Schedule (gold): Send back the bottom portion to let me know if the scheduled time works for you. :)  

Our Day:

• Joke of the Day: What did the blanket say to the bed?  [Don't worry, I've got you covered.] :D
• Daily 5:

  

  So far we have begun Read to Self, Work on Writing, and Read to Someone! 

• Read to Self: Our stamina is at 17 minutes and 15 seconds today! Spectacular!  Today I brought out the October-themed books, and they are SUPER fun to read.
• Writing: Our stamina is at 15 minutes and 4 seconds today! 
• Read to Someone:  Today was our second day of Read to Someone.  We are practicing using our whisper voices when we read to a friend sitting next to us.  Our stamina is at 2 minutes!  We will continue to build our stamina.
• Art:  We are still working on our self portraits.  They are turning out really great!  We even got a compliment from Mr. Van about being so well-behaved!
• Math: Unit 1, Lesson 13
• Today we learned about "Group" story problems.  Most of our story problems had 2 items that were part of a group.  We either had to find the total or a partner.  Be extra careful with these labels.  Reread the question to make sure you have the right label to answer their question.
• Science:  We finished the video on Reptiles.  Did you know that all reptiles are cold-blooded, have scaly skin, and lay eggs?  What animals can you think of that are in the animal group: Reptiles? 
  
  
  
  For Friday:

• Early dismissal at 2:15

Wednesday, Oct. 2

Happy "Hump" Day!  I've been a busy bee lately (meetings and a workshop), so I apologize for my 3-day absence from the blog. :D  I will be recapping Monday - Wednesday.

LEFT at Home:

• Monday & Tuesday:
• Reading BOOKIT! Program letter: We are all hyped up to earn a free personal pan pizza from Pizza Hut!! (I haven't received the program information yet - which is unusual.  I will be checking with Mr. Hammerschmidt to make sure we get what we need for this awesome program!)  Keep reading!!
• Classroom Party Letter (White): The cost for all three parties will be $5.00 per student.  Please send the money by October 11 so our room parent will have plenty of time to get things together for our first party - Animal Safari Theme!  Here's some more information on our upcoming parties:
• Animal Safari:  This is taking the place of a traditional Halloween party.  The 2nd grade teachers have chosen to replace the Halloween theme with a fun kick-off to our curriculum-based animal unit. :)
• Christmas Party: We will be doing special projects related to the winter holidays.
• Heart Healthy:  This is taking the place of a traditional Valentine's Day party.  Again, the 2nd grade teachers have chosen to replace the Valentine's theme with a fun and exciting curriculum-based human body unit (heart!).
• Tri-County Arena Calendar (Green): Ice Skating Lessons
• Discovering Amazing Abilities (Green or Orange): Youth Basketball presented by the YMCA
• Girls Cross Country event for students K-5 (white)
• Picture Make-up/Retake Day (green half sheet): If your student hasn't gotten their picture taken yet, please stop in between 7:30am-12:00 (noon) to have it done, even if you don't plan on ordering.  The pictures will be used for the yearbook! :)
• Wednesday:
• Spelling and Reading Words/PreTest (short e sound)

RIGHT Back to School:

• Monday-Tuesday:
• Math Homework & Remembering 1-11
• Wednesday: 
• Math Homework 1-12 (all)  [Remembering 1-12 is extra credit]
• Scholastic Book Orders (Due Oct. 31)
• Upper Elementary Scholastic
• 3rd Grade Lucky Scholastic
• 2nd Grade Lucky Scholastic
• November 5 Free Workshops (White)
• World Language (Purple): Become a beginning learner in Spanish or German for $25.00!

Our Day:

• Joke of the Day: Why was it thundering and lightning in the lab?  [Because the scientists were brainstorming]  :)
• Daily 5:
• Read to Self: Our stamina is at 14 minutes and 57 seconds today! Fantastic!
• Writing: Our stamina is at 10 minutes and 43 seconds today! Wow!
• Read to Someone:  Today was our first day of Read to Someone!
• When we read to a friend, we sit EEKK! [Elbow to Elbow, Knee to Knee]
  
• We came up with a list of what it should look like, sound like, and feel like when we are reading to a friend.
• Why is Read to Someone so important??
• #1 It is FUN!!
• #2 We help our friends become better readers and they help us too!
• DOL/Number of the Day:
• We are working on uppercase letters at the beginning of sentences, punctuation at the end, and spaces between words.
• Today's number is 2!  Did you know that 100 more than 2 is 102?? Cool!!
• Library:  We are learning all about poetry - specifically, rhythm and beat!  We clapped along to Miss Pritzl's glorious renditions of many different, fun poems!
• Math: Unit 1, Lesson 12
• Today we learned about "Put Together" and "Take Apart" word problems.  We read the question two or more times to really determine whether we needed to find a missing partner (addend), or if we needed to find a missing total.
• MegaMath: Carnival Stories: Fishy Fun! 
  
