Pumpkins,Projects and Problem Solving

'Tis the season for PUMPKINS!

While reading From Seed to Pumpkin, we recorded facts about the plant's life cycle using the 2 Column Notes Strategy. This strategy helps us to identify main ideas and details. During research time, some students extended their learning about pumkins using the DK Find Out! Website.

There was plants of hands on learning during our Pumpkin Explorations! Word of the day...circumference! A student added to our discovery by suggesting we reweigh our pumpkins once they'd been hollowed out. We compared those numbers as well as other measurements and number of seeds.

We explored the question, Do bigger pumpkins have more seeds?

What do you think?

Pumpkins found their way into our BUDDY TIME too. We taught our kindergarten pals how to subtract within 5 by playing hide the seeds.

Fall offers great inspiration for writing. These leaves display our discoveries from the Autumn Sensory Walk we took. Ask your child what they observed and how they marblized their leaf.

During STEM week at Shaker Lane, we accepted the challenge to make something that does something.

Using recyclable materials students created pet toys, organizers, puppet theaters, sleds with brakes and more!

In addition to our Second Step lessons, Mrs. Mathurin and Mrs. Braun have been teaching us important lessons from our Social Thinking Curriculum. So far we've learned about WHOLE BODY LISTENING, VOICE LEVELS, PERSONAL SPACE and BEING PART OF A GROUP.

Personal Space-

Being part of a group-

Here are a few students showing off their "teacher style" on World Teacher Day.

Stayed tuned for the next post about our adventures with GOOGLE DRIVE!

 

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Filling hearts and minds

Independent Research was in full swing this week. Students choose topics of interest, working alone or with partner(s) and their research materials. Working with a combination of texts and websites, students ask questions and record data.

This week we organized data using a new graphic organizer. Using three columns, we sorted information by what our topic HAS, IS, and CAN do.

Ms. Deacon stopped by to hear about our projects and check out the DK Find Out! Website.

Active Listening was the topic of our first session with school counselor Mrs. Mathurin and school psychologist, Mrs. Braun. As part of our social emotional curriculum, these teachers will supplement our Second Step lessons with targeted topics.

In related news, our awesome class filled our HEART jar this week. 100 hearts showing off our Honesty, Effort, Acceptance, Respect and Taking responsibility.

Our kindergarten buddies joined us in our classroom this week. Second grade mentors read stories pointing out letters, pictures and asked questions about the text.

A huge THANK YOU to the generous families who donated books to our class from the recent book fair!

We will all enjoy these new titles.

 

 

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Books, Buddies and Buckets

Students enjoyed picking out books and creating wishlists at the Scholastic Book Fair.

We visited Mrs. Hurley's Class and met our buddies. Each week we'll meet to read and learn together. This mentoring program is a great opportunity for all involved.

It was WONFERFUL to see so many families at Open House. Parents worked very hard on the "how well do you know your child" surveys!!

At our first Community Meeting, we learned about being bucket fillers and made a whole school commitment to the philosophy. Our class is almost at our 100 hearts Mark!

 

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Settling in

We completed our first full week of second grade. We're in full swing learning about each other and our subjects. Hopefully you've read some news in the Friday Letter from your child. There's lots of excitement Monday mornings as we read our mail.

To promote a positive learning environment, we've worked hard to create class rules. Our first Second Step lesson was all about RESPECT. We came up with 3 rules that cover everything we might say or do.

Underneath we wrote what each behavior looks and sounds like.

To help us learn about and respect others, we made lists of what bugs us and what we wish our classmates would do.

We shared words to describe us around these sunflowers.

We started our first RESEARCH PROJECT. In addition to our second grade studies, everyone has an opportunity to learn about subjects that interest them. As we explore books and sites, we're learning to read for information and organize our notes. This week we learned how to make a word web.

Our mornings begin with explorations. Here are some amazing projects made from pattern blocks. Ask your child what he/she explored today!

In honor of DOT DAY, we read the story The Dot by Peter Reynolds. It has a powerful message about having a growth mindset and persevering.

Afterwards we created posters relaying what we can't do ...YET and talked about the power of that three letter word.

 

Ask your child what is happening in these photos...

In math we're using a variety of tools for learning. Here we are comparing numbers and cleaning our coins so they are ready to be used.

Looking forward to another busy week!

 

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Fabulous First Day!

Despite the heat, our new second graders worked hard and played hard on their first day. Before recess, we completed an activity called Who's in your Circles? This was a fun way to find friends with similar interests. Everyone made a recess plan and we headed outside for some fun in the sun!

Next, we practiced teamwork during the spaghetti tower challenge! One marshmallow, 20 sticks of spaghetti, and 36 inches of tape and string came together in a free standing tower. The tallest was 27 inches high...well done everyone!

The rest of our day was filled with reading, math, writing and a bit of free time.

We wrote letters to our families at the end of the day. It seems everyone had a successful first day. I think we're all excited to come back tomorrow! :)

How was your day?

 

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Getting ready!

Back to school time is approaching! I'm still enjoying summer but am getting excited about starting a new school year too. My daughter already started school! We dropped her off at college yesterday.

The summer is a great time to explore, visit new places and try new things. These are two new experiences I had this summer...

Have you ever seen an alpaca give a hug?!

 

Have you ever seen an alpaca give a hug?!

 

 

On just one night in August every year, a community of 310 cottages on Martha's Vineyard, light up their porches with paper lanterns!

Does this remind you of any traditions in your neighborhood?

 

 

 

 

I can't wait to hear about your summer experiences!

Here's what our classroom looked like when I returned this summer, yikes! We're getting a shiny new floor this week so I'll be finishing up and getting it ready for fun and learning next week. Are you coming to our Sneak Peek Day on September 4? You can bring your parents, find your desk and check out our space. Come by between 2:30 and 3:00 pm.

I found these books about second grade at the library. Have you been to the library this summer? Here's a video I made reading one of them to you!

Click the link below to see the video!

https://youtu.be/km0Zlxa6q64

Our class pets, Ben and Jerry are a little nervous about meeting so many new friends. I told them how awesome you all are. I guess back to school makes everyone a little jittery.

Enjoy the rest of your vacation, I'll see you in a couple of weeks!

Smiles & Hugs,

Mrs. Holm

 

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Wrapping up a great year

It's hard to believe ten months have gone by. We spent a lot of time reflecting on the year as we reread family letters in our Friday Notebooks, perused the pages of our memory books and realized our progress from the reader response journals and the portfolios from kindergarten and first grade!

It was a busy June!

After receiving letters back from our third grade buddies, we were excited to meet them. At Russell Street we toured the school, had lunch and recess with our buddies and hung out in the awesome outdoor classroom!

We had fun with math and science outside with our bottle flipping challenge and second grade scavenger hunt.

We said good-bye to our Kindergarten buddies by making a summer bucket list together then enjoying some Popsicles.

The second ice-cream social was a big hit!

Among all the fun and laughter there have been a few tears too as it can be hard to say good-bye. Henry and I have loved this class and we will miss each and every member. xoxo

Love, Mrs. Holm

 

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