April 29, 2016

We've Been Busy!

Thank you to the DCC for the wonderful Earth Day Presentation!

                                   

Creating our Fairy Gardens

Democracy in Action!

                                                                 Working on See Saw!

Dear Families,

Important Upcoming Dates:

•  April 29th:  All School Field Trip.  A big thank you to our DCC - We had a wonderful time at the Opera House watching the Children's Chorus perform The Mikado! The kids were so great, very well behaved! We're so proud of them!

                                                        

• April 29^th:  Family Fun Night.  Thank you to all who contributed to our baskets! 
• May:  NWEA testing this month. We'll let you know when classes are being tested. 

Language Arts: This week we finished up learning about Myths, Fairy tales, and Legends. Students had an opportunity to read and watch several of these folktales and create a chart with the characteristics of each.  We've begun our Informational Book Clubs and Stations and will continue learning about informational texts next week. 

Writing:  This week we learned about writing book reviews. We chose our favorite books and created a plan to write an introduction, body and concluding paragraph reviewing our book choices. Next week, we'll continue to typing them into our blog for the world to see!

Math: This week we learned about geometry. We learned about 2D shapes and their attributes. We studied the vocabulary words  parallel, right angle, quadrilateral, side, vertex and attribute. We played a fun game called Shape Capture. Please review by doing the Unit 8 Home Links and using IXL and  the Everyday Math Website. 

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 Unit 8 Homelinks.pdf

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WIN/Social Studies:  This week we learned about consumers and producers and opportunity cost in Social Studies. Next week, we'll begin to learn about the study of History and Novi's History. 

Learning at Home:

*Math Homelinks

*IXL math, Everyday Math and Xtra Math Websites

*Read (15-30 minutes per night)

*Wordly Wise (vocabulary practice)

*Blog (great writing practice)!

*Don't forget about IXL Language Arts!

Have a great weekend!

April 23, 2016

Dear Families,

Important Upcoming Dates:

• April 22^nd:  Report Cards go home
•  April 29th:  All School Field Trip.  A big thanks to DCC - we'll be doing a whole school field trip on Friday, April 29th to the Opera House to see the Michigan Opera Theater Children's Chorus The Mikado! 
• April 29^th:  Family Fun Night.  Collections are underway for our Family Fun Night classroom baskets! Please send in your  contributions to our basket for the raffle!

Language Arts: This week we learned about fables and myths.  Students had an opportunity to read both types of folktales and identify their characteristics. Next week we will explore legends and fairy tales.

Writing:  This week we learned about the difference between fact and opinion.  Then we learned how to state our opinion and support it with reasons.  Next week we will begin writing book reviews.

Math: This week we learned how to write and identify fractions.  Next week we will begin Unit 8 which explores Geometry.  There is a lot of vocabulary to learn in this unit. A test review packet was sent home yesterday.

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 Unit 8 Homelinks.pdf

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WIN/Social Studies:  This week we have been learning about natural, human, and capital resources.  We've also discussed wants and needs and goods and services.  Next week we will learn about opportunity cost and consumers and producers. We are creating a Favorite Business Brochure for new families.

Learning at Home:

*Math Homelinks

*IXL math, Everyday Math and Xtra Math Websites

*Read (15-30 minutes per night)

*Wordly Wise (vocabulary practice)

*Blog (great writing practice)!

Have a great weekend!

April 14, 2016

Dear Families,

We hope that you all had a nice spring break and were ready to come back to school. Here is what is going on in the second grade team!

Important Upcoming Dates:

• April 15th: Our Celebration of Learning is Friday from 10-11! Come in and share your child's learning and growth as they lead you through work samples, our classroom, and leadership as a learner! We'll also be sharing our online See Saw Portfolios! We'll see how it works out, but so far I'm really proud of your kids and their reflections about learning! Our Deerfield Student Lighthouse Team will do an optional presentation following if you're interested in staying to listen. We look forward to seeing you then! If you're unable to make it, do not worry! We'll arrange a time for your child to share materials with you at home. Please let us know if you're unable to come so we can make separate accommodations.  The Book Fair will also be open during this time, if you would like to stop by with your child. 
• If you are planning on taking your child with you after their Celebration of Learning, please sign them out in their classroom.
• We have a half day Friday - 12:30 dismissal.
• April 21^st: Parent Teacher Conferences.  At this point you should have received an email if I  requested a conference with you. If there are no concerns and I don't feel that there are any issues I didn't request a private conference. Your child is right on target if you didn't get a conference request.  
• April 22^nd:  Report Cards go home

