Writers' Celebration

    The Writers' Celebration was a great success!  Thank you to all the parents and family members who attended.  The children did an amazing job sharing their stories.  These are a few pictures from the event.  This event was the culmination of our Narrative Writing Unit.  Not only did the children write and illustrate their stories, but they also typed the stories!  The week that we return to school from break we will start our new writing unit on informational writing.  This will start with learning how to write a lab report for science.  Happy Holidays!

 
 

Writers' Celebration Announced

Join us for our Writers’ Celebration at The Second Grade Coffee House Share

Friday, December 18, 2015

 @ 12:30 PM
Room 114

The second graders in Mrs. Schultz’s classroom will share their small moments stories in a “coffee house share format”.  For years coffee houses have allowed writers to share poems, short stories and songs in an open format.  Our second graders will replicate this tradition by sipping hot chocolate while listening to each other share stories we have been writing in class.  Please join us and listen to these wonderful stories and support our young authors.

(Should last no longer than 20 minutes)

School Play - Second Grade Stars!

The Cast

Jaycie as the Old Woman

Braden as the Cow

Caroline

Anthony and Ava

Corey

Faith

Myah - The Narrator

Student work

Add caption

Mental image by Collin

Jaycie connects to the character Ira

Kamal shares what we can learn from Ira's sister's behavior

Book Orders

With the holidays approaching....please consider buying books from the Scholastic Book Club for your child.  Read below to find out how!

Please let me know if you order online so I can process the order! 

Shop Online: scholastic.com/readingclub

Class Activation Code: LNZYR

Dear Families,

Encouraging reading is one of the most important things we can do to help your child succeed. It can be tough finding the right books to keep them interested, which is why I am so excited that our class participates in the Scholastic Reading Club this school year.

With Scholastic Reading Club:

- Every book you buy earns FREE Books for our classroom library

- You can choose from handpicked, grade- and reading-level-specific books for your child

- You'll find the best values on a variety of formats, including eBooks

Each month, your child will bring home Reading Club flyers. Together you can choose from books hand-selected by teachers and experts, and then order online or by returning your order form and payment to me. (PLEASE send cash only, I now order online ONLY).

Thank you for your support, 

Jean Schultz

If This Is Your First Time Ordering Online:

- VISIT  scholastic.com/readingclub

- ENTER the Class Activation Code (top of this letter)

- SHOP from a carefully curated selection of the best books, value packs, and Storia eBooks

- SUBMIT your order and earn FREE Books for our classroom

- All book orders are shipped to the school.  

NOTE:  Please let me know if your order is a surprise for your child and I will hold the order until you can pick it up at school rather than send the order home with your child!

Halloween Fun 2015

    Halloween at Academy School was a lot of fun.  Not only did we have a pumpkin display in the annual pumpkin display contest, but we also participated in the annual parade to Melrose Terrace.  A great time was had by all. 

Reading

    Common Core Reading Standards include expecting kids to read from a variety of mediums (RL2.7, RI 2.5) including digital texts, literature sources and nonfiction sources.  The second graders read from a variety of texts during their independent reading times, as well as in Guided Reading groups.

Jaycie reads from her book bin at reading time.

Abby reads stories written by last year's second graders
 on the class Ipads

Kamal works with his reading group on a Scholastic News Magazine article.

Fundations and Star Behavior!

Fundations is the phonics program we use at Academy School!  Every day we add new concepts to help students learn phonics and spelling rules that will help them in reading and writing.  In the first picture, Caroline is leading the class in reviewing sounds we have learned in prior lessons.  In the second picture, her classmates demonstrate STAR behavior.  Notice how, the students S- Sit up tall, ready to learn, T - Track the speaker as the lesson progresses, A - they are ready to Ask and Answer questions, R - most importantly, they are being Respectful of others around them while they are all taking on the important work of learning.  The second graders are truly Academy STARS!

Technology in the classroom

The pictures below show second graders using Chromebooks at technology time.  Front row is a terrific site for kids to practice math and reading skills.  This site assesses the level of each individual student, and then assigns practice work at the student's independent level.  The students are getting to know the chrome books and learning to navigate the keyboard while

they work on second grade skills.

Science

      The second graders are scientists!  We have been studying the states of matter.  There are three...can you name them?  Your second grader can!  Ask your child what they know about matter.  Not only should he or she know the names of the three states of matter, he or she should also know the definition of each state (or phase).  We have already done three experiments where we have developed a hypothesis, written our observations and come to conclusions about matter.  Over the 6 week study, my class will rotate to each of the other two second grade classes where they will continue to work with Mrs. Cusimano, Ms. Kathy, Ms. Casarella or Ms. Behling to do more experiments!  We will be states of matter experts!  

