Math Games

Fridays are usually game days in our math class. I will try to tell you about some of the games we play in class so you can play them with your child at home. This week we played +1, +2 or +3. After assessing each student's level for addition/math facts, they were assigned a group (either +1, +2 or +3).  Partners were given a dice and a 100 chart. Players rolled the dice and added +1, +2 or +3, depending on their level of ability, then counted along the game board. The purpose of this game was to practice adding 1, 2 or 3 automatically without counting. You could download a 100 chart from here-100 chart



Some students brought home a ziplock bag with a book or two in. Please return Monday.



$$$- I have been asked to remind parents that they need to go online and pay the $4.00 for their child's agenda.



Thursday, October 3 at 10:00 will be our first guided reading time. It is for thirty minutes and does not involve any writing. You will get a group of about six or less students and simply oral read and discuss the book(s). Please let me know if you are able to come. Thanks.I will be sending out a calendar with all the October dates.



Spelling List for next week. More short a words but with blends etc.



Group 1-flap, rash, blast, stab, , bath, back, damp, ask, glad,  there, then

Group 2- flap, rash, blast, stab, strap, bath, back, damp, baskets,  glad, there, then,

12m, 20r, 24p- bath, glad, flat, clap, back, ask, there

Update for Speaking Assignment

I have had  a couple of emails about the speaking assignment. Sorry if I didn't give enough info. Yes you should prepare your child at home for the speaking assignment. I will be discussing it with them about it this morning. I don't really want to give one due date. I usually just ask for volunteers each day and whoever feels ready to speak can present. This keeps it more low key for those who are nervous about speaking. I hope to have everybody speak by the middle of October. Hope this clarifies things.

Cards, Partner Reading and Outdoor Gym

So many parents wonder what the "morning message" is. Here is a picture of what we do each morning as part of our spelling program. The words that have a box around them are "sight words"-words that can not be sounded out. 

September 22-26

This week in 2A we will be starting our first spelling list. Up until now we have been reviewing many sight words and spelling patterns while we do our morning message. We will continue with our morning message but will also have a list this week to study for the test on Friday. Look for the list in your child's agenda. We will talk about how important it is for their printing to be neat so they know what the words are when they get home!  Please know that the 10 or so words on the list are just an outline for the students. My lists are generally based on phonics and throughout the week we practise applying that spelling pattern to many words-not just the words on the list. I will put two "surprise words" on the test. These are words that are not on the list but do follow the same pattern/sound we worked on all week. For example-land may be a list word but I may ask the kids to spell band on the test. I want the students to learn to apply the spelling, not just memorize and then forget!

We will also be having our first speaking assignment. As part of a unit on community, each student chooses an occupation to present to the class. They need to include what the job entails, tools of the trade and why they are interested in that occupation. I'm looking for about 4 sentences. They will each go to front of the class to present.

This Week at School

This week we really focused on printing and proper letter formation. I group the letters into groups which are formed the same and we review the letter formation in that manner. This week we did clock climbers (c,o,a,g.q,) and kite strings (l,i, k, h, b, p they start at the top). Next week we will do j, r, f then m and n.



We also got our new decks of cards out and learned how to play Go Fish. When you come to our class on Family Barbque/Meet the Teacher night, please help us out by making sure your child's cards are open and then shuffle them a few times to loosen them up a bit. They are so stiff at the beginning that the kids are having a hard time with them. I have been shuffling my fingers stiff! We will be using our cards a lot this year to play many, many math games.

Raz-Kids--Our school has bought a license for our class to have access to Raz-Kids. This is a site with access to hundreds of levelled books.Next week I will send your child's password so they can begin reading many books online. They will love this site!  They gather points etc.and go through the levels.

Snack- please try to pack a quick snack that your child can eat just before recess. Anything that needs to be eaten with a spoon does not turn out to be quick! Cut up fruit, veggies or cheese is the best. Thanks.

Math Patterns

Our first week in school we reviewed what a pattern is. We copied patterns in sound, movement and drew patterns. Here are some pictures from an activity where we made our own patterns using blocks. This week we will learn about using different attributes such as size, shape, colour, thickness and position in our patterns. Students in Grade Two are expected to make patterns using three different attributes with a repeat core of at least three elements.

Games are a huge part of my math program. This week we played Snakes and Ladders. It is a good game to review counting numbers to 100 as the students need to pay attention to which direction they are going on the game board.

Know Your Address

As part of our first Social Studies unit we will be learning about our school community and the surrounding areas. Please make sure your child knows their home address and the name of their neighbourhood (Lakewood etc.)  If they can spell their address-BONUS! 



We have had a successful first week of school. We are still learning routines and establishing relationships. The students are becoming more comfortable and many have read their journals in front of the class. Hopefully we will finish collecting all of those "papers" by early next week.

First Day!

Wow! That was a busy day! Most of our day was taken up by controlling our supplies! Tomorrow I will be giving each of the students a large ziplock bag to hold their extra supplies that they will need later on in the year. I will be sending home any supplies that are in excess of what was on the school supply list.



Our classroom is located quite far from the water fountain. Please send a water bottle with your child. It is nice for the students to be able to get a drink whenever they are thirsty. At this time of year, I will walk the whole class to the washroom a couple of times a day. They are still encouraged to use the washrooms at recess and can ask during school as well. The walk through the school gives us a chance to get up and move as well!



We read two stories today. A funny story about a cat getting ready for school and a wonderful story about "bucket filling." We will be using the bucket analogy to remind everyone to treat their classmates with respect.