The Week of September 18th

NEWS:

In reading our focus this week was "word attack" strategies. Basically this entails first cross-checking ourselves to see whether what we are reading makes sense and if it doesn't then using strategies to solve words successfully by looking at the beginning, middle, and ending of words. We are also continuing to jot down notes on our reading about things we find interesting, puzzling, or want to explore further as a means to aid our comprehension.

In writing our focus this week remained on developing our small moment personal narratives and extending them further by elaborating on details using the senses to make our writing more interesting, adding dialog, and action to our stories. Some of us have published stories on SeeSaw and our hope is that as we keep publishing other stories you will see the evolution of our writing in action as we learn to apply what we learn more independently.

In math our focus remains on work with base ten relationships and modelling. This week we played games and solved riddles around the value of digits in each place, representing numbers in various forms (expanded, standard base ten). We are also working on skip counting, especially what happens when you go over certain milestone numbers (for example from 90 to 100 when skip counting by 10s). This work will continue for another week or so before we transition to time.

In social studies we started building our own ideal communities, discussing what needs we have and what we would like in our community. During the next week we will be discussing rules, laws, and leadership and will be putting our community together in a BookCreator book that we will share with you.

Home learning has started. Here is the menu of options. This page can also be accessed through the "Class Documents" page of our class blog.

IMPORTANT

Book Universe is an an app that was introduced last week. In your child's home learning journal you will find a username/password to login from home. This app is for reading books online and there is an app that you can download as well as logging in through a desktop/laptop. Click here to go to the website.

RazKids is another app that we have started using this week.  Your chid should have in their take-home baggie a username/password combination.  Click here to see the web based site.  You can also get an app to use on tablets.  The purpose behind this app is to have a selection of "just right" books that the kids can choose from virtually at home that is fun and engaging.  Please let me know if you have any difficulties logging in.  

We have updated 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

ES Parent Teacher conferences will be held on Monday,  October 9th and Tuesday, October 10th. We will send more information regarding specific dates and times for appointments soon.

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
*What was your favorite Hari Raya station?
*What strategies have you learned to solve tricky words?
*What kind of laws will you have in your community?

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?