PARENTS PLEASE NOTE: We have increased the spelling words from 15 - 20, in order to prepare your child for third grade as well as increasingly challenging them. 2A's class all scored 15 out of 15 last Friday! Any second grader is welcome to prep for Friday's test with Mrs. Barulich Wednesday afternoons at tutoring. This has improved many student's grades this past trimester.
1. far
2. farm
3. art
4. park
5. car
6. part
7. dark
8. star
9. hard
10. arm
11. farther
12. alarm
13. artistic
14. chart
15. argument
16. darkness
17. apart
18. awkwardly
19. apparently
20. regularly
Monday, March 12, 2012
Weekly Highlights 3/9- Ms. Der Yuen
This week, we celebrated our first annual World Read Aloud Day with the Kindergarteners and 4th graders, taking turns reading and sharing. Check out photos on SmugMug!
Nina: I liked Lon Po Po and the Venn diagram comparing it to Little Red Riding Hood, reading to the Kindergarteners, obstacles in gymnastics, and working on my Flat Stanley.
Alex C.: The read aloud activity, playing Knock Over the Pin in PE, writing my postcard from California, and making Flat Stanley.
Riley: I liked writing my fake postcard from Nevada, the read aloud day, playing Protect the Pin in PE, and basically everything else.
Kayla: I liked getting my Hope award, making our Flat Stanleys, writing our fake postcards, and doing different things of science.
Brennan: I liked playing Knock Over the Pin in PE, making my Washington postcard, Stuart Little, getting caught up on cursive, and meeting the new music teacher since I was gone last week.
Brynn: (“Can I give an interjection first?”) Yay! I liked music, guarding the pin in the last game in PE (which was tied!), making my postcard from Alaska, making Flat Stanley, and celebrating Spencer’s birthday.
Mihir: I liked when Kayla and I got our rewards, Spencer’s birthday, playing Protect the Pin (especially when everyone was aggressive at the last three seconds), more Stuart Little, music, and everything!
Mishal: I have a hard time remembering what I liked best since I was out sick. I liked finishing my Flat Stanley and I’m looking forward to computers this afternoon.
Spencer: I liked my birthday, Mihir and Kayla’s Core Virtue awards, making my Flat Stanley, Brynn’s Alaska rap, Lon Po Po, and I’m looking forward to PE later today.
Alex L.: I liked science, comparing Lon Po Po with Little Red Riding Hood, gymnastics, art, computers, and especially PE. I liked knocking the last pin down! I also liked Kayla and Mihir getting their Core Virtue awards.
Maya: I liked gymnastics, PE, and making up our own experiments in science.
.jpg) |
| Putting together a United States map puzzle |
Nina: I liked Lon Po Po and the Venn diagram comparing it to Little Red Riding Hood, reading to the Kindergarteners, obstacles in gymnastics, and working on my Flat Stanley.
Alex C.: The read aloud activity, playing Knock Over the Pin in PE, writing my postcard from California, and making Flat Stanley.
Riley: I liked writing my fake postcard from Nevada, the read aloud day, playing Protect the Pin in PE, and basically everything else.
Kayla: I liked getting my Hope award, making our Flat Stanleys, writing our fake postcards, and doing different things of science.
Brennan: I liked playing Knock Over the Pin in PE, making my Washington postcard, Stuart Little, getting caught up on cursive, and meeting the new music teacher since I was gone last week.
Brynn: (“Can I give an interjection first?”) Yay! I liked music, guarding the pin in the last game in PE (which was tied!), making my postcard from Alaska, making Flat Stanley, and celebrating Spencer’s birthday.
Mihir: I liked when Kayla and I got our rewards, Spencer’s birthday, playing Protect the Pin (especially when everyone was aggressive at the last three seconds), more Stuart Little, music, and everything!
Mishal: I have a hard time remembering what I liked best since I was out sick. I liked finishing my Flat Stanley and I’m looking forward to computers this afternoon.
Spencer: I liked my birthday, Mihir and Kayla’s Core Virtue awards, making my Flat Stanley, Brynn’s Alaska rap, Lon Po Po, and I’m looking forward to PE later today.
Alex L.: I liked science, comparing Lon Po Po with Little Red Riding Hood, gymnastics, art, computers, and especially PE. I liked knocking the last pin down! I also liked Kayla and Mihir getting their Core Virtue awards.
Maya: I liked gymnastics, PE, and making up our own experiments in science.
