Spelling Words Week 10/31

Homework will be light Halloween night.  1-15 spellings words, write them out three times each and the B side of math.  Have a safe and spooktacular Halloween!
Short vowel sounds yet some of the words don't have the actual vowels in their words.

1.  give
2.  come
3.  does
4.  been
5.  done
6.  head
7.  live
8.  some
9.  have
10. said
11. already
12. adjective
13. measure
14. become
15. instead

Where did Renee go?

Who pulled the bank heist?

Happy Halloween!

Intricate artwork by our second graders

Mahir and mom. Happy Diwali!

Rohan and mom painting his diya at Diwali's celebration

Weekly Highlights Mrs. Barulich 10/28/11

Oliver   -   I really liked today's Halloween carnival and parade.  I also liked the mummy wrap races, celebrating Diwali with 2B and watching Jason and the Argonauts.

Liam    -    I liked singing the Ten Nights of Halloween, today's carnival and mummy wrap races.  You have to be very careful as the wrapper.    I also liked celebrating Diwali with 2B.

Vicki    -   I liked the parade, my classmates, the carnival, mummy wrap races, singing the Ten Nights of Halloween to my parents and being the spooky owl in the gnarled tree, Woot, Woot!

Kenna   -  I liked everything about this week!  Especially the fruit platter that my dad brought to the class party and Mrs. Barulich!

Madeline - I liked gymnastics, the mummy wrap races, the parade, carnival and celebrating Diwali.  The mango juice and samosas were so good!

Stefan    -  I liked P.E., science, art and being a ninja in today's Halloween parade.

Rohan   -  I liked having my mom and Mahir's mom come to talk to us about Diwali and throw a small celebration in class.  That was special.  I also really liked the mummy wrap races and the carnival.

Nathan  -  I liked doing well on my spelling test, celebrating Diwali on Wednesday.  The indian music was great to dance to.  I also liked today's Halloween party, being the werewolf in The Ten Nights of
Halloween and the mummy wrap races.

Renee    - I liked being a cupcake today and having my uncle visit us during our Halloween party.  I also liked being wrapped up as a mummy and celebrating Diwali this past Wednesday.

Aidan   -  I liked the Diwali celebration, the mummy wrap races, the carnival and the parade.

Weekly Highlights, 10/28- Ms. Der Yuen

Check out SmugMug for many photos from our Halloween festivities!

Brennan:  I liked the sushi Compliment Party, the Wizard’s Brew, and Car Lot in PE.

Kayla: I liked being VIP, seeing Nate in the Wizard’s Brew, the sushi party, and starting to make Nina as an immigrant doll.

Matthew:  I liked Car Lot in PE, the Wizard’s Brew, Kayla’s VIP poster, art, and the Diwali visitors.

Lindsay: I liked playing Car Lot in PE, the Wizard’s Brew, and starting the pilgrim dolls.

Mihir: I liked when Evan jumped out as a baby in the Wizard’s Brew, Kayla as VIP, making diyas for the Diwali party, the sushi Compliment Party- we are having lots of parties this week!

Riley: I liked finishing the oil pastel rangolis, starting the pilgrim dolls, making the rice krispies treats in math, the Compliment Party, watching Jason and the Argonauts in Mrs. Barulich’s room, and everything about today!

Alexander C.: I liked Jason and the Argonauts, playing Car Lot in PE, making diyas and dancing in the Diwali party, and the sushi party.

Mishal: I liked everything!  I liked seeing Ms. Der Yuen, starting the pilgrim dolls, Kayla’s VIP poster, having the visitors for Diwali, the Compliment Party, and everything about today.

Alexander L.: I liked the Wizard’s Brew, playing Car Lot in PE, and releasing my own butterfly in science.

Brynn: I liked the Compliment Party, making the rice krisipies treats in math, seeing Kayla’s VIP poster, the Wizard’s Brew, playing Car Lot in PE, starting the pilgrim dolls, and the Diwali celebration.

Spencer: I liked the sushi party, playing Car Lot in PE, the Wizard’s Brew, and making rice krisipies treats in math.

