Sailors' Blog - Blog

4/12/2021

Flying into the Week Like...

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FYI:
Important Dates -
Tuesday, April 8th - B Day!!! Our Super Secret ABC End of the Year Countdown continues this week. Thanks for helping it stay as secretive as possible! :)

Water Bottles/Snack Stash -
We would LOVE some more snacks for our Snack Stash. If you have any to spare, we'd be so grateful!

Just a friendly reminder to please send a water bottle with your Sailor each day. It really helps our day go so much smoother when they have their own bottle from home. Thank you so much. :)

Sailors' Schedule:
Library - Books due TUESDAY :) We have Library on Tuesdays from 8:30 - 9:00
Specials - A day PE, B day Music, C day ABL, D day Health, E day Art (Daily 12:00 - 12:30)
Lunch - 12:45 - 1:15

Scholastic Book Club - Scholastic is offering shipping to your home now, too.
Class Code - VJK36

Math -
Last week we classified 2-D shapes as polygons or non-polygons, quadrilaterals, and parellograms. We had a blast making shape people! We even listed our shape's attributes. We're loving Geometry!

ELA -
Last week we wrapped up our Spring Poetry, but this week we'll learn more about poetry with figurative language. We'll try out writing a few new types of poetry over the next couple weeks. I can't wait to see what they dream up!

During our daily Reading time, I'll begin re-assessing all of our Sailors to have an updated end of the year reading level. I'll be meeting with groups to continue small group word work, too!

Weekly spelling focus: open and closed syllables

pencil, magnet, publish, supper, letter, lady, gravy, solo, open, odor

4/6/2021

YAY for A Day on Thursday!

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Grace A. made my day with the mini basket of goodies she made me! She's one creative Sailor.

Peek at the Week:

Math -
We are learning all about 3-D shapes at the beginning of Chapter 11. Then we'll turn our attention to 2-D shapes. We will discover shapes that are Polygons and shapes that are Not Polygons. We'll also learn about how a shape can be classified in different ways but still be the same. For example, a square is also recognized as a 4 sided polygon which is also called a quadrilateral.

ELA -
Last week we worked on writing Spring Poetry. This week we are polishing it up to transform our sloppy copies into our finished work.

During our daily Reading time, I'll begin re-assessing all of our Sailors to have an updated end of the year reading level. I'll be meeting with groups to continue small group word work, too!

Weekly spelling focus: short vowel digraphs ea, ou, y

dead, ahead, lead, thread, bread, breath, touch, trouble, gym, myth

Cayden was my first Sailor to ever attempt an April Fool's prank! He did a little diaper dump in our room! Well done, Buddy!

Lynzi was spotted working hard during our animal habitat scavenger hunt. We were impressed with what the first graders created this year!

FYI:
Important Dates -
Thursday, April 8th - A Day!!! Our Super Secret ABC End of the Year Countdown begins this Thursday. Thanks for helping it stay as secretive as possible! :)
Friday, April 9th - Teacher Planning Day - No School for Students

Water Bottles/Snack Stash - Our Snack Stash is in pretty good shape right now, but we will always happily accept more. Just a friendly reminder to please send a water bottle with your Sailor each day. It really helps our day go so much smoother when they have their own bottle from home. Thank you so much. :)

Sailors' Schedule:
Library - Books due TUESDAY :) We have Library on Tuesdays from 8:30 - 9:00
Specials - A day PE, B day Music, C day ABL, D day Health, E day Art (Daily 12:00 - 12:30)
Lunch - 12:45 - 1:15

Scholastic Book Club - Scholastic is offering shipping to your home now, too.
Class Code - VJK36

3/29/2021

The Final Countdown!

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"I Spy Spring When..."

When you see your little bro at recess, you must take a picture!

FYI:
Important Dates -
Friday, April 2nd - Board Approved Holiday - No School
Monday, April 5th - Board Approved Holiday - No School
Friday, April 9th - Teacher Planning Day - No School for Students

Super Secret ABC End of the Year Countdown - If you're interested in donating items, we'd really appreciate it! This is always one of their favorite memories from second grade. Please see the pdf attachment from my email for more information.

