2A Vikings

Sharing projects...

2010-01-11T07:34:00.000-08:00

October School Activities...

2010-01-11T07:23:00.000-08:00

September - Community Day

2010-01-11T07:12:00.000-08:00

2A enjoyed community activities in September upon their return to school. They were able to get to know their new classmates and participate in many community building activities throughout the day. I think their favorite part of the day was eating popsicles and playing together on the playground!

Updated Pictures!

2010-01-11T07:03:00.000-08:00

Hello families,
It's been a while since we've updated the blog, but now that Mrs. Roehrenbeck has returned from maternity leave we can get it started again! Please enjoy some of the many activities that 2A completed during the fall! First off is Caesar Creek! The students had a wonderful time on their trip to Caesar Creek. They were able to find fossils to help complement their dinosaur and fossil unit of study.

Welcome Families

2009-08-31T17:25:00.000-07:00

Dear Families,
We are off to a wonderful start! We have been so busy in the classroom learning new routines, getting used to our new supplies, and meeting new friends. We've already celebrated a birthday too! Only 2 more days and we've completed an entire 6 day letter rotation, which means we will have been to every new special area class. We had our first fire drill today, and our first computer class. We are busy, busy, busy!

Pretty soon we will be starting our Student of the Week presentations, so you will see a poster coming home that needs to be completed by the time it's your child's turn to be the Student of the Week. You will also see a schedule attached to the poster alerting of you of your child's date of presentation. Thanks for your support with this poster as it may take some time to complete at home.

Thank you also for reading through the information before Back to School Night on Thursday! Please be sure to write down any questions you may have beforehand! Have a great week!

-Mrs. R.

Welcome New 2A Students

2009-08-31T17:00:00.001-07:00

End of the year pictures...

2009-06-16T15:19:00.000-07:00

Dear Families of 2A,
I just wanted to thank you for a wonderful year! I really enjoyed getting to know all of the students of 2A and I especially loved watching them grow and learn all year long. They should be so proud of their accomplishments as should you! I wish you all the best of luck next year in third grade, and I hope you all come to visit throughout the year. Thank you again for your support and for the generous class gift! Have a wonderful summer, and I hope you enjoy the pictures from some of our end of the year celebrations!
From,
Mrs. R.

Outdoor Week Pics

2009-04-26T06:45:00.000-07:00

We had a wonderful time during Outdoor Week! We were able to discuss the water cycle, we went on many hikes, we helped clean up the campus on Earth Day, we went to Caesar Creek and went fossil hunting, we learned about different types of clouds, we talked about trees, and we went on a special hike with our PreK buddies! Please check out our pictures from this fabulous week!

Caesar Creek Reminder

2009-04-16T19:06:00.001-07:00

What: Second Grade Field Trip to Caesar Creek
When: TUESDAY, April 21, 2009
Pack: Lunch, snack, water bottle, and a sturdy bag for collecting fossils (canvas tote bags are perfect!)
What to wear: Dress down! Remember to wear sturdy shoes and bring rain gear if necessary.

Caesar Creek is a state park located off I-71 just north of Cincinnati.
We will be traveling the one and one half hours by chartered coach (complete with video and restroom facilities). In creating a reservoir at the state park, the Army Corps of Engineers graded a spillway revealing layers of fossils indigenous to the area millions of years ago. No, we will not be discovering any T-Rex fossils, but we should find a variety of fossilized creatures such as crinoids, bryzoan, horn coral, and (possibly!) trilobites.

Our exploration includes a wonderful introduction by the resident naturalist. We will also get to tour the Visitor’s Center where we will view a GIANT trilobite.

We will leave around 8:15 and return approximately 2:45.

Thank you to all parents who will be chaperoning!

The Second Grade Team

Outdoor Week Reminder

2009-04-16T19:03:00.000-07:00

Dear Second Grade Families,

This is a reminder that next week is Outdoor Week for 2nd grade. Keep your fingers crossed for great weather! The students should dress down all week, keeping in mind that layers will be beneficial. Please send boots along with old tennis shoes, and perhaps an extra pair of socks that the kids can keep in their backpacks. NO flip flops! We will be venturing into the woods, and flip flops will not be appropriate for our adventures. Please note that we are also requesting that each student bring a disposable camera to school. We will send these cameras home on Friday for developing.

We will be heading to Caesar Creek on Wednesday, rain or shine, and the kids will need a lunch packed for them on this day.

We’re sure there will be more reminders and announcements throughout the week, so stay tuned!

The Second Grade Team

Natalie's Presentation

2009-03-17T06:17:00.000-07:00

Lydia's Presentation

2009-03-17T06:03:00.000-07:00

Lydia's Game

Peyton's Presentation

2009-03-17T05:42:00.000-07:00

Mira's Presentation

2009-03-16T09:05:00.000-07:00

Jordan

2009-03-16T05:30:00.000-07:00

Dalyn's Presentation

2009-03-15T12:46:00.000-07:00

Cole's Presentation

2009-03-15T12:20:00.000-07:00

Chris' Presentation

2009-03-15T11:51:00.000-07:00

Carolyn's Presentation

2009-03-15T10:15:00.000-07:00

Brandon's Presentation

2009-03-15T07:26:00.000-07:00

Aiyana's Presentation

2009-03-15T05:19:00.000-07:00

Aden's Presentation

2009-03-14T18:04:00.000-07:00

Tyler's Presentation

2009-03-13T11:04:00.000-07:00

Animal Presentations

2009-03-13T10:48:00.000-07:00

Israeljah's Presentation

2009-03-13T10:09:00.000-07:00

Courtney's Presentation

2009-03-13T09:50:00.000-07:00

Madagascar Presentations

2009-03-13T09:29:00.000-07:00

PreK buddies 100th day activities

2009-03-02T11:07:00.000-08:00

The second graders enjoyed spending time with their PreK buddies on the 100th day of school! They all sorted 100 objects of all types that were brought in by the PreKers.