Maya: I liked playing Car Lot in PE, all the exciting stuff today, seeing my sister in the Wizard’s Brew, watching Jason and the Argonauts, and the Compliment Party.

Nina: I liked Kayla’s VIP poster and share, the Wizard’s Brew, and seeing Ms. Der Yuen as Athena.

This hit the press before all the Halloween festivities, but they all wanted to say that they are looking forward to it!

Ready for the parade

Decorating diyas for Diwali

Goofing around at the sushi compliment party

Sushi!

Pumpkin patch

Mummy races

Dear 2A and 2B parents, we wanted to let you know that the Butterfly Release Ceremony pictures are up on Smugmug. Password is wildcats. Enjoy.

Photos!

I just got the USB cord for the new class camera, so I wanted to share some photos.  Please check out SmugMug for tons more of the butterfly release party!

SmugMug, password "wildcats"

Cooking Up a Storm in Math

Today in math we learned about using new measuring tools: measuring spoons and measuring cups.  What better way to learn about them than by using them?!  Given the time and kitchen restrictions, we whipped up a batch of rice krispie treats in class (with a side secret field trip to the teachers' room for the microwave!).

Here is the recipe:
3 tablespoons butter
40 large marshmallows
1/3 cup peanut butter
2/3 cup chocolate chips
6 cups rice krispies

(Melt butter, marshmallows, and peanut butter on low heat.  Pour into a large mixing bowl.  Add rice krispies, stirring.  Stir in chocolate chips.  Coat a 13x9 pan with butter/spray.  Using a buttered spatula, spread the mixture in the tray.  Cut when cooled.)


The kids measured and mixed.  We then looked at our recipe and our tray full of gooey goodness and tried to figure out how many cups of ingredients went into the pan.  We guessed that the marshmallows were about 2 cups, so we wrote 2 c (marshmallows) + 6 c (rice krispies) + 1/3 c (pb) + 2/3 c (chocolate chips) = ?  We added the integers easily and then took a look at the fractions.  I drew a pie with one third shaded to represent the pb, then a separate pie with two-thirds shaded to represent the chocolate chips- before I was done shading, the hands shot up!  They recognized that 1/3 + 2/3 = 3/3 or 1 whole.  Wow!  After we left our tray of treats to set, we had to figure out how to divide the pan up equally.  Aiden counted 14 kids plus one teacher, so we needed 15 pieces.  We drew the rectangular pan on the board and looked at ways we could divide it into columns and rows.  At one point we got to 3 columns.  Looking at it, we figured we had to solve 3 x ? = 15.  Alexander C.'s hand shot up and he realized 3 x 5 =15, which Maya pointed out was actually solved by division: 15 / 3 = 5.  So we drew 3 columns and 5 rows and tested the math by counting each box.  Delicious division!

Spelling Words 10/24/11

ng and nk words except sparkle
l.   wink
2.  sing
3.  sink
4.  king
5.  long
6.  ring
7.  hang
8.  bank
9.  wing
10. drink
11. twinkle
12. thinking
13. jungle
14. triangle
15. sparkle

Girls, Math, and Other Clues About How Stereotypes Affect Academic Achievement

There's an interesting event at Stanford's School of Education next Monday at noon about social psychology and academic achievement.  It will be lead by Claude Steele, Dean of the School of Education, and also a prominent researcher on stereotype threat.   If you go, I'd love to hear about it!

Girls, Math, and Other Clues about how Stereotypes Affect Academic Achievement

Education Roundtable

This weekend I attended an education roundtable discussion moderated by Charlie Rose.  Titled "Education Nation 2.0: Redefining K-12 education in America, before it redefines us", the conversation covered a range of reform topics: financial and teacher efficacy, teacher training, technology, hybrid school models, access and equality in urban education, and so on.  The panel included a variety of educational perspectives: John Hennessy (President of Stanford), Claude Steele (dean of Stanford's ed school), Salman Khan (founder of Khan Academy), Cory Booker (Newark mayor), Reed Hastings (CEO of Netflix and education philanthropist), and Kim Smith (CEO of Bellwether Education Partners and co-founder of TFA).   While it left me a whole lot more questions than answers, it was an engaging dialogue with important issues for everyone to consider and, hopefully, act on.  For those of you interested, here is the webcast:

http://www.stanford.edu/roundtable/webcast/

Weekly Highlights 10/21/11 Mrs. Barulich

Today the second graders said good-bye to their butterflies.  It took approximately twenty-three days for their metamorphosis from an egg to the actual Painted Lady butterfly.  Their life span now that they are free,  is approximately two weeks with a migration of up to 4,000 miles!  What a wonderful experience we've shared these past three weeks, please see pictures below.

