Spelling Words Week 11/28/11

Long e sound:
1) sea
2) week
3) eat
4) beef
5) neat
6) need
7) seat
8) seem
9) read
10) seen
11) season
12) cheerful
13) disagree
14) creature
15) teacher

Parents: We will have our field trip to the Lawrence Hall of Science, this Thursday, 12/1/11. Please arrive promptly at 8:15 up to our classrooms, room 7 and 8. Each student must be in full uniform, no sweatshirts and with a bag lunch. The bus WILL LEAVE AT 8:30 SHARP. We will return to school by 3:00 p.m. Also, all Maple House students have earned a Free Dress day this Friday, !2/2/11.

Aidan's Grandparents Helping Aidan, Oliver and Ivan Plant Their Bulbs

No Greater Wisdom Received Than That From Our Grandparents & Special Friends

Weekly Highlights 11/17/11 Mrs. Barulich

I am looking foward to talking with each one of you regarding your child's progress. We have had an excellent first trimester and am looking foward to our next one. If you haven't rsvp'd with your grandparent visitors for Tuesday please let me know tomorrow.

1. Vicki - I liked P.E., gym and watching the Schoolhouse Rock version of the preamble to the Constitution.

2. Renee - I liked being an entomologist in science, someone that studies insects, gym and watching School House Rock's preamble.

3. Kenna - I really liked music, finishing my turkey project, working on my spelling words with my nani. Thanks to her I got 15/15!

4. Rohan - I liked watching the movie, The Constitution, watching George Washington narrate it, working on my turkey project and math.

5. Oliver - I liked the man who played George Washington in the movie, The Constitution. He wasn't really George Washington, he was an actor. I also liked, My Father's Dragon and working on my turkey project.

6. Aidan - I liked Benjamin Franklin in the Constitution movie, it's interesting that he was never a president. I learned that the first seven laws were called articles. I also liked receiving my award in math.

7. Ivan - I liked receiving my award in history and watching my sister, Svetlana receive the Honor Roll Award. I also liked french, learning how to say: we do and we don't. And I liked the Constitution movie.

8. Stefan - I liked P.E., getting my award in history, watching the Constitution movie and watching the preamble on School House Rock the next day.

9. Madeline - I liked finishing our Jumping Up morning reading books! Now we get to start on Rolling Along! I also liked science and art!

10. Liam - I liked playing Star Wars in the MUR room during P.E., watching the Constitution movie and the preamble on School House Rock.

11. Nathan - I liked P.E., Coach Fanucchi is great! I also liked receiving my award in math and Mrs. Barulich!

Sum Sense Math Game

We are building algebraic thinking in math with a game on the Smart Board, Sum Sense.  The kids got excited racing the clock as a team and cheered whenever they correctly sorted the digits to make an addition equation.  The time and number of problems can be adjusted to keep it challenging.  Fun practice for home!

Sum Sense Game

Weekly Spelling Words 11/14/11

a consonant e, ai and ay sounds Parents note: because of conferences on Friday, their test will be given on Thursday. Please be prompt with your appointment. I look forward to seeing you on Friday.

1) safe
2) day
3 rain
4) say
5) play
6) ate
7) stay
8) save
9) may
10) wait
11) cooperate
12) remain
13) yesterday
14) holiday
15) explain

Happy Veteran's Weekend. Let's not forget to honor all of the men and women who have served our country this weekend.

