• A Look At Our Day

     

    Morning Routine and Gathering 

    The children arrive and turn in their Daily Folder, make a lunch choice, and complete a morning task. Then we gather on the carpet area where we greet each other, listen and respond to each others' news, practice academic and social skills, and talk about the day's happenings.  It's a great way to start our day!

     Writing Workshop/Spelling/Handwriting  writing
    Children are given opportunities to write on a daily basis. It is an integral part of various curriculum activities. Children write in response to literature selections in each thematic unit, maintain journals, and create personal choice narratives. Phonemic spelling is encouraged throughout the year. However, the children will be accountable for the Second Grade Snap Words that will be introduced to them this year. As the year progresses, the children will be asked to proofread their written work to ensure that all the Snap Words are written accurately.
    ELA Block  Reading

    Our ELA block (English Language Arts) includes the following components: read aloud/think aloud, shared reading, reading workshop, and word work.

    Read Aloud/Think Aloud - Children acquire much of their "language sense" through hearing good language read to them. During this time, we may read a chapter book or a unit related book.  Parents, guardians, and other relatives are invited to sign up to be guest readers in the classroom.  We can work together to make a time that fits your schedule to come in to read to the class.

    Reading Workshop - This is an extended block of time devoted to reading, discussing, and writing about reading.  It helps children develop strong reading skills through the use of a mini-lesson, shared reading, conferencing, independent reading, paired reading, and literature response.  Our reading block usually begins with a whole group mini-lesson.  The mini-lesson focuses on a skill, strategy, or behavior that will help the children become skillful readers. The lessons are based on student needs.  After the mini-lesson, the children work independently on reading and writing activities.  While the children work independently, I usually meet with guided reading groups or confer with children as they read independently.  They may also do some partner reading. 
     
    Word Word - This is the last component of our ELA block. We will be using ECRI  and other word study activities. 
     
    Our ELA block allows the children to spend an extended period of time reading authentic texts that interest them on a daily basis. It also provides them with the opportunity to talk to their classmates about their reading.  During this time, the children build a repertoire of strategies to help them become proficient readers and to develop a life-long passion for reading.
     
     
     
     
     lunch  Lunch 
    We eat lunch from 11:12 to 11:42 each day.  
     
    Recess/Snack 
    We have two recess times each day (One is 30 minutes long and one is 10-15 minutes long).  We will go outside unless it is raining or the temperature is below 22 degrees.  Snack time is in the morning.  The children can bring their own nutritional snack to school or donations for a class snack are always welcome.
     
     
    MATH  Math

    Our math program is called Bridges.  Second graders work on breaking multi-digit numbers into ones and groups of tens, hundreds, and thousands.  This activity helps their understanding of multi-digit addition and subtraction as well as solving word problems.  Second graders will also work on seeing the repeated groups within numbers, and this awareness helps them to master multiplication and division.

    Students will also work with story problems.  They not only solve but create word problems.  As a result, they become comfortable and flexible with mathematical language and can connect concepts and terminology with meaningful referents from their own lives.

    Concepts and skills in algebra, geometry, measurement, and graphing are woven in between these two main concepts.
     

    magnifying glass Science/Social Studies 
     

    We usually spend part of our day doing social studies or science activities and/or projects.  A lot of our reading and writing activities center around our units as well.

    Specials  

    The children receive instruction in P.E., Library, Art, Music, and STEM once a week.

    Dismissal  
    The children check their mailboxes at the end of every school day.  They also receive their Daily Folder.  The Daily Folder is where you will find school work, permission slips that need to be signed and returned, letters about new units, lunch menus, PTO information, and personal notes from me.  The Daily Folder is also a great way for families to communicate with school or to send lunch money.