Also for 2A parents,  I have filmed everyone's immigration report presentations.  They were fabulous!  Interesting facts, and many miles have brought our ancestors to live here in America.  Juan, Woodland's technician, is working on a software program so that I can upload their videoed reports onto our blog.  They should all be uploaded by next Friday.

And lastly,  we so enjoyed becoming the brave immigrants we have learned so much about the past month in our amazing play, The Golden Door.  The students were incredible and today we enjoyed 2B's presentation as well.  Bravo to our entire second grade classes for a job very well done!

Nathan  -  I really liked the play, I liked it when Aidan was limping, he was convincing.  I also liked P.E. and our butterfly release party today.  We had nineteen butterflies!

Oliver    - I liked working on my butterfly poem and watching their release, I also liked playing Star Wars in P.E. and Stefan's role in the immigration play as the inspector.

Rohan  - I liked being the opening narrator for the play and was happy to see my picture of the Statue of Liberty on our program for the play.  I also liked Ivan's costume, it was cool.   P.E.  and working with our clocks in french was a lot of fun too.

Ivan    -  I liked the play a lot, listening to Rohan narrate, playing Star Wars in P.E. and being the worm in the Thirteen Nights of Halloween.

Renee -  I really loved the play, having Kenna come to life as the Statue of Liberty was neat!  I also liked the butterfly release party and that Mama, Andre and Audrey got to see it too!  Oh, and I loved the book, Velma Gratch and the Way Cool Butterfly!  Perfect for today!  Thank-you Ms. Der Yuen!

Stefan -   I liked the play a lot, especially when Vicki bit into the banana!  I also liked playing Dogpound in P.E.  and watching the release of our butterflies.

Madeline  - I liked the play a lot,  being Anya with my sister, Tatiana!  I also liked writing our butterfly poems and the release of our butterflies.

Aidan  -  I really liked the play and think that everyone did a phenomenal job!  P.E and Mrs. Barulich are great too!

Kenna  - I liked P.E., EVERYTHING about the play, I'm sad it's over.  I loved ending our week with the release of our butterflies.

Vicki   - I liked the play a lot and biting into the banana, it was so funny.  I also enjoy doing Weekend News and spending my days with Mrs. Barulich!

Liam   - I liked performing the play so much that I'm sad it's over.  I also liked reading my report about my great, great grandfather and the butterfly release party today.

Weekly Highlights, 10/20- Ms. Der Yuen

Reports, plays, and butterflies- oh my!  What a whirlwind week we’ve had in second grade.  Between sharing our immigration reports, performing our play, and releasing our butterflies, we have been busy.

The kids did an excellent job reading their immigration reports to the rest of the class.  Thank you for sharing your stories with us!  We located our ancestors’ homeland on the world map which is on display in the class- it’s interesting to see such geographic diversity. 

Thank you, thank you, thank you for all your help with the play!  I know a lot goes on behind the scenes with practicing lines, listening to Neil Diamond on repeat, and pulling together costumes.  Thank you also for taking the time out of your schedules to see their performance and culmination of our immigration study.  We rehearsed our play many times this week in preparation for our performances on Thursday.  The kids were diligent practicing their lines and actions and (usually!) used self-control while rehearsing. 

Our butterflies are now free!  After watching them transform from caterpillars to chyraslises to butterflies, the students were ready to release them into the wild.  We read a funny book about Velma Gratch who also sets a butterfly free, and the kids wrote acrostic poems as odes to their dear butterflies.  Mrs. Wendlandt had the children perform a song, read their poems, release them, then enjoy a snack of butterfly food (fruit).  What a treat!

