January 28, 2013

Here we are in the 20th week of school.  We have been studying different types of folktales such as fables and folktales.  This week we learn about myths.  We are learning about 2 and 3 dimensional geometric figures in Math.  Today we  made 3-d figures out of toothpicks and DOTS.  The students said, "THIS is WORK?!"  I hope the activity helped to cement the idea of faces, edges and vertices into their minds.

Our spelling patterns for the week are spelling long o spelled with oa or ow.  Words:  boat, loaf, road, coach, toast, soap, snow, own, know, grow, flown and rainbow.  Spelling homework is the same as the past few weeks and is due on Friday.  If you have any questions let me know.  One clarification I need to make is for Thursday's homework.  If you don't have any magazines, newspapers or even junk mail (ads) for your child to use the letters from, he/she may write the words that were missed on Wednesday's practice test/homework.  If no words were missed on the practice test your child does not have Thursday spelling homework.  BUT I do want Wednesday's practice test along with the rest.  Again, let me know if you have any questions!

If you have not already done so, please send your child's field trip paperwork and money (in cash) this week.  We have to pay for the tickets in advance and our deadline is approaching quickly.

There have been a few changes to our Galloway Elementary website.

www.mesquiteisd.org/galloway/

Mrs. Cooper

December 21, 2012

We have a lot of fun at our party today!
We ate pizza, chips, fruit in cups and string cheese!

There was so much food but we stuffed ourselves!  When we were done we started over but this time with goodies!

Then it was time for the book exchange!  

It was fun having so many family members at our party!  
I appreciate all of the parents, brothers and daughters (MINE!) who came and helped out at our party.  It was wild and crazy but seriously one of the calmest I've ever had. I know that was due to the fact that I had so much help!  Thank you!

I also so appreciate all of the goodie bags, chips and other food items that were sent.  We had plenty of food and more than enough to share.  I'm glad I ordered an extra pizza because one of them was burnt! Oh well, ask your child...we had so much fun we didn't even miss it!

Thanks for all of the Christmas gifts.  I wasn't able to open most of them at school but your thoughtfulness touches my heart.  There were several gifts that didn't show who they were from.  Let me know if your child doesn't get a thank you note in the mail and I will send one.  I am truly thankful for everything.

My daughter was too shy to take many pictures at the party so if you have any that you wouldn't mind me sharing on the blog, please email them to me!  Thank you!

Love, Mrs. Cooper

dcooper@mesquiteisd.org

Candy Bar Reindeer by Mrs. Cooper's class

Just because we are learning doesn't mean we can't have a little fun every once in a while!

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Insect Fun!

MealwormCare.org

December is here and we are busy in the second grade.  This week and last week we have been learning about living things.  In our classroom we have mealworms and are observing them as they go through their life cycle.  As your child about the stages and what kind will it finally become!  Today we found out some interesting yet gross things about mealworms.  Ha!  I think they loved it (most of them!) 

In Reading we have been learning about types of media; media that we listen to, view and/or read.  We are learning about adverbs in English and addition/subtraction with and without regrouping (carrying and borrowing) in Math.

We are having a blast in the library with the Twelve Days of Christmas activities that Mrs. Sadler has prepared for the whole school.  Yesterday the students made an advent calendar, and today they made a nutcracker ornament.  As I said in the note sent home yesterday, your child will need to bring any kind of chocolate bar and a mug by Monday.  I can't wait to see what the best librarian in the world has in store for us!

Our Christmas party will be December 21 at 10:15.  Parents are welcome to attend but keep in mind there will not be goodies for siblings or parents.  Please send $3 to cover the cost of two slices of pizza, soda, cups and plates.  If you would like your child to participate in the chapter book gift exchange, send a wrapped book that says "from _________" but does not say who it's for.  We will do some kind of a fun activity to pass out the presents.  

We need other goodies and items for our Christmas party.  A list of choices was sent home yesterday.  So far we have ice, juice boxes and fruit cups.  I will send home an updated list of needed items next week to those who have not yet made a choice.  Please send everything in the morning of the party (or earlier that week if it's non-perishable) and not when you get here.  Thanks!  Hope to see you here!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Second graders began learning to add and subtract two digit numbers today!

Happy Days to us all!  It's a short week!  I hope everyone has a fun break from school.  We still have lots of learning to pack into two days though.

First of all:  NO TUTORING ON NOVEMBER 20 (tomorrow.)

This is what we are learning this week and next week.

Reading: Expository Text Structure/ Procedural Text structure
Math: 2 digit addition
Science:  Earth's Resources/Living and Non-living
Spelling:  No spelling words until next week;  r controlled vowels:  -ar, -or, -oar, -ore
Social Studies:  Pilgrims/ Thanksgiving this week and Columbus next week

Please notice the hard workers in the today's picture.  The students were focused, listened and started to pick up the concept of re-grouping.  We have LOTS more hands on work before we start re-grouping abstractly (on paper.)  It was so much fun and very rewarding for me!

Enjoy the extra time!

Deedee Cooper

12th week

A witch/monster

Mercy Watson

Jack-o-lantern

space alien

TWO Skippies?  It's twin club time!

Here are a few more of the pumpkin characters with their creator.  I hope you enjoyed helping your child with this and the report as well.  The students were so proud and enjoyed sharing with their classmates.

This week we are learning about literary non-fiction; true events that are written in story form.  We are learning to spell and read words with R controlled vowels ar and or.  In Science we are learning about the moon and the night sky.  Our Social Studies topic is the New World.  In Math we are studying  probability (more likely, less likely, impossible, certain, etc.)

We're off to a good start of our new grading period which will be completed the last week before Christmas.  It will go very fast.  If you would, please talk to your child about turning in Spelling Homework on Fridays.  I do not check the binders.  It is up to the students to take out the homework and put it in the purple basket.  There is also a white basket for students to put in notes from you, doctor's notes or anything that is signed and returned. I call that the Important Information basket. I do remind students a few times every morning to get these items out of their binders but they aren't always doing it.

As always email or call if you have any concerns.

Deedee Cooper

10th week of school

This week we are learning about characters and their traits.  I have so enjoyed the pumpkin characters that have been brought in.  Your kids are so creative!  Every one of them was adorable.  I thought you may like to see pictures of some of the students who presented today and their cute, cute pumpkins.

D.W.

Purplicious girl

Skippyjon Jones

Skippyjon Jones

Little Bitty Mousie

Bad Case of Stripes

Mermaid

Gigi the Pink Ballerina

Clifford

Mr. Whiskers

Suzie

Strawberry Shortcake

Moo

Skippyjon Jones

More to come!