Water Bottles/Snack Stash - Our Snack Stash is in pretty good shape right now, but we always happily accept more. Just a friendly reminder to please send a water bottle with your Sailor each day. It really helps our day go so much smoother when they have their own bottle from home. Thank you so much. :)

Sailors' Schedule:
Library - Books due TUESDAY :) We have Library on Tuesdays from 8:30 - 9:00
Specials - A day PE, B day Music, C day ABL, D day Health, E day Art (Daily 12:00 - 12:30)
Lunch - 12:45 - 1:15

Scholastic Book Club - Scholastic is offering shipping to your home now, too.
Class Code - VJK36

Peek at the Week:

Math -
We assessed over Chapter 8 Measurement on Friday. This week we are fast forwarding to Chapter 11 Geometry. We'll go back and cover the other chapters after Geometry.

ELA -
Last week we worked on a writing craftivity. Their writing was almost poetic for "I Spy Spring When..." It was so fun seeing the finished pieces with their adorable glesses wearing bunnies!

I've been having so much fun meeting with groups to work on their word work and reading. This week we'll stock up our baggie books before our four day weekend! Feel free to send me pictures of your Sailor reading (it can be any book they want) in their natural habitat at home. :)

Weekly spelling focus: open and closed syllables

pencil, magnet, publish, supper, letter, lady, gravy, solo, open, odor

3/22/2021

Hopping into Spring!

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FYI:
Snack Stash - Thank you so much for sending snacks! We really appreciate all the snacks that you've sent so far. Thank you!!!

Scholastic Book Club - Scholastic is offering shipping to your home now, too.
Class Code - VJK36

Sailors' Schedule:
Specials - A day PE, B day Music, C day ABL, D day Health, E day Art (Daily 12:00 - 12:30)
Lunch - 12:45 - 1:15
Library - Books due TUESDAY :) We have Library on Tuesdays from 8:30 - 9:00

Peek at the Week:

Math -
We will wrap up our measurement this week! We'll assess over Chapter 8 on Friday. A practice assessment will come home on Thursday. We've had so much fun getting our hands on our measurement tools and measuring up a storm! We even got to measure Mr. Martin and Mr. Day. It took a lot of helpers to measure their heights.

ELA -
We'll be hopping into some Spring writing this week. The Sailors will get to do some creative writing. They'll finish the prompt - "I spy spring when..." We'll work on taking this piece through the writing process. We'll add a fun craft to it on Fun Friday to complete our special writing piece.

We'll continue reading our Wonders leveled books in our groups. I'll meet with them briefly to work on these books as well as some word work. When they're not working with me, they'll be going on word hunts with their table mates, reading to self, reading with a buddy at their table, or listening to reading on their Chromebooks.

Weekly spelling focus: variant vowels - oo, u, u_e, ew, ue, ui, ou (*Same as the week before break)
room, flu, June, new, glue, fruit, crook, could, full, push

3/8/2021

There's a Wocket in our Pocket!

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Cheez-it socks! Now that's a first. :)

Peek at the Week:

Math -
Last week we assessed over Chapter 7 (Time and Money). Their assessment will be sent home this week. This week we'll begin Chapter 8 (Measurement).

ELA -
This week we'll read a story about the first African American female pilot this week called Brave Bessie. We're focusing on Biographies. We'll learn more about Amelia Earhart to learn more about these two brave women who pioneered their way into the sky and history!

We'll continue reading our Wonders leveled books in our groups. I'll meet with them briefly to work on these books as well as some word work. When they're not working with me, they'll be going on word hunts with their table mates, reading to self, reading with a buddy at their table, or listening to reading on their Chromebooks.

Weekly spelling focus: variant vowels - oo, u, u_e, ew, ue, ui, ou
room, flu, June, new, glue, fruit, crook, could, full, push

FYI:
Snack Stash - Thank you so much for sending snacks! We really appreciate all the snacks that you've sent so far. Thank you!!!

Spring Break: Begins Friday, March 12th. School Resumes on March 22nd.

MPE Spring Book Fair - Class code: JYW39E

Scholastic Book Club - Scholastic is offering shipping to your home now, too.
Class Code - VJK36

Sailors' Schedule:
Specials - A day PE, B day Music, C day ABL, D day Health, E day Art (Daily 12:00 - 12:30)
Lunch - 12:45 - 1:15
Library - Books due TUESDAY :) We have Library on Tuesdays from 8:30 - 9:00

3/2/2021

Hello, March!

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Peek at the Week:

Math -
Last week we began our lessons on telling time. They seem to really be getting the hang of it! We have learned that the small hand is the hour hand and we can remember that because "h-o-u-r" is a short word. Additionally, the big hand is the minute hand and we can remember that because "m-i-n-u-t-e" is a long word. Another trick we use, "If the minute hand is up... we know it's o'clock!" We also focused on the five minute intervals and telling time to the hour and half hour last week.