Brynn: I liked practicing the play and performing it, letting butterflies into the wild, playing Car Lot in PE, seeing Ms. Der Yuen, and sharing my Alaska book as VIP.

Spencer: I liked playing Car Lot in PE, the immigration play, and the butterfly release.

Maya: I liked the car game in PE, performing the play, and even the practices.

Nina: I liked doing the play, seeing Ms. Der Yuen, when Ms. Der Yuen read Velma Gratch and the Way Cool Butterfly, making attribute trains, and I’m looking forward to the butterfly release.

Brennan: I liked Car Lot in PE, sharing my immigration report with the class, doing the immigration play, and I am looking forward to the butterfly release.

Kayla:  I am going to like the butterfly release, I liked the play, Brynn sharing her Alaska book, and when Ms. Der Yuen read Velma Gratch and the Way Cool Butterfly.

Matt: I liked the immigrant play, Car Lot in PE, sharing the reports, Maya sharing her pictures from the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, Brynn sharing her VIP poster, making attribute patterns, and the Daily.

Mihir:  I liked Maya’s picture from New York, the immigration play, earning Compliments (we only have three more to go!), and Brynn’s VIP.

Riley: I liked rehearsing the play, hearing the comments from the audience, watching 2A perform the play, and performing myself.

Alexander C.:  I liked playing chess, making attribute trains, Car Lot in PE, the play, and I’m looking forward to the butterfly release.

Mishal: I liked doing the play, seeing my report on the map, seeing Ms. Der Yuen, and I’m looking forward to the butterfly release.

Alexander L.: I liked bringing in my moths, sharing my report, having Ms. Der Yuen read Velma Gratch and the Way Cool Butterfly, doing attribute trains, the play, and I will like the butterfly release.

Nineteen beautiful mature butterflies were released this afternoon outside of room 7. It was exciting yet sad. Many of the students expressed their sadness in that they will no longer be with us in the classroom. Overall, it was an exciting moment watching them launch off. Fly butterfly fly!

Rohan and Aidan "On the boats and on the planes, we're going to America."

Kenna Smith reciting The New Colossus

2A's Immigration play was a great success! The students were so convincing as our immigrant family from Russia approached Ellis Island, especially when greeted by the Statue of Liberty aka Kenna Smith!

Butterfly Release Ceremony- Thursday

Mrs. Wendlandt would like to invite parents to attend the second grade butterfly releases this Thursday. A note from her:


Second grade has had an exciting start to the school year with a butterfly unit in science. We were fortunate this year to have over 20 butterflies emerge in each class! Though it has been fun watching our tiny caterpillars turn into butterflies, it is time for us to set them free. You are invited to attend our Butterfly Releasing Ceremony. The ceremony will be on Thursday October 20 for 2B at 11:30am and for 2A at 1:15pm. The ceremony will be about 15 minutes. We would love to see you there.

Immigration Interviews

The children did a fantastic job interviewing family members in person, on the phone, and even on Skype.  Thank you for sharing your incredible personal stories with all of us.  We noticed that even though they had different motivations, came during different eras, or had varying degrees of drama surrounding their decision, all our ancestors sought better opportunities by moving to the United States.

This morning the kids shared their reports with the rest of the class.  It also provided a great opportunity to build public speaking skills, including poise, posture, and projection.   Enjoy their stories!

Consonant Clusters 10/17/11

l. flat
2. glass
3. plant
4. dress
5. front
6. bring
7. grass
8. glad
9. clap
10. class
11. friendly
12. clothing
13. please
14. brought
15. great

Grandma Bobbie's Visit (Madeline Whitt's grandmother)

Measuring ourselves in math today, from 3'11" all the way to 4'9" Now the question for the weekend is: What is the difference in inches there?

Weekly Highlights 10/14/11 Mrs. Barulich

Renee - I really liked having 2B join us for the morning yesterday, I love all the butterflies in science, in computers we're working on
adjectives and in math, making our very own attribute trains.

Rohan - I liked learning to tell time in french, having Madeline's grandmother come in and tell us the Kamishibai story about
the witch and the apprentice.

