Spirit Wear Tomorrow!

We have spirit, yes we do....  Tomorrow is Spirit Wear Day with uniform bottoms.

In Social Studies we are looking at environmental change and what causes it. Here's a sample of some great second grade work - thanks Megan!

Our "Earth Web" lists 10 different ways we can help our planet, such as reducing the amount of things we use, recycling what we can, and reusing items. We can also help by not littering, turning off unused lights, and using less water. Nice job!

Everyone brought home a copy of their states project template today. This is NOT homework, although I copied it and sent it home because their enthusiasm is catching! Many students asked to take a copy home and work on their project. It is not required at all, but they may work on it if they want. They are bringing home a copy of their packet - the original is here at school and will stay in the classroom until it's completed. They are really doing a wonderful job on it! Just a note - we are not completing the "sources" part of the packet. That part will come later.

Yesterday an order form came home for First Communion portraits. These are optional pictures which will be taken at noon this Sunday. If you want pictures, please make sure to complete the order form and bring it with you to First Communion on Sunday.

We're Kicking It Up!

Our class is doing a fantastic job getting started on their state projects! They are all researching a different state and completing a research project template. Once they have gathered all of their information (by next Friday, 5/9) they will start writing a research paper. We are using many resources for this project, including textbooks, research books, other people, our large classroom map, computers, and our new school iPads! You know a project is going to be a huge success when you have to tear them away from it! Many students have asked what they can do at home. It's not required, but they are welcome to look up climate, landforms, and three interesting facts about their state to prepare their report. Additionally, they are also researching their state's flag, governor, natural resources, interesting places to visit, that state's capitol, when their state became part of the U.S., and major cities within their state. They are doing an amazing job!

In Math we're learning how to count a combination of quarters, dimes, nickels, and pennies. We're also learning how to trade in amounts for fewer coins. Tomorrow we start learning about parallel lines. We have a test next Monday, May 12th.

Please check your e-mail for a notice about what's happening with First Communion this weekend. We are all looking forward to it!

It's So Good To Be Back!!!

It's wonderful to have everyone back together again - I enjoyed hearing about everyone's fun Spring Break adventures!

We're back and ready to learn. Our spelling test is Friday (5/2) and here are our prefix spelling words:

unsafe   preheat   rerun   disappear   unlock   retie   rewind   unpack   unplug   regroup   preschool  disagree

Our challenge words are: prehistoric   unfortunate   reunion

April reading logs are due Friday - please sign them and send them back to school with your child.

Our Character Education team has identified 25 "manner" traits that we will work on as a school from now until the end of the year. This week we are working on:
1. Saying please
2. Saying thank you
3. Not interrupting an adult when they are talking unless it's an emergency; and
4. If it is an emergency, saying, "Please excuse me - it's an emergency."

We'll introduce new manners traits each week. They are already doing a great job with "please" and "thank you" which means they are really trying!

Our First Communion rehearsal is this Saturday at 10:00 a.m. at the church. It should last about 90 minutes. Our First Communion is on Sunday and you will need to arrive by noon if you want professional pictures taken. If not, please arrive no later than 12:45. The Mass starts at 1:00 pm and will last approximately 90 minutes. Please keep practicing your songs at home.

We started our research project this week. This is new for us, so we're slowing down to make sure we understand it. Everyone chose a state today and we'll spend two weeks learning all about that state. Then we'll turn our information into a written research report. They are so enthusiastic - I can't wait to see the final projects!

Thanks for all of your support and help - I couldn't do this without you. Happy Monday!

We Are Filled With Good Deeds

Look at all of the good deeds we accomplished throughout Lent - and it's not over yet. Our good Lenten deed from now until Easter Sunday is to thank Jesus for his sacrifice for us.

THANK YOU so much to Mrs. Abraham and Mrs. Wozniak for a beautiful, respectful Lent/pre-Easter gathering in class this morning. We made key chains, had a delicious snack, and watched a Little Critter video about Easter. We all enjoyed it!

We finished our day with a school-wide Stations of the Cross. It was a perfect way to start our school break.

Your child brought home a collective list of computer user names and passwords today, in case they want to practice their math, reading, or language arts skills while on break. Also, there is May Crowning information in their folder, as well. More is coming home soon. Please keep practicing Blest Are We and Jesus In The Eucharist for First Communion.

I hope you have a wonderful, blessed Easter along with a relaxing break - I'll see everyone on April 28th!

Good Thoughts, Good Deeds

We started our Family Life unit today with a discussion about how we bring God's love into our home. Some of the great responses included praying, being kind to each other, and helping each other out when needed.

Our new Social Studies unit started today with Environmental Change - we looked at examples, talked about pollution, and then created our own "Wanted" posters featuring bad pollutants. If you look around the school, you will see the "Wanted" posters displayed all over!