·         April 29th:  All School Field Trip.  A big thanks to DCC - we'll be doing a whole school field trip on Friday, April 29 to the Opera House to see the Michigan Opera Theater Children's Chorus The Mikado! Please - if you haven't done so already - turn in your child's permission slip. One is attached in case you misplaced your copy.

·        April 29^th:  Family Fun Night.  Collections are underway for our Family Fun Night classroom baskets! If you're able to donate any items or would rather make a cash donation to use for purchasing materials, we'd be happy to have anything to contribute to our basket for the raffle. Please see email with attached file for more info! 

Language Arts: This week we spent time working on our reflections of learning and grammar review. Next week, we'll begin fables, myths and fairy tale genres. 

Writing:  Students began their Genius Hour Presentations this week. Some need to continue to edit and practice reading  them at home before they present. We also worked on the Celebration of Learning packets that you will have a chance to see at our Celebration of Learning. Next week we will discuss the differences between fact and opinion and begin our opinion writing unit.

Math: This week we learned about regrouping.  Students used base-10 blocks to visually see what it means to regroup when adding or subtracting. We want them to really understand why they are trading the ones for a ten. Next week, we will be discussing fractions and arrays.   We will not begin unit 8 until the following week.

WIN/Social Studies:  This week we worked on NWEA prep during our WIN time and completed a ‘chalk talk’ while reviewing the 7 Habits.  Next week, we will begin our next social studies unit on economics. Thank you to Mr. M. for coming in to our class and talking about advertising at Google!   

Learning at Home:

*Math Homelinks

*IXL math, Everyday Math and Xtra Math Websites

*Read (15-30 minutes per night)

*Wordly Wise (vocabulary practice)

*Blog (great writing practice)!

We are looking forward to seeing you at our Celebration of Learning tomorrow!

April 1, 2016

Dear Families,

Here is what is going on in the second grade team!

Important Upcoming Dates:

April 4-8th: Spring Break

April 15th: Student Led conferences-​

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These student led celebrations will take place on Friday, April 15th from 10:00 am - 11:00 am with an optional Student Lighthouse presentation from 11:10 - 11:40. This school day is a half day of school and if you have more than one student at Deerfield, please split your time as needed. The evening conference night, Thursday, April 21st, will now be reserved as a time

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frame for teachers to meet with parents for whom they feel they need to meet with.

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Language Arts: This week we spent time working on prefixes and suffixes.  Students learned what a root word is and how the prefix and suffix can change the meaning of the root word.  We also worked on some close reading activities, as well.

Writing:  This past week the students worked on putting their finishing touches on their Genius Hour Projects.  If you are home this week, students can continue to work on their Google Slides. Some need to add a closing slide, just restating the facts that they want their audience to remember. We're looking forward to sharing these with everyone!

Our First Genius Hour/ Google Slide Presentation!  

Math: This week we finished up our studies of Unit 7 and took a test on the unit. Please look for the cover sheet soon which will tell you how your child did on each particular skill for this unit.  We'll continue to review addition using partial sums (three addends). 

Measuring our arm spans

Science:  We finished up our Science unit, Measuring Matters.  Students have learned about measuring distance, area, perimeter. We spent some time observing a cow eye this week, learning about a new thinking routine called  Think, Puzzle, Explore. One of our students is studying the eye for her Genius Hour Project and I just happened to have a few in my science cupboard! When we return we'll finish up some of our Measuring Matters as well as our cow eye observations! 

                            Our Think, Puzzle, Explore Thinking Routine!

Learning at Home:

*Math Homelinks

*IXL math, Everyday Math and Xtra Math Websites

*Read (15-30 minutes per night)

*Wordly Wise (vocabulary practice)

*Blog (great writing practice)!

Have a wonderful Spring break!

High School Football Players reading to our second grade classes during March is Reading Month!

                                              Indoor Recess Fun!