Liam - I liked The Thirteen Nights of Halloween, having 2B join us yesterday and rehearsing our play for the visitors.

Stefan - I liked P.E., having 2B with us yesterday, art with Mrs. Switkes and learning about Degas.

Maddie - I liked writing my sentences using pronouns, having Grandma Bobbie read to our class and the Popcorn dance in gym.

Oliver - I liked hearing Grandma Bobbie's story, science and hearing the fluttering of our butterflies' wings while we're in
reading groups.

Nathan - I liked writing my immigration report about Grandma Nella, hearing and meeting Grandma Bobbie and having 2B with
us yesterday.


Ivan - I liked performing for the visitors, math, we got to measure ourselves today. I knew that I was 4'4"! I also liked
having 2B with us yesterday.

Kenna - I liked reciting The New Colossus for the visitors, having Grandma Bobbie here today and 2B joining us yesterday.

Vicki - I liked rehearsing the immigration play for the visitors, The Thirteen Nights of Halloween and gym.

Weekly Highlights, 10/14- Ms. Der Yuen

Riley: I liked turning in my final draft of my report, rehearsing the play, and getting the Traveling Book.

Alexander L.: I liked seeing my moth on the apple in science, hearing everyone’s comments about my moth, practicing the play, playing Star Wars in PE, and writing a VIP note to Brennan.

Lindsay: I liked playing Star Wars in PE, editing my rough draft with Ms. Der Yuen, and being Aunt Katya while Maya is away.

Matthew: I liked playing Star Wars in PE, Brennan sharing his VIP poster, practicing the play, and working on my immigration report. I also liked learning about schools in Ancient Greece (I would rather be a boy so I wouldn’t have to do chores at home all day, instead I could read and play at school!).

Kayla: I liked going to Mrs. Barulich’s room and hearing The 13 Nights of Halloween, playing Star Wars in PE, rehearsing, and I especially liked when Nina came back to school.

Spencer: I liked the play, watching Alexander’s moth get off the apple and make holes in the orange, playing Star Wars in PE, Brennan’s VIP poster, and seeing Spoogy, the lizard Alexander C. found.

Nina: I liked Alexander L. sharing his moth, finishing guitars in art, and seeing and hugging Ms. Der Yuen after being away. Coming back to school made me feel better.

Alexander C.: I liked playing Star Wars in PE, seeing about 20 butterflies, and finding a little lizard by the bathroom that I named Spoogy.

Brynn: I liked playing Star Wars in PE, the play, doing challenge math in Mrs. Barulich’s class, seeing Ms. Der Yuen, and seeing Nina come back.

Mihir: I liked playing Star Wars in PE, watching Alexander L.’s moth drinking apple juice, hearing about Perseus in read aloud, being the doctor with real doctor equipment (stethoscope), Brennan’s VIP poster, seeing the lizard Spoogy, and when Nina came back.

Brennan: I liked sharing my VIP poster, seeing Spoogy the lizard, and playing Star Wars in PE.

We missed you this week, Maya! We can’t wait to hear about your trip to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island!

Costumes for the play

We've been talking about costumes for the play next week and want to reiterate that we are NOT expecting anyone to purchase costume supplies.  The kids should plan to come to school in costume on their performance day (10/19 for 2A, 10/20 for 2B).  We have a costume that will go home with Statue of Liberty.  We also have some assorted props in class, but children should plan to find clothes at home that could work for their costume.  Below are some pictures for inspiration, of immigrants at Ellis Island and from last year's performance.

Suggested costume ideas- 

Nabokovs and Narrators: shawls and long skirts for girls, caps and pants tucked into knee high socks for boys, neutral colors

Uncle Vladimir and Aunt Katya: red, white, and blue, denim, sunglasses

Doctor: lab coat (we have a stethoscope, thank you Brynn!)

Officer: tucked in shirt (we have a cap)

Spelling Words

This week we are working on "all" and "alk" words.

1.  chalk
2.  fall
3.  wall
4.  talk
5.  ball
6.  walk
7.  small
8.  tall
9.  call
10.  all
11.  really
12.  collection
13.  sidewalk
14.  parallel
15.  challenge

Our First Butterfly!