The Snowman Construction Company

2009-02-13T09:20:00.000-08:00

The students worked together in groups to design a Snowman of their choice based on a certain amount of money they were given. They had to add the items to make sure they didn't go over their allotted amount of money. They really enjoyed this activity, and their snowman creations turned out very well. They are posted in the hallway if you are interested in reading more about this activity!

Black History Month Research

2009-02-13T06:40:00.000-08:00

To help celebrate Black History Month, the children have been researching famous Black Americans. We've had a wide array of topics being researched, and the children are really enjoying completing their biography posters. They will be presenting their biography posters soon, so stay tuned to hear more about it. Be sure to ask your child about the famous person he/she is researching, and ask them to explain some interesting facts as well!

Geometry Lesson

2009-01-24T12:53:00.000-08:00

2A has been learning about geometry. They were able to create their own shape made out of straws, and then they presented it to the class. They named their shape and described it by telling us about the number of faces, edges, and vertices! They did such a wonderful job on this activity!

PreK buddies

2009-01-22T09:51:00.000-08:00

The Second Graders shared their color poems with their PreK buddies. They also gave them cards for the holidays!

Thank you, Mrs. Walker!

2009-01-22T09:45:00.000-08:00

Mrs. Walker came in to share the Walker family traditions. They have a Nutcracker family tradition, they read a story on Christmas Eve, and they have an elf tradition! Thank you for adding to our unit of family traditions in the month of December, Mrs. Walker!

Native American Celebration

2008-12-01T08:58:00.000-08:00

The Second Grade had a wonderful time on Friday afternoon celebrating Native Americans! They had a delicious feast, and they participated in activities in all of the second grade classrooms. They made musical instruments, dream catchers, tipis, pueblo sun symbols with sand painting, pattern block designs, and they played traditional Native American games! Thank you to all of the parents for donating such amazing dishes, and for all of your help in making our event successful!

PreK buddies - color book

2008-12-01T08:53:00.000-08:00

2A had a wonderful time helping their PreK buddies learn colors! Please enjoy some photos of their activities!

Canoe Making

2008-11-21T17:15:00.000-08:00

2A is wrapping up the Native American Thematic Unit. They have loved learning about the different Native American tribes and regions. In the following pictures, the students were cooperating to make the canoes to help complement our unit. Be sure to stop by the second grade hallway to check our many representations of different tribes throughout North America! Also, don't forget that Tuesday is our Native American Culminating Activity. The feast will begin at 11:30 and the rotations will begin at 1:00.

Aden - Star Student

2008-11-11T09:07:00.001-08:00

Aden is our last star student presentation! His favorite color is silver, he likes puppies, and his favorite food is pizza! His likes the book Watch Your Whiskers Stilton, and he likes baseball too. Aden also enjoys the many specials he attends during the school day, math, and just being in the classroom. He likes to play his Nintendo DS at home, he's Jewish, he plays 2 musical instruments, and he's lived in 3 states! Aden shows others he cares by being a good friend, and he's a star because he's fun to be around!

Aiyana -Star Student

2008-11-11T09:00:00.000-08:00

Aiyana loves the color pink, and her favorite food is spaghetti. She likes Junie B. Jones books, and she likes doing spelling at school. Her favorite thing to do at home is to draw, and when she grows up she wants to be a dancer. Aiyana also shows people she cares by helping them. She does competition ice skating, she won the championship for individual cheerleading, and she can do a standing tuck, a back handspring, and a layout! She is one versatile young lady!

Lynd's Fruit Farm

2008-10-31T08:00:00.000-07:00

As you can see from the pictures, 2A had a wonderful time on their field trip to Lynd's Fruit Farm! They learned all about Lynd's Fruit Farm and how they help protect our environment. They were able to pick the most environmentally friendly apple too (the Goldrush apple). What a fun morning!

Campfire Stories

2008-10-30T09:52:00.001-07:00

The students enjoyed campfire stories with Mrs. Oeth and their PreK buddies! They were also able to roast marshmallows and make s'mores.