Friday, March 9, 2012
Weekly Highlights 3/9/12 Mrs. Barulich
Well we finished our first states test successfully! 2A is bringing home their Central States Study guide today. Parents, please keep the new study guide clipped to their state workbook. I have been fortunate to visit forty-one of the states so I am able to share many of my experiences with the students. This afternoon we discussed the Alamo and the brave men that died there for the Republic of Texas. I shared my experience at Old Faithful and the rodeos in Wyoming. Travel in itself is an education. Our next test will be March 22, 2012.
Oliver - I liked receiving my Citizenship Award, the Real Aloud to the Kindergarteners, the stories were funny that we read to them, Henry and Ribsy in reading groups and measuring ourselves in math.
Rohan - I liked science when Maddie and I worked on other people's recipes, reading my Hiram S. Grant report to the class, that was his REAL first name, music and doing well on my Western States test.
Maddie - I liked the obstacle course in gym, music, reading my Clara Barton report to the class, the Real Aloud to the kindergarteners was really fun and taking my states test!
Ivan - I liked doing my back bends in gym, reading my Grant report to the class, writing my leprechaun story, and taking my states test.
Liam - I liked our science creation of lemon juice and baking soda, ours did not smell good. I also liked playing kickball in P.E., learning the central states, gym, the Real Aloud and making our Flat Stanleys.
Stefan - I liked working on our landscapes in art, having Nick visit our class, reading Henry and Ribsy in reading groups and reading my Robert E. Lee report to the class.
Renee - I liked science and trying other people's experiments, writing my leprechaun story out, my leprechaun's name is Chirp! I also liked gym and learning our new states.
Vicki - I liked the obstacle course in gym, writing about my leprechaun which I've named Flounder, measuring ourselves in math, Mrs. Barulich and learning about the states.
Aidan - I really liked making my leprechuan, reading my Abraham Lincoln report to the class, Mrs. Barulich, learning about new states and science!
Nathan and Kenna, we miss you! Have fun in Texas and Arizona.
Oliver - I liked receiving my Citizenship Award, the Real Aloud to the Kindergarteners, the stories were funny that we read to them, Henry and Ribsy in reading groups and measuring ourselves in math.
Rohan - I liked science when Maddie and I worked on other people's recipes, reading my Hiram S. Grant report to the class, that was his REAL first name, music and doing well on my Western States test.
Maddie - I liked the obstacle course in gym, music, reading my Clara Barton report to the class, the Real Aloud to the kindergarteners was really fun and taking my states test!
Ivan - I liked doing my back bends in gym, reading my Grant report to the class, writing my leprechaun story, and taking my states test.
Liam - I liked our science creation of lemon juice and baking soda, ours did not smell good. I also liked playing kickball in P.E., learning the central states, gym, the Real Aloud and making our Flat Stanleys.
Stefan - I liked working on our landscapes in art, having Nick visit our class, reading Henry and Ribsy in reading groups and reading my Robert E. Lee report to the class.
Renee - I liked science and trying other people's experiments, writing my leprechaun story out, my leprechaun's name is Chirp! I also liked gym and learning our new states.
Vicki - I liked the obstacle course in gym, writing about my leprechaun which I've named Flounder, measuring ourselves in math, Mrs. Barulich and learning about the states.
Aidan - I really liked making my leprechuan, reading my Abraham Lincoln report to the class, Mrs. Barulich, learning about new states and science!
Nathan and Kenna, we miss you! Have fun in Texas and Arizona.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
World Read Aloud Day
We celebrated World Read Aloud Day collaborating with the Kindergarteners and 4th graders. In cross-grade teams, we read stories aloud together, with the 4th graders leading discussion questions. It was a fresh, fun approach to literature today. We hope you get a chance to read aloud together with you children this evening.
More photos on Smug Mug.
Hope!
We wrote about our hopes and dreams for the future, near and distant. What a range of aspirations!
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Spelling Words Week 3/5/12
l. red
2. blue
3. gray
4. yellow
5. brown
6. color
7. green
8. black
9. pink
10. white
11. turquoise
12. magenta
13. maroon
14. purple
15. rainbow
2. blue
3. gray
4. yellow
5. brown
6. color
7. green
8. black
9. pink
10. white
11. turquoise
12. magenta
13. maroon
14. purple
15. rainbow
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Weekly Highlights 3/2- Ms. Der Yuen
Brynn: I liked starting geography, cursive, playing handball in PE, sharing our reports, Living Museum, making our won MadLibs, and I loved coming back to see Ms. Der Yuen.
