Smith update, 9/12

Hello Parents of Super Second-Graders,

This past week saw our class find familiarity with core routines and individual development as students begin to challenge themselves on a daily basis. 

In math, we begin our instructional sessions with number talks and lessons that teach while empowering students to identify how and why number combinations and operations function. After some practice and discussion students have independent and collaborative work time. When finished, students move to a variety of math routines that require students to think about and use core number sense concepts. Finally, students are offered personal challenge work that is appropriate to their unique placement in math development. 

These individual challenges help to breed a sense of pride as students develop perseverance and resilience. The reactions of individual students helps me to understand both content-area level and unique pragmatic needs. To empower students to understand challenges as opportunities requires a careful ear to know when and how to encourage. To this point, I have seen great responses across the board as I offer algebraic challenges to students. 

In order to help students continue their work with mathematics, your child will be bringing home their Dreambox password this week. Please use Dreambox as you see fit as a supplement to math work being done in class. 

As always, thank you for gifting me time with your children!

This Week’s Highlights

September 14-21

First week of Volunteers

Phonics and word study focus

-double consonant endings f, l, s and plural nouns s and es

Reading focus

Comprehension focus: Narrative structure and comparisons between different versions of same stories (The Chocolate touch/ The Midas Touch and versions of three little pigs)

Book club individualized strategy lessons: Lessons created for specific skill outcomes based on individual and group needs

Focus books: Character building and variations on the theme of “The Midas Touch”

Writing focus

Conventions- Spacing, Feeling ending of sentences, Periods and Capitals,

Writing skill- Narrative structure and the writing process

Topical writing- Narrative, “My Version of The Three Pigs” and/or “My Magic Touch”

Math focus

Full Math workshop (mystery number, number decomposition, word problem, independent practice, personal challenge and three math routines)

Math journal problem solving through visual models

Individualized challenges

Computation- Fluency with groupings and arrays

Social Studies focus

Introduction to Geography

Science focus

Mrs. Minarik’s Science Lab

Homework

Daily reading and homework packet