Hello Fantastic and Frozen Families,
Quickly-
Dec. 14 = STEAM+ project due. Kid made musical instruments for the Second Grade Marching Band (information to come)
Dec. 17= Book exchange, $10 book to exchange
Dec. 17= Winterfest 1:00-2:30
Dec. 18= Blanket fort challenge and read in.
December calls for celebration. We have had a wonderful first third to the school year, capped off by conference week. Thank you for spending the time sharing perspectives and collaborating on making sure our students grow in both mind and spirit.
We ended the last week with an enjoyable school-wide Art Day. In class we worked on three different creative projects- a guided drawing, a process abstraction using prints of freshly fallen fall leaves, and a small-group collaborative play written, staged, and performed by the students. These kinds of experiences are critical to helping balance the more direct(ed) academic work that makes up the norm of education. As a matter of fact, including creativity and choice into all academic areas is important to helping students generalize and synthesize knowledge for application. In class, I use many flexible models and choice times to empower students to create using the things they know and are learning. As a quick example, just yesterday while we remain in our secondary classroom (return to our classroom is now imminent) I could look around during our literacy practice time and see a group of students drafting a new book for the Goosebumps series, individuals working on creating the illustrations for their completed narratives, students working in a group to create the model for a store (money work), and readers going through comparing all of the books of our now-completed author study of Chris Van Allsburg’s books. These were not assignments, these were chosen activities that engender and require collaboration and critical thinking. Beyond this, these kinds of activities run parallel to what we as adults do on an ongoing basis: learn, plan, use, reflect, refine, use again.
Yesterday we hosted a therapy dog for a moment in class. This happy pup’s name was Annie and she came with her handler to share a bit about how the companionship of a friend can mean so much. This visit was another in a series of many, many experiences to help students gain a foundation of empathy and compassion towards others in the world around them. With this in mind, our award-winning Understanding Differences program is approaching and we could use some volunteers. Please keep an eye out for information in the next couple of days.
In science this week we are beginning to understand the properties of sound. This includes experiences based around vibration, sound waves, pitch, volume, and the movement of sound through different mediums. Today we spent time playing xylophones, metalophones, and drums to experience some of these concepts. Future experiments and experiences will only serve to expand our understanding.
The last day before Winter Break, all of the second grades will have a book exchange. Books need to be appropriate for boys and girls, gender neutral. They can be used or new, and around $10 in value. If you give used books, they need to be in good condition and of good quality. If you would like to use Scholastic, our class will receive free books. S
cholastic.com/bookclubs Activation Code:
FQGJJ. Books are due by Thursday the 17th. On the following day, the kids will be building blanket and pillow forts for their read in. They will need to bring in one blanket, one pillow, and as many books as they would like for the challenge, lucky kids.
The grandparent letters have mostly been read and as a class we have had the privilege of learning about your ancestors as well as hearing their grandparents’ life advice. Almost every letter ended with the same theme, be grateful, be yourself, have fun, try your best, be brave, try new things, be curious, and love everyone. We have also been graced with the sharing of some amazing family heirlooms. To have real interactions surrounding our families’ lives is eye-opening to our young learners.
Best,
Andrew Smith
Teacher, Del Mar Heights School
This Week’s Highlights
11/30-12/4
Phonics and word study focus
Long vowels, doubling consonants in –vc words when using suffixes, Syllables
Reading focus
Comprehension focus: Approaching Non-Fiction Texts
Close reading: Connecting texts to questions in Non-Fiction
Book club individualized strategy lessons: Lessons created for specific skill outcomes based on individual and group needs
Focus books: Articles about vision, sharks, and Native peoples, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Writing focus
Conventions- Spacing, Feeling ending of sentences, Periods and Capitals,
Writing skill- Planning Opinion pieces
Topical writing- Opinion pieces, Favorite of our Chris Van Allsburg author studies, The perfect class pet
Math focus
Full Math workshop
Math journal problem solving through visual models
Individualized challenges
Telling time and working with money
Geometry
Social Studies focus
Science focus week
Science focus
Mrs. Minarik’s Science Lab and sound
Homework
Daily reading and homework packet