Mihir: I liked everything! I especially liked starting geography, seeing Ms. Der Yuen, math, Living Museum, writing MadLibs, sharing reports, more cursive, and handball in PE.
Mishal: I liked seeing Ms. Der Yuen, PE, math, science, and learning China in computers.
Spencer: I liked starting geography, handball in PE, finishing my report, working on sentences with adverbs instead of the Daily, reading “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” for Dr. Seuss’ birthday, being Calendar Aid, Stuart Little, Living Museum, and being back from the break.
Lindsay: I loved seeing Ms. Der Yuen, seeing the 4th grade Living Museum, starting geography, finishing my report, making our own MadLibs, and being back from break.
Alexander L.: I liked being back from break, art, music, computers, science, more Stuart Little, starting Flat Stanley: Chinese Wonders, Oh, the Places You’ll Go! for Dr. Seuss’ birthday, the Living Museum, making MadLibs, sharing my state quarters, and seeing Ms. Der Yuen.
Maya: I loved the Living Museum and seeing Natalie in her costume! I also liked art, seeing Ms. Der Yuen, and PE.
Nina: I liked seeing Ms. Der Yuen after break, the Living Museum, playing handball in PE, when the 5th graders shared their books, Alex showing his National Park quarters, and gym.
Alexander C.: I liked handball in PE, sharing my quarters, the Living Museum, the 5th graders presenting their books, Flat Stanley: Chinese Wonders, and Stuart Little
Riley: I liked the Constitution books, Living Museum, reading Stuart Little and Flat Stanley: Chinese Wonders, reading my report, playing handball in PE, starting geography, and making MabLibs and basically everything.
Matt: I liked everything! I liked computers, math, PE, writing our own MadLibs, reading our reports out loud, the Living Museum, and “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” for Dr. Seuss’ birthday.
Kayla: I liked Stuart Little, starting geography, seeing Nate at the Living Museum, and art.
Brennan: I liked handball in PE, the Living Museum, sharing my state quarters, and gym.
Mihir: I liked everything! I especially liked starting geography, seeing Ms. Der Yuen, math, Living Museum, writing MadLibs, sharing reports, more cursive, and handball in PE.
Mishal: I liked seeing Ms. Der Yuen, PE, math, science, and learning China in computers.
Spencer: I liked starting geography, handball in PE, finishing my report, working on sentences with adverbs instead of the Daily, reading “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” for Dr. Seuss’ birthday, being Calendar Aid, Stuart Little, Living Museum, and being back from the break.
Lindsay: I loved seeing Ms. Der Yuen, seeing the 4th grade Living Museum, starting geography, finishing my report, making our own MadLibs, and being back from break.
Alexander L.: I liked being back from break, art, music, computers, science, more Stuart Little, starting Flat Stanley: Chinese Wonders, Oh, the Places You’ll Go! for Dr. Seuss’ birthday, the Living Museum, making MadLibs, sharing my state quarters, and seeing Ms. Der Yuen.
Maya: I loved the Living Museum and seeing Natalie in her costume! I also liked art, seeing Ms. Der Yuen, and PE.
Nina: I liked seeing Ms. Der Yuen after break, the Living Museum, playing handball in PE, when the 5th graders shared their books, Alex showing his National Park quarters, and gym.
Alexander C.: I liked handball in PE, sharing my quarters, the Living Museum, the 5th graders presenting their books, Flat Stanley: Chinese Wonders, and Stuart Little
Riley: I liked the Constitution books, Living Museum, reading Stuart Little and Flat Stanley: Chinese Wonders, reading my report, playing handball in PE, starting geography, and making MabLibs and basically everything.
Matt: I liked everything! I liked computers, math, PE, writing our own MadLibs, reading our reports out loud, the Living Museum, and “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” for Dr. Seuss’ birthday.
Kayla: I liked Stuart Little, starting geography, seeing Nate at the Living Museum, and art.
Brennan: I liked handball in PE, the Living Museum, sharing my state quarters, and gym.
Friday, March 2, 2012
Weekly Highlights 3/2/12 Mrs. Barulich
Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss! The students saw the video of, 'Oh, The Places You'll Go' this morning, to honor Dr. Seuss. There is a great message there: choosing friends wisely, knowing the diference between right and wrong and as we get older we all at one time or another find that sometimes, life is not fair, but we soldier on.
