Hope you enjoyed another long weekend!  The teachers were busy at meetings preparing to better teach your children.  We're looking forward to using our new knowledge.

Special Notes:  *Popcorn will be sold for $.25 on Friday.  The students should bring their quarter in early so teachers may place their "order."
*PTA needs more members!  If you need another envelope, tell your child to tell me and I will send home another one.
*Our t-shirt design is in!  Order forms will go home next week!  I will post it on this blog if I can figure out how.  Right now it's not working...

Remember, breakfast is 7:15- 7:45!  If you want to eat, don't be late!

Studies for the Week:

Reading:  Monitoring Comprehension; Asking Questions 
Writing:  Writing information text
Spelling:  Hard and soft g and c
       This weeks words:
cabin, came, cash, circle, cent, circus, giraffe, giant, gym, golden, glue, guy
Math:  Patterns, patterns and more patterns!
Science:  Weather and Air
Social Studies: Types of Communities

College tid bit for the week:

The first college established for African-American students was the Ashmun Institute on April 29, 1854. It was named after Jehudi Ashmun (1794-1826), an American minister who helped establish Liberia.  In 1866, Ashmun Institute was renamed Lincoln University.

Oberlin college was the first college to grant degrees to women in 1841.  It was also the first college to grant a bachelor degree to an African-American woman in 1862.

We're so proud of our parachutes!

Ready, set, go!

What chaos and what fun! We are learning that air is everywhere and that air is a gas.  Air is invisible yet we know it's there because we can feel it and breathe it and have fun with it, like these parachutes!

Spelling Practice

I found a website that has fun ways to practice spelling words. You just type in the words for the week and choose what you want to do!

 http://www.spellingcity.com/

Have fun, and let me know what you think!

One more parachute video

Skippyjon and Student

Our class during R-time.  R-time is a program Galloway as a
school follows.  It teaches young children respect and manners.

We are exciting about our second grade t-shirts. I will send home a note soon if you have not sent in the money.  I can't wait to see my class in their shirts for all of our special events.

Mrs. Mingle wanted to send out a reminder that breakfast is served 7:15 -7:45.  Any student coming in after that time won't be able to eat.  Our cafeteria staff have to start making our lunches!

Our College Information for this week:

In the United States, there is little difference between the terms “college” and “university”.  However, the term “college” in other countries, such as Canada, refers to a junior college or trade college, whereas a “university” is larger, more research focused, and usually contains multiple colleges.

Here is what we are learning:

Reading:  Monitoring Comprehension.  I also still leveling the students so I can better teach your child in the areas needed.

Math:  Subtraction strategies

English:  Writing and nouns, both proper and common

Spelling: One and two syllable CVCe words with blends and digraphs

Word List:  cupcake, bedtime, baseline, swipe, state, shake, smile, grape, shade, grade, close, chose

Science:  Air

Social Studies:  Freedom and symbols of the United States

PLEASE JOIN THE PTA!!  We could win a popcorn party!  I'm thinking of planning something special for all who join in our class...

Third week of school

The Skippyjon Jones project is going great.  Skippyjon is at his fourth second grade home tonight and is having so much fun!  Thank you for your participation and making the time your child has with him a special one.

School pictures are THIS THURSDAY!  I will send the order forms home tomorrow!

I am focusing on listening to my students read this week to determine what level they are on.  I know books are not going home yet but have your child practice the poems in the black fluency folder when it comes home and read any other books you have. I do let the students take home my personal books as long as they ask first and return them promptly.  They have library books as well.  TOMORROW we will start returning and checking out more books!

I also update our grade level blog weekly.  Check it out to see what we are learning this week.  

http://galloway2ndgrade.blogspot.com/


As always, I invite you to stay in touch with me by email, phone or note. I care about what is happening in your child's life and am always willing to discuss school progress with you.  Let me know when you want to come by or send me an email at dcooper@mesquiteisd.

Mrs. Cooper

Happy Birthday!

Week Number 2

This week we will be practicing to activate background knowledge to help reading comprehension.  Our new word wall words are when, were and old.  Your children will be held accountable for being able to read these words.  We are doing more addition in Math, again practicing the strategies doubles, near doubles (neighbors), making tens, counting on and big and bigger numbers.    In Science we will be learning about "air" and in Social Studies we will be learning how to be a good citizen and to identify historical figures (Paul Revere, for example.)

We began a home reading/writing project last week.  Each student will get a turn to take home the Skippyjon Jones stuffed animal, a Skippyjon Jones book and our notebook for a few days.  Your child's job is to have someone read the book to him/her, write a story and put in the notebook and to have fun with Skippyjon!  Please help your child as needed.   It's already turned out to be a fun project.  Every student is looking forward to their turn.  Oh, and please take a picture or two of your child with Skippyjon if you can.  If you aren't able to print them out, email them to me and I will print them.  I'm excited about watching our notebook fill up.

I am also still collecting t-shirt money.  Please send it in ASAP so we can get the shirts ordered.

If anyone is interested in serving on the PTA board this year, please let me know and I will pass your name along.  We have several positions open.

Have a great week!
Mrs. Cooper