Researching Continents

The learners of 115 have been hard at work researching the seven continents. They have spent the last two days pouring through a mountain of books, looking for fascinating facts about the continent of their choice. They have begun making posters complete with pictures and facts about the continent. Be sure to ask your child which continent they're researching.... You just might be surprised what they have discovered!

Conference Times!

Last week your child brought home a conference request form.  Due to the missed school days on Thursday and Friday, I only received a few back today.  If you would like a conference please send me an email vaneman_l@westcler.org or add a comment to this post with your requested day.  The conference days are Feb. 2 and Feb. 9 from 5:00-8:30. I look forward to showing you your child's work and progress from 2nd quarter.

Snow Day Work Make-Up

I hope you and your child enjoyed your time in the snow last week.  Due to the missed school days, Mrs. Hoffman will be giving the spelling test for last week tomorrow and the spelling for this week on Friday.  I have cut down the amount of spelling words for the test on Friday.  Please continue to work on the homework packet throughout the week and help your child with the long i spelling patterns for this week.  Thank you so much for your support at home!

Animal Fantasy Writing

Last week, the students finished and published their animal fantasy stories.  The students brainstormed possible writing ideas, used a web to gather their thoughts, and practiced using voice in their writing.  After their books were finished, the students wrote a letter to a student in Mrs. Van Eman's 3rd grade class at Mercer Elementary to tell why and how they created their story.  The students Skyped with Mrs. Van Eman's class on Friday to tell them the stories were on the way.  Mrs. Van Eman's class read through the stories and letters yesterday and are going to write their author a letter back with their thoughts about the story.  

The Great Poetry Race Returns!

  This week in your child's homework packet you will see the selected poem for the poetry race. Please encourage your child to read the poem aloud to as many people as possible and record the names on the back of the poem. The student who has read the poem the most will be recorded and posted on the blog.  Let the race begin! :)

Creative ways to Communicate

This week, we have been learning about creative ways to communicate. I showed the class some pictures of some friends from the University of Cincinnati who visited Africa recently. While they were there, they spent some time with children in a school in Otho Abao near Kenya. While there, the children wanted to send drawings to America of their daily life or what they wanted to be when they grow up. I brought in these drawings for the children in our class to see. The learners in 115 decided to draw pictures to send back to Africa about their life and what they want to be when they grow up. I will take these drawings back to my friends at UC who will take them to the children in Africa in March. Below are pictures of the artwork from the learners in 115.

Last week your children began a geometry unit. We have been reviewing shape names and learning about lines and points. This week we will continue to work with shapes and begin exploring 3-dimensional shapes.

I am currently in the classroom 5 days a week and will continue to increase the amount of time teaching until I begin teaching full time beginning on January 18th, so you may hear your child talking more about me teaching. I am enjoying every minute of working with your children. They are such a wonderful group of second graders!

Getting back into the swing of things!

Wow, what a great week! I was so happy to see everyone this week and get back to learning.  Please continue to keep up with the homework and nightly reading.  Your child will be taking their DIBELS fluency assessment on Thursday.  Reading every night will help your child be successful on this assessment.  If you need books or support with the nightly reading please let me know.