Tuesday, November 6, 2018

Starfish Gazette- November 5, 2018

Dear Families,

Thank you again for taking time over the last two weeks to meet with me to discuss your child's academic and social growth in 2nd grade.  It's always so nice to sit down and share the exciting learning and growth your child is working towards each day! 

Important Upcoming Dates:

-Tuesday, Nov. 6th: No School (Teacher In-Service Day)

-Monday, Nov. 12th: No School (Veteran's Day)

-Thursday, Nov. 15th: Picture Retake Day

-Friday, Nov. 16th: PTO Ice Cream Bingo

-Wednesday-Friday, Nov. 21st-Nov. 23rd: No School (Thanksgiving Break)


Happy Birthday to our first of many November birthdays in the Starfish classroom! We loved celebrating you and making you Birthday cards! :)

Questions to promote "School Talk":
1. What Chapter Book is your class starting this week? What's happening so far?  What is the name of the main character?  Can you describe Green Lake Camp?
2. What adjective describes your pumpkin last week during Halloween centers?
3. Where can you find a glossary in a nonfiction book? What information does it give you?4. Draw base-10 blocks to show 48. Draw 35 more. How many in all?
5. What new books did Mrs. Murphy buy for the classroom? 
6. Can you tell me which letters you worked on during handwriting? Can you show me how to make them?
7. Can you tell me about Freckle the math website?
8. Who do you play with during outside recess?  What do you choose to do if you have indoor recess?
                                         
Math Workshop 
We are working hard here in 2M applying all of our place value knowledge to whole number operations. This work has a heavy focus on multi-digit addition and subtraction. Before students are exposed to the traditional algorithm for addition or subtraction, they are taught several other strategies. The first strategy we introduced is:
Base-10 Blocks: Students can physically build each number and then count all of their blocks to arrive at a total. Students have been taught how to use "base-10 shorthand" to draw our their numbers instead of physically building them. They can then count their drawing when adding to find their sum. They know that sometimes they need to make a "trade"!

Students can practice this skill at home using IXL skill G.6 (they'll need scrap paper or a whiteboard to complete the problems!). We'll be working on additional strategies over the upcoming week.


We have also just introduced a new math website that your child is able to access at school and home. There is a literacy and math component to the website but we are currently just using the math portion of the website. Your child is very excited to start using Freckle at home. There are coins that your child earns when completing math problems and they are excited to cash in their coins for prizes!

When working on Freckle at home, it may be helpful to have some scrap paper and pencil nearby for your second grader to use. If you have a whiteboard and marker, this will work also! :)








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