• Science:  Yesterday we watched a video on Birds, and today we started a video on Reptiles.  We will watch videos on 5 of the 6 animal groups to gain a better understanding of characteristics for each group.  Next week, I will test your child's knowledge of the 6 animal groups by having them create a "foldable" book with characteristics and drawing a picture for each animal group.
  
• Gym: It was a super fun day in gym today - we got to play a game!  We have many friends tying shoes for a friend and even teaching friends to tie shoes!! I'm soooo impressed with how this class cares for each other!  

For Thursday:

• We have Art, Music, and Picture Retake.

Thursday, Sept. 26

LEFT at Home:

• None

RIGHT Back to School:

• None

Our Day:

• Joke of the Day: Where do cows go on vacation?
• Daily 5/CAFE:
• Your Mission, Should You Choose to Accept It:  Today we did something really cool:  We became Super Spies!  I introduced four "Confidential" Math Missions to your children.  During any "free time," your child can now choose to 1) read, 2) write, or 3) complete Math Missions.  Every time they complete a Math Mission, they stamp their finger in the "washable" ink (we tried washing and it didn't come off!) pad and fingerprint their mission paper.  I also introduced a Double Agent/Top Secret Mission.  It is VERY challenging!
  
• Read to Self:  We didn't have much time for Read to Self, but we fit in 15 minutes! :)
  
• Writing/Writer's Workshop:  We are still working on our first draft of our "small moment."  I will be conferencing with your child next week to add details and to create a visual, descriptive beginning and ending.
  
• Phonics/Spelling:  Today we learned a super cool spy technique for writing our spelling words: Mirror Code.  We flipped our writing and checked our codes in the mirror.  Whoa!! This is neat!!
  
• Math: Unit 1 - Lesson 10: Solving Addition and Subtraction Word Problems.  We began reading word problems and repeating them for understanding (more than 5 times each!).  Some of us could even retell the problem in our own words!!  Tomorrow we will continue this lesson and use our favorite strategies to solve the problems.
• Art:  Your student is working on a self portrait and have been asked to bring in anything that inspires them (for the background image)
• Music: Music rocks!

For Friday:  Spelling Test on 2nd Grade sight words (Short a), Guidance

Wednesday, Sept. 25

LEFT at Home:

• Girl Scout (girls only)

RIGHT Back to School:

• Math Homework 1-9 (Evens)
• Rainbow Words Spelling Practice

Our Day:

• Daily 5/CAFE:
• Wibble, Wobble:  We reviewed the strategies on our CAFE menu while reading Wibble, Wobble.  This is a story about a boy named William, and he couldn't wait to have a loose tooth and to have a terrific story to tell about how he lost it.  
• I remember walking to the ice rink during winter with my younger brother, Matt.  We both had our skates tied together and slung over our shoulders.  I slipped on the ice on the sidewalk, and when my brother bent down to help me up, his skate caught my tooth perfectly and it popped right out!!  We never did find it in the snow and ice.  
• What's your loose tooth story?
• Read to Self:  I began F/P testing this morning to find the level at which your child is reading.  This process will take up to 3 weeks to get around to everyone in class, and to determine their level to the best of my ability.  I will be individually conferencing with your child on Tuesdays (4-5 students each Tuesday) during our Independent Reading time to adjust their levels.
  
• Writing/Writer's Workshop:  We are completing our first draft of our "small moment."  I will be conferencing with your child next week to add details and to create a visual, descriptive beginning and ending.
  
• Computers/YPP Testing:  We are nearing the end of our YPP math testing!  Hooray!  Miss Pritzl showed up an AMAZING list of cool learning websites she's put together.  You can access this list as well by following this link: Miss Pritzl's Math and Literacy Learning Games
• Phonics/Spelling:  We began our Rainbow Words.  Some students finished, and others have some to take home as homework.
• Math: Unit 1 - Lesson 9: Adding 3 or 4 Numbers.  This is extremely difficult!  We always start by adding 2 numbers first, and then we add on.  One of the strategies we have, is to look for a sum of 10 (example: 9+1+3=10+3=13).
• MEGA Math: Click here to play a game with adding and subtracting Carnival Stories: Adding and Subtracting with Fish