writing...

I just wanted to share some things we are working on in writing this quarter. We are using a plan to create a draft and this week we are focusing on what we can do to make our writing better. Today we talked about what a complete sentence was and how we can add more details. I did the first set of sentences, but the class created the rest using our spelling words. The last sentence was a run on, so we talked about how to turn it into two complete sentences. The class did a great job today and I wanted to share it. (Plus this is something that they can practice as they write their 6 sentences on Wednesday)

He jumped.

He jumped high.

He jumped high on the trampoline.

Derreck jumped high on the trampoline.

Derreck did a somersault as he jumped high on the trampoline.

My shin hurts.

My shin hurts because I was playing soccer.

The grass is brown.

The grass is brown because it is dead and dry.

The grass is brown because we haven’t had rain.

The car shines.

The car shines because I polished it.

The car shines because it just got painted and polished.

The car is really shiny because we just got it.

The car is shiny because the sun is shining on it.

The snake is scary.

The snake is scary because some can bite.

Snakes are scary because of their fangs.

The snake is scary because it hissed at me.

The snake is scary because it is venomous and might bite me. and It would hurt very bad.

July 28-August 1

This past week was very busy and we got a lot accomplished. This week we have another busy one in our hands! We will be taking our second math test of the year and we have been practicing for the past several days.

SCHOOL PICTURES ON FRIDAY!

Math-we practiced using many methods of adding: making a ten, using a number line, using a hundreds board, and using math mountains. Quiz Monday.

Reading-we continued working on identifying challenging words in our reading and using context clues to identify the meaning of the word. We took a brief quiz. There will be another quiz this week.

Writing-we continue writing our personal narratives. We are working on using a plan to generate ideas, then using the plan to create a draft. We are working on writing complete sentences, and beginning/middle/endings. 

Science-we worked on identifying the differences between solids, liquids, and gasses.

Social studies-we discussed the differences between what good citizens and bad citizens do. We worked on creating a definition for what a citizen is and different examples.

I wanted to take a minute to review a few things that the kids may be miscommunicating. Each night there is homework. The homework for each night is typed out in the assignment sheet. We did change the word study homework last week for open house. Each Monday your child will get their homework for the entire week. It does not all need to be completed in one night. As we dig deeper into the year some of the homework may not make sense until after the lesson has been taught. I'm attaching this weeks assignment sheet:

	Week of  August 4-8	Name	#
Monday	I read _________ minutes last night. Parent signature	·         Math: ·         Fact Strategy: Plus two ·         Letterland: ·         Day 1- read the words twice	Special COMPUTER
Tuesday	I read _________ minutes last night. Parent signature	·         Math:   ·         Math Mountains and equations ·         Letterland: ·         Day 2- look, say, cover, write, check ·           Wear sneakers for PE tomorrow	ART
Wednesday	I read _________ minutes last night. Parent signature	Math:  Game-Racing along homework page Letterland: Day 3- write 6 sentences	PE
Thursday yyyy	I read _________ minutes last night. Parent signature	Math: Day 16: Think about the Situation Letterland: Day 4-practice test	MUSIC
Friday	Total minutes read for the week                                        Mins. Parent signature	Any unfinished work from the week will be homework over the weekend.

Sign & return sheet on Monday after the weekend please! J________________________________

*Please note that we do not have specials on Friday. We will use that time for either extra recess or playing a math game*

OPEN HOUSE

Some inspirational videos to get you thinking:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5yCOSHeYn4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwlhUcSGqgs

Here are the slides from the power point:

Tidbits...

As a grade level we made a few changes, so I wanted to update you here.

Word study. Please be sure this is getting done each day. I will have look say cover copied on the back of each list weekly. This should be done each Tuesday. I check that all work is done daily. 

This week I am tweaking the work so there is less homework on Tuesday for open house. Please reference the assignment sheet. The daily homework is written each day. The day work is due, we will go over the work in class to see if there are any questions. If the work has not been done, it's impossible to go over specific questions.

*Open house is Tuesday, 7/29/14 at 6 pm. We will begin with a PTA clip and vote on the budget and then begin delving into second grade. :) I look forward to seeing you!
-If you can not make it, I will be posting the power point.


To make things easier at the end of the day, we adapted the links sheets. It will be on the back of the weekly assignment sheet. With this form, the children will only have to check the box to explain what they did to lose a link. If there are multiple checks for the day, that shows what multiples were lost for. 

LUCKY LINKS                       Name______________________   Date______

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
Number of Links I have today…	Number of Links I have today…	Number of Links I have today…	Number of Links I have today…	Number of Links I have today…
I lost a link for not…	I lost a link because…	I lost a link because…	I lost a link because…	I lost a link because…
□ listening □ obeying rules □ following          directions □ using time           wisely □ doing my best                 work □ not working        well with others □ other     (see below)	□ listening □ obeying rules □ following          directions □ using time           wisely □ doing my best                 work □ not working        well with others □ other     (see below)	□ listening □ obeying rules □ following          directions □ using time           wisely □ doing my best                 work □ not working        well with others □ other     (see below)	□ listening □ obeying rules □ following          directions □ using time           wisely □ doing my best                 work □ not working        well with others □ other     (see below)	□ listening □ obeying rules □ following          directions □ using time           wisely □ doing my best                 work □ not working        well with others □ other     (see below)

Each week, students are given 10 links on Monday. If they keep all ten links by Friday they may trade them in for a jewel. Jewels will be spent at the class store for prize box items.

Teacher Notes:

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              Teacher Signature                                                                Parent Signature

The teacher will sign this sheet and place it in the student’s Friday Folder.  Please sign and return this sheet every Monday. J