Native American Day

2008-10-28T11:17:00.001-07:00

It has been tradition in second grade to study the Pilgrims and their story from England to Holland to America, culminating in a special "Pilgrim Day" celebration on the half-day of school before Thanksgiving break. This year we have decided to break from that tradition and focus instead on Native Americans. We will be studying 4 different geographical groupings of Native Americans. The groups to be studied include: Eastern Woodlands, Plains, Southwest, and Northwest/Inuit. We will of course still touch upon the Pilgrim colony of Plymouth and the historical connection between Thanksgiving today and the first Thanksgiving in 1620. But, as with the half-day of school, our "Pilgrim Day" celebration is gone. In its place will be a Native American day wherein the second graders will be playing Native American games, doing crafts, exploring clothing and costumes, hearing stories, etc. We are also planning a Native American feast for lunch that day, and for that we are calling upon help from the second grade parents.
Our request is that each class' families prepare and bring in foods that are representative of the different Native American groups diets. During the next few weeks we will explore staples of each group's diet and some of the dishes they may have eaten. Of course there will be dishes and staples that are not commonly found; like venison, bison, wild berries, etc. However, we can make some substitutions while maintaining the overall integrity of the idea. Some foods and dishes to consider are:

corn (cornbread, corn stew, roast corn, tortillas, etc)
beans
squash (summer and hard-shelled, mixed into stews with beans and/or rice)
chiles
wild rice
salmon
beef jerky (substituted for bison or venison jerky)
breads (fry bread, mixed grains)
berries with honey or maple syrup for dessert

We are asking that each class prepare a variety of foods to feed 17. The foods will then be arranged in the hallway and each student can pick items from their own class or sample items from other classes. This would take the place of lunch the day before Thanksgiving break, November 25.

Cole - Star Student

2008-10-22T12:29:00.001-07:00

Cole is seven years old and he has four people in his family. He wishes to be famous someday, and he is very good at hockey. He admires his mom, and his favorite book is The Invention of Hugo Cabret. His favorite food is steak, and his favorite animal is a shark. He loves recess, and he is a star because he is funny! Cole is also an amazing artist, and he can skate backwards faster than his dad! Maybe someday Cole will be a famous artist!

Natalie Star Student

2008-10-22T12:26:00.000-07:00

Natalie is seven years old and she loves Tilapia and Noodles. Her favorite restaurant is Barb's Cafe, which is her Mom's kitchen! :) Natalie is good at homework, and she really likes Spanish and Computer class. When she is home, she enjoys riding her bike and watching t.v. in her room. She loves horses, loves to play the violin, and she loves to sing in the shower! Natalie also wishes to live in the Bahamas someday! Don't we all?

Pumpkin Carving and Pep Rally!

2008-10-22T12:22:00.000-07:00

The students were able to observe a Columbus Academy parent carving a huge pumpkin last week! They loved it! You can see the finished product in the cafeteria right now if you are interested! Also, they had a pep rally on Friday to help the students get excited for the football game vs. Bexley!

Brandon - Star Student

2008-10-22T12:21:00.000-07:00

Brandon is seven years old and he wishes to be a scientist when he grows up! Brandon likes the color green and his favorite food is fruit! He loves the Captain Underpants series, and he also enjoys skiing. Brandon's favorite thing to do in school is computer class and recess! He likes to watch movies at home and play computer games. Brandon loves Spongebob, Star Wars, and playing the drums on Rock Band at home! He cares about the earth and he also shows others he cares by being a nice person!

Jordan -Star Student

2008-10-22T12:19:00.000-07:00

Jordan is seven years old, and she would like to be a hip hop dance teacher when she grows up! She loves dogs, and her favorite food is her Mom's salmon. She likes to dance outside of school, swim and do gymnastics! She is one busy little girl! Jordan shows others she cares by helping them when they are sad. Jordan loves to travel to Aspen, and she she's good at the rings and skiing! I can see why she is in such great shape with all of the activities she's involved in!

More Santa Maria pictures...

2008-10-21T18:11:00.001-07:00

Thank you to Mrs. Phillips for sending more pictures of our field trip!

Santa Maria Field Trip

2008-10-16T11:32:00.000-07:00

Please enjoy some photos of our Santa Maria field trip provided by Mrs. DiMaggio! The students had a great time, and were also able to witness a rally for Barack Obama downtown as well!

Tyler - Star Student

2008-10-12T17:42:00.000-07:00

Tyler is our new Star Student! He is good at soccer and baseball, and he admires his Mom! His wish is to have a bunch of dogs, but he knows it may not come true for a while due to his Dad's allergies. :) He likes My Weird School books, and his favorite food is candy! I bet he is excited that Halloween is coming up soon! Tyler is also double jointed, and he just lost his first tooth! When Tyler grows up, he would like to be an attorney for Big Lots! Also, his favorite thing to do in school is Math! That must be why he is so good at it!

2A Mock Election Day!

2008-10-10T12:11:00.001-07:00

2A has been talking about the upcoming election. We read about the 2 candidates in our Weekly Reader, made a T-chart after we brainstormed important characteristics about the candidates, and then we had our own election with an election booth included! :) We kept our votes very private, and were very respectful of others choices and voting time. Our results were logged on weeklyreader.com and will be posted after students across the United States put their votes in too! We will also be having a special election with the candidates of Judy Moody, Gooney Bird Greene, and Shredderman. Ask your child to tell you all about it, or check out our hall display!

Please enjoy some pictures of our Mock Election Day!

Ryan - Star Student

2008-10-09T06:42:00.001-07:00

Ryan loves baseball! His favorite sports are baseball, football, and basketball. He absolutely loved going to the Yankees game this year with his Dad! In school, Ryan loves P.E. and Music. One thing people probably didn't know about Ryan was that he was born in New York City. He shows others he cares by helping them. His favorite book is Geronimo Stilton, and he loves hot dogs! His favorite animal is a dog, and he favorite thing about school is recess! He also really likes ice cream - another common theme in second grade! :)

Peyton - Star Student

2008-10-09T06:37:00.001-07:00

Our star student, Peyton had some very interesting facts about herself! She admires her Dad, and would love to be famous someday. She is good at singing, and she loves pizza! That seems like a common theme in second grade! :) Mallory on the Move is Peyton's favorite book, and her favorite animal is a cat! She likes to do Reading and Math in school, and her favorite thing to do at home is to play on her playset. She also likes to ride her scooter, and she loves school! She shows others she cares by including them! What a great way to show others you care!

