In Reading this week we began learning a strategy that good readers use to help increase their comprehension. Making Connections allows children to connect something in their book to an experience they have had (Text to Self), another book they've read (Text to Text) or something going on in the world (Text to World). We practiced together using mentor texts in our room and then the children practiced independently by placing a sticky note on their books, coding their connection, and explaining it.

Mowing the Lawn at School?

We've been observing our lawns for several days, and just like real scientists, we are recording our findings in our Science Notebooks. We discovered that the rye grass grew faster and longer than the alfalfa. This week we decided that our lawns were getting a little out of control, so we knew we were ready to mow them! Students used scissors to mow and we are anxious to find out what happens after they've been cut. We even saved some clippings to see what will happen to them without soil.

Listen to Reading

During our literacy block, students have the option to Listen to Reading. They will use a personal Mp3 player to listen to pre-selected stories. We've spent time practicing this activity and the children enjoy being able to listen independently. Boy did they know a lot about the Mp3 player already! They are so technology savvy!

Teach Me How to Barrie!

With the arrival of our new principal, Mr. Torrenga, came a new school-wide behavior incentive program called Teach Me How to Barrie! BARRIE stands for Be A Respectful Responsible Individual Everyday. A few weeks ago, the students were treated to an assembly to introduce them to this new program and get them excited about positive behavior! When school staff notice a student going out of his or her way to show exceptional behavior, they will be recognized with a special slip which they get to put into the Barrie Box in the library. The slips will be posted on the bulletin board and Mr. Torrenga will choose a few slips at the end of each month to enjoy pizza with him. Check out some of the action below!

Lawns, Wheat, and Cuttings, Oh My!

In Science we have been learning about plants. We've had fun acting like real scientists to experiment with different types of plants. We've learned some cool vocabulary to use like "sprout","node", and "nutrient". So far we've planted mini-lawns with rye grass and alfalfa, wheat, and cuttings from spearmint, geraniums and ivy. We care for our plants daily and observe and record their growth in our science journals. 

Getting to Know Our Classroom Library

We are fortunate to have a fantastic library in our classroom where children can browse for Good Fit Books. We've spent a lot of time learning how to choose books and learning how our library works. Last week students got to take a tour of the library and to explore some of the bins. They worked in partners to identify the genre of the bin and use the features of its label. They then selected a book and recommended it to their classmates.

Welcome Back to School!

Welcome to Second Grade! We've had a lot of fun kicking off our year together. We've done lots of things to get to know each other and to establish our routine and expectations. We are looking forward to a year full of learning and fun!