Holly Jolly December

Solving Math Stories Using Bar Modeling

We absolutely L-O-V-E bar modeling because we can show how we solve math stories, or word problems in an engaging and challenging way!
The children have been working hard to solve each math story by answering these four questions:
1.  What do we already know?
2.  What type of bar model would work best to solve this math story?
3.  What question(s) are we trying to answer?
4.  Are there any "hidden" questions to answer? (may require multiple steps)

Here are several examples of students writing their own math stories using the app Educreations on our iPads, and then demonstrating their mathematical thinking and problem solving skills using bar models.

After creating and solving our own math stories, we swapped iPads and solved another classmate's math story.

Cole has written a part-part-whole math story and solved it using bar models.

We've used several different strategies to help us solve math stories, and your children really love the challenge of solving more complex math stories, so take a peek at some of the addition and subtraction word stories we have solved in class.  Please click below to practice your bar modeling skills using Thinking Blocks.

Erin uses technology to help demonstrate her mathematical thinking.

The answer is 127... what is the problem?  Trey demonstrates solid mathematical thinking by working backwards!

Bea proudly displays her math story using solid problem solving skills!

Common Core Standard 2.NBT.B.7 

Number & Operations in Base Ten

Use place value understanding and properties of operations to add and subtract.

 Add and subtract within 1000, using concrete models or drawings and strategies based on place value, properties of operations, and/or the relationship between addition and subtraction; relate the strategy to a written method. Understand that in adding or subtracting three-digit numbers, one adds or subtracts hundreds and hundreds, tens and tens, ones and ones; and sometimes it is necessary to compose or decompose tens or hundreds.

Author Matt Tavares Visits

We were so excited to meet a real published author, Matt Tavares author of Zachary's Ball. He spoke to us about how he comes up with ideas, the writing process, publishing a book and demonstrating how he creates his illustrations. We learned so many helpful tips to become better writers and illustrators ourselves. It was reassuring to hear that Matt begins writing just as we do with our own writing! He often takes real experiences from his life (personal narratives) and adds in details from his imagination to make an interesting story. Thank you TESPTO for bringing us such an inspirational author! Many of Matt Tavares' books are available for purchase through TESPTO, please look in your child's backpack for an order form if you are interested.

Click on the author's name to learn more about the journey Matt Tavares has traveled to become an author.

Matt demonstrated the importance each illustration plays in "telling his story in pictures."

Matt Tavares has been drawing since he was in 2nd grade. WOW...can you imagine with practice what you can accomplish!

Family Traditions

Happy Thanksgiving Second Graders!

Please read the question below and double-click on the wall.  Fill in your name (first name ONLY) and then answer the question.  Remember to write in complete sentences, use capital letters and correct punctuation.

Created with Padlet

Common Core Standard Addressed: W.2.6

Writing Production and Distribution of Writing
With guidance and support from adults, use a variety of digital tools to produce and publish writing, including in collaboration with peers.

Use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing and to interact and collaborate with others.

Inferring Character Traits

The children have uncovered character traits as they're read several favorite realistic fiction titles. Take a peek at our hard work below.  Amazing Grace has fast become one of our class favorites, the children learned  and through inferring character traits we have learned more about

Your Voice, Your Vote, Gives YOU Power!

The children have been studying the similarities and differences between our local and state governments, how they work and the children experienced first hand the responsibilities of being an informed voter!  We invited the Steward School second graders to participate in voting with us for a new Massachusetts governor.  Take a peek at some of the future leaders of our community and state.

"Name please, you're all set."  Nice job Alex!

Someday when we're 18 years old, we will be able to vote!

Every vote counts!

Our "mock election" was so close. The winner is....  Martha Coakley 34 votes & Charlie Baker 33 votes.

The children wrote first drafts of their governor speeches and are ready to hit the campaign trail. Students were required to choose one idea to make our state better for its citizens and build on how they would achieve their goal.  I think we have an amazing group of civic minded citizens who I know will make a positive difference in the world!

Connor has some wonderful ideas if he becomes governor.

Bea, you are such a wonderful environmentalist!

What a great game plan Bea, watch out Charlie Baker!

Once the results were tallied it was clear that it was going to be a close race to determine our new governor.  Here are the results we used to create our bar models during math.  Once we calculated that there were 67 second grade voters, the children were told that the winner won the election by one single vote and they were asked to calculate the missing data.  Here are several examples of students demonstrating their thinking using bar modeling. W-O-W... very impressive!

Cole created two part-part-whole bar models to demonstrate the number of students who voted for Coakley & Baker.

Lincoln invited his grandfather to our classroom recently and we learned how the town budget helps to support our school and other projects and services in our town.  The Selectman discussed the importance of voting when we turn 18 years old, and the students learned the importance of their voice in local, state and national governments.

Topsfield Selectman, Lincoln's grandfather visited our class recently to discuss the town's budget.

H-A-P-P-Y H-A-L-L-O-W-E-E-N

The children enjoyed making chenille & beaded spiders, writing their names in cursive and decorating them into spooky and interesting creatures, playing pumpkin bingo and finally wrapping one another up like mummies using toilet tissue.  We all had a blast, and would like to send a special thank you to all the family members who joined us.  The children's costumes made me smile....some were "scary," sweet and funny... but all were creative!  A special thank you to our room mother, Mia's mom for her strong organization and for planning a memorable Halloween event.