It has been an extremely busy yet exciting week. I'm enjoying grading the Civil War Hero reports and we've started reading them aloud to the class with many questions from our audience afterwards. Yesterday we had the privilege of attending the fourth grader's Living Museum. We were able to talk to Jedediah Smith, Amelia Earhart, Joaquin Murrieta and many other colorful characters which made California history what our state is now. I personally never knew that Amelia Earhart flew out of Oakland, California on her last and final flight. We were also treated to the fifth grader's version of the U.S. Constitution or Birdietution as one of the groups called it. We learned about the three branches of government: the legislative, judicial and executive.
1. Madeline - I liked working on our landscapes in art, music, learning more about Guido de Arezzo, the Living Museum, and the U.S. Constitution in Miss Calcagno's classroom. Jedediah Smith, in the Living Museum, even had the bear that bit him with him! Emily Leyfur in 5th grade, drew some wonderful pictures for their Constitution project. I also liked celebrating my birthday with my class.
2. Ivan - I liked the Birdietution in 5th grade. It was funny. I also liked our U.S. States sticker book, learning the song, 'Way Up North to Alaska', while we were in Alaska and Nathan's brother, Liam in the Living Museum.
3. Kenna - I liked music a lot, learning the keys on the staves, the 5th graders Constitution was funny and the Living Museum was really great!
4. Nathan - I really liked the Living Museum, my brother, Joaquin Murrieta and Amelia Earhart were cool! I also liked the US Constitution project that the 5th graders did and finishing my report on Abraham Lincoln.
5. Aidan - I liked George Hearst and Leland Stanford in the Living Museum, I also liked the computer videos of China and the Birdietution in 5th grade.
6. Vicki - I like the new music teacher's voice, P.E., art and doing the hula when we were in the state of Hawaii. We weren't really in Hawaii, but we were learning about that state!
7. Renee - I liked the stickers in our State Book and learning about the states. I also liked doing our landscapes in art, the new music teacher's piano, taking my science quiz and doing the hula when we were learning about Hawaii.
8. Stefan - I always like P.E. and playing Graveyard! I also liked the Living Museum, Jedediah Smith travelled a lot! And I liked taking my quiz in science.
9. Liam - I liked estimating in math this week, the new song at assembly, reading my report on Frederick Douglas to the class, the Living Museum, learning and watching the videos of each state that we are learning about and art.
10. Oliver - I liked taking my science quiz. I am happy that Mrs. Wendlandt gave us plenty of time to take it. I also liked P.E., art and learning about the states.
Rohan, we hope that you are enjoying your time with your grandparents. We missed you today.
It has been an extremely busy yet exciting week. I'm enjoying grading the Civil War Hero reports and we've started reading them aloud to the class with many questions from our audience afterwards. Yesterday we had the privilege of attending the fourth grader's Living Museum. We were able to talk to Jedediah Smith, Amelia Earhart, Joaquin Murrieta and many other colorful characters which made California history what our state is now. I personally never knew that Amelia Earhart flew out of Oakland, California on her last and final flight. We were also treated to the fifth grader's version of the U.S. Constitution or Birdietution as one of the groups called it. We learned about the three branches of government: the legislative, judicial and executive.
1. Madeline - I liked working on our landscapes in art, music, learning more about Guido de Arezzo, the Living Museum, and the U.S. Constitution in Miss Calcagno's classroom. Jedediah Smith, in the Living Museum, even had the bear that bit him with him! Emily Leyfur in 5th grade, drew some wonderful pictures for their Constitution project. I also liked celebrating my birthday with my class.
2. Ivan - I liked the Birdietution in 5th grade. It was funny. I also liked our U.S. States sticker book, learning the song, 'Way Up North to Alaska', while we were in Alaska and Nathan's brother, Liam in the Living Museum.
3. Kenna - I liked music a lot, learning the keys on the staves, the 5th graders Constitution was funny and the Living Museum was really great!
4. Nathan - I really liked the Living Museum, my brother, Joaquin Murrieta and Amelia Earhart were cool! I also liked the US Constitution project that the 5th graders did and finishing my report on Abraham Lincoln.
5. Aidan - I liked George Hearst and Leland Stanford in the Living Museum, I also liked the computer videos of China and the Birdietution in 5th grade.
6. Vicki - I like the new music teacher's voice, P.E., art and doing the hula when we were in the state of Hawaii. We weren't really in Hawaii, but we were learning about that state!