Israeljah - Star Student

2008-10-09T06:08:00.000-07:00

Aylah is our new star student! She is good at swimming, and she admires her Mom. She wishes to be famous, and her favorite food is pizza. Her favorite book is Green Eggs and Ham. Her favorite animal is a cheetah. She also likes soccer, math, singing, dancing and cartwheels! She has a lot of cousins, and she loves music and making things. She shows others she cares by being their friend, and when she grows up she wants to be a teacher! We loved seeing all of the pictures Aylah brought in! It looks like she has a lot of fun with her friends!

Peter - Star Student

2008-09-25T12:30:00.000-07:00

Peter is our new Star Student. He admires Michael Phelps, and he is good at swimming, baseball and basketball. Peter wishes to meet Michael Phelps, loves pizza and math, and his favorite books are the Harry Potter Series. Also, his is favorite animal is a dog. Peter was also very excited to share with the class that he was able to shake Barack Obama's hand this year at a convention! Peter is also very proud of his family, and he enjoyed sharing his pictures with the class.

Dalyn - Star Student

2008-09-25T12:24:00.000-07:00

Dalyn is our new Star Student. He plays football, is a comedian, and is a good catcher! He also likes swimming and P.E. in school. He likes to play his Xbox at home, and his favorite animal is a huskie. He likes cookies, and his favorite book is Lego Knights. He wishes to be famous, and he likes recess and pancakes! Dalyn also admires LeBron James. We loved looking at all of Dayln's pictures and hearing him share special facts about himself!

Lydia - Star Student

2008-09-22T06:58:00.000-07:00

Lydia loves horses! Her favorite book is Sandy Lane Stables, A Horse for the Summer. She loves to ride horses too! Her favorite thing about school is learning. She admires her Mom and she wishes to be in the Olympics someday! She is good at swimming and soccer, and her favorite food is french toast. She loves reading, and she also loves to play outside! We loved hearing all about Lydia and her favorite things!

Be sure to scroll down to the archives!

2008-09-16T04:56:00.001-07:00

Mira - Star Student

2008-09-16T04:49:00.000-07:00

Mira, the Star Student is very good at swimming. She wishes to meet Jordan Pruit, and she loves My Weird School books. She loves pizza and reading, and she admires Mrs. Roehrenbeck...isn't that sweet! She was born in New York, and she has traveled to England and India. She loved sharing pictures of the places she had traveled! She also told us she loves to do cartwheels! Mira was so happy to share her neat personality/characteristics with us, and we enjoyed hearing about her as well!

Chris - Star Student

2008-09-16T04:43:00.000-07:00

Chris is our Star Student! He shared many interesting things with the class about himself and his family. Chris' favorite thing about The Columbus Academy is recess! He used to live in California, he is good at soccer, and he wishes for a car someday. He admires his father, his favorite books are Dr. Seuss books, and he loves pizza! We especially loved looking at all of his pictures of when he was younger. He is one special Star Student!

Partner Reading in 2A

2008-09-16T04:36:00.000-07:00

Last week, 2A read The Ant and the Three Little Figs. In the following pictures, the students are partner reading and discussing questions about sharing stories at the end of the story. This story was a part of our Open Court Reading Series. Other books the children have been reading are Judy Moody Saves the World, Gooney Bird Greene during read aloud, and Stink the Incredible Shrinking Kid during read aloud as well.

PreK Buddies

2008-09-15T06:32:00.000-07:00

The moment 2A has been waiting for...PREK BUDDIES!!! The students were so excited to meet their new buddies and they had a blast doing the getting to know you activity!

Math Centers

2008-09-15T06:23:00.000-07:00

The students have been learning about 2A's math centers and have had a chance to explore a few. In the following pictures the students are learning hundred board strategies to help them put a puzzle together.

Carolyn - Star Student

2008-09-09T12:37:00.001-07:00

Carolyn is our new Star Student! She loves ROCK AND ROLL! She wants to be a "rocker chick" when she grows up. She is good at playing the drums, and she likes listening to Avril Lavigne. She likes to read Junie B. Jones, and she loves music class. She likes grilled cheese, and her favorite animal is a polar bear. Carolyn is a fun, young girl and we loved hearing about her today!

Homework Questions/Updates

2008-09-08T18:31:00.000-07:00

Hello families,
We are going full speed this week with homework so please be patient with new routines. Hopefully I have drilled into your child what the expectations are, so try to trust them when they explain their homework. We were a bit rushed today, but they all were able to write in their logs. I just wanted to clarify a few things for you...

1. Yes, the Weekly Reader can count as 15 minutes of reading. (If they read the entire magazine with you/or you hear them reading from afar.)
2. There is a spelling homework page that came home for you to read. They must complete the homework listed on it on the corresponding day. It will also be written on their homework log. This counts as practicing spelling words. Monday's homework was to resort their words. We did this in class today, so it should be review. If they forget, please let me know.
3. There was a math fact packet sent home. This was ripped out of their math book to be used for practice at home. It does not need to be turned in and can be kept at home. Your child can use it for practice until you come up with a system of practicing math facts. They do not need to complete the whole packet this week, they can use it at their own pace.