Weekly Highlights: Mrs. Barulich 2A Aiden - I really liked today's caramel apple party that we earned, science and writing out my 'I Am' poem. Vicki - I liked working on my self-portrait, getting to work with paint with our symmetrical designs in math and Mrs. Barulich, because she makes our learning fun! Oliver- I liked the symmetrical designs! I also liked working on my 'I Am' poem and our caramel apple party today. Stefan- I liked playing Star Wars in P.E., using different paints for our symmetrical designs and practicing our Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart song. Ivan - I liked music, singing our Mozart song, making our symmetrical designs in math and today's caramel apple party. Kenna - I liked my self portrait and working on my 'I Am' poem, today's caramel apple party. It was still good even though the caramels didn't completely melt. Liam - I liked working on the symmetrical designs in math, working on my 'I'm Thankful' paper and the caramel apple party today. Nathan- I liked the caramel apple party. I cut my apple up into eighths and it was good! I also liked painting my turkey with the watercolors and making our symmetrical designs. Madeline- I liked working on my Weekend News, art in Mrs. Switkes' class and singing the Mozart song in the mornings. Renee - I liked getting an email from my grandparents here at school! It was great that they got to see me on the blog. I also liked gym and today's caramel apple party. Rohan - I liked singing Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in the mornings, finishing my 'I Am' poem and today's caramel apple party.

Weekly Highlights, 11/10- Ms. Der Yuen

Maya:  I liked reading Matilda, naming my turkey “I Don’t Know”, art, “Jason and the Argonauts”, math with Mrs. Tahiliani, quiet independent reading, and my creative writing about the golden cloud for symmetry.

Brennan: I liked making a funny crab with a line of symmetry, playing basketball in PE, Kayla’s tooth coming out in class, finishing “Jason and the Argonauts”, and Matthew’s VIP stuff.

Kayla: I liked Matthew as VIP, losing my tooth in school, art, making my turkey, and doing our butterfly test in science.

Mihir: I liked Matthew’s VIP poster and signed baseball, cutting the symmetrical shapes and writing a story about it, reading Matilda, seeing Kayla’s tooth fall out, “Jason and the Argonauts”, basketball in PE, and showing my turkey project to the class.

Nina: I liked Matthew’s VIP poster and share, art, finishing “Jason and the Argonauts”, Matilda, making symmetrical shapes, making the feather for the turkey in the MUR, PE, and seeing Ms. Der Yuen.

Alexander C.: I liked playing basketball in PE, music, writing about how we want to show service, and making my symmetrical stickman.

Brynn: I liked reading Matilda, quiet independent reading, seeing Kayla lose her tooth, seeing Matthew’s share, PE, writing about Queen Lobster my symmetrical shape, and having a really loose tooth.  I also liked seeing Ms. Der Yuen!

Matthew: I liked my VIP poster and shares, Kayla’s tooth coming out, making a symmetrical shape, “Jason and the Argonauts”, doing my spelling test, playing basketball in PE, and science.

Riley: I liked bringing in my turkey named Amelia Earhart, seeing Kayla’s tooth come out, finishing “Jason and the Argonauts”, and making my symmetrical shape.

Alexander L.: I liked seeing all the turkeys, Matthew’s share, and telling everyone how my cotton plant is growing from the seed Ms. Der Yuen gave us.

Lindsay: I liked “Jason and the Argonauts”, Matilda, PE, art, Matt’s VIP and share, Kayla losing her tooth, and seeing Ms. Der Yuen.

Spencer: I liked doing basketball in PE, my symmetrical shape (a spaceship named Bob), and I also liked bringing in my turkey.

Mishal: I liked seeing Ms. Der Yuen, making ballerinas in art, PE, science, math, seeing the turkeys that people are starting to bring in, finishing “Jason and the Argonauts”, and I also enjoyed Matilda.  I liked everything!

Symmetrical Designs in Math Today

Today we learned that a line of symmetry will give us what is on one side, the exact same as what is on the other.  When we draw a line of symmetry we divide a shape in half.  Students folded their blank white papers into exact halves as I walked and dropped a pit of paint on their papers.  They carefully folded their paper together, pressed down the paper, waited until everyone had done the same and then voila!, opened up their papers carefully.  The result was a myriad of amazing designs, each having identical sides.