Aidan viewing our first butterfly

Weekly Highlights 10/7/11 Mrs. Barulich

What a fabulous week we've had! First, we had a wonderful visit from former Olympic swimmer, Carin Cone, grandmother of Lindsay Vanderbush in 2B. Mrs. Vanderbush shared her amazing experience and memories of participating and winning the silver medal in the 1956 Melbourne Olympics.

Kenna Smith from 2A, is on her way to Hawaii, to cheer on her seventy year old grandfather who is participating in the Ironman Triathlon this weekend. Go Grandpa Smith!

Liam - I liked hearing Mrs. Vanderbush's experience in the Olympics since I'm a swimmer too. I also liked Molly's Pilgrim in literature and P.E.

Kenna - I liked ordering off our menus in french, the myth of King Midas and I loved music class!

Aidan - I liked Mrs. Barulich, she is so funny! I also liked making our Statue of Liberty books and I am so happy that Coach Fanucchi is back! I love playing Cat and Mouse in P.E.

Vicki - I liked making our tear art pumpkins, rehearsing my lines as Tatiana Nabakov and Mrs. Barulich. Aidan is right, she is very funny.

Stefan - I liked P.E., free drawing in art class, computers, doing Tux-Math and working on my immigration report. My great grandfather had a very interesting life!

Nathan - I liked receiving the Honesty Award, science, we now have FOUR butterflies in our classroom and gymnastics!

Renee _ I liked receiving the award for Respect, computers, and making our tear art pumpkins!

Ivan - I liked math, finishing up our Greek Gods book, the myth of Arachne and Athena and rehearsing my role as Papa Nabakov in the immigration play.

Oliver - I liked the dailies, the play, and music, especially when Miss Hamill read us, The Composer is Dead!

Madeline - I liked science, art, rehearsing our play, gym and I actually love homework!

Rohan - I'm just happy to be back after being sick all week.

Weekly Highlights, 10/7- Ms. Der Yuen

Spencer: I liked playing kickball in PE with Coach Fanucchi, seeing our first butterflies, finding out there was a moth that never came out in Alexander’s cocoon, and changing math groups. I also liked getting a loose tooth!

Lindsay:  I liked my grandma visiting.  I loved it when she told everyone about how when I was little I would sit at her kitchen table and say, “Hello, New York! Bye bye, Westpoint!”  I also like the butterflies and Kayla’s birthday.

Alexander L.: I liked bringing in my VIP poster, hearing Mrs. Vanderbush’s stories, hearing the comments about the cocoons I shared in science, hearing the questions and comments about my shares as VIP, Greek mythology like Atalanta’s race, playing kickball in PE with Coach Fanucchi, and seeing our first butterflies- it was cool to see a cocoon wobbling even though we weren’t touching the table.

Riley:  I liked seeding Coach Fanucchi again, getting new butterflies, and getting traced as the Statue of Liberty.

Matt: I liked learning about Ancient Greece, playing kickball in PE,our first butterfly, and Lindsay’s grandma visiting.

Alexander C.: I liked our first butterfly, scoring a run in PE, and playing chess with Mihir.

Kayla: I liked when Lindsay’s grandma came, having my birthday, seeing the first butterfly coming out of its chrysalis, and playing kickball in PE.

Mihir: I liked getting a granny in PE- that means the bases are loaded and I kicked the ball and got a homer so there were four runs.  I also liked when Lindsay’s grandma told stories about Lindsay saying, “Bye bye Westpoint!” 

Brynn:  I liked getting the Respect Award, getting the Play of the Day at recess with Jack, the butterflies, Lindsay’s grandma sharing stories, and getting to be Mama since Lindsay will be gone.

Nina:  I liked seeing Lindsay’s grandma, getting Scholastic book orders, and Kayla’s birthday cupcakes.

Mishal:  I liked Kayla’s birthday, when Lindsay’s grandma came in, the butterflies, and getting to be Kayla’s sister in the play.

Maya: I liked independent reading the best.

Captivated by butterflies...