Please let me know any other homework questions as we ease into things this week. Thank you for your support!

Back to School Night/Responsive Classroom

2008-09-07T11:34:00.000-07:00

Families,
Thank you for coming to Back to School Night! It was a pleasure meeting all of you, and I can now see where your children get their wonderful qualities from! I am attaching a responsive classroom letter that goes along with the brochure I handed out during Back to School Night. This is an approach that the entire Lower School has been adopting the past few years. If you have any questions, please let me know! Thanks again for your time and support!

RESPONSIVE CLASSROOM

We want to let you know of an approach to teaching that we use in 2A. It’s called the Responsive Classroom approach. This approach was developed by classroom teachers. It emphasizes teaching children to take care of themselves, each other, and the school environment so that everyone can learn at his/her best. You’ll notice our class paying attention to how students treat one another throughout the day. You’ll also notice a strong emphasis on students setting goals for their own learning and taking responsibility for reaching those goals.

GUIDING PRINCIPLES ~
The Responsive Classroom approach is based on theories of how children learn and on the experiences of classroom teachers. There are seven basic principles behind this approach:
*Learning social skills is as important as learning academic skills.
*How children learn is as important as what they learn. Process and content go hand in hand.
*Children gain knowledge most effectively through social interaction.
*To be successful academically and socially, children need to learn cooperation, assertion, responsibility, empathy, and self-control.
*Knowing the children we teach – individually, culturally, and developmentally – is as important as knowing the content we teach.
*Knowing the families of the children we teach and inviting their participation is essential to children’s education.
*How the adults in the school work together is as important as how skillful each individual teacher is: Lasting change begins with the adult community.
Teaching Practices ~
The Responsive Classroom approach includes the following main parts. We will be using all of these in our classroom this year.
Morning Meeting
Children gather for fifteen to twenty minutes every day to greet each other, share news, do a group activity, and look forward to the day ahead. This daily routine builds community, creates a positive climate for learning, and gives children practice in a wide range of academic and social skills.

Rules and Logical Consequences
The teacher and children together create rules for the classroom that will allow everyone to do his/her best learning. When children break the rules, there are clear and non-punitive consequences that help them learn from the mistake. This approach teaches responsibility and self-control.

Guided Discovery
A structured way of introducing materials so that children become interested and motivated to explore different ways to use the materials.

Academic Choice
An approach that gives children some choices in their learning to help them become invested, self-motivated learners.

Classroom Organization
Arranging materials, furniture, and displays in ways that encourage learning, care, positive social interaction, and independence in children.

Working Together with Parents
Involving parents as true partners in their children’s education.

Please let us know if you have any questions. You can also learn more about the Responsive Classroom approach at www.responsiveclassroom.org

We look forward to a productive and joyful year with your child!

Sincerely,
Amanda R.
Sue F.

Star Student

2008-09-02T09:45:00.000-07:00

Courtney is our new Star Student! She shared some interesting and very funny information about herself this morning. She said she is very good at singing and dancing, she loves pizza, and she really likes the book Sleeping Beauty. When Courtney grows up she wants to be a rock star and a doctor. I asked her if she wanted to be both at the same time, and she said yes! Courtney enjoys riding her bike, hanging out with her sister, and she said she loves it when her hair blows in the wind! She is one special Star Student!

Visitors from China

2008-09-02T09:26:00.000-07:00

Today we enjoyed some visitors from China. The visitors showed 2A how Chinese children exercise with fans, play instruments, and how they speak their language. The children really enjoyed asking questions and learning about the culture.

First Day of School Activities...

2008-08-27T11:32:00.000-07:00

What a great first day of school! The students were very enthusiastic about school today and seemed to enjoy all of the activities we did throughout the day! Please enjoy some pictures of the new 2A students! Also, please be sure to check your child's homework folder tonight when they get home from school. There are MANY important papers to go through before Back to School Night. You will also find the sign up sheet for conferences inside their folder. Please return that ASAP. Thank you for your support!

Indoor Recess Activities...

No Shoes Zone...

Silent reading...
Find a Friend Activity...

Silent reading...

Back to School Activities...

Student of the Week Schedule

2008-08-26T09:40:00.000-07:00

Families,
You will see a Read All About Me poster coming home the first day of school. This poster will be used for our Student of the Week activity. Please have your child complete it (using their neatest handwriting and coloring) by the dates listed below. If your child finishes it beforehand, please feel free to send it in to be stored in the classroom. We will be posting these up around the room, so please make sure he/she takes his/her time to complete it neatly. Also, when it is your child's student of the week date, please send in a few favorite pictures with him/her to share with the class. Thank you for your support with this!

September 2 - Courtney
September 4 - Mira
September 8 - Carolyn
September 10 - Christopher
September 15 - Lydia
September 17 - Dalyn
September 22 - Peter
September 24 - Israeljah
September 29 - Peyton
October 1 - Ryan
October 6- Tyler
October 8 - Jordan
October 14 - Brandon
October 16 - Aiyana
October 20 - Natalie
October 22 - Cole
October 27 - Aden

Welcome to 2A!

2008-08-01T18:23:00.000-07:00

Hello new 2A students! I can't wait to meet you at the Ice Cream Social on August 25 at 5:00 pm!