This is a link to a States of Matter Rap song that the kids just love.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBBmdqti_Kg

                   Here are some photos of our science experiments!

Blue Homework Folders Start Today!

Homework Folders

     Homework Folders go home every Monday (except for short weeks) and they are due back by Friday. I give your child a week to complete the work because I realize how busy families are with after school activities and our busy, hectic lives. Some children need several sittings to get the work done. Especially, children who have extra work in their folder that they haven't completed at school or work they missed when absent from school. PLEASE help your child each week to complete his or her homework by keeping these hints in mind.

1. Make homework a priority. Make a plan with your child to complete all the work in the blue folder.

2. Help your child find a quiet, clean spot to do his or her work. Have your child use a pencil, so mistakes can be erased easily. 

3. Read over the homework with your child. Be sure he or she READS the directions and completes ALL the work.

4. Go over any mistakes and have your child redo errors. Corrections can be done in pen, so that it is clear that help was given in finding errors.

5. Have a high expectation for your child. Tell him or her that you expect him or her to do his or her best on the work. Expect and ask for neatness and complete work. 

These early expectations will set up your child for homework success in future years. Your support is imperative! Thanks!

SUMDOG passwords are on the inside flap of the folders. This is a great way for kids to get extra math practice. 

First days

 

Book Bags - Nightly Reading

      We had a great first couple of weeks.  I love the enthusiasm from this group of kids.  Beginning today, we will be sending home book bags for nightly reading.  

     I really can't stress the importance of nightly reading enough.  

     Your child should be bringing home a book in their book bag nightly.  He or she should read for at least 20 minutes EVERY night.  You should initial one box (no date necessary) after your child has read and then return the book bag to school EVERY day.  Only one box should be initialed on the weekend, even though the expectation is that your child will read each day on the weekend.  Please understand that the initials and stickers are an incentive to get the books and book bags back to school....it is NOT to keep track of how much the child has read.  It is expected that your child will read at least 20 minutes daily.  If your child forgets his or her book bag at home or at school, or if they miss school, then they will not receive an extra sticker if you sign two spots.  No worries.....every child gets a prize eventually.  Remember....the IMPORTANT THING IS THAT YOUR CHILD READS!  Thanks for your support!

       

Our Daily Schedule

Classroom Teacher:  Jean Schultz                        AST: Kathy Cassin                                                Para:            Mary Leary           

	Mon	Tues	Wed	Thurs	Fri
8:25 to 9:30	Morning meeting/Read aloud	All School Sing 8:40 to 9:10	Morning meeting/ read aloud	Morning meeting/read aloud	Morning meeting/read aloud
	9:05 to 9:35 Skills Block	Morning meeting	9:05 to 9:35 Skills Block	Science 9:05-9:35	9:05 to 9:35 Skills Block
9:30 to 10:30	Fundations 9:35-10:05	9:30 to 10:00 Spanish	Fundations 9:35-10:05	Fundations 9:35-10:05	Fundations    9:35-10:05
	10:05-10:15 snack	10:05-10:15 snack	10:05-10:15 snack	10:05-10:15 snack	10:05-10:15         snack
10:30 to 11:30	10:15-11:15 Math	10:15-11:15 Math	10:15-11:15 Math	10:15-11:15 Math	10:15-11:15 Math
	11:15 to 12:10	11:15 to 12:10	11:15 to 12:10	11:15 to 12:10	11:15 to 12:10
11:30 to 12:30	Lunch/Recess	Lunch/Recess	Lunch/Recess	Lunch/Recess	Lunch/Recess
	Guided Reading 12:15-1:00	Guided Reading 12:15-1:00	Guided Reading 12:15-1:00	Guided Reading 12:15-1:00	Guided Reading 12:15-1:00
12:30 to 1:30	“	“	“	“	“
	Writing 1:00- 1:45	Fundations 1:00-1:30	Writing 1:00-1:45	1:00 to 1:30 Library	Writing    1:00 -1:40
1:30 to 2:30	“	Writing 1:30-2:05	“	Writing 1:30-2:00	“
	1:45-2:00 Chapter Book	2:05-2:15 Chapter Book	Science 1:45-2:30	Technology/ Engineering 2:00-2:30	1:40 to 2:10 Music
2:30 to 2:50	2:00 to 2:40 Art	2:15 to 2:45 PE	Chapter book 2:30-2:45	Chapter book 2:30-2:45	2:15 to 2:45 PE