Our Sound Parade

Last Friday morning, the second grade classes headed outside and gave a "Sound Parade" for our first grade friends. The students had such a good time making all the noise they wanted to outside! As teachers, we're always talking about using inside voices, but this was an opportunity for us to tell the kids to be as loud as they wanted! :) The instruments were so creative, and the students really seemed to understand the concepts of pitch, volume, and sound vibrations. Thanks for all of the help you provided the kiddos at home!

Later in the day, we had our "Authors' Celebration" during Writer's Workshop to culminate our study of personal narratives. One of the writing mini-lessons that stuck with the kids the most was when we talked about how everyone has big "watermelon" events in their lives (i.e. going to Kings Island, having a birthday party), but as writers we want to focus on the small moments or "seed story." When I was at Kroger, I came across watermelon cookies, so I thought these would be perfect for our Authors' Celebration. The kids chose their favorite personal narrative and then enjoyed a watermelon cookie while they shared their pieces with their writing buddy.

Kennedi enjoying her watermelon cookie after sharing her personal narrative.

Watermelon Cookies

Fun Friday!

The kids had a great time during our Jog For Jefferson fundraiser on Friday! The weather was absolutely perfect! I'm glad so many of you were able to join us! Here are a few pics that I was able to snap while the kids ran.

Hofmann's Lincoln Lions!

Getting ready to run!

Cooling off with a drink!

Look how many laps our class ran!

Time to enjoy popsicles!

During the afternoon, it was time for our Quints Baby Shower! Each child shared what "qu" item they brought the Quints. After showering our little Quints with our make-believe gifts, we enjoyed a small treat of animal crackers and lemonade. Hopefully, the "qu" spelling is permanently stuck in their memories!

Our tiny guests

Rylee enjoying her baby shower treat.

Addition Combinations

Frankie and Ashlynn playing "Plus 1 or 2 Bingo."

Last week we began learning strategies to help us memorize our basic addition combinations. The children each have a ring with their addition combinations printed on tiny cards so that they can practice throughout the day. But, since flashcards can get a little boring, we incorporate a lot of fun and easy math games into our mornings to make learning our addition facts more exciting. Last week we learned the games "Plus 1 or 2 Bingo," "Make Ten," and "Tens Go Fish." This week we will begin learning our doubles combinations and some fun games to help us commit those combinations to memory. I always send home the directions to these games so that you can practice at home. (These games are especially great to save for rainy days or when your child is saying that he/she is bored!) 

Even and Odd

The children have had a lot of fun exploring even and odd numbers in math during the first few weeks of school. We learned that even numbers are all the numbers you say when you count by twos, and that even numbers can make partners and equal teams. We learned that odd numbers are all the numbers you don't say when counting by twos, and that someone is always left out when trying to make partners or teams. The kids especially enjoyed creating our "Even and Odd Street" last week. Each child was given a house and a number. The children who received even numbers created houses that were exactly alike, while the children who received an odd number created houses that were colorful and crazy!

 

Curtis and Caden showing off their even and odd houses.

Even and Odd Street is complete!