BookFLIX

Friday I showed the kids how to get onto BookFLIX.  They LOVED it!!  This is a great way for kids to listen to or read books online at home.  There are hundreds to choose from.  Each week at school, the kids have a day they are able to go online and get on bookFLIX or on the LEAD 21 site.  Here is the information so your kids can listen at home as well.  I know some have already done this; I sent home information about it conferences night.

Go to the address www.aea1.k12.ia.us
Clink on online resources - then click on BookFLIX

User name: kaea137
Password: kaea01

Brrrrr...it's cold!!!

Well....I guess old man winter decided to pay us an early visit this year!!  I can't believe we have had snow already this year AND a late start!!  Please make sure that you watch the news, listen to the radio, or get a text message when we have winter weather.  That way you're not bringing your child to school earlier than needed.

This week in literacy we have been discussing several comprehension strategies: make inferences, recall and retell, and author's purpose.  

• We learned that author's don't write everything in the story so we need to use what we already to know to figure out what the author means - this is making inferences.  It's a really difficult comprehension strategy to understand so I am pleased that my kiddos are beginning to understand this.  
• Another GREAT strategy is recall and retell - I'm working with my kids to make sure they understand and remember what they read.  When readers recall and retell they need to think about what the page was about and then tell someone about it.  This is a great strategy to practice at home.  
• Finally, we continue to discuss why author's are writing their stories: to inform, to persuade, or to entertain. 

In math we are practicing our addition and subtraction strategies and our money skills!!  We went to a "farmer's market" in our math journals and bought fruit and vegetables.  Second graders are expected to recognize and count coins so please help your child with this if you see them struggling.  Next week I am going introduce making change...yikes!!!

This week, students wrote a personal narrative about a time they overcame a problem.  They did a super job with this!  Yesterday we did an activity to practice stretching sentences.  As an class we started with a basic sentence: We had fun.  Students needed to add details to it and turn it into a complex sentence.  Then, they were able to practice this with partners and share them with the class.  I expect my second graders to write good, complex sentences.

I hope everyone has a super weekend.  It sounds like we are supposed to have decent weather so hopefully you are able to enjoy the outdoors.  Please continue to read with your child each night!!

Halloween Party

Last week we had a successful Halloween party.  Thanks to the volunteers that donated pumpkins and helped carve!!!  The kids had a super time and did a great job working together to carve the pumpkins.  Here are a few pictures from the party.