The Week of August 28

NEWS:

In reading our focus this week was on growing stronger as readers. Making good book choices, reading for longer, and exploring how to check out books using the library catalog system. In the coming week we will be working on some word solving strategies as well as comprehension strategies for "holding on" (ie. remembering) what is going on in the stories we are reading.

In writing our focus this week was on developing a small moment personal narrative (a story about us) and elaborating on details using the senses to make our writing more interesting. We will keep this focus into the next week as well as including how to craft bold beginning and strong endings.

In math our focus was on understanding how the base ten system works and composing and decomposing numbers into the tens. We will continue this, practicing more, and extending our understanding with numbers into the hundreds.

In social studies we explored the chaos of being stranded on a tropical island and realized that we needed food, water, clothes, shelter, and a system for communicating and staying at peace without using up all our resources. In the coming week we will see how our community develops ... stay tuned.

IMPORTANT

There was an incident of inappropriate words being spoken this week. The word was F***. The comment was not directed at any individual but was more young curious minds on the playground repeating inappropriate words they have heard in the past and sharing with friends. We had a class meeting and discussed our expectations. The essence of the conversation revolved around inappropriate words not adding any meaning to our conversations and making us look foolish - and it not being language that we use at ISKL.

Home reading is very important. This week in library we started exploring how to check out books at our "just right" levels. This work will continue this week and once the students have all the tools and skills in place I will also send out a link so you can also help your children make appropriate choices from the ISKL library catalog from home. The expectation by mid-September is that 2 out of the 4 library books are at your child's "just right" level. When your child finishes a library book they are strongly encouraged to bring them back to school where they can return/check-out other books during morning and lunch recess in addition to their usual library times.

Want to see some pictures? Click here or navigate to the "Photos" tab at the top of this page.

Please subscribe to this blog via email to receive notifications of blog posts. New posts for the upcoming week will go out every Sunday around 4pm.

UPCOMING

Swimming will start on Wednesday September 6th Day 2 and will then take place every Day 2.

Students will need to bring:

• Swimsuit

• Towel
• Long hair to be tied back

Goggles and swim caps are optional. There is no "ISKL school swimsuit". Appropriate swim attire (one piece swim suit or swim bottoms and rash shirt).  

If students forget their swim gear, they can borrow a swimsuit if available or they can use their PE uniform. If students cannot swim for any reason, a detailed email or note must explain why.

Please see the Swim Schedule or ES Physical Education Website for more detailed information.

Subscribe to the ISKL ES Google Calendar and also our Grade 2 rotation calendar to stay up to date with any last minute changes (on the right hand side of your screen).

DINNER QUESTIONS
*Tell me about yourself as a reader?
*Show me what it means to make a number in Base Ten?
*What story are you working on now?

The Week of August 21

NEWS:

In reading we will be launching Reader’s workshop and getting students working with fluency, stamina and comprehension. Lessons are focused on getting students to think about which strategies they will use as they read, how much they will read and self-monitoring their reading.

In writing the unit focuses on students seeing the experiences in their lives worthy of writing about.
 Students will learn to craft stories from their lives using detail in a step by step order and from studying mentor texts extensively. The writing process is highlighted as students learn how to cycle through collecting, choosing a seed idea, nurturing the idea, drafting, revising, editing, publishing, celebrating. Over the course of the next couple of weeks the students will stretch out and magnify their small moments, writing these with great attention to detail and craft powerful beginnings and endings.  

In math we will be focusing on the number system in base ten. Understanding how to represent a hundred as a group of tens, representing three digit numbers based on the properties of the digits in the ones, tens, and hundreds place, and understanding the concept of "0" as a place holder of no intrinsic value.

In social studies we will begin with a review of the concept of family and explore the question, "Why do families live in communities?" Students will then investigate common characteristics of a community including location, physical characteristics, history, government, people, and businesses.

IMPORTANT

Here is a great link to the Parent Learning Connection page where there are some resources for how you can support your child's learning at home.

Thank you to all of those who have already signed up to your child's SeeSaw account. If you haven't already please click here to do so. We will use the SeeSaw platform to document our learning throughout the year. Please feel free to comment on your child's account, they love it!

Home reading is very important. In grade 2 the expectation is that students ready a minimum of 20 minutes daily of a "just right" book - meaning at their current reading level. Your child should know what this looks like in a book and how to choose appropriately. The expectation is that 2 out of the 4 library books are at your child's "just right" level. When your child finishes a library book they are strongly encouraged to bring them back to school so they can return them and check out different ones so they can grow their reading muscles.

If you are interested in being a room parent please contact our Grade Level Coordinator Ms. Angela Taylor.

Want to see some pictures? Click here or navigate to the "Photos" tab at the top of this page.

Please subscribe to this blog via email to receive notifications of blog posts. New posts for the upcoming week will go out every Sunday around 4pm.

UPCOMING
Grade 2 Open House will be on August 21st from 6:30pm-8:30pm.

Class Pictures on August 22nd.

Subscribe to the ISKL ES Google Calendar and also our Grade 2 rotation calendar to stay up to date with any last minute changes.

DINNER QUESTIONS
These questions are meant to stimulate conversation so that you avoid scenarios like the cartoon below.

*Who do you think will be a good friend for you this year and why?
*What is the proudest moment you had in your class?
*Tell me about a book you read?
*What story are you working on now?