Week 23

This week we celebrated National Lutheran Schools Week. We had a blast dressing up everyday, cheering at the 8th grade vs. teacher volleyball game, and collecting change for Pastor Sam in India. We even learned a little too:) In science, our chapter is about the Earth and Space. For this chapter, I am going to give the kids two smaller tests followed by a large chapter test at the end (the final chapter test will be open book and note).  The first test over Lesson 1 and 2 will be on Tuesday. We will review on Monday in class and I'll have the kids take home their books and notes on Monday evening. The next test will not be until the following week.

Next week, we are also going to start up math centers! The goal is to better individualize each student's needs, and to give the kids further practice using different manipulatives, games, and smaller group instruction. Because of this, we may not have sufficient class time to finish side A of the homework sheets every day, so don't be alarmed if those come home unfinished. Side B will still be homework.

Also, just wanted to remind everyone that the January book it form is due on Monday, so please remind your child to bring this to school!

Working on tricky words endings

"I have...Who has..." Fact and Opinion Style

Quadruplet Hairstyles on Wacky Tacky Day

Some Wacky Outfits

Howdy Partner!

They found "Zion" in the dictionary and were pretty excited:)

Superheroes!

As part of National Lutheran Schools Week, we joined Mrs. Beaty's 8th grade class to make Valentine's day cards.  It was so fun to watch the younger and older kids working together and having some fun!

Looking Ahead to Next Week:
Memory: 4th Commandment- Honor your father and your mother. 1 Chronicles 16:34- "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, his love endures forever."
Spelling: Lesson 19, chunk -ai
Grammar/Phonics: Suffixes for words ending in Y
Reading: Problem and Solution
Math: Test Thursday OR Friday, I'll let you know:)
Science: Chapter 8 Lesson 1 and 2 Test Tuesday


News
-Wednesday Feb. 4th, dismissal at Noon
-Zion’s Annual Sausage Supper is scheduled for Sunday, February 15 from 12:30 to 7:00 PM.

-Enrollment for 2015-2016 opens to the community on February 1^st.  PDO, PS and younger grades will fill up fast.  Please don’t delay on getting your paperwork filled out online to make sure you have a spot.  We look forward to healthy enrollment in many classes for the upcoming school year.

Week 22

We had a wonderful week in 2nd grade! In reading, we talked a lot about fractured fairytales. We read all sorts of stories from a wild western Cinderella to a "Dustylocks" and the three bears. During guided writing, the students began brainstorming ideas for their own version of a fractured fairytale. I'm excited to see how their great ideas turn out!

This week we also began a keyboarding program called "Keyboarding Without Tears." With this program, the students will hopefully learn basic typing skills, which are extremely beneficial 21st century skills.

Working on subtraction skills using a "wrap up" tool

A math game: the winning team added numbers to 950!

Claude Monet- Water Lily Pond inspired art

This coming week will be National Lutheran Schools Week. The 2nd graders will sing at the 11am service on Sunday. Please have your child meet us in the room up by the balcony by 10:45. After the service, stick around for Zion's open house. Be sure to stop by our classroom and hallway to check out some of their awesome work.
The week will be filled with dress up days and some fun activities.  Monday is PJ day, Tuesday is Wacky Tacky Day, Wednesday is Western Day, Thursday is Spirit Day, Friday is fairytale/superhero day. Our school will also be doing a Change WAR. The goal is to raise money for Pastor Sam and his church ministry in India (the change war will take the place of a chapel offering for the week). Each classroom will have a large bucket. The goal is to fill it with change which counts as positive points. Any bills in our bucket will count as negative points to our score. Scrounge through pockets, couches, and floors to find spare change to help our class win the change war!

Next Week:
Memory: 3rd Commandment Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.

“What is impossible with man is possible with God.”    Luke 18:27

Spelling: Chunk oat/ote
Grammar/Phonics: abbreviations
Reading: Fact and Opinion
Math: TEST Thursday
Science: Chapter 8 The Earth, Moon, and Planets--stay tuned for when this test will be-it's a huge unit and I want to find out where the students are in their knowledge of the information before planning for a test.

***Classroom Wish List: Paper towels

Week 21

This week we talked a lot about fairytales- we read several and discovered that fairytales have a lot of things in common! Ask your 2nd grader about fairytales to see how many special elements they can remember!

This week we talked a lot about fairytales- we read several and discovered that fairytales have a lot of things in common! Ask your 2nd grader about fairytales to see how many special elements they can remember!

This week we also had a great time spending some extra time with our dads as we had donuts for dads followed by chapel. It was so great to see so many dads and grandpas on Wednesday morning. Thank you for being great examples for your kids! What a great reminder that we have a Father in heaven who loves and cares for us too. And who knows, maybe even one day we will get to eat a donut with our Father in heaven:)

Next week for centers, rather than guided reading, I will be leading guided writing to help guide the students as we begin writing our own fractured fairytales. For homework, I will not be sending home a guided reading book. Instead, make sure your child reads for 20 minutes each night. Sign their planner sheets to record their homework as having been completed. Thanks for your help!

