Math:
*We have been working on the structure of numerals 1-10. I use a lot of visuals in the beginning. The visuals help the children attach meaning to the numerals and allow them to be able to recall them quickly. By the end of the year, the ultimate goal is for your child to be able to recall all the ways to make numbers 1-20 mentally. The children tend to have a good grasp of 1-5 & 10. It is 6,7,8,& 9 that we sometimes need some extra practice.
*We have been working on the structure of numerals 1-10. I use a lot of visuals in the beginning. The visuals help the children attach meaning to the numerals and allow them to be able to recall them quickly. By the end of the year, the ultimate goal is for your child to be able to recall all the ways to make numbers 1-20 mentally. The children tend to have a good grasp of 1-5 & 10. It is 6,7,8,& 9 that we sometimes need some extra practice.
*Shape Fridays: Every Friday we focus on shapes. One of our common core standards for geometry is:
CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.2.G.A.1
Recognize and draw shapes having specified attributes, such as a given number of angles or a given number of equal faces.1 Identify triangles, quadrilaterals, pentagons, hexagons, and cubes.
We have been learning about and drawing polygons and quadrilaterals. Here is some of the vocabulary I have focused on: parallel lines, symmetry, angle, side, vertex, polygon, quadrilateral, triangle, rectangle, square, rhombus, trapezoid, pentagon, hexagon, and octagon. The children have constructed clues that we are all trying to solve.
*Doubles week: Last week was doubles week! I tried to immerse the children in doubles games and practice. I even introduced some visuals to help. My hope is that they will have a firm grasp of their doubles. The doubles are relatively easy to learn and can form a powerful anchor for the near-doubles and other facts.
CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.2.G.A.1
Recognize and draw shapes having specified attributes, such as a given number of angles or a given number of equal faces.1 Identify triangles, quadrilaterals, pentagons, hexagons, and cubes.
We have been learning about and drawing polygons and quadrilaterals. Here is some of the vocabulary I have focused on: parallel lines, symmetry, angle, side, vertex, polygon, quadrilateral, triangle, rectangle, square, rhombus, trapezoid, pentagon, hexagon, and octagon. The children have constructed clues that we are all trying to solve.
*Doubles week: Last week was doubles week! I tried to immerse the children in doubles games and practice. I even introduced some visuals to help. My hope is that they will have a firm grasp of their doubles. The doubles are relatively easy to learn and can form a powerful anchor for the near-doubles and other facts.
*Place value: We have started to focus on place value. I have used bundles/sticks and arrow cards to help the children understand the idea of place value. I also introduced expanded notation. We are focusing on tens and ones right now but will be moving on to hundreds very soon.
Writing:
*Pen Pals: We got our first pen pal letters back! We are writing to my cousin's 2nd grade class in Wisconsin. The children were all very excited to receive their first letter! We worked on our response this week.
*We finished up our Lucy Caulkins unit "Writing About Reading". Before we start our next unit, I am taking this time to work on writing paragraphs. So far we have talked about parts of a paragraph and are focusing on how to start a paragraph with a strong lead topic sentence.
Science:Processes that Shape the Earth is the unit we are studying. We talked about slow and fast moving changes and what causes them. One of the fun experiments we did was designed a building using 4 blocks. We tested our structure on a shake table which replicated what an earthquake would do. Afterwards, we tried to make improvements to our building and did a second test.
Reading: We have been studying the Schoolwide fiction unit in reading. It has helped us explore folktales and fairytales. I have been reading different versions of fairytales that we have been comparing and contrasting. I have also been having guided reading groups with the children. I alternate between reading books with the children and having a strategy group. This week our strategy group will focus on cause and effect.
*Pen Pals: We got our first pen pal letters back! We are writing to my cousin's 2nd grade class in Wisconsin. The children were all very excited to receive their first letter! We worked on our response this week.
*We finished up our Lucy Caulkins unit "Writing About Reading". Before we start our next unit, I am taking this time to work on writing paragraphs. So far we have talked about parts of a paragraph and are focusing on how to start a paragraph with a strong lead topic sentence.
Science:Processes that Shape the Earth is the unit we are studying. We talked about slow and fast moving changes and what causes them. One of the fun experiments we did was designed a building using 4 blocks. We tested our structure on a shake table which replicated what an earthquake would do. Afterwards, we tried to make improvements to our building and did a second test.
Reading: We have been studying the Schoolwide fiction unit in reading. It has helped us explore folktales and fairytales. I have been reading different versions of fairytales that we have been comparing and contrasting. I have also been having guided reading groups with the children. I alternate between reading books with the children and having a strategy group. This week our strategy group will focus on cause and effect.
I have been working with the children on being kind to each other. I read the book Have You Filled a Bucket Today. I bought each child a small bucket to keep on their desk. We are filling our friends buckets by writing thoughtful notes to them. I am so touched by the notes the children are writing.
Until next time....
Mrs Miller
Mrs Miller