This week we'll wrap up money and time and take our Chapter 7 assessment on Friday. Their practice assessment will come home on Thursday.

Please continue to have your Sailor practice counting coins at home. Maybe if they count it correctly, they could keep the change! ;)

ELA -
Last week we continued our study of similes and created "namebows." They wrote similes describing themselves and wrote them on rainbows! They turned out great!

Last week we wrote using the prompt, "Who is worth more to you than gold?" I love seeing the kind things they write about the people they hold near and dear to their heart.

This week we'll continue reading our Wonders leveled books in our groups. I'll meet with them briefly to work on these books as well as some word work. When they're not working with me, they'll be going on word hunts with their table mates, reading to self, reading with a buddy at their table, or listening to reading on their Chromebooks.

Weekly spelling focus: oi and oy
soil, broil, oil, toil, moist, point, coin, noise, toy, joy

FYI:

Spring Parent-Teacher Phone Conferences - Spring conferences are optional. :) Thursday, March 11th - If you sign up for a conference please send me a quick email of what you'd like me to focus on during our conversation together. Thanks so much! :)

Snack Stash - Thank you so much for sending snacks! We really appreciate all the snacks that you've sent so far. Thank you SO much!

MPE Spring Book Fair - Our class code: JYW39E

Scholastic Book Club - Scholastic is offering shipping to your home now, too.
Class Code - VJK36

Spring Break: Begins Friday, March 12th. School Resumes on March 22nd.

Sailors' Schedule:
Specials - A day PE, B day Music, C day ABL, D day Health, E day Art (Daily 12:00 - 12:30)
Lunch - 12:45 - 1:15
Library - Books due TUESDAY :) We have Library on Tuesdays from 8:30 - 9:00

2/22/2021

Our Sailors are as Sweet as Hot Chocolate

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A Peek at the Week:

Math -
This week we're continuing with counting money, but adding coins up to a dollar as well as over a dollar. Then we'll move into Telling Time!

Please continue to have your Sailor practice counting coins at home. Maybe if they count it correctly, they could keep the change! ;)

ELA -
Last week we learned about similes and practiced writing our very own similes about hot chocolate!

We've learned about so many impressive people during Black History Month. This week is our final week focusing on these important figures. However, we'll certainly continue celebrating their efforts all year long! We've definitely been inspired.

This week's main story is Grace for President. It's a great story that helps teach us about point of view and voting in America. We'll be focusing on "How to be a good citizen."

Baggie books went home last week! I'm going to meet with my first group this week. I'm so excited! Groups will be a little different since I'll be coming to their table to meet with them instead of having them come to my reading table. The groups will also be a little shorter than usual to help keep everyone safe with the "15 minutes of exposure" guideline. We'll get as creative as we can!

They'll be able to choose more leveled books for their bags soon. For now, they have a single leveled reader that goes along with the Wonders work we're doing that week.

Weekly spelling focus: ow and ou
sound, mound, pound, cloud, shout, clown, brown, crown, howl, growl

FYI:
Important Dates:

Spring Parent-Teacher Phone Conferences - Spring conferences are optional. :) Thursday, March 11th - If you sign up for a conference please send me a quick email of what you'd like me to focus on during our conversation together. I really appreciate it!

Snack Stash - Our snack stash is pretty low. We'd be so grateful for any individually wrapped snacks that you could spare. We have several Sailors who need to use our snack stash each day and I hate the thought of anyone having to go hungry until our lunch at 12:45. Thanks so much for considering!

MPE Spring Book Fair - Begins Wednesday, February 17th! Our class code: JYW39E

FFA Children’s Book Drive - The Mahomet-Seymour FFA is holding a children's book drive during the week of February 22-26. Please consider donating gently used books or new books. All books will be donated to the Orphan's Treasure Box.

Scholastic Book Club - Scholastic is offering shipping to your home now, too.
Class Code - VJK36

Sailors' Schedule:
Specials - A day PE, B day Music, C day ABL, D day Health, E day Art (Daily 12:00 - 12:30)
Lunch - 12:45 - 1:15
Library - Books due TUESDAY :) We have Library on Tuesdays from 8:30 - 9:00

2/16/2021

Spring Book Fair is Here!

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I feel like Grace A's snowman is even looking like they're over winter. Am I right?!

