Sunday, October 1, 2017

Building blocks and Making Connections

In math we continue to practice facts that equal 10. Knowing these fluently creates a base from which to build on and will aid students in adding and subtracting efficiently. You can play the card game Fishing for 10 at home. Remove the tens and face cards from the deck. Deal 5 cards to each player and place the surplus in the " pond". Like Go Fish, ask partners for cards that will help you make matches that add up to 10. "I have a 6, do you have a 4?

 

Students must understand the value of numbers so they can understand the math, rather than rotely perform the functions of algorithms. To develop number sense, we built towers from base ten blocks and calculated their values. A tower worth 358 is visually represented as 300+50+8.


This week we were challenged to think about our thinking. Some information was presented in a different way and some questions we were considering for the very first time. It was interesting to see how different people responded to the same questions.

After a great deal of persistence and teamwork, the 500 piece World Map puzzle is complete!

We connected with our Kindergarten Buddies this week. As mentors, we helped our buddies practice using liquid glue bottles to squeeze just the right amount.

 

Saturday, September 23, 2017

Welcome FALL!

We've enjoyed another busy week in room 205. During math centers we explored strategies for making 10. Mastering these facts will help us to add and subtract more efficiently.

1+9 2+8 3+7 4+6 5+5


Everyone is enjoying Humphrey. He's the main character in the chapter book we're reading. He stars in a whole series of books. Mrs. Abruzzesi has the set in our library.

We completed our first multimedia project. Our posters combine photographs, writing and paint. They will be on display at Open House, September 28.

Writing is in full swing. We continue to write to our families each Friday, respond to prompts in our journals, and we just wrote our first fictional story. Students who needed a little inspiration, spun the story wheel first.

We have a FULL curriculum in second grade but as busy as we we are, we still find time to foster individual curiosities. Based on the premise of Genius Hour used by companies such as Google, students explore topics that interests them. We'll use books, iPads, Chromebooks, physical materials and school personnel to aid in our research on Wednesdays.

What are you curious about?

 

Saturday, September 16, 2017

Seeing spots, Raising Awareness and Looking at Learning

Seeing Spots

September 15th was International Dot Day based off of Peter Reynold's book, The Dot. The story encourages readers to take a leap, "make a mark, and see where it takes you."

Many students and staff wore dots to celebrate.

We created art, listened to the story and toured the school on a scavenger hunt for dots.

Raising Awareness

After watching a BrainPop video about hurricanes and talking about recent events in Texas and Florida, we made posters to increase awareness about Shaker Lane's Hurricane Relief Coin Drive. It was exciting to make the first contributions!

Looking at learning

We learn everyday in many ways. This week we learned about ourselves and each other on the inside and the outside. We explored the many places math exists outside of our math class and we monitored the growth of our morning glories since planting them on the first day of school.

How do you use math?

 

Sunday, September 10, 2017

Our first week

Back to Learning

This week we learned about our classroom and each other. Everyone wrote down a class rule that was important to them. After sorting them, we realized that every one related to respect.

Our three class rules are

RESEPECT YOURSELF****RESPECT OTHERS****RESPECT THIS PLACE.

We talked about what to do if you made a mistake. The liquid Paper is seeing a lot of action! Our family tree is building. Keep those photos coming!!

Thank you for sending in the coins for math practice. We gave them a good cleaning and began our explorations.

Everyday we have ten minutes of quiet time. Ask your child how he/she spends that time.

 

 

Wednesday, August 16, 2017

Welcome Back!

Hello new students and families! I'm sure you are enjoying this amazing summer weather. We are so lucky to have several weeks left.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to our classmates who celebrated birthdays over the summer.

Adi

Arianna

Danny

Olivia

Zachary

I've been working in our classroom, taking care of our class frogs and having lots of fun with family and friends.


Here's Blue and Jay. I recently bought them a new tank. They are pretty excited about it.


There are letters at the top of the page for you and your parents and a supply list. If you'd like to stop in the day before school starts to look around and drop of your supplies, I'll be in our classroom from 2:30-3:00 on Sept. 5th.

I'm excited about our school year together. I know it will be filled with friendship and discovery.

See you soon!

Mrs. Holm

 

Monday, May 22, 2017

Learning Outside the Classroom

Today we welcomed artist Rob Surette to Shaker Lane. He shared his amazing talents and inspiring message during an hour long presentation. He truly is a remarkable talent. Learn more about him at www.AmazingHeroArt.com

There's a lot to explore right outside our door! On a recent sweltering day, we packed up our backpacks with learning tools and headed outside, away from the steamy classroom. Students worked together to observe, measure and discover.

 

 

Tuesday, February 14, 2017

Happy 100th Valentine's Day or something like that.

I really thought we'd have a chance to celebrate these two events on separate days this year but Mother Nature had other ideas. Oh well, the more the merrier!

February 14th started out with a surprise at the entrance to the second grade hallway. "Glamma Holm" welcomed students through the big 100. There were some young ins and some 100 year olds.

Once our day was underway, we delivered Valentines then found objects that measured 100 cm and weighed more, less and equal to 100 pennies. It was interesting to discover if 100 inches was more or less than 100 cm.

Mr. Faherty checked in on us old timers.

Whoa! Somebody flipped out!

We represented 100 in many ways. We painted, drew, colored, built, jumped, blinked, wrote, exercised and assembled!

Our Kindergarten Book Buddies joined us in the afternoon to exchange Valentines.

Even our class pet frogs got Valentines!

Everyone showed a lot of HEART today.

I can't wait for the next 80 days!!!

 

Wednesday, February 1, 2017

Global Play Day

This was the second year Shaker Lane participated in Global Play Day. I hope it's the beginning of a long tradition! Smiles and imaginations were at an all time high. Our classroom was a buzz with Beyblades, board games, a veterinary hospital, a restaurant, a full service salon and a craft studio!

First we made the food, then we opened the restaurant. Customers were very generous with their tips!

There were a lot of good sports who visited the salon!

Mrs. Hutchins was one of our customers!

The day offered something for everyone. We even had time to play outside. Our art, music and P.E. Teachers gave us free time in their rooms too!

It's amazing to think that children all over the world were engaged in play at the same time as we were!

What a wonderful world.