Mr. Thompson S Class Newsletter

Mr. Thompson’s Class Newsletter

10-3-08

Second GRADE NEWS

Let's see... We have had quite an interesting start to the year with wacky wind storms, power outages and the typical set backs that can unfold from these occurences. I hope that many of you are back in full swing. We are awaiting repair on our phone line for internet access and home phone usage but otherwise are back on track. For those of you who know me well, you know that living without the internet has been quite a task. :)

Look for progress interims to arrive in your child's bookbag today. If you wish to see a more updated version of their scores, feel free to view them on Progressbook, using your id number and password provided by the district. Keep in mind that some grades may be missing from your son or daughter's interim if they have been absent or need additional time in class to complete an assignment. Some assignments will be missing due to their inability to turn in the assignment on time or at all. Fo those of you who wish to review your child's progress online, I will notate specific comments related to items turned in or missing for you to see on Progressbook.

Picture day info. should have arrived home this week on Wednesday. If not, please let me know so that additional forms can be sent home.

READING

We will be reading a story entitled Meet Rosina next week. The story is actually a photo Essay that uses mostly photographs to give information about a topic. There will be an opportunity to view some of the items for our story online, if you have access to a home computer. I have a section on the website (mrthompsonsclassroom.com) where links to these activities can be found. The section is entitled Treasures Reading Resources. Our comprehension strategy next week will be the concept of how to summarize. The comprehension skill will continue to be Main idea and Details.

Grammar/Language

We will be focusing on the idea of predicates. The predicate, the children will be told, is a part of a sentence that tells what the subject does or is.

SPELLING

Our spelling list will consist of 15 new words and 5 review. The phonics connection is short and long i words Next Friday will begin our first test over these weekly words. I am attaching the list of words for you and your child to review at home on a nightly basis in preparation for this test. ING

Our writing topic for next week will continue to be the ideas and concepts associated with writing a personal narrative. The focus will remain the same throughout the first 5 stories in unit 1. We will be discussing ways that you can write a personal narrative in a variety of formats. We will also review related ideas that pertain to almost any piece of writing. Such as punctuation, spelling, order, etc.

We will begin investigation 2, learning more in our Unit called Coins, Coupons and Combinations. The unit will address concepts related to building number sense. We will be developing counting strategies, exploring patterns and developing fluency with skip counting by 2, 5 and 10, exploring ways to record and keep track of data of large groups, and becoming familiar with coin equivalencies and using money as a model for counting by 5's and 10's. Some of the games from unit one will be arriving home with them as well. The games are to be used at home on any given night for increased practice in their mathematical understanding of number combinations. The directions for the games are listed below. There will be nights that they will be specifically assigned, but they can be used anytime you deem appropriate.

Math Game Directions TENS GO FISH

Materials: Deck of Number Cards 0-10 (four of each) with the Wild cards removed

Players: 2 to 4

How To Play

The object of the game is to get two cards that total 10.

1. Each player is dealt five cards. The rest of the cards are placed face down in the center of the table.

2. If you have any pairs of cards that total 10, put them down in front of you and replace those cards with cards from the deck.

3. Take turns. On a turn, ask one other player for a card that will go with a card in your hand to make 10.

4. If you get a card that makes 10, put the pair of cards down. Take one card from the deck. Your turn is over.

If you do not get a card that makes 10, take the top card from the deck. Your turn is over.

If the card you take from the deck makes 10 with a card in your hand, put the pair down and take another card.

5. If there are no cards left in your hand but still cards in the deck, you take two cards.

6. The game is over when there are no more cards.

7. At the end of the game, make a list of the number pairs you made.

* The rules of this game may be adjusted to make sense for you. Remember, the object is to make pairs of cards that equal 10.

Extensions: Once all of the pairs of combinations are known, extend this activity by adding the wild cards. A number amount must be given to the Wild Card when it is used. For instance, I have a Wild Card and a 7. Then I must say my Wild Card is a 3.

Make combinations using more than two cards to equal 10.

TURN OVER 10

Materials: Deck of Number Cards 0-10 (four of each) plus four wild cards

Players: 2 to 3

How to Play

The object of the game is to turn over and collect combinations of cards that total 10.

1. Arrange the cards face down in four rows of five cards. Place the rest of the deck face down in a pile.

2. Take turns. On a turn, turn over one card and then another. A wild card can be made into any number.

If the total is less than 10, turn over another card.

If the total is more than 10, your turn is over and the cards are turned face down in the same place.

If the total is 10,take the cards and replace them with cards from teh deck. You get another turn.

3. Place each of your card combinations of 10 in separate piles so they don't get mixed up.

4. The game is over when no more 10's can be made.

5. At the end of the game, make a list of the number combinations for 10 that you made.

*If you turn over a Wild Card, you must make it a number amount after you draw a second or third card. For instance, if I draw a Wild Card and a 2, then I must say my Wild Card is an 8. CLOSE TO 20

Materials: Deck of Math Cards (Wild Cards removed to start), Recording Sheet

Players: 2 to 3

Directions:

1. Deal five cards to each player.

2. Take terns. Use any three of your cards to make a total that is as close to 20 as possible.

3. Write these numbers and the total on the Close to 20 Score Sheet.

4. Find your score. The score for the round is the difference between the total and 20. For example, if you choose 8 + 7 + 3, your total is 18 and your score for the round is 2.

5. After you record your score, take that many counters.

6. Put the cards you used in a discard pile and deal three new cards to each player. If you run out of cards before the end of the game, shuffle the discard pile and use those cards again.

7. After five rounds, total your score and count your counters. These two numbers should be the same. The player with the lowest score and the fewest counters is the winner.

CLOSE TO 20 SCORE SHEET

SCORE Round 1: _____ + _____ + ______= ______Round 2: _____ + _____ + ______=

______

Round 3: _____ + _____ + ______=

______

Round 4: _____ + _____ + ______=

______

Round 5: _____ + _____ + ______= ______

TOTAL SCORE ______

SCIENCE/SOCIAL STUDIES

We are focusing on fire safety next week along with a continuation of weather and the water cycle from this week and last.

HOMEWORK

read 20 min (work sent home to complete each night will count as part of the 20 min.)

practice spelling words 5min practice math facts 5min