Second grade readers have been busy this week applying reading strategies to help them select and read Just Right books. Readers are reminded to utilize strategies such as taking picture walks and using the sneak peek blurb available on back covers to help them gather information about books. They are also encouraged to apply the “5 Finger Rule” to help them find books that are Just Right for them to read independently. Second grade readers received a reader’s bookmark to remind them of this strategy and are learning how to apply the “5 Finger Rule” as they explore different kinds of books in their classroom libraries. Students are also working to boost their stamina by reading more and more during reading workshop times. In the coming days second readers will begin to note that reading is thinking — before, during and after reading. Reading assessments are ongoing and helping each teacher gather more information regarding each second grade reader. As we head into our second month of school, second grade readers are growing strong!
2nd grade mathematicians reviewed strategies to apply when working with dollars, coins and analog clocks. The use of practice activities such as Coin Top-It and hands-on use of coin collections helped students note features of commonly used coins like the penny, nickel, dime and quarter. Working with actual coins also supported students in sorting and calculating the value for a given set of coins. Later in the week, students began an exploration of the $1, $10, $100 dollar bill. Ongoing review of analog clock, time telling skills continued also. Classroom clocks with movable, hour and minute hands, supported students in telling and ultimately recording times to the nearest 5 minute intervals. Students continued practice of Math Workshop partner routines and math facts this week by playing Addition Top-It and math-themed board games together.
During our second week of school, second graders began to acclimate to academic routines. In Writing Workshop, they learned about tools they will use this year, including their writer's notebooks and writing folders. Students customized their writing folders with designs and drawings that will help them feel connected to the writing process. They also began thinking about ideas for small moment stories, as they are learning to write stories that are about a short amount of time in their past.
Second graders have a special project to accomplish this weekend: they will decorate their writer's notebooks with photos or illustrations of things they like and care about. The images will give them ideas for topics to write about throughout the year. Students can tape or glue images to the front and back of their writer's notebooks. We encourage students to do this project as independently as possible and to have fun in the process! Students should return their decorated writer's notebooks to school by Monday, September 19. Thank you for your support of this project. Students took time this week to get familiar with their new second grade schedules and classroom surroundings. These first few days of school, whole class games and activities that help students grow more comfortable working with old and new friends were the focus as well as helping new classmates feel welcome. Students were excited to get a look at the new outdoor classroom, attend encore and world language classes and learn new second grade routines. On Friday all of our second grade students were eager to participate in an all Primary School Morning Meeting assembly that our own Mrs. Bates planned for everyone. Our second graders are off to a wonderful start and we look forward to seeing them again on Monday!
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