Hello! I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday with your families. My family enjoyed seeing out of town relatives, watching football, eating and playing some glow golf!
We are already well into the month of December and we have been so busy with lots of fun and learning in our classroom!
In reading workshop we are continuing to work on reading non-fiction. This past week we read non-fiction books and looked for features such as: a glossary, index and bold words. We used the book Tigers for practice using an entire page to figure out a meaning of a word. Students looked at vocabulary words and found ideas that were similar to those words to share in reading workshop. Today we practiced reading our non-fiction books and sounding like an expert.
This week we began writing informational or non-fiction books. Students brainstormed topics they know a lot about and began writing books on them. We started with putting together a table of contents and writing introductions. We used a writing check lists to begin seeing if second graders are able to include the key parts of a non-fiction book. We will continue to work on non-fiction books until the end of the month. Next we will put a "how to" page into our books and add a glossary at the end picking 2-3 words that we want to teach our readers.
In Phonics, we worked on noticing word patterns in rhyming books. We made lists of words with the same pattern (ack, ill, ight, etc). We used our lists to write rhyming books and today we are sharing our books with Mrs. Megyesi's kindergarten class. Look for pictures on twitter!
We started unit 4 in math, a family letter came home on Monday. Keep the family letter to refer to when your child is working on home links. This unit is all about measurement. We began with telling time on analog clocks to the five minute mark. This skill is developing for many students, practice at home on the paper clock to help your child. We will work next week on place value using base ten blocks to represent numbers and to compare numbers.
We are nearing the end of our science unit this month. We will still record the weather in our science journals. We have worked with tools to learn about measuring the weather using an anemometer, a thermometer, a rain gauge, and a weather vane. We made pin wheels and whirligigs to show how wind moves outside. We studied these types of clouds: cumulus, nimbus, cirrus and stratus. We made a poster and used cotton balls to show the types of clouds and how they look. We read about the changing seasons and learned how the northern hemisphere is tipped away from the sun in winter. This causes the nights to be longer and for us to have less daylight! We discussed where the equator is and how it stays warm year round in countries near it. Next we will make a paper kite and hopefully get outside to try our kites next week!
We are getting ready for our field trip on December 19th. I have the necessary amount of chaperones signed up to go! On that day we will be both outside and inside, students and parents please bring warm clothes for being outside. The experiments we will be doing will show how animals survive in winter. Students will need a sack lunch that day. We will return to school around 1:30 p.m.
Next week is parent teacher conferences! The students have a half day and are dismissed at 11:25 p.m. Parents will meet with me and get their child's first report card for the year. I look forward to seeing you on Dec. 12th!
Have a great weekend,
Mrs. Scheck
Friday, December 6, 2019
Friday, November 15, 2019
November 11-15
Hello families!
This week has been so busy here at Wixom Elementary! With the arrival of snow, winter weather and our MSU/U of M coin challenge we have had an exciting week!
In phonics we worked on learning trouble maker words. The words that are often mispelled by second graders are: about, here, school, what, was, with, could, and very. These words cannot be "sounded out" because they don't follow phonetic rules, hence the word troublemakers!
Students worked with a partner to come up with a way for remembering each word. Then they made posters with reminders for how to remember. We graduated the words to our word wall today! We also put the words into our personal word books! Next week we will work on using word parts and patterns to spell new words. We will use nursery rhymes to zoom in on powerful word patterns. We will work specifically with the word patterns: ill, ock, oon, own and ot.
In writing this week, we used a writing check list to revise our lab reports. We added the science term: friction - when two things rub together. We revised with a partner to fix spelling, capitals and periods. Next week we will do another lab report on a different experiment.
In our non-fiction reading unit we are "growing our knowledge" by paying close attention to details. We focused this week on reading the details in directions for Legos, a poster about the clouds, an informational poster about sources of water and a globe. We also looked closely at a penny and noticed all kinds of new things - numbers, words, pictures, etc. Through observation we came up with questions about the penny to research and learn more about. We will continue to work on non-fiction and begin reading non-fiction books asking first, "what is this book trying to teach me?" We will read non-fiction books at each child's level and ask what surprised us reading about a new topic.