Welcome new 2Aers...

Courtney
Mira
Carolyn
Christopher
Lydia
Dalyn
Peter
Israeljah
Peyton
Ryan
Tyler
Jordan
Brandon
Aiyana
Natalie
Cole
Aden

FAQ's

2008-07-24T18:21:00.000-07:00

Families,
I decided to post a frequently asked question section to help this year run smoothly! If I receive more, I'll be sure to add them to the list. Please use this list of questions to help you with any miscellaneous questions you may have. Thanks for your time!
-Mrs. R.

1. Birthdays - What should I do for my child's birthday? - Please drop off a birthday snack the morning of his/her birthday and we will distribute it sometime during the day. Due to the craziness of our schedules in second grade, the second grade teachers ask that parents drop off the birthday snack in the morning. Also, we ask that the celebration is limited to teachers and students only to be fair to working parents that may not be able to come in. You do not need to send an e-mail, we will have the birthdays listed in the classroom. Thanks for your understanding with this matter.

2. Homework - What should I do if my child doesn't understand the homework and he/she won't let me help? Please write a note on the top of the paper letting me know if there was a struggle with the homework, and then we will go over it with him/her the next day. Homework should not take more than 1 hour to complete (with reading for 15 minutes included), so please stop your child if there is too much frustration and write a note to let us know what he/she did not understand.

3. Reading - My child does not like to read at night, what should I do? - It is very important that your child reads for at least 15 minutes a night to improve his/her fluency, so you may need to be creative with what you choose to read. If your child does not like to read, try to focus on what he/she is interested in. For example, if your child loves sports get out the sports page and read with him/her. If your child likes to shop, get out a catalog and read the descriptions of items listed with him/her. Also, go to a library and let them pick out books that may be of interest.

4. Spelling - We don't have time to practice spelling words at night, what should we do? - Ask your child how to spell the words from his/her list in the car after school or in the morning. Play a spelling game at dinner. Be creative! Spelling practice does not always have to include writing words, so have fun with this!

More to come...

Measurement Activity

2008-05-16T17:39:00.000-07:00

We headed outside for math on this beautiful day! The students were measuring arm spans and jumps.

Outdoor Week

2008-05-16T17:25:00.000-07:00

Sorry, these photos are well overdue! We had a blast during outdoor week! Check out some of our fun activities! Also, the weather couldn't have been any more wonderful!

Nature hike...we saw deer on this one.

Building a trash-a-saurus

Caesar Creek

Sketching observations...

Collecting dirt for the water cycle...

Special Friends Day!

2008-05-13T18:40:00.001-07:00

Please enjoy some pictures from Special Friends Day. The students shared their Dino Diaries, played games, went to Music class, and had morning meeting together. It was an enjoyable day with an enjoyable group!

Student of the Week - Alana

2008-05-11T18:45:00.000-07:00

Alana is our last student of the week! She is so proud of her family, and is good at many things. She especially likes soccer, her teachers at school, and bunnies. She admires her cousin Ashlee, and especially loves her new baby cousin! She likes Judy Moody books and Chicken Fettucini! She also wishes to get 10,000 dollars someday! We hope she gets it! :)

Excavating a Chocolate Chip Cookie!

2008-05-11T18:44:00.000-07:00

The students excavated chocolate chip cookies after learning about fossil excavation. I am pretty sure their favorite part of the activity was eating the cookies!

Student of the Week

2008-04-18T12:42:00.001-07:00

Annie is our new student of the week! It is apparent that she LOVES horses! Her favorite book is The Black Stallion, she is good at horseback riding, her favorite animal is a horse, and her wish is to be a famous horseback rider! Her favorite food is Mac and Cheese, she likes PE, and she admires her Mom. We hope she gets her wish someday so we can all come and watch her ride!

Star Party

2008-04-18T12:41:00.001-07:00

The star party is on for tonight at 6:30!

Message from Mrs. Griffin

2008-04-03T06:44:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone,

The astronomy night (Star Party) on Friday, April 4 that was posted in the Viking Voice lead by Phil Lampe, parent of Nicola and Kristen, and the Nationwide Astronomy Club will be postponed until next Friday, April 11. All 1st through 8th graders are invited to view the stars that night. We will begin meeting at 6:30 at the south end of the Marsh Field track. Please join us! This is a great time to learn from experts how to find celestial objects, how to use telescopes, binoculars and other equipment, and learn the beauty and wonder of the sky at night. We hope for clear skies that night.

Dianne Griffin

Student of the Week - Mary

2008-04-01T09:30:00.001-07:00

Mary is our new student of the week! She is good at Tae Kwan Do and horseback riding. She loves pizza and the My Weird School Series. Her favorite animal is a dog, and her favorite thing about our school is the teachers! She also admires her mom, and she wishes to get $1,000 someday! Mary is also very proud of her family and she loves her dog!

Pre-K buddies

2008-04-01T09:30:00.000-07:00

2A was able to help their buddies with a riddle activity about space! They had a great time visiting, and helping them solve the problems!

Celebrating Mrs. Figlik's Birthday!

2008-03-14T09:16:00.000-07:00

The students enjoyed doughnuts this morning to celebrate Mrs. Figlik's birthday! They loved wearing the hats too!

Goofy picture...
Enjoying silent reading...