Spelling Words for Week of 11/7/11. Test will be on Thursday, 11/10/11

Vowel consonant vowel words:
1)   cute
2)   wave
3)   robe
4)   late
5)   mule
6)   tape
7)   joke
8)   fire
9)   pipe
10) base
11) celebrate
12) surprise
13) grateful
14) invite
15) whole

Grandparent's Day Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Dear Parents of 2A and 2B students,
Could you kindly email Ms. Der Yuen and myself as to how many grandparents or special visitors we should expect?  We need to have extra chairs brought in.  We are looking foward to this very special day.
Thank-you.  mbarulich@woodland-school.org and jderyuen@woodland-school.org

Renee's Immigration Report

Liam's Immigration Report

Vicki's Immigration Report

What a flight! It's all Greek to me! Thank-you Mr. and Mrs. Samaras.

Weekly Highlights Mrs. Barulich

It seems the weeks are getting busier and more exciting!  Today our second graders flew to Greece with Captain Ora at the helm.  While it was cloudy conditions while flying, we enjoyed a wonderful time in Greece, compliments of Mr. and Mrs. Samaras.  They gave a fabulous age appropriate presentation of Greece, their experiences and travels there.  Mrs. Samaras spoke to the class of first visiting relatives in Greece when she was eight years old.  While it was wonderful meeting the relatives that lived there, she also remembered that they did not have something as basic as running water.

Kalamata olives, hummus, pita bread and baklava were just some of the Greek foods that our second graders enjoyed sampling after the flight.  Traditional Greek girls clothing was on display as well as a
Spartan helmet!

We capped our afternoon with a thrilling two hours of house cup games.  The bean bag races brought out everyone's true personalities with the funny dances the children each did on their relay and the tricycle races were hilarious and very creative by the end of the day!  Congratulations to Maple House for their win and parents, please note that they have earned a free dress day the first Friday in December.

Kenna   -   I liked the flight to Greece, the slideshow that Vicki's mom and dad showed us, watching Jason and the Argonauts on Monday and finishing up Molly's Pilgrim on Tuesday.  I feel that I am not like Molly nor Elizabeth because I do not get teased nor do I tease anyone.  I felt sorry for Molly in the story but was happy to see that it had a happy ending.

Madeline-  I liked the drinks on the flight, doing cartwheels in gymnastics and Molly's Pilgrim was very good!

Renee   -   I liked imagining that we were flying on Kidland Airlines and having my mommy be one of the stewardesses.  I also liked working on my 'I Am' poem and house cup games were very fun.  We, Maple House won!

Nathan  -   I liked the hummus on our flight to Greece, doing math order from the least to the greatest this week and House Cup Games.  Maple House rocks!

Oliver   -  I liked the chips on the flight, House Cup games were very fun and writing my 'I Am'
poem.

Ivan     -  I liked receiving the award for Self-Control, the flight to Greece, watching Jason and the Argonauts and House Cup games were a lot  fun!

Vicki   -  I liked that my mommy and daddy came in and presented to the class what it's like to be Greek.  I am proud that I am Greek.  I also liked House Cup games and Mrs. Barulich!

Liam   -  I really liked our flight to Greece, watching Jason and the Argonauts and the House Cup games were great!

Aidan  - I liked the obstacle course in gymnastics, House Cup games and Mrs. Barulich.  Also, the flight to Greece was a lot of fun, especially getting to try on the Spartan helmet.

Rohan  -I liked everything about today, the flight to Greece, getting to wear the Spartan helmet,
buddy lunch and the House Cup games were a lot of fun.

Stefan -  I liked art and learning about Degas, P.E. and the House Cup games.

Last of all, parents the Family Turkey Project that went home is just a 'fun' project for you to do together this fall.  I can't tell you just how many of my former families and students have enjoyed putting it all together.  Many of my families have taken the completed turkeys home to have it be their Thanksgiving Day door greeting.  They really do turn out just so lovely.  Be as creative as you want!