Today's Math had us learning about advanced graphing - such as, "How many more people liked strawberry ice cream than chocolate ice cream?" We're starting to work on problems that take more than one step. We'll continue that after break.

Our good Lenten deed for today is to take out the trash at home (you're welcome!). Our good deed wall is so filled with fish and it looks wonderful!

One more day - we can ALL do it! Happy Wednesday!

We're Debating...!

Religion: We talked about how Jesus saves us from sin, and how that relates to Easter. Jesus died on the cross so that we could be saved.

Writing: We're using graphic organizers this week and learning all about setting, plot, and how to identify the main characters in a story.

Reading/Social Studies: What a fabulous group! We tried an experiment today. Once a week, we talk about social issues or current events in class. Today's story (from Scholastic Junior) was about a group who believes chimps should be treated more like humans because they are so closely related to people. We read the story and then divided up into two groups. Both groups had 10 minutes to come up with their arguments, and then we held our first ever second grade debate presentation! They did an amazing job! We can't wait to do it again.

Tomorrow: $1 dress down, library, gym

Our good Lenten deed for today: Pray for all of the sick children in the world.

Have a great Tuesday!

Counting Down...

We only have four days of school this week, and we're making them all count!

1.  We planted seeds in Science two weeks ago. Our plants are nice and strong; and ready to come home. Plants will be coming home Wednesday or Thursday. If you want to stop in and pick it up, just let me know.

2.  We have Gym tomorrow instead of Thursday so we'll need gym shoes tomorrow and Wednesday, but not on Thursday.

3.  Our good Lenten deed for today is to help our parents clean up after dinner - yay!!!

4.  There is no spelling test or math test this week. I told everyone I want our focus to be on Holy Week - remembering what events happened this week and the events leading up to Easter Sunday. We read a book today about the Easter miracle.

5.  We are starting new, more difficult lessons in Math this week. We're learning how to multiply by 1 and by 100, and we're also learning how to find the perimeter of a shape. We'll start learning these lessons this week, and we'll review them when we come back from Easter break.

6. In Writing, we are telling about our Easter break plans this week. I'm hearing some great plans - they are excited to put them on paper!

As always, please let me know if you have any questions. Have a great Monday!

Silver and Stripes

Some of our students put on a fun play today called, "Silver and Stripes." They did a fantastic job!!! I have a policy of not posting student pictures on the blog since it is a public blog, but we compromised today. Izaak, Paiton, Nathan and Braeden did an amazing job on their play, and the audience loved it!

Our good Lenten deed for the weekend is to pick up trash around our yard or somewhere. I'm hoping to hear great stories on Monday of how everyone completed their good deed!

Please set aside Friday, May 9th on your calendars. Second grade has mass that morning, and it's also May Crowning. More information is coming home soon.

Enjoy your weekend!

For My Family, Easter Means...

We finished our "For My Family, Easter Means..." projects and they are proudly displayed outside of our classroom. We had many great ideas about what Easter means to each of us. ThanksAva (2nd picture) for letting me use your work on the blog - great job!

We have lots of reminders today:
     ~Spelling test tomorrow
     ~Rice bowls filled with change due tomorrow
     ~Spring pictures tomorrow - dress up optional if you're having pictures taken
     ~Signed report card folders due tomorrow

Our good Lenten deed is to return our rice bowls filled with change tomorrow. If you don't have your rice bowl, feel free to bring in change to add to the school's collection.

This morning we practiced our First Communion with Miss Mary, so we know what to expect at rehearsal on Saturday, May 3rd and at First Communion on Sunday, May 4th. They did a great job. Keep working on the songs!

Some of our students are putting on a play tomorrow, because their current reading book is a play about animals in the forest. They are very excited, and we can't wait to see it!

Enjoy the nice weather!

Our Good Lenten Deeds Continue....

We are re-visiting one of our previous Lenten deeds - to do an extra chore at home without being asked. I'm so proud of all the good deeds our second grade class is doing!

Today in Social Studies we started a maps and globe booklet that uses everything we've learned about maps so far, including directions, longitude & latitude lines, continents, and oceans. It's due tomorrow and they are doing a wonderful job!

Please start returning your rice bowls filled with change. We would like them back by Friday if possible, but we'll take them anytime before next Thursday.

Also - please remember gym shoes on Wednesdays and Thursdays. We do a lot of running in gym and we need to be wearing the right shoes. Thanks!

We have a spelling test on Friday - we'll study our words in class tomorrow just to be sure we're ready.

Have a great Wednesday!

We're Letting Our Light Shine!

