Sept.8th, 2015 week with Ms. Selimos

Hello Parents and Students,

We have enjoyed a wonderful second week of Grade 2 with your children!

The math word of the week was ATTRIBUTE.  Ask your child to explain different attributes of patterning (colour, shape, size, direction).  We explored attributes this week using pattern blocks (triangles, squares, trapezoids, parallelograms). The children created patterns using 2 attributes AT ONCE.  Example:  size and color. . . big red square, little black square. . . The children had to explain their pattern rule for each increasing pattern.

We also began our very first PWIM POSTER.  PWIM = Picture Word Inductive Model.  The PWIM poster this month is of a classroom. We played our first sorting game on Friday.  See the photos.  For Social Studies we continued to brainstorm about BELONGING.  How do we belong in the classroom?  How can I help others feel like they belong? How can my teacher help me to feel like I belong? 

Academically, we will be administering Fountas and Pinnell; F&P (Reading Testing for Gr. 2) with your children after Sept. 21st to see what his/her present reading level is.  The F& P is based on fluency, word attack skills and comprehension. 

DNA (Diagnostic Numeracy Assessment) math testing is presently occurring.   We finished administering DNA Part 1 earlier this week.  The purpose of this first task is to check to see if your child understands the idea of balance and things that are equal.  I am continuing with DNA testing Part 2 next, which involves understanding of addition and the strategies your child uses. EXAMPLES:   Does your child use fingers to count?  Does your child bridge numbers to ten?  Does your child know his/her doubles (6+6)?  Does your child know his/her facts automatically?  Can your child count by 5s? 10s?  See Photo DNA; a sample of DNA Math Testing (Diagnostic Numeracy Assessment).

The children enjoyed their first week of Core French lessons with Mme. Selimos.  Ask your child to share about the “Bonjour Song” and “Alphabet Song”. We reviewed colors and counting from 1 to 20.   We played a traffic light action game and reviewed our numbers to twenty playing Number Twister. Some weather words and greetings were also introduced. Here is an alphabet site:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LYy3P2okyw   Here is a number site for numbers to 10:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsc3qLMaCu8 Here is a site for numbers to 20:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsEz58BblMY

On Friday at 2:30, we assembled our paper mache turkeys with our Grade 4 Learning Buddies, in preparation for next week’s fun paper mache extravaganza.  The boys and girls are super excited for next Tuesday afternoon’s messy fun!  Thank you to the grandmas and moms who have emailed that they are helping us next week with this project.

Some friendly reminders:

1. Tuesday the 15^th will be the first Spelling Test for your child.  Please practice words with them.  A wonderful site to use is https://www.spellingcity.com where you can actually plug in the words of the week and do a number of activities.

2.   We will be maaking PAPER MACHE TURKEYS on Tuesday afternoon with our Grade 4 Learning Buddies.  Please dress your child in short sleeved shirts, no jewelry and long hair tied up.  It is a fun, messy art activity.         

3.  Cross Country Club practice #3 will be in “bowl” on Tuesday at 8:30 for Gr. 3 to 8 signed up .

                                     

4.  Ms. Selimos & Miss Dundas are away at INTERNSHIP SEMINAR = Wed. 16^th to 18^th.  A Guest Teacher will be in the classroom.  

           

5.  We hope to meet you on Thursday the 17^th at the OPEN HOUSE:  5:30 to 6:30 p.m.           BBQ:  6 to 7 p.m.               

6.  Fri. 18^th (Day 3)     Return PICTURE FORMS by today please.         

Have a GREAT weekend!  Go Riders!

Ms. Selimos, Mrs. Daniels, Miss Dundas

First Week of School Sept. 1st 2015

Hello Parents and Students of Grade 2,

It has been a wonderful start and a week of learning.  We presently have 23 boys and girls in the classroom. 

Please pay for the school agenda ($4.00) on-line if you have not already done so. 

We hope you enjoy the weekly photos and emails of your children. 

One of our first language arts activities this week was based on the book:  Corduroy.  We read the book with Mrs. Pankewich’s Grade 2 class and discussed our understanding of “BELONGING” which is one of our 4 Circle of Courage Goals.  Whether we are new to the school, new to the classroom, new as a teacher, etc. it feels good to belong. The 5 teachers (Ms. Selimos, Miss Dundas, Mrs. Daniels, Mrs. Pankewich and Mrs. Schneider) shared a personal belonging statement with the 50 Grade 2s (Team SST/Science lesson).  On Friday, the children created their own belonging statements about belonging at GRANT ROAD SCHOOL.  Be sure to see them on display during Open House in the hallway.

For Social Studies/Health we brainstormed about BELONGING (one of our Circle of Courage goals).  How do we belong in the classroom?  How can I help others feel like they belong? How can my teacher help me to feel like I belong?  We watched a Tumblebooks episode called:  Game Day.  If you are interested in watching it with your child at home, go to the Tumblebooks site. Instructions are in your weekly agenda note.  We also had fun making “cool” glasses, as you can see in the photos.

University of Regina Intern, Miss Kristi Dundas, did a brainstorming activity with the children where they discussed CLASSROOM RULES .

We began our printing booklets, reviewing lower case and UPPER CASE letters. 

Mathematically, we learned about patterns this week.  A pattern repeats 3 or more times and the term “core” was introduced. Using snap cubes, the children created patterns and then translated them to letters, numbers, colours, shapes, etc.

We were very impressed with a writing activity about summer vacation each child wrote.  I modeled a paragraph on the data projector about my holidays.  The focus was:  creating sentences, using capitals and punctuation.  I was not assessing for spelling for this lesson. Grade 2 goal:  to be able to write a paragraph consisting of 6 or more meaningful sentences.  We will begin Writing Traits lessons next week. The children had the opportunity to use the data projector to orally present their paragraphs, proudly.

When you come to the OPEN HOUSE, FAMILY BBQ on Sept. 17^th, your child will be able to show you his/her work, to date, on the Writing Wall. 

I am hoping that you are able to share these photos and emails WITH YOUR CHILD.  These emails/photos will enable you to initiate and to engage in deeper conversation about your child’s school week. 

Enjoy the photos everyone and the wonderful weather this weekend. 

GOBBLE, GOBBLE! I need YOUR help parents!  We will be making our paper mache turkeys on Tuesday, Sept. 15th. Please make sure your child is wearing a short sleeved shirt today and no jewelry.  Also, please have long hair tied up in a ponytail. 

Please send your LEADERPOST NEWSPAPERS to school if you have any, immediately.  NO FLYERS PLEASE. We will use these for the paper mache.  Thanks in advance.  

________ YES, __________________________________ is available to help with the turkey art project on Tuesday, Sept. 15th from 12:45 p.m. to 2:15 p.m.

________      YES, I have had a recent criminal record check.

________      Sorry, I am UNABLE to help this time!                   

_______________________________________

                                Parent’s signature

NOTE:  We will be DECORATING our paper mache turkeys on THURSDAY, Sept. 24th.  Begin gathering fabric scraps, buttons, feathers, etc. at home to decorate paper mache turkeys.  Dollar Store is a good place to purchase a bag of feathers.  You may begin sending supplies the week of Mon. 21ST.

Hugs,

Ms. Selimos, Miss Dundas, Mrs. Daniels