A Peek at the Week:

Math - I have been so happy to hear so many Sailors say, "This is the best math ever!" in regards to our new chapter! We are LOVING money in Chapter 7. Let your Sailor practice counting coins at home. Maybe if they count it correctly, they could keep the change! ;)

ELA - We're reading poetry in our Wonders book this week. We'll learn about similes. We've been celebrating our nonfiction writing with our class, it'll be coming home with your Sailor soon! Are you all learning some fun facts from the Black History Study we've been doing? So far we've covered: Harriet Tubman, Ruby Bridges, George Washington Carver, Jackie Robinson, Michael Jordan, Simone Biles, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Weekly spelling focus is: are, air, ear, ere
dare, stare, fare, hair, pair, chair, bear, pear, where, there

FYI:
Important Dates:
Spring Book Fair - Begins Wednesday, February 17th! Our class code: JYW39E Flyer will be coming home with your Sailor on Thursday.

Scholastic Book Club - Scholastic is offering shipping to your home now, too.
Class Code - VJK36

Sailors' Schedule:
Specials - A day PE, B day Music, C day ABL, D day Health, E day Art (Daily 12:00 - 12:30)
Lunch - 12:45 - 1:15
Library - Books due TUESDAY :) We have Library on Tuesdays from 8:30 - 9:00

2/9/2021

Whale You Be My Valentine?

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FYI:
Sailors' Schedule:
Specials - A day PE, B day Music, C day ABL, D day Health, E day Art (Daily 12:00 - 12:30)
Lunch - 12:45 - 1:15
Library - Books due TUESDAY :) We have Library on Tuesdays from 8:30 - 9:00

Important Dates:
Friday, February 12th - Sailors Celebrate Valentine's Day! Sailors Celebrate Hard Work and Conquering Chapter 6 in Math with PAJAMAS and STUFFIES! Happy Chinese New Year!!!
Monday, February 15th - Presidents' Day - No school for students or teachers

Scholastic Book Club - Scholastic is offering shipping to your home now, too.
Class Code - VJK36

Thank goodness for all of our walkers to help get us through our 100th day of school!

Now I can say I've seen everything! A Sailor doing cross stitch. :)

A Peek at the Week:
Chinese New Year - I'm pretty sure last Friday was our favorite day so far this year. Michael and his family made our day magical! We learned so many neat traditions and superstitions. We crafted Chinese paper lanterns, rocked red for good luck, studied so many good read alouds, and even ended our day receiving red envelopes from Michael filled with gold coins. It was the BEST day!

Math - We're assessing over Chapter 6 on Wednesday. It's the first time we'll have a mix of addition and subtraction for 3 digit numbers with and without regrouping. A practice assessment will be coming home with your Sailor on Tuesday!

ELA - We're continuing our Black History study this week. In Wonders, our question of the week is: how can we relate to nature. We're also wrapping up our nonfiction writing this week. We'll celebrate by reading it with our class, but also sharing it with some of our previous teachers! They are so proud of their work. That makes me one proud teacher!

Weekly spelling focus is: eer, ere, ear
deer, cheers, steer, here, jeer, near, ear, dear, clear, spear

2/2/2021

Hello February!

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FYI:
Sailors' Schedule:
Specials - A day PE, B day Music, C day ABL, D day Health, E day Art (Daily 12:00 - 12:30)
Lunch - 12:45 - 1:15
Library - Books due TUESDAY :) We have Library on Tuesdays from 8:30 - 9:00

Important Dates:
Tuesday, February 2nd - Happy Groundhog's day!
Wednesday, February 3rd - 100th Day of School *Dress like you're 100 years old!
Friday, February 5th - Cards for Valentine Exchange are due
Friday, February 5th - Sailors Celebrate and learn about Chinese New Year! Michael and his family are our teachers. :) We are so excited to learn about this holiday together!

Baggie Books - I am making great progress assessing our Sailors' reading. I'm so excited to start meeting with groups and sending baggie books home ASAP! I'll let you know once I finish the entire class.

Scholastic Book Club - Scholastic is offering shipping to your home now, too.
Class Code - VJK36

A Peek at the Week:
Math - We're starting to get the hang of this three digit regrouping business. This chapter involves addition and subtraction! We'll also add in some 100 day math fun!

ELA - We're learning about different celebrations and different cultures in our Wonders stories this week. We'll be reading many texts about Chinese New Year and hearing many stories about important people during our Black History study.

Weekly spelling focus is: or, ore, oar, ar
port, north, more, store, oar, roar, board, part, start, park