Week of September 30th - October 4th

F.I.S.H. Folder

Week of: September 30, 2013

Weekly Academics: Ø  Reading-Literary: Students have been assessed and grouped for differentiated literacy instruction. I will begin working with small groups for guided reading. During guided reading instruction we’ll continue to focus our discussion on characters and character traits. Students have also begun word work with spelling sorts. Students have been assessed and each student’s individual spelling stage has been identified. Students are grouped and working on spelling patterns at their specific spelling level. Ø  Standards: §  ELACC2RL3: Describe how characters in a story respond to major events and challenges. §  ELACC2RL7: Use information gained from the illustrations and words in a print or digital text to demonstrate understanding of its characters, setting, or plot. Ø  Vocabulary: Character trait, characterization, dialogue Ø  Writing: We’re continuing writing informational/explanatory texts. Students are creating their own non-fiction books about a topic of their choice. We’ve looked over non-fiction books as examples to inspire students’ writing. Ø  Standards: ·       ELACC2W2: Write informative/explanatory texts in which they introduce a topic, use facts and definitions to develop points, and provide a concluding statement or section. Ø  Vocabulary: non-fiction, text features Ø  Math: We’re continuing with our second math unit on addition and subtraction. Last week we administered the diagnostic assessment to find out just what students already know about addition and subtraction so that our instruction can be aligned to meet student needs. Ø   Standards: §  MCC2.NBT.2. Count within 1000; skip-count by 5s, 10s, and 100s. §  MCC2.NBT.3 Read and write numbers to 1000 using base-ten numerals, number names, and expanded form. §  MCC.2.OA.2 Fluently add and subtract within 20 using mental strategies. By end of Grade 2, know from memory all sums of two one-digit numbers. §  MCC.2.MD.8 Solve word problems involving dollar bills, quarters, dimes, nickels, and pennies, using $ and ¢ symbols appropriately. Ø  Vocabulary: skip counting, strategies, dollar, cents Ø  Science: Students are finishing their comic books about superheroes with matter-changing abilities as we wrap up our Physical Properties of Matter unit. Ø  Standards: Ø  S2P1: Students will investigate the properties of matter and changes that occur in objects. ·       A. Identify the three common states of matter as solid, liquid, or gas. ·       B. Investigate changes in objects by tearing, dissolving, melting, squeezing, etc. ·       Vocabulary: matter, solid, liquid, gas Ø  Social Studies: We’re beginning our first social studies unit! This unit is designed to introduce students to six major themes that we will study throughout second grade - distribution of power; individuals, groups, and institutions; location; production, distribution, and consumption; scarcity; and time, change, and continuity. This week we’re focusing on rules and responsibility. We’ll be discussing and comparing rules and responsibilities at home, school, and in the community. Ø  Standards: Ø  SS2CG1: The student will define the concept of government and the need for rules and laws.

Important Dates and Information: Saturday, October 5 is the Screen on the Green and International Potluck Dinner. See the GLOBE Gazette for more details.

Homework due on or before Monday 10/7/13: ·      Practice you reading 20 min everyday. Be sure to record reading at least 4 days per week. ·      This week we are beginning math homework! Students can choose 2 or more assignments from the menu below. There are a variety of options to meet students’ interests and readiness level. Students do not need to turn this in or write anything to show they’ve completed the homework. We’ll have time next Monday during math centers for students to share which activities they completed at home. Count your Snack Get a small handful of snack, like pretzels or goldfish. Count by 5 or 10 or 100 how many you have before your eat it. Math is yummy! Subetize It! Roll a die and shout out how many dots you see as fast as you can. Subetizing is when you know how many without counting. This is an essential math foundational skill. The more you play this game the better you get. Challenge: use two dice and add the amount in your head or multiply!!! Top It (aka: War) Use a deck of cards with all face cards taken out. Deal the cards into two piles and place them face down. You and your homework helper play the top card at the same time. The person who has a card with the larger value wins the round (multiply the card by 2, 5, 10, or 100). If the cards have the same value, then three more cards are dealt face down and the fourth wins the round. Take Apart Have a homework helper give you 10 or fewer of something (like pennies, buttons, or bread tags). Show them all the ways you can make two piles of those items. For example, if you get 8 pennies then you can show: 4, 4; 6, 2; 5, 3 etc. until all combinations have been made. It’s important to decide if you’ve made all the combinations by yourself. Estimate Estimate how many household items there are in your house. Choices include chairs, beds, windows, forks, etc. Let your homework helper know your estimate. Then count the items and let your homework helper know how many there really were. The math skill of estimating will serve you well your whole life! Bottoms Up! Play Top It as described above, only the lowest amount each round wins.