7. Renee - I liked the stickers in our State Book and learning about the states. I also liked doing our landscapes in art, the new music teacher's piano, taking my science quiz and doing the hula when we were learning about Hawaii.
8. Stefan - I always like P.E. and playing Graveyard! I also liked the Living Museum, Jedediah Smith travelled a lot! And I liked taking my quiz in science.
9. Liam - I liked estimating in math this week, the new song at assembly, reading my report on Frederick Douglas to the class, the Living Museum, learning and watching the videos of each state that we are learning about and art.
10. Oliver - I liked taking my science quiz. I am happy that Mrs. Wendlandt gave us plenty of time to take it. I also liked P.E., art and learning about the states.
Rohan, we hope that you are enjoying your time with your grandparents. We missed you today.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Music Videos
Check out the karaoke videos from our trip to the Children's Creativity Museum from a few weeks ago! The kids had fun selecting band names, picking music selections, and choosing a background for the green screen- then they busted out some serious dance moves! Enjoy!
"Fire Pies"
"Pie Hearts"
"The Bombs"
"The Sunshines"
"Fire Pies"
"Pie Hearts"
"The Bombs"
"The Sunshines"
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Spelling Words: ow-ew words
1. how
2. new
3. cow
4. clown
5. blew
6. town
7. flew
8. now
9. grew
10. down
11. flowers
12. however
13. knew
14. chewed
15. jewelry
2. new
3. cow
4. clown
5. blew
6. town
7. flew
8. now
9. grew
10. down
11. flowers
12. however
13. knew
14. chewed
15. jewelry
Monday, February 27, 2012
Fifty, Nifty United States!
We are beginning our study of the 50 states and capitals that will last through the spring. The children will be bringing home the note below outlining our study and important test dates. We will be learning through music, puzzles, maps, interactive media, games, reading, research, writing, and workbooks. If you have additional resources you'd like to share, we always welcome them!
Happy travels!
Happy travels!
Monday, February 20, 2012
Self-control/cognitive development article
I hope you are enjoying the beginning of break! I enjoyed leisurely reading the New York Times this morning wanted to share an interesting article about self-control in children, including its importance, varying cultural perspectives, and teaching it. It's part of a debate surrounding "Bringing Up Bebe", a French answer to last year's "Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother". The article is billed as an "American" response written by neuroscientists at Princeton.
Here are couple excerpts that I found particularly resonating:
"Effective approaches for building self-control combine fun with progressively increasing challenges. Rather than force activities onto an unwilling child, take advantage of his or her individual tendencies. When children develop self-control through their own pursuit of happiness, no parental hovering is required. Find something that the child is crazy about but that requires active effort. Whether it’s compiling baseball statistics or making (but not passively watching) YouTube videos, passionate hobbies build mental staying power that can also be used for math homework.
Play allows children to practice skills that are useful in adult life. Young children build self-control through elaborate, imaginative games like pretending to be a doctor or a fireman...
The connection between self-control and social skills seems to be a two-way street. Helping children to identify their emotions and think through possible consequences before reacting improves self-control, in the classroom and at home. According to an analysis of 213 studies involving more than 270,000 students from kindergarten through high school, programs to enhance social and emotional development accelerate school achievement as much as interventions targeted at academic subjects."
Article:
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/19/opinion/sunday/building-self-control-the-american-way.html?src=recg
Here are couple excerpts that I found particularly resonating:
"Effective approaches for building self-control combine fun with progressively increasing challenges. Rather than force activities onto an unwilling child, take advantage of his or her individual tendencies. When children develop self-control through their own pursuit of happiness, no parental hovering is required. Find something that the child is crazy about but that requires active effort. Whether it’s compiling baseball statistics or making (but not passively watching) YouTube videos, passionate hobbies build mental staying power that can also be used for math homework.
Play allows children to practice skills that are useful in adult life. Young children build self-control through elaborate, imaginative games like pretending to be a doctor or a fireman...
The connection between self-control and social skills seems to be a two-way street. Helping children to identify their emotions and think through possible consequences before reacting improves self-control, in the classroom and at home. According to an analysis of 213 studies involving more than 270,000 students from kindergarten through high school, programs to enhance social and emotional development accelerate school achievement as much as interventions targeted at academic subjects."
Article:
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/19/opinion/sunday/building-self-control-the-american-way.html?src=