Welcome To Our Class Blog

Welcome to our blog. We will hopefully add information or share class events as needed or desired. Please check back periodically for updates.

Saturday, September 15, 2012

The Week Ahead and Our Week Rewind

Last week was such a busy week!  We worked very hard in all subjects and finally started stations and AR.  We are working hard and at a fast pace due to the amount of skills that we need to master this school year.  Last week we finished our unit on addition strategies and began our subtraction unit.  We completed daily problem solving and completed Rocket Math daily except for Friday.  Emma and Nathan are both on I in Rocket Math!  We continued our study of sentences with the focus of predicates.  In reading main idea was our focus.  In phonics/spelling we worked on building and dissecting words with inflected ending.  We will revisit this  phonics skill later this year-no worries.  In science we continued our focus on space.  Our ticket auction began Friday and we will finish it Monday afternoon.  (I am purchasing a few more prizes this weekend to add to the auction .)

Next/this week (Sept. 17-21) will be a different week for us- which is a bummer since we are finally getting into a routine.  We are taking the SAT 10 test on Tuesday and it will end on Thursday.  This test will be given in the afternoon after lunch.  It is important that early dismissals are avoided if possible.  This test will provide us with a baseline and be used to compare to the test given in the spring.  Since a big part of our day will be spent testing we will not do a new spelling/story vocabulary list (Sept. 17-21).  We will not do a reading story.  We will however continue our math, language and social studies.  We will continue- subtraction, problem solving and Rocket Math.  The math packet is due Friday.  In language we will focus on questions and statements.  We will finish space unit on Tuesday and begin our social studies unit of landforms. There is an extra credit activity for social studies on the newsletter in the binder and it is due by Friday (Sept 21).  Friday we will do activities with apples.  Don't forget your apple (Friday, Sept. 21).  Friday-21st  is also our extra behavior recess for those that earned it.


Stars in the Pond
  • Emma was our Top Frog and was able to bring home the frog bag and a frog of her choice.  
  • Jayla is our next Top Frog!  
  • Maverick is our AR point leader.
  • Nathan and Emma are our Rocket Math Leaders.
  • Jolene was honored at our PTO meeting Tuesday for student of the month.
THANK YOU!
Thank you to everyone that sent in auction prizes!  The kids were very excited to see all of the prizes.  Thank you to those that participated in the fundraiser.   Thank you to those that ordered books.  Our class earned points for me to purchase books.  Thank you parents for your on-going support!
 

Please Remember
  • Apples need to be brought in by Friday-21st in a labeled bag.
  • Math homework is due by Friday-21st.
  • Extra credit is due by Friday. 
  • I have scheduled conferences with many.  Please contact me if you can not meet during your time. Please try to be on time.
  • Don't forget to have your child vote on the blog by Thursday night.

Let's have a great week!
Mrs. Walker




Our Moon Phases with Oreos

Last Wednesday we finished our study of the phases of the moon with Oreo Science. The kids really enjoyed the final project!
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Classroom Tour

This past weekend I took a few pictures of our classroom so others can view them on our blog! Check out our classrooom!
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Sunday, September 2, 2012

Welcome to a New Year in Mrs. Walker's 2nd Grade Pond

Wow, can you believe that we have been in school a little longer than 2 weeks!  I am very excited about the school year ahead of us.  We have a very challenging year ahead with many reading, math, language, and science/social studies skills to master.  I know that our class is up to the challenge.  The kids seem so excited about learning!
 
Below are just a few new things that we are beginning. 
 
This week we will begin our AR program.  We are testing over the leveled readers brought home last Thursday on Tuesday.  (Some have already taken their first test.  Nathan made our class's first 100% on a test!)  This Friday we will test over the leveled readers that will be sent home this Thursday.  Anyone who wants to take a test over their library book checked out last Friday may do so by Thursday.  Students will have to take a test over their library books after this week.  They must read their book 2 or more times (unless it is a chapter book).  They must have an adult ask them questions about their book.  The library book must have an AR dot.  Books may be brought from home to take AR tests- they must be on their reading level or above.  Last Tuesday I sent home an AR information sheet with your child's reading range and directions as to how to check for book levels and if a book has an AR test.  Please refer to this page before sending books to school for tests.  Each time a student gets a 100% on their test, they will get a hole punch on their AR card.  After 10 hole punches students receive a coupon to eat lunch in the classroom:)  On our blog we will keep track of point clubs- 10 point club, 20 point club, 30 point club, etc.  Most second grade AR books are worth .5 points when a 100% is made.  Top AR students will be announced in our weekly newsletter.  We will track our AR scores in class- 100%, 90%, and 80%.  Lastly, AR is a great way for students to get fired up about reading.  Let's get fired up! 
 
This week we jumped into Rocket Math.  Remember Rocket Math is a way for each child to master their math facts and to recall them with fluency.   Practice pages are in the back of the binder.  They may be taken out if needed.  Please make copies of these pages.  If you are needing more pages please let me know.  Checked Rocket Math pages will either be placed in the homework folder or graded papers folder.  We have a few in our class that have already made it to C!
 
Lastly, I want to thank you all for coming to parent night.  We had a record breaking turn out!  We are going to have a great year!
 
 
Stars in the Pond:  Happy Birthday- Nathan and Jadyn.  We are so excited to announce that Jadyn has a new baby brother- Jackson!
 
Jolene is our August Student of the Month.  She has worked hard, is polite, and always has a smile!  Way to go Jolene!!!
 
Thank you for visiting our blog!  Don't forget to have your child complete the survey by Thursday night.  We will review the results Friday.
 
Mrs. Walker :)