For one of our Character Education school-wide projects, we're letting our light shine! As Braeden and Ceili's example above shows, we're all to be celebrated! Each of our individual cut-outs will be joined at the hands (showing unity and solidarity) and displayed in the cafeteria. We're shining bright these days!

Our guided reading groups are having fun! One of our groups will put on a play this Friday based off of the book they are reading. Paiton, Nathan, Izaak and Braeden will be ready for a show! Another one of our reading groups is taking a big step into chapter book reading this week. We are ready!

Report cards go home tomorrow. Please look for them.

Our good Lenten deed for today is to be kind to our siblings. We can do it!

Don't forget Dine to Donate tonight from 4-7 pm at McDonald's in Big Bend. Come support this great fundraiser for our school!

Three final reminders: math test tomorrow, library books due tomorrow, and spelling test on Friday.

Monday, Part 2!

Here is a picture of the "He is Risen" project we completed today. In the middle is Luke 24:1-6. Great job Eli (top picture) and Izaak (bottom picture)!!!

Calling All Rice Bowls!

Our good Lenten deed for today (and the rest of this week) is to fill our rice bowls with spare change. We would like our rice bowls returned by this Friday.

Dine to Donate is tomorrow at McDonald's in Big Bend from 4-7 pm. Ten percent of the food sales during this time go to St. Joe's. Please come support us!

Our spelling test is Friday, and our spelling words are the suffixes ly, ful, er, and or. Our words are:

cheerful   visitor   slowly   weekly   teacher   helper   hardly   graceful   yearly   quickly   fighter   sailor

Our extra words are:   gardener   competitor   extremely
This is the last week of spelling words until after Easter break.

We have a math test on Wednesday covering our last 10 units, lessons 90-99.

Our writing assignment is to write about what Spring means to us, and we need five sentences completed in class by Friday.

I'll post a picture later of our "Jesus Has Risen" project that we worked on today. We talked about how Jesus died on the cross, how he was placed in the tomb, the tomb was covered with a bolder, and how the bolder was found moved on Easter Sunday. The tomb was empty - Christ Is Risen!

Hard, Hard Workers!

Our fabulous second graders worked so hard today...look at the wonderful maps they created in Social Studies! Awesome job, Sam! We ended our maps unit this week by creating our own countries, complete with cities, land forms, keys, compass rose, scale, boundaries, water features, and a title. The results were very impressive!

We also learned how to estimate totals in math today and we learned why it's important. For example, when we're walking through a grocery store, it's very hard to add up EXACTLY what we're spending as we toss things in our cart. However, we can estimate our cost by rounding the prices up or down. That makes it easier to add.

Our good Lenten deed for today is to pray with a sibling. I'm anxious to see how many come back with that completed deed!

As a reminder, I know the calendar says April but the weather says COLD!!! Please remember to send hats and gloves or mittens to school with your child. Spring is on the way, just not this week! Thanks for your help!

Wednesday's News

We started our "Make Your Own Country" projects in Social Studies to finish up our maps unit, and we have some incredibly creative students! I can't wait until they finish their projects tomorrow so I can post a picture or two. Our made-up countries will be complete with cities, names, a map scale, compass, a key, boundaries, and land forms. Their enthusiasm is contagious!

We're reviewing proper nouns and we know that specific people, places, things, days, months and holidays all get capitalized. We're also continuing our writing about the pros and cons of the classroom pet we wish we had.

Our cursive is coming along nicely. We'll be ready for third grade!

Finally, in math we learned that we can split even numbers into two equal groups, but if we try that with odd numbers, we end up with one left over.

Our good Lenten deed for the day is to make our bed before school - we can do it!

April Fool's!!!

We settled down at snack time for some crunchy, delicious, orange.....CARROTS?? That's right. Sam was the first to notice that something wasn't quite right with the feel and the cold temperature of the Cheetos bag!! When they opened up their snack that I gave them, out popped carrots!! We read "Arthur's April Fool" at snack time to go along with the prank! However...they did get me back at lunch. I was given a nice cold bottle of chocolate milk. When I opened it up to drink it, I found the milk container filled with crackers and other food! They got me!

Now for non-April Fool's news:  Library books are due tomorrow, and our parent-signed, March reading logs are due by Friday. This is the last month where we can earn a free pizza from Pizza Hut, but we'll continue our reading logs through the end of May. New reading logs are in your child's OCEAN binder today.

Brrrrr!! It's cold out! Many students were remembering the warm weather yesterday and didn't bring a hat or mittens. Unfortunately, it looks like we need to bundle up again for awhile. Keep the hats and gloves coming.

Thank you to the boys in class who brought in their Pinewood Derby cars and trophies to show us. Thank you, too, to Ceili and her mom for bringing in some awesome Chicago Blackhawks memorabilia to share with us!