In math, we are working on unit 3. We have been practicing ways to subtract and using new strategies: counting up and counting back> We practiced solving for a missing addend in the game Salute! We used fact triangles to practice subtraction and addition facts. We played the number grid difference. Next week we will learn how to play "what's my rule" and about subtracting with 1 and z). We will learn how to use a doubles fact to subtract.
In Science, we are completing our last air experiment today with balloon rockets! Students will used compressed air inside of a balloon to launch a balloon rocket. This experiment is a lot of fun and it shows how air can be compressed and how it moves things. Next week we will move on to weather experiments. We will learn about the thermometer, how to use a rain gauge and about wind speed making an anemometer to show how scientist measure how fast the wind is blowing.
We will soon begin a new social studies unit on maps!
Thank you for sending in the appropriate snow clothes each day for your child, we have been adjusting to using our snow clothes and we are working on keeping track of them (boots, mittens, hats). If you are missing any items, the lost and found has many unclaimed things!
Have a great weekend,
Mrs. Scheck
This week has been so busy here at Wixom Elementary! With the arrival of snow, winter weather and our MSU/U of M coin challenge we have had an exciting week!
In phonics we worked on learning trouble maker words. The words that are often mispelled by second graders are: about, here, school, what, was, with, could, and very. These words cannot be "sounded out" because they don't follow phonetic rules, hence the word troublemakers!
Students worked with a partner to come up with a way for remembering each word. Then they made posters with reminders for how to remember. We graduated the words to our word wall today! We also put the words into our personal word books! Next week we will work on using word parts and patterns to spell new words. We will use nursery rhymes to zoom in on powerful word patterns. We will work specifically with the word patterns: ill, ock, oon, own and ot.
In writing this week, we used a writing check list to revise our lab reports. We added the science term: friction - when two things rub together. We revised with a partner to fix spelling, capitals and periods. Next week we will do another lab report on a different experiment.
In our non-fiction reading unit we are "growing our knowledge" by paying close attention to details. We focused this week on reading the details in directions for Legos, a poster about the clouds, an informational poster about sources of water and a globe. We also looked closely at a penny and noticed all kinds of new things - numbers, words, pictures, etc. Through observation we came up with questions about the penny to research and learn more about. We will continue to work on non-fiction and begin reading non-fiction books asking first, "what is this book trying to teach me?" We will read non-fiction books at each child's level and ask what surprised us reading about a new topic.
In math, we are working on unit 3. We have been practicing ways to subtract and using new strategies: counting up and counting back> We practiced solving for a missing addend in the game Salute! We used fact triangles to practice subtraction and addition facts. We played the number grid difference. Next week we will learn how to play "what's my rule" and about subtracting with 1 and z). We will learn how to use a doubles fact to subtract.
In Science, we are completing our last air experiment today with balloon rockets! Students will used compressed air inside of a balloon to launch a balloon rocket. This experiment is a lot of fun and it shows how air can be compressed and how it moves things. Next week we will move on to weather experiments. We will learn about the thermometer, how to use a rain gauge and about wind speed making an anemometer to show how scientist measure how fast the wind is blowing.
We will soon begin a new social studies unit on maps!
Thank you for sending in the appropriate snow clothes each day for your child, we have been adjusting to using our snow clothes and we are working on keeping track of them (boots, mittens, hats). If you are missing any items, the lost and found has many unclaimed things!
Have a great weekend,
Mrs. Scheck
Friday, November 1, 2019
Week of November 4-8
Hello families,
Wow! November is here, I can't believe how quickly October went!
Snow was on the ground at my house and it was very cold this morning.
This weekend would be a good time to get out the boots, mittens, hats, etc. so your child will be ready when the snow starts to stick!
In reading this week, we have begun a non-fiction unit. We spent time reading In the Time of Knights and learning all about their weapons, armor, how to become a knight, the code of chivalry and much more. The book was very engaging! We will read all about tigers next week and learn how to anticipate what you will learn when reading non-fiction. We will use features such as captions and detailed photos to learn more. We will practice reading information like a reporter or an expert on the topic.
In writing, we have start a new unit on non-fiction. We began writing science lab reports and learned the parts of a lab report: a question, a hypothesis, procedures, results, conclusion. We conducted an experiment where we asked will a matchbox car go farther on carpet or a bare floor, we did multiple trials and recorded our results! We included a results and conclusion page to show our thinking about why the car goes farther on a bare floor versus the carpet. We discussed friction and how it works to slow the car down. Next we will change a part (variable) and re-do the experiment, writing a new lab report. We will work with different materials and test our hypothesis! Students will try writing their own reports after conducting the experiment.
