We've had a wonderful week together. On Monday I read the class 3 versions of my small moment story, "Logan's Loose Tooth." We discussed how the same story can be written differently by adding more details, transitional words, and juicy or strong words. By editing and adding these story elements our stories get more interesting and create a better picture/movie in our head as we read. This week everyone began writing another small moment story trying to add more detail to this story than their first stories. They read their stories (so far) to a partner and helped brainstorm details to add by asking questions to one another. They also helped Sarah elaborate her small moment birthday story by asking clarifying questions. Our writers are on a roll!
We've continued reading aloud books about matter and the water cycle. We've discussed and experimented a lot with water this week because it's so easy to see how matter changes states by observing water. We read Water Dance by Thomas Locker, The Falling Raindrop by Neil Johnson and Joel Chin, and excerpts from I Wonder Why: Soap Makes Bubbles and Other Questions About Science by Barbara Taylor.
Throughout the week we did experiments with water: creating a cold cup surface with solid water (ice) to see condensation form (attracting water vapor from the air to the cold surface and change into water droplets); we watched solid water (ice) melt and turn back into a liquid; we made a "mini water cycle" in a cup by the window to see if we had enough sunlight to recreate the cycle; we left a cup of water out uncovered to see how much would evaporate; and we combined a solid (baking powder) with liquid water to see if we could create a gas (fizzy air bubbles). We also continued brainstorming examples of the 3 states of matter that we can find here at Rumney. We were also overjoyed to have a double rainbow over Hunger Mountain right outside our window on Thursday!
During literacy time many of our students continue to favor free writing. I love to hear the imaginative stories they are coming up with! We still can't use our Listen to Read station since we'd have to share headphones. Until we get the "all clear" message about lice from Ms. Israel we will unfortunately not have access to our audiobooks. Instead students continue practicing reading to themselves and reading fluently and expressively aloud to a partner. In teacher led book buddy groups we continue to practice word decoding strategies, word and vowel patterns, fluent re-reading, and comprehension strategies to monitor our understanding.
Second grade mathematicians continue to practice subtraction fact fluency using the fact families from our N+1, Make 10, N+10 and N+9 addition families. We are also composing and decomposing 3 digit numbers by place value, and practicing reading and writing numbers to 1,000.
On Friday we made some Halloween decorations for our room (and to take home), read a funny Halloween book, T-Rex Trick-or-Treats by Lois G. Grambling, and did Halloween word searches and drawings with our buddies.
We wish you all a wonderful holiday weekend!
-Theresa & Sarah
Dates to Remember:
Wednesday November 4 -- Parent/Teacher Conferences after school
Friday November 6 -- NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS; Parent/Teacher Conferences all day
Tuesday November 10 -- 4 Winds 2:30-3:20 p.m.
Wed-Fri Nov. 25 - 27 -- Thanksgiving Break
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