During the first month of school we have worked on social competency, which includes rules of good behavior (expected behavior), safety at school and on the bus. We will continue to show respect and include others as we go forward.
Our focus in math has been on number facts called fact families and strategies by which to solve equations. Students have seen the relationship between addition and subtraction facts called turn around or related facts (the commutative property). When students understand that facts are related, it will be easier to learn all the sums to 18. For example, 2+3=5, 3+2=5, 5-2=3 and 5-3=2. As we work to master these facts this year, we have also begun learning how to solve word problems and showing or proving our thinking. In addition, please note that the higher level math problems are difficult and confusing for many students right now as first graders had not been introduced to them last year. This type of problem will be incorporated into every math unit for continued practice with reasoning of higher level thinking skills. Watch the Wheelock website for more information on Math Night in early November. This will be an opportunity for parents to learn more about the Envision Math program and how to help your child at home.
Students have begun our work on map study. We have compared maps and globes and are locating the world’s continents and oceans. Students will have lots of practice naming all seven continents and five oceans and learn where they are found on the Earth.
In readers’ workshop, students have been talking about habits which good readers use and learning how readers preview books to choose one that is just right. Second graders have already accumulated a great deal of schema as it pertains to reading and life experiences! Ask your child to tell you what that means!
In class we are now discussing the elements of reading: characters, plot, problem and events and solution. We will use these story elements to help us retell stories. This is a skill which students always should practice.
When we speak of life experiences, students use memorable ones to tell about in writers’ workshop. In second grade we continue writing small moment, narrative stories. Students are asked to write like master authors, modeling their craft, in order to expand students’ own writing.
Congratulations to all students for remembering to bring their BEE homework folders to and from school! Thank you, parents, for your help with homework at home and for initialing the BEE card in the back pocket every night. We will look forward to sharing the October diorama projects at the end of October and displaying them in our classroom. You can look forward to a different reading project every month. Please join your child in signing the reading contract calendar and returning it with the folder at the end of each month. I appreciate your help encouraging reading and good homework practices.
Also, I would like to mention that the school website will always contain curriculum information and links which may be helpful to access at home. I will share more information, such as Raz Kids, when we are ready to begin.
You can see that we have been very busy in Room 201!
Our focus in math has been on number facts called fact families and strategies by which to solve equations. Students have seen the relationship between addition and subtraction facts called turn around or related facts (the commutative property). When students understand that facts are related, it will be easier to learn all the sums to 18. For example, 2+3=5, 3+2=5, 5-2=3 and 5-3=2. As we work to master these facts this year, we have also begun learning how to solve word problems and showing or proving our thinking. In addition, please note that the higher level math problems are difficult and confusing for many students right now as first graders had not been introduced to them last year. This type of problem will be incorporated into every math unit for continued practice with reasoning of higher level thinking skills. Watch the Wheelock website for more information on Math Night in early November. This will be an opportunity for parents to learn more about the Envision Math program and how to help your child at home.
Students have begun our work on map study. We have compared maps and globes and are locating the world’s continents and oceans. Students will have lots of practice naming all seven continents and five oceans and learn where they are found on the Earth.
In readers’ workshop, students have been talking about habits which good readers use and learning how readers preview books to choose one that is just right. Second graders have already accumulated a great deal of schema as it pertains to reading and life experiences! Ask your child to tell you what that means!
In class we are now discussing the elements of reading: characters, plot, problem and events and solution. We will use these story elements to help us retell stories. This is a skill which students always should practice.
When we speak of life experiences, students use memorable ones to tell about in writers’ workshop. In second grade we continue writing small moment, narrative stories. Students are asked to write like master authors, modeling their craft, in order to expand students’ own writing.
Congratulations to all students for remembering to bring their BEE homework folders to and from school! Thank you, parents, for your help with homework at home and for initialing the BEE card in the back pocket every night. We will look forward to sharing the October diorama projects at the end of October and displaying them in our classroom. You can look forward to a different reading project every month. Please join your child in signing the reading contract calendar and returning it with the folder at the end of each month. I appreciate your help encouraging reading and good homework practices.
Also, I would like to mention that the school website will always contain curriculum information and links which may be helpful to access at home. I will share more information, such as Raz Kids, when we are ready to begin.
You can see that we have been very busy in Room 201!