Sorry, I don't have pictures for this week. It flew by so fast!


Looking Ahead to Next Week:
Memory: The Second Commandment
You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God.
 “I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”     Matthew 28:20
Spelling: chunk -ee
Grammar/Phonics: commas in a series, past tense words
Reading: Fractured Fairytales
Math: TEST Thursday

News
-No School on Monday for Martin Luther King Jr. Day
-2nd graders will sing at the 11am service on Sunday Jan. 25 to kick off National Lutheran Schools Week
-Change War for Pastor Sam and the Christian Resource Center in India:
Each classroom will have a tub outside of their door throughout NLSW for students to add change (positive) and dollar bills (negative).  The classrooms (prek-3 & 4-8) with the most positive amount by the end of the week will receive a Pizza Party!
-Love and Logic helps:

By being a trusted leader in the market for over 35 years
Parents raise really responsible kids by giving specific strategies, tools/techniques and the actual words to say
People see that they can enjoy healthy, happy relationships

It is not too late  to join the Bible Class on Love and Logic.
Due to the class size we will be meeting in the Family Life Center (lower level of the church, the glassed in room).
Sundays, January 8-March 15, 9:30-10:30

Week 20

It was great to see all of our second graders back at school this week. I really missed everyone! We stayed busy this week learning about homophones, the water cycle, and the differences between fiction and nonfiction books.

Fiction and Nonfiction Book Hunt

Preparing for our Water Cycle Experiment

The Water Cycle in Action

A "Pair of Pears" Homophone Practice

A "Pair of Pears" Homophone Practice

Looking Ahead to Next Week:
Memory: 1st Commandment- You shall have no other gods. Psalm 56:11- "In God I trust, I will not be afraid."
Spelling: Lesson 16, chunk -ear and -ath
Grammar/Phonics: Helping verbs, abbreviations
Math: Test Wednesday
Science: Chapter 7 Test Friday


January is a very busy month here at Zion, so here's a look at what's coming up:
-This Wednesday, January 14, is Donuts for Dad's. Dad's are welcome to come to the church basement beginning at 7 to enjoy a donut (or 2 or 3) with their child. Dad's are welcome to join us for chapel at 8 as well!
-Enrollment Packets were sent home in Friday folders, so you may begin the re-enrollment process online at anytime!
-Love and Logic Parenting class will be offered on Sunday mornings at 9:30 am beginning January 11th. Love and Logic® provides simple solutions, tips, and practical techniques to help adults with kids of all ages to raise responsible kids, have more fun in their role, and strengthen the relationship with the kids in their life. The class will also give you tips, advice, and real solutions. The class will be held in Discipleship Room 1 on the lower level. We hope to see you !-Pack the Gym Night is next Friday, Jan. 16. Join us in the gym as the Zion basketball teams kick off their weekend tournament.
-No School Monday Jan. 19th for Martin Luther King Jr. Day
-National Lutheran Schools Week kicks off on Jan. 25 with an open house of Zion School. Be sure to stop by and say hello as we celebrate our school. The school week to follow will include dress up days and lots of fun activities.

***Our classroom is in desperate need of a few supplies- pencils, pencils, pencils! We could also use expo white board cleaner and kleenexes as the flu season is upon us. Donations would be greatly appreciated!***

Week 19

Wow, the season of Christmas is upon us in full swing! I cannot believe the first semester is complete. We had an extremely busy, but very fun week in 2B. The students performed their advent service and did an amazing job. We also took a trip on the Polar Express on Thursday and travelled to the North Pole, in pajamas of course! The kids and I had a great time! To top it all off, we had a Christmas party on Friday afternoon. Thank you to all who donated their time and energy. The kids had a blast celebrating Jesus' birthday. We were also able to collect a huge table full of toys for the St. Louis children's hospital and a handful of giftcards for the Albritton family. Thank you so much for your generosity in helping others have a wonderful Christmas.
Merry Christmas everyone! Enjoy the time together with family and friends celebrating the greatest gift of all- Christ Jesus our Lord!

Wassily Kandinsky inspired Christmas Trees

Wassily Kandinsky Inspired Christmas Trees

All Aboard the Polar Express!

Hot Chocolate and Donut Holes

Enjoying our snack from the North Pole

Creating Christmas Cards

Tic Tac Toe

Merry Christmas!

Looking Ahead:
Memory:He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?

Romans 8:32

Spelling: Chunk -all

Grammar/Phonics: homophones

Reading: Nonfiction Text Features

Math: Test Tuesday

Science: Chapter 7 Weather, Storms, and the Water Cycle

News: 

-School will resume on Monday Jan. 5th. There will be no school the following Monday 1/13 for Martin Luther King Jr. Day

-Encourage your child to read over break!!! Two weeks is a long time away from school. A reminder that December Book It sheets are due on Monday 1/5. This is for a grade!