In phonics, we learned all about homophones this week. We wrote silly sentences such as: The knights said," Good night" or The bear was bare! Next week we will focus on the homophones for there, they're and their and work toward using them appropriately in our writing.
We are starting a Unit 3 in Math. A family letter will be coming home today. Please read the letter to learn what we will be working on in this unit. The unit 2 math test will come home today. Many students did very well!
In science, we will conduct more experiments on air and weather. We will learn how air works under water. We will make a water fountain from tubes, bottles and syringes to show how air is matter, it occupies space even though we can't see it.
We will begin observing and recording the weather as it changes through the fall.
Thank you and have a great weekend!
Mrs. Scheck
Wow! November is here, I can't believe how quickly October went!
Snow was on the ground at my house and it was very cold this morning.
This weekend would be a good time to get out the boots, mittens, hats, etc. so your child will be ready when the snow starts to stick!
In reading this week, we have begun a non-fiction unit. We spent time reading In the Time of Knights and learning all about their weapons, armor, how to become a knight, the code of chivalry and much more. The book was very engaging! We will read all about tigers next week and learn how to anticipate what you will learn when reading non-fiction. We will use features such as captions and detailed photos to learn more. We will practice reading information like a reporter or an expert on the topic.
In writing, we have start a new unit on non-fiction. We began writing science lab reports and learned the parts of a lab report: a question, a hypothesis, procedures, results, conclusion. We conducted an experiment where we asked will a matchbox car go farther on carpet or a bare floor, we did multiple trials and recorded our results! We included a results and conclusion page to show our thinking about why the car goes farther on a bare floor versus the carpet. We discussed friction and how it works to slow the car down. Next we will change a part (variable) and re-do the experiment, writing a new lab report. We will work with different materials and test our hypothesis! Students will try writing their own reports after conducting the experiment.
In phonics, we learned all about homophones this week. We wrote silly sentences such as: The knights said," Good night" or The bear was bare! Next week we will focus on the homophones for there, they're and their and work toward using them appropriately in our writing.
We are starting a Unit 3 in Math. A family letter will be coming home today. Please read the letter to learn what we will be working on in this unit. The unit 2 math test will come home today. Many students did very well!
In science, we will conduct more experiments on air and weather. We will learn how air works under water. We will make a water fountain from tubes, bottles and syringes to show how air is matter, it occupies space even though we can't see it.
We will begin observing and recording the weather as it changes through the fall.
Thank you and have a great weekend!
Mrs. Scheck
Thursday, October 31, 2019
Wednesday, October 23, 2019
October 21-25
Hello families!
Here is an update on what we have been working on in Room 105 this week!
In reading, we are wrapping up our first unit on Thursday. We have reflected on all the reading strategies that we learned since the beginning of the year. Each student picked a strategy to write about. We are also picking a favorite book to share with other second graders on Thursday. We wrote about the lessons learned in the book and any warnings about reading the book. A warning maybe "watch out for silly made up words in this Junie B. Jones book!"
In writing we are also ending our first unit called Small Moments. Students are publishing a piece to share with other second graders. We worked on editing this week using a check list to fix spelling, capitals and end punctuation. We are coloring the pictures and getting our pieces ready to share.
In phonics, we reviewed all the phonics we have learned in second grade. Students met in small groups to prepare a lesson to teach a new "student" Gus. Gus is going to learn from the students and we will meet Gus on Thursday... you will be surprised when you find out what Gus is all about!
In math, we are near the end of unit 2. This unit has been all about addition and subtraction strategies. This week we have learned how to add on a number line. We wrote doubles facts, we learned how to use a doubles fact to solve. We practiced making doubles with odd and even numbers. We learned that every number when it is doubled is an even number. We will begin preparing for Unit 2 math test next week!
We have begun our science unit on Air and Weather. We have completed the first two experiments. We used objects that are common and observed how air moved them. We used syringes to push air through a plastic tube. We learned that air can be compressed into a small space. We used force to push air through the syringe and pop off another syringe!
We have been getting cooler weather, please remember to send a jacket as we do go outside everyday unless it is raining.
