March 26, 2012

Save the Date!!! Field Trip!!!

The second grade is going on another field trip.  We will be going to Celebrity Theater on April 12, 2012, leaving school at approximately 11:00.  We will be seeing a production of Ellis Island, which will coincide with the beginning of our Immigration Unit.  I am very excited to have the opportunity to see this performance as we learn about immigration and citizenship.  More information will be sent home this week.

Important Dates to Remember

3/29/12       Family Dinner (California Pizza Kitchen)

4/6/12          No School

4/16/12 –   

4/20/12       AIMS/Stanford-10 Testing

Welcome Back for 4^th Quarter!

Can you believe that we are already in the 4^th quarter?  It has gone by so quickly.  As I have said so many times, I am honored to be working with your child.  I have seen a great deal of growth (academically, physically and emotionally) since I came into our wonderful second grade classroom.  With that said, we have a busy quarter ahead of us.  The students are working very hard, and it shows. 

 Language Arts:  

Reading - We have been learning all about Tall Tales and have read Paul Bunyan, John Henry, and Johnny Appleseed.  We will be ready Casey Jones this week.  Now that the students understand what a tall tale is, they get to write one of their own.  They will be developing a character, a problem, and a solution.  It should be an exaggeration and have funny situations that couldn’t possibly happen.  I look forward to reading these stories.  Penmanship and spelling will be part of their grade, so encourage them to do their very best and not rush through their work.

**There are many spots available for Reading Groups.  If you would like to listen to the students read, please reserve your spot today.  Here is the link:  http://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040F45ADAB283-reading1

Riggs – Continue working with your child and making sure that he or she is practicing their words correctly, including the markings and syllabication.

Science:

 In science, we began the quarter with simple machines.  By now, I’m sure you are all deep into the science project that has been assigned for this quarter.  If you have any questions, please contact me and I will try to find out the information for you.  The students are having fun learning all about inclined planes and wedges.  We will be learning about screws (an inclined plane wrapped around a pole) this week.

History:

In History this quarter, we will be studying about the issues leading up to the Civil War, Immigration and Citizenship and Civil Rights.  We are already almost half way through our Civil War unit.  The students are writing their own newspapers to chronicle some of the topics we are studying.  Be sure to ask them about slavery, the Underground Railroad and Harriet Tubman.  We will be learning about the North and the South, Grant and Lee Florence Nightingale (the Lady with the lamp) this week.

If your student would like to research any of the topics we are covering, I am all for it.  I would love to hear what they learn.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please contact me. 

 Mrs. Winkler