-December 24^th services at Zion will be held:

                                                3:00

                                                5:00

                                                11:00

                                    Christmas Day service 9:00 AM

- Donuts for Dad is scheduled for Wed. Jan. 14 at 7am in the church basement. Dads are welcome to come and eat some donuts with their kids before school

-The Big Cat Classic basketball tournament is held January 15 thru the 17^th.  Friday night the 16^th will be a pack the gym night.  8 boys teams and 8 girls teams will compete at Zion and Messiah that weekend.

-LOVE AND LOGIC CLASS- Amy Bernhardt will be teaching a Love and Logic Parenting class on Sunday mornings at 9:30 the class will run 8 weeks beginning on January 11, 2015.  The class will meet in the Discipleship room in the lower level of church.

What Is Love and Logic All About?

The Love and Logic Institute is dedicated to making parenting and teaching fun and rewarding, instead of stressful and chaotic. We provide practical tools and techniques that help adults achieve respectful, healthy relationships with their children. All of our work is based on a psychologically sound parenting and teaching philosophy called Love and Logic.

What Is Love and Logic?

Children learn the best lessons when they're given a task and allowed to make their own choices (and fail) when the cost of failure is still small. Children's failures must be coupled with love and empathy from their parents and teachers.

This practical and straightforward philosophy is backed with 30 years of experience. Parents can apply it immediately to a wide range of situations instead of struggling with difficult counseling procedures.

Week 18

Advent season is definitely upon us. Our class has been very busy practicing for our advent services. The kids have been doing a great job and are all very excited to show off their hard work to everyone--next Wednesday at 10am and 7pm:) For the 10am service wear regular school clothes, and for the 7pm service, please wear nice church clothes. We will meet in the church basement at 6:45 and you may pick up your child from the welcome center after the service.

Matching causes and effects

Matching causes and effects

Presenting their nonfiction books to the class

Practicing phonics through a board game

Some samples of the kids' "Help! I'm trapped in a snow globe!"
writing prompt pictures

Our classroom became a factory with two teams racing to create 10 bags of "2B Snack Mix." We learned that assembly lines are very efficient, and had a lot of fun as well!

Next Week:
No memory
Spelling: chunk ink/ing
Reading: Reader's Theatre
Grammar/Phonics: Syllables and contractions
Math: Lessons 65-67
Social Studies: Transportation of goods
Polar Express Day is on Thursday! Look for the handout in your child's Friday folder for information on this very exciting and fun filled day!

News:

-Christmas Party: Friday afternoon

-We will continue to collect toys for the St. Louis Children's Hospital and gift cards for the Albritton family through Friday, Dec. 19th. 

-End of 2nd Quarter is Friday Dec. 19th

-Christmas Break: 12/22-1/4/15 Classes will resume Monday January 5th

-Love and Logic Parenting class will be offered on Sunday mornings at 9:30 beginning January 11, 2015.

Love and Logic® provides simple solutions, tips, and practical techniques to help adults with kids of all ages:

• Raise responsible kids
• Have more fun in their role
• Strengthen the relationship with the kids in their life
• Tips, advice and real solutions trusted for over 35 years

-Christmas Eve services at Zion will be at 3:00, 5:00, and 11:00. The Christmas Day Service will be at 9:00am.

Week 17

This week we learned about context clues and about how we as the readers need to become detectives to find the clues in order to figure out what unknown words mean. The kids did a great job as they learned vocabulary about sharks during their center time. We also spent a lot of time talking about pollution and what we as good citizens can do to help. Today we started an art project that reuses plastic shopping bags. I can't wait to see how they all turn out!

Context Clue Word Detectives!

Presenting on the differences between environments and how we use nature in each setting 

brainstorming words with -oke, -obe, -ore, and -ope clusters

Our good hallway behavior earned us a 15 second dance party!

Sorting Land, Water, and Air pollution

Reusing plastic bags to make art

Looking Ahead to Next Week:
Memory: He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for all of us- how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Romans 8:32
Spelling: chunk -oo
Reading: Cause and Effect
Grammar/Phonics: linking verbs
Math: Test on Friday
Social Studies: Chapter 6 Goods and Services


Notes:
-Remind your child to be recording their reading on their December Book It Calendar
-Each year during the month of December, each class chooses a service project. Our class will be collecting items for two different service projects! We will be collecting toys for the children at the St. Louis Children's Hospital. We will also be collecting gift cards for the Albritton Family.  The Albrittons lost their son, Drew this past March.  Drew was in Tracie Douglas's preschool class.  Their daughter is in PDO. Giftcards for groceries, restaurants, and places such as Target or Walmart, would be a small thing we could give in order to support them through the difficult holiday season.