A note went home about Halloween. We will have our party on October 31st!
Have a wonderful week!
Mrs. Scheck
Here is an update on what we have been working on in Room 105 this week!
In reading, we are wrapping up our first unit on Thursday. We have reflected on all the reading strategies that we learned since the beginning of the year. Each student picked a strategy to write about. We are also picking a favorite book to share with other second graders on Thursday. We wrote about the lessons learned in the book and any warnings about reading the book. A warning maybe "watch out for silly made up words in this Junie B. Jones book!"
In writing we are also ending our first unit called Small Moments. Students are publishing a piece to share with other second graders. We worked on editing this week using a check list to fix spelling, capitals and end punctuation. We are coloring the pictures and getting our pieces ready to share.
In phonics, we reviewed all the phonics we have learned in second grade. Students met in small groups to prepare a lesson to teach a new "student" Gus. Gus is going to learn from the students and we will meet Gus on Thursday... you will be surprised when you find out what Gus is all about!
In math, we are near the end of unit 2. This unit has been all about addition and subtraction strategies. This week we have learned how to add on a number line. We wrote doubles facts, we learned how to use a doubles fact to solve. We practiced making doubles with odd and even numbers. We learned that every number when it is doubled is an even number. We will begin preparing for Unit 2 math test next week!
We have begun our science unit on Air and Weather. We have completed the first two experiments. We used objects that are common and observed how air moved them. We used syringes to push air through a plastic tube. We learned that air can be compressed into a small space. We used force to push air through the syringe and pop off another syringe!
We have been getting cooler weather, please remember to send a jacket as we do go outside everyday unless it is raining.
A note went home about Halloween. We will have our party on October 31st!
Have a wonderful week!
Mrs. Scheck
Monday, October 14, 2019
Week of Oct. 14-18
Hello Families,
Here is a snap shot of what we will be working on in Room 105 this week....
In writing we are working on Editing one of our small moments. We used a check list today to think about spelling and punctuation. We practiced editing a piece of writing as a class and making changes to make the writing better. We will soon be wrapping up our Small Moments (personal narrative) unit!
In reading, we worked today on figuring out the meanings of words. We read from the book Katie Woo Has the Flu. We looked at this passage, "I hate taking pills, they are such pills!" We discussed using the words in the sentence to help figure out the meaning. We will study how authors have intentions. We will look again at Those Darn Squirrels. We will notice, stop and think about what the author does that is so powerful!
In phonics we are focusing this week on how capitals are used in writing. We read a sample letter from a young writer and we noticed how to use capitals. We saw capitals in the middle of words and fixed them up. We will learn this week to use capitals for: names, place, products, the word I, to start a letter, to end a letter, to start dates, and to start a new sentence.
In math, we worked more on fact power today. We used doubles facts to help us solve math problems. For example, 5 plus 5 equals 10 will help you know how to solve 5 plus 6. This week we will also learn about the turn around rule for addition. We will try using the turn around rule for subtraction and learn why it will not work. We will also finished taking the I-ready math test.
In science, we will be starting the Air and Weather Unit. We will begin by exploring what we already know about air and weather using a thinking routine called See, Think, Wonder.
Have a great week!
Mrs. Scheck
Here is a snap shot of what we will be working on in Room 105 this week....
In writing we are working on Editing one of our small moments. We used a check list today to think about spelling and punctuation. We practiced editing a piece of writing as a class and making changes to make the writing better. We will soon be wrapping up our Small Moments (personal narrative) unit!
In reading, we worked today on figuring out the meanings of words. We read from the book Katie Woo Has the Flu. We looked at this passage, "I hate taking pills, they are such pills!" We discussed using the words in the sentence to help figure out the meaning. We will study how authors have intentions. We will look again at Those Darn Squirrels. We will notice, stop and think about what the author does that is so powerful!
In phonics we are focusing this week on how capitals are used in writing. We read a sample letter from a young writer and we noticed how to use capitals. We saw capitals in the middle of words and fixed them up. We will learn this week to use capitals for: names, place, products, the word I, to start a letter, to end a letter, to start dates, and to start a new sentence.
In math, we worked more on fact power today. We used doubles facts to help us solve math problems. For example, 5 plus 5 equals 10 will help you know how to solve 5 plus 6. This week we will also learn about the turn around rule for addition. We will try using the turn around rule for subtraction and learn why it will not work. We will also finished taking the I-ready math test.
