China

Second grade students "traveled" to China through videos, books, crafts, activities, music, language, and food this week. On Monday and Tuesday, each student went to all of the four classrooms to learn about the written language, oral language, culture, and geography of China. On Wednesday and Thursday, classes celebrated the Chinese New Year with a festival of fried rice, chow mein noodles, moon cookies, fortune cookies, vanilla ice cream, mandarin oranges, and green tea. We tried our hand at using chopsticks but spoons were also available. We made hats to wear during our celebration. I'll have photos to post soon. If you have a birthday, we can now sing to you in Chinese! Also on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, students completed more activities learning additional information about our four goals. During storytime we listened to Chinese storybooks and discussed our current weekly reading comprehension skill. Next week we will finish up the storybooks, any activities we didn't have time to complete, and watch a movie where we will see all that we have been learning about. Then we're on to studying about Abraham Lincoln.
Do you think the Groundhog will see its shadow? We'll be checking on that!

January

I've been ill with pneumonia so January hasn't been the best for me! My substitutes have done a great job while I was absent. I was happy to return this week! Students enjoyed their Friday math centers of finding equal groups, geoboard activities, and counting money. Students said goodbye to kindergarten aide, Judy (due to retirement) and welcomed new kindergarten aide, Karen. We will miss Judy's smiling face!
In reading, we read Splish! Splash! Animal Baths. Ask your child about it.
Next week we are working on a China unit during Social Studies. We'll tell you all about it next week. Remember to do homework a little each evening and turn it in by Friday each week.

After Christmas

We came back to a New Year 2009 with a Christmas party to celebrate! Although it wasn't quite the same with the excitement of Christmas around the corner, we did manage to enjoy more Christmas treats and of course, have great fun opening gifts from each other! Thanks to all of you who helped organize our party and supply goodies. We appreciate your efforts. Our second grade team of teachers meet weekly to plan learning-standards based lessons filled with exciting themes and topics of real world interest that encourage and motivate our young learners. We are working on plans for units on the solar system in science with Mr. Hoesman (our second grade science guy), Martin Luther King Junior observances and writing, China for social studies, the celebration of 100 Days of School, observing Groundhog Day, Valentine's Day, and of course our big year with Abraham Lincoln, just to name a few! We plan to have lots of learning fun with everyone!