Spelling Homophones and Holiday Celebrations

Second Grade spellers are thinking about common homophones this week. We have learned that homophones are words that sound the same, spelled different, and have different meanings. These words highlight that a sound can have two or more ways to be spelled. For example, the /ow/ sound in the words flour and flower. Spellers have also learned that we need to know the meaning of the word in order to spell these words correctly. For that reason, we have practiced using common homophones in jokes and comparing sentences. What do you call a piece of wood with nothing to do? A bored board! Students have had fun playing with homophones. Look out for more examples next week when the homophones get tricky when coming in threes. For example: to, too, and two. There is so much to know in order to get our tricky language right! 
Brookside has also been gearing up for our winter break by celebrating the upcoming holidays. Last week we celebrated Hanukkah, spinning dreidels and savoring our gelt. Students loved reading storied about cherished traditions shared by our friends who celebrate the Jewish holiday. This Friday we were also excited to celebrate the Christian holiday of Christmas with our classmates. We have decorated trees put presents under the tree. We are also looking forward to wishing our friends who celebrate the African holiday, Kwanza, a year of joy, togetherness, and peace at next week's Holiday Concert. See you there!