In science, we will be starting the Air and Weather Unit. We will begin by exploring what we already know about air and weather using a thinking routine called See, Think, Wonder.
Have a great week!
Mrs. Scheck
Friday, October 4, 2019
Week of October 1-4
Hello second grade families,
Here is what we have been working on this week in Room 105...
In reading, most students were able to complete the i-ready reading assessment.
We have begun reading groups! I will usually meet with a group 3 times per week. If your child is reading a book and it comes home, please return it the next day. If your child does not get the time to read the book, still return it. We will need the book in class.
In reading workshop we learned how to stop and jot down important parts of the book that we want to remember. We used sticky notes to record our thinking. We read the book Those Darn Squirrels and the Cat Next Door. We practiced jotting down notes in our own books. We also reviewed ways to solve a tricky word: check the picture, cross check the first letter with the picture, find a part you know, re-read and ask does that make sense? Most important we discussed readers need to stop and try to problem solve!
In writing this week, we worked on using a check list after finishing a story to be sure we have written a small moment. We revised our stories to try to include some emotion. We worked on ending a story with action or talking instead of writing "The End!"
In Phonics, we worked on ways to remember Trouble Maker words: friend, first,girl, your, said, when, went, where, they. We wrote the words out and circled the tricky part. We made chants up to help us remember. We wrote the word and covered it up then checked the spelling. These words will go up on our word wall today!
In math, we took our first math test on Unit 1. We have started Unit 2. A family letter came home on Thursday detailing what to expect in this unit. The first lesson was on counting money with $1, $10 and $100.
In Social Studies, we learned about human made and nature made resources. We learned some mapping skills and how to use a compass rose. Today we wrote out a review for our first social studies test. The test will be on Tuesday, Oct. 8. Please practice the full address, zip code and phone number. This is the hardest part for most kids. Write it out at home and practice with your child.
The Funky Fall Fund walk is coming up in one week! We hope to raise money and have some fun on Friday, October 11th! If you'd like to volunteer that day, please let the office know! Many parents come to watch and cheer on the students.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Mrs. Scheck
Upcoming events:
Oct. 9th - no school in observance of Jewish Holiday Yom Kippur
Oct. 11th - Funky Fall Fund Walk 2:30-3:30
Here is what we have been working on this week in Room 105...
In reading, most students were able to complete the i-ready reading assessment.
We have begun reading groups! I will usually meet with a group 3 times per week. If your child is reading a book and it comes home, please return it the next day. If your child does not get the time to read the book, still return it. We will need the book in class.
In reading workshop we learned how to stop and jot down important parts of the book that we want to remember. We used sticky notes to record our thinking. We read the book Those Darn Squirrels and the Cat Next Door. We practiced jotting down notes in our own books. We also reviewed ways to solve a tricky word: check the picture, cross check the first letter with the picture, find a part you know, re-read and ask does that make sense? Most important we discussed readers need to stop and try to problem solve!
In writing this week, we worked on using a check list after finishing a story to be sure we have written a small moment. We revised our stories to try to include some emotion. We worked on ending a story with action or talking instead of writing "The End!"
In Phonics, we worked on ways to remember Trouble Maker words: friend, first,girl, your, said, when, went, where, they. We wrote the words out and circled the tricky part. We made chants up to help us remember. We wrote the word and covered it up then checked the spelling. These words will go up on our word wall today!
In math, we took our first math test on Unit 1. We have started Unit 2. A family letter came home on Thursday detailing what to expect in this unit. The first lesson was on counting money with $1, $10 and $100.
In Social Studies, we learned about human made and nature made resources. We learned some mapping skills and how to use a compass rose. Today we wrote out a review for our first social studies test. The test will be on Tuesday, Oct. 8. Please practice the full address, zip code and phone number. This is the hardest part for most kids. Write it out at home and practice with your child.
The Funky Fall Fund walk is coming up in one week! We hope to raise money and have some fun on Friday, October 11th! If you'd like to volunteer that day, please let the office know! Many parents come to watch and cheer on the students.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Mrs. Scheck
Upcoming events:
Oct. 9th - no school in observance of Jewish Holiday Yom Kippur
Oct. 11th - Funky Fall Fund Walk 2:30-3:30
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