We Love to Read

The children enjoyed several Halloween books today, as we had a few Mystery Readers appear at our door.  Thanks to Daniel, a former student and Colin's mom and grandmother for their visits.  I know you surprised us all and we loved all three books! Happy Halloween!

Thank you for reading The Monsterator and The ish Book.

We L-O-V-E-D listening to Daniel read.

We have been working hard to improve our reading comprehension skills through several reading strategies: using visualizations or "making a movie in your mind," and making connections to ourselves, another book we've read, or to our world.

"Making a movie in our minds" helps us to understand the setting, characters and events in our book so much better.

Lincoln is working hard to add more details to his visualization.

Natalie proudly shows her work!

Here are a few questions the students developed for our first Skype.

Colin has an opportunity to ask his question.

Thank you Mrs. Klipfel for your wonderful expertise as the children enjoyed their first opportunity to Skype this year.  We connected with a group of first graders in Middleton and shared our thinking with one another. We made predictions, asked questions and even made some very strong inferences.   WOW... our comprehension skills are improving daily!

Standards Covered

RL. 2.1: Ask and answer questions  as who, what, where, when, why, how to demonstrate understanding of key details in a text. 

RL. 2.3: Describe how characters in a story respond to major events and challenges.

SL.2.2: Recount or describe key ideas or details from a text
 read aloud or information presented orally or through other
 media.

Our First Mystery Readers

Today the children welcomed Natalie's grandparents who had surprised her with a visit to our classroom.  They shared two engaging books and Natalie sat with pride while her grandmother, a former school teacher and her grandfather, a retired primary school principal asked the children several questions and even shared a bit of French.  The children loved both stories, but I believe Baxter the Dog was their favorite, which was written by Deedee's friend.  I'm sure Natalie will enjoy snuggling with her new stuffed dog.  Thank you so much Popa and Deedee, we had a blast and hope you did too!

Natalie's Popa and Deedee from Florida were our first Mystery Readers to share books with us this year.

Thank you for the bookmarks...we LOVE to read!

Halloween Celebration

Our Halloween Celebration is planned for Friday, October 31st from 10:00-11:00.  Children are invited to bring their Halloween costumes to school, please label all belongings so they can be returned for their Trick-or-Treating adventures later that evening. Please leave any props at home so they will not be accidentally left at school. Thank you in advance to the families who have agreed to donate healthy treats and supplies for our classroom celebration. Parents are welcome to join us if you are available.  A very special thank you to our Room Mother, Mrs. J. for organizing what promises to be a memorable celebration.

Click on the link below to help remind your children to be safe during the Halloween season.

Halloween Safety Tips

 

We are Entomologists!

We began our research skills this year with a focus on insects, as a culminating activity the children wrote a mini-research report, drew their insects and using their first person voice spoke as their insect, and finally recited a poem by Ethel Jacobson, called Insects' World. 

Please click on the image below to hear and watch all we have learned.

Dear Parents and students,
Please click on the "No Comments" button below and share two new facts you learned from our entomologists.  Be sure to click on PUBLISH and leave your first names only!

The children were captivated while they watched and listened to each insect report. 

Cole learned that the horn tail wasp is related to the termite and doesn't sting people.

Mia's  butterfly has left for her long migration to Mexico..."tootles!"

Elements of Realistic Fiction

The children have been working hard to determine the elements of realistic fiction, we have read several picture books to model these elements and then determined how they play an important role in reading different genres.  This is a recent example of a new classroom favorite, Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partrige by Mem Fox.  The children worked hard to add specific details, especially when describing the problem and solution to the BIG problem in the story.

The children inferred that Wilfrid was a caring and thoughtful boy. They found evidence from their
reading that Wilfrid's actions and words showed that he helped Miss Nancy "find her memory."

The children recently read Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman, a story about a little girl who wants to be Peter Pan in her school play.  Her classmates say she is NOT allowed, because she is a black girl and she can't play the role of a white boy.  Grace practices all weekend and is chosen to be Peter Pan after all... the author's message is that "you can do anything you want!"

Bea and Margo work hard to fill in the graphic organizer as they identify the elements of realistic fiction.

Gavin and Alex are looking for "direct evidence from their reading" to help infer character traits.

The Butterflies Have Emerged!

The students were making their final observations when "right before our eyes" (quoted from Alex) two butterflies emerged from their chrysalises! The children have named the first butterfly, Jeremy and we are anxiously awaiting the name of our second butterfly.

Every student silently observed our first butterfly emerge from his chrysalis...meet Jeremy!

We are planning to release all 19 butterflies soon so that they can safely migrate their way to warmer weather in Mexico.  Click on the highlighted word above to see a National Geographic video showing the long migration of Monarch butterflies arriving in Mexico.

Can you predict how long it will take for our classroom butterflies to make their way to Mexico? Watch the video first and then use your new knowledge to form a strong prediction, record your prediction below in comments.  Be sure to share your prediction with family and friends.

Can you see the proboscis?

One last chrysalis left, I wonder how much longer it will be before a beautiful butterfly emerges?