Loving the doughnuts!!!

Serious picture...

Homograph and Geography Activity

2008-03-12T11:37:00.000-07:00

As per request of 2A...here are links to the homograph activity we did on the Smartboard, and the Geography Test that Mrs. Dreisbach so kindly forwarded to us!

http://www.quia.com/cb/8285.html
http://www.pibmug.com/files/map_test.swf

Readers Theater Plays!

2008-03-06T10:10:00.000-08:00

Thank you!

2008-03-04T11:47:00.000-08:00

I would like to extend a big thank you to the families that have dropped off donation items for our classroom. We really appreciate it! Also, thank you for bringing in items for our Mexico service project! (See archives if you missed this post) Thanks again!

T.J. - Student of the Week

2008-03-04T11:42:00.001-08:00

T.J. is a second grade student that loves sports! He is very good at them! He admires his Dad, and he hopes to become an NBA star someday. His favorite food is tacos, and he loves the fourth Harry Potter book. His favorite part about school is music, and his favorite type of animal is a dog. T.J. loves to travel with his family, and he is very proud of his sisters! 2A loved the picture of him in Hawaii, and the ones with his sisters! We hope he gets to go to Sea Island soon - his favorite vacation spot!

Student of the Week - Savannah

2008-02-27T13:19:00.001-08:00

Savannah is our new student of the week! She admires her family, loves the book The Gingerbread Man, and her favorite food is french toast. Her favorite part about school is her teachers (that's exciting)! The students loved seeing pictures of Savannah, and especially loved the mad face picture when she was a baby. Savannah also shared that she is good at playing tennis. We hope Savannah gets her wish of becoming a pop star!

Service Project - Copied Message

2008-02-25T11:42:00.000-08:00

Cajas para Mexico Service Project

In support of our connection with the students in Anganjueo, Mexico, we are inviting CA students to participate in a unique service project. We are asking each classroom to donate 2-4 shoeboxes filled with items boys and girls would like. These boxes will be delivered by Dianne, Sean, and CA families during their trip to Mexico at Spring Break. The idea for this project comes from 2 sources: Operation Christmas Child
and Operation Shoebox http://operationshoebox.org/board.htm

The shoeboxes should contain items from each of the following categories:
We suggest 4 categories of items for boxes:

1. school supplies- pencils, markers, crayons, watercolors, small notebooks, etc.
2. small toys- slinkies, balls, cars, play jewelry, craft projects, matchbox cars, etc..
3. personal hygiene- toothbrush and toothpaste, wash cloth, comb and brush, soap
4. candy- hard candy only, gum.

We suggest boxes should be packed for students the same age as the children in each class. 1-2 boxes for girls and 1-2 for boys. Each class can determine how to collect items. Room mothers would be a great resource for this.

THIS IS A VOLUNTARY ACTIVITY!

Please send in any items on the list (if you are interested in participating) and I will organize them into shoeboxes for the project. Please be sure to turn in items before March 13. You may send items in with your child in his/her backpack at anytime. Thank you for your support!

Student of the Week - Cole

2008-02-21T09:00:00.001-08:00

Cole is our new student of the week! He has such a large extended family, and he loved sharing pictures of them. The students were especially interested in his picture with the dolphin and his adventures in Philadelphia. Cole loves tacos, the playground at CA, and football. Someday he hopes to become a professional football player for the Chargers or the Bears. He said he admires his Dad, and he is good at tennis, football, and basketball. We hope he gets his wish of meeting Malcolm Jenkins!

Jump Rope for Heart Pictures!

2008-02-19T09:29:00.000-08:00

Valentine's Day Party!

2008-02-19T09:00:00.000-08:00

The students celebrated Valentine's day by doing crafts, decorating cupcakes, and sharing valentines. They especially loved reading valentines with their friends!

Pre-K Buddies - Sharing Valentines

2008-02-14T18:06:00.001-08:00

The students really enjoyed reading their Pre-K buddies Valentine cards with them. The Pre-Kers loved seeing/hearing their cards being read, and there were many smiles on their faces.

Valentine's Day Reminders!!!

2008-02-13T09:31:00.000-08:00

Hello parents,
I hope your children are enjoying their snow days! I know I am! :) I just wanted to send you all some quick updates for tomorrow. Just a reminder that tomorrow is dressdown for Jump Rope for Heart. Please make sure your children are dressed appropriately for jumping rope and warmly enough for the outdoor weather. I would suggest layering. Also, please make sure they bring in their Jump Rope for Heart envelopes to be given to Joanne Adams.

Also, please remind them to bring their Valentine Box and Valentines tomorrow for the party. If they haven't already, Mrs. Cook has asked them to bring in a toilet paper roll holder (cardboard) as well for a craft they will be doing. (If you don't have any, paper towel holders are fine as well...I have also brought in some extras to help with this)

If you plan to send something in for the party, you can send it with your child in the morning and we'll keep it in the classroom. If you plan to come to the party, you can bring it then too. Please remember that everything needs to be peanut free.

