We had a GREAT week!

                                                      Our APEX Fun Run Team! 

                                 

                                                             

                                                           Fun little sweethearts!

                           We have the best Room Parents in the WORLD! Thanks so much!

Welcome Fall!

   We have been busy these last few weeks getting into the "groove" in our class. I am so proud of the efforts made by my little students, they are doing a great job! Last week was a busy one trying to put 5 days worth of instruction into 4 days. A big thank you (as always...) to the amazing volunteers who make so much possible.

Second Grade Weekly Study Skills

Unit 1, Week 5 (The Strongest One)

Below are the skills and vocabulary we will be working on for the next 5 days.  (*Please note: our literacy lessons are based on 5-day plans that may or may not align with a M-F schedule. In an effort to teach the entire grade level core, we will send home the “weekly study skills” on the day that we begin a new 5-day instructional sequence.)  You can support your child’s literacy skills by reviewing, discussing, and practicing the skills and concepts below:

Big Idea/Big Question (This is the theme of our unit in class.)	Question of the Week (This is the theme/question for this week’s instruction in class.)
Exploration:  What can we learn from exploring new places and things?	How does exploration help us find answers?
Phonics Skills (These are the letters and sounds we are learning in class.)	Spelling Patterns and associated Words (These patterns connect to our phonics skills we are learning this week.)
Consonant digraphs	Consonant digraphs: bunch   chase   itch   math   patch   shape   that   them   whale   what   when   wish
High Frequency Words (These reading words should be practiced and memorized.)	Story Words (These reading words are words from this week’s main selection.)
gone   learn   often   pieces   though   together   very	dangerous   gnaws   narrator   relatives
Oral Vocabulary (Try using these words in your conversations at home.)	Handwriting Practice (Students can practice the writing of these letters in manuscript this week.)
delicate   exhibit   genius   inquire   resist   satisfaction   stun   sturdy	Tt, Hh, Kk Word spacing

Friday Fun-Day!

We are very busy for most of  the morning on Fridays doing testing and then teaching a math lesson. To reward our students and reinforce what we have been learning about we try to do something "fun" at the end of the day. These are our students singing around a "campfire" last Friday before we went back to class and made "S'mores" in a microwave. (The recipe was the informational text for our unit.) I have to admit, seeing them sing the "Beaver" song above was fun for me!

Second Grade Weekly Study Skills

Unit 1, Week 4 (A Walk in the Desert)

Below are the skills and vocabulary we will be working on for the next 5 days.  (*Please note: our literacy lessons are based on 5-day plans that may or may not align with a M-F schedule. In an effort to teach the entire grade level core, we will send home the “weekly study skills” on the day that we begin a new 5-day instructional sequence.)  You can support your child’s literacy skills by reviewing, discussing, and practicing the skills and concepts below:

Big Idea/Big Question (This is the theme of our unit in class.)	Question of the Week (This is the theme/question for this week’s instruction in class.)
Exploration:  What can we learn from exploring new places and things?	What can we learn by exploring the desert?
Phonics Skills (These are the letters and sounds we are learning in class.)	Spelling Patterns and associated Words (These patterns connect to our phonics skills we are learning this week.)
Base Words and Endings –s, -ed,    -ing	Base Words and Endings –s, -ed,    -ing dropped   dropping   excited   exciting   hugged   hugging   lifted   lifting   smiled   smiling   talked   talking
High Frequency Words (These reading words should be practiced and memorized.)	Story Words (These reading words are words from this week’s main selection.)
animals   early   eyes   full   warm   water	cactus   climate   coyote   desert   harsh
Oral Vocabulary (Try using these words in your conversations at home.)	Handwriting Practice (Students can practice the writing of these letters in manuscript this week.)
arid   dunes   extinct   forbidding   haven   landform   ledge   precipitation	Ff, Bb, Ll

Rock Art!

We studied the drawing in the caves at Lascoux, France and then created our own art!

Second Grade Weekly Study Skills

Unit 1, Week 3 (Henry and Mudge and the Starry Night)

Below are the skills and vocabulary we will be working on for the next 5 days.  (*Please note: our literacy lessons are based on 5-day plans that may or may not align with a M-F schedule. In an effort to teach the entire grade level core, we will send home the “weekly study skills” on the day that we begin a new 5-day instructional sequence.)  You can support your child’s literacy skills by reviewing, discussing, and practicing the skills and concepts below:

Big Idea/Big Question (This is the theme of our unit in class.)	Question of the Week (This is the theme/question for this week’s instruction in class.)
Exploration:  What can we learn from exploring new places and things?	What can we discover by exploring nature?
Phonics Skills (These are the letters and sounds we are learning in class.)	Spelling Patterns and associated Words (These patterns connect to our phonics skills we are learning this week.)
Consonant Blends	Consonant Blends ask   brave   breeze   clip   hand   mask   nest   state   stop   strap   stream   twin
High Frequency Words (These reading words should be practiced and memorized.)	Story Words (These reading words are words from this week’s main selection.)
bear   build   couldn’t   father   love   mother   straight	drooled   lanterns   shivered   snuggled
Oral Vocabulary (Try using these words in your conversations at home.)	Handwriting Practice (Students can practice the writing of these letters in manuscript this week.)
detective   fascinating   fledglings   galaxy   secure   slimy   tranquil   wildlife	Ee, Ss