Happy weekend and stay warm. - Mrs. Barulich and 2A

Weekly Highlights, 11/4- Ms. Der Yuen

We hope you recover from the jetlag from our flight to Greece!  Thank you to the many parent volunteers who helped make it the flight such a dynamic experience.  In particular, thank you to the Samaras family for their wonderful presentation and first-hand stories about Greek culture.

As if that weren't enough excitement, congrats to Maple for winning the first House Cup Games of the year!  Congrats to Cypress for the Team Spirit win!

Maya: I liked starting Matilda, finishing our dolls, “Jason and the Argonauts”, and the flight to Greece.

Kayla: I liked finishing our pilgrim dolls, the flight to Greece, “Jason and the Argonauts”, and playing Jeopardy in science.

Brennan: I liked finishing the dolls, the flight to Greece, “Jason and the Argoanuts”, Lindsay’s VIP, Matilda, science, and PE.

Mihir: I liked Jeopardy in science, Greek flight and traditional Greek food, learning about palindromes, “Jason and the Argonauts”, knowing that it was obvious when Riley got her Core Virtue Award, and Lindsay’s VIP week.

Nina: I liked playing Jeopardy in science, when Riley got her award, Lindsay’s VIP poster, and finishing the dolls.

Alexander C.: I liked PE, Lindsay’s VIP poster, and chess.

Matt: I liked Lindsay’s VIP poster, the flight to Greece and learning more about Greece, watching “Jason and the Argonauts” with Mrs. Barulich, starting Matilda for read aloud, when Riley got her award, and finishing making the immigrant dolls.

Riley: I liked watching “Jason and the Argonauts”, the flight to Greece, finishing the pilgrim dolls, Matilda, and getting my Core Virtue Award.

Alexander L.: I liked bringing in my cicada in science, playing Jeopardy and the test in science, PE, seeing Riley getting her award, Lindsay’s VIP and writing her a compliment, starting Matilda, finishing the pilgrim dolls, “Jason and the Argonauts”, and the flight to Greece.

Lindsay: I liked sharing my VIP, Ms. Der Yuen reading Matilda, finishing our pilgrim dolls, when Riley got her award, “Jason and the Argonauts”, Jeopardy in science, and PE.

Spencer: I liked PE, “Jason and the Argonauts”, seeing Alex Lark’s insect and when it landed on me, and playing Jeopardy in science.

Mishal: I liked everything! I liked everything today the most. I liked the flight to Greece, science, PE, coming up with homophones, reading Matilda, Lindsay’s VIP, my Daily, and finishing the pilgrim dolls.

Brynn: I liked Lindsay’s VIP poster and share because I liked the picture of her when she was playing with Erin as a baby, Matilda for read aloud, the flight, and everything else!

A World of 7 Billion

Today we integrated current events into math and learned about how the world population just hit 7 billion.  That is a HUGE number!  Did you know it would take 200 years to count to 7 billion out loud?  And 7 billion steps would take you around the world 133 times?  In shocking contrast, 7 billion people could fit shoulder to shoulder in Los Angeles.   Mind boggling!!



We read A Million Dots (Andrew Clements) to try to frame the scale.  Even talking about place value and realized that 1 billion is 1,000 millions, it is still incomprehensibly enormous.  We also watched a powerful short clip from National Geographic about the world at 7 billion that elicited a lot of "Whoas!" from the kids ("I also really like the music," added Stefan).  Brain Pop has a great piece on Population Growth focused more on resources.

Using data from the "World of 7 Billion", we graphed the population growth in billions.  After plotting the graph, Spencer inquired, "Why is it so flat from 1800 and 1 billion to 1930 and 2 billion?" which lead to a great discussion about factors (such as technological, medical, sanitation advances) influencing population growth, getting deeper into the subject.  Alexander also astutely noticed, "When the population is growing faster,  the slope of the graph is steeper."  Wow!

Here are resources to share and reflect at home-

World at 7 Billion Chart

National Geographic 7 billion video

Brain Pop Population Growth