Also, please check the blog at least once a week. To cut down on paper, I have been adding updates to it...but, I am noticing that I am receiving some questions through e-mail that I have addressed on the blog (2avkings.blogspot.com) or the wiki (casecondgrade.wikispaces.com). It would be helpful to check the archives in case you haven't been checking each week. With regard to birthdays, please remember that we ask that birthday snacks are dropped off in the morning and distriubuted sometime during the day when we are free. There is no need to ask if a day is alright to drop off the birthday snack, we always find time to do so. So, please remember to drop it off in the morning or send it with your child that day. Thank you for your support with this. If your child celebrates a birthday in the summer, or you haven't gotten around to sending in a snack...just send a note the day you plan to drop if off and we'll be sure to celebrate sometime during the day. Thanks again for your support with this matter.

Reward Day!

2008-02-13T09:19:00.001-08:00

2A earned 125 stars! The students have been repeatedly complimented by other teachers around the school for exemplifying excellent behavior! They were rewarded with "Game Day". The students were able to choose different types of activities throughout the day that interested them. Some of the students worked on Valentine crafts and played games on the computer. Others played Spelling Cha-Ching, reading board games, chess, and decorated their Writing Portfolios. They also watched Animal Bloopers and enjoyed some popcorn! They had a well deserved fun day!

Writing Workshop - Paragraph Writing

2008-02-13T09:14:00.001-08:00

The students of 2A have been learning how to use 4-Squares to help them organize their writing. They were asked to write a paragraph with a topic sentence, details, and feeling/closing sentence all on the subject of games! They did a fabulous job of staying on topic and coming up with ideas to help them write. 2A loves Writing Workshop because it gives them a time to choose what they enjoy writing about, and they really take ownership over their writing. Some students enjoy writing poetry, narratives, realistic fiction pieces, and non-fiction writing. It has been a joy to see a variety of writing represented across the class.

Reading

2008-02-13T09:10:00.001-08:00

The students have been reading Socks, a book by Beverly Cleary to help complement Muggie Maggie. They really seem to be enjoying this author, and I would recommend encouraging them to check books out by Beverly Cleary to read at home.
Enjoying some reading time in the No Shoes Zone! Students love to read silently and with partners in the No Shoes Zone.

Student of the Week - Michael

2008-01-31T11:01:00.000-08:00

Michael is our new student of the week! I have included a younger photo, and some updated photos from his presentation. I just couldn't pass up adding the the younger photo to the blog! What an adorable picture! Michael loves sports, and he plays hockey and swims. He admires his brother, and his favorite food is a hot dog! He loves P.E. in school and enjoys Art class as well. He is such a creative young boy so his love for Art class wasn't a surprise! We hope he gets his wish of someday becoming the Blue Jackets Coach! We know he would be a great one!

Homework - Math

2008-01-25T07:16:00.000-08:00

Hello parents,
If you haven't already noticed, we have been starting to add D.O.L. to our nightly homework. We are really trying to work on consistency with neat handwriting, punctuation, and capitalization in our classroom and we are hoping to see the same with homework. At the bottom of the page you will notice that the math is more challenging then usual. We have really been working on using strategies to answer more difficult problems in class. It seems the students are used to having the strategy taught before applying any mental thinking to the problem, and I am trying to shift their thinking a little. This is a constructivist approach to math. This is not the only approach we are using in the classroom, but one I really want to see be built with 2A. I am hearing or seeing a lot of "regrouping with subtraction" on the papers, and I would like to see other strategies since we have not covered that type of strategy yet. It is really important for the students to understand why they are regrouping before they actually do it so they can help determine if their answer makes sense in the end. You will notice at this age, this is something new to them (determining in their answer makes sense)...and with math this is extremely important. For example...a student will answer 12-8 and put 14 as his/her answer. My response will be...does it make sense to start with 12 and take some away and end with 14? Then they will say no and have to rethink their strategy. We have discussed counting up as a way to answer a subtraction problem. For example 28-14...I would say 14 plus what equals 28? We also have been breaking apart numbers...such as 28-10-4 to help them find answers to harder subtraction problems. Once they build this foundation, you will see "borrowing" becomes very easy for them to understand. So, when you see harder subtraction problems such as 1,234-876...encourage them to broaden their thinking instead of using "borrowing" to find the answer. You could ask what plus 876 is equal to 1,234...or break apart the numbers to look different. If something comes up that they have never seen before, I am trying to give them quick explanations at the end of the day to make them aware of what they will see that night. For example, the question of area came up last night. So, yesterday I told them area was what was on the inside of an object...and we discussed ways to figure out what the area of the rectangle would be in square units.

Again, please remember the math portion is supposed to be challenging, and if they don't understand they can put a question mark and see me for help the next day. Do not feel like you need to "teach" them all of the problems. Also, please remember that they do have some background and that we want them to come up with a strategy to find the answer. Thank you for your support with this matter, and please let me know if you have any questions.

-Mrs. R.

Student of the Week - Georgia

2008-01-15T12:36:00.000-08:00

Georgia is such an interesting girl! She loves pink, and thinks swimming should be fun and used for enjoyment and exercise. (Not always for competition) She has a large family, and thoroughly enjoys spending time with them! She especially loves celebrating her birthday on the same day as her cousin Sam. Her favorite part about school is Music class, her favorite animal is a dog, she loves pizza, and especially loves tennis. She wishes that her new baby cousin is just great! She is anxiously awaiting the arrival of her! What a sweet, young lady with many talents and wonderful characteristics!

Silent Reading Time...

2008-01-11T10:45:00.001-08:00

Sarabeth enjoys a cozy spot underneath Emily's desk...
Davis likes to curl up in the corner.
Mary likes to hang out on the rug.