7 Nov 2016

Yr2 Weekly Update – 11/11/16

With only a few weeks left in our Unit of Inquiry related to celebrations, we are guiding students towards thinking about how they can bring their learning together.  Students are now looking at the many specific reasons why we have celebrations and trying to establish categories.  For example, some celebrations mark important milestones, while others center on seasons.  They have also enjoyed applying their learning at the student-created role play area, The Party Castle, where they can imagine they are having their own celebrations.

image3

Literacy engagements have included both creative writing and non-fiction writing.  Some classes have continued to write poetry using descriptive language, while others have begun writing factual books about their own celebrations.  Students combined their reading and speaking skills while reading aloud with fluency and expression.

For Math, students have continued to solve problems related to number sense focusing on how to show their thinking in written forms. Some classes have also begun exploring calendars as a tool for measuring time (months, days, etc.).

One of the key attitudes we are investigating at this time is respect.  Mrs. Doucette is working with classes to think about practical ways to show respect.  With the help of Kid President (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5yCOSHeYn4), students are considering carefully what respect looks and sounds like.

Over the last few weeks, we have appreciated having time to speak with all of you about the wonderful progress and next steps for our students.  Thank you for your continued support!

image4

image1

 

Home Links:
Here are some ideas to help support Math learning at home.

*Practice math facts AND have family time with simple games.
Card Games:
http://afterschool.smarttutor.com/mathcardgames/

Snakes & Ladders variations:
Play with 2 dice.  Add the dice together.
Play with 3 dice.  Add the dice together.
Play with 2 or 3 dice:  Allow any operation the child would like to try.  Students who need extension can think about which operation or combination of operations will allow them to move the greatest number of spaces.
http://www.itsybitsyfun.com/snakes-and-ladders.html#.WCVldNJ97IU

*Solve math problems using money (real or fake):
Put out a pile of coins.  Ask your child to find different ways to make $10.
Put out a pile of bills.  Ask your child to find different ways to make $100.
Allow them to pay the next time you buy something.
Give them a set amount of money to spend (e.g. money from their birthday)  and let
THEM figure out what they can buy

*Bake:  Children learn a huge amount about measurement.

*Bath Time Fun:  Provide children with different sizes of containers. Let them have fun exploring which holds more, less or the same amount.  Challenge them to think about how they could use one container as a unit to find the exact capacity of the other containers.

*Practice math facts and other skills online
http://www.mathplayground.com/
http://www.funbrain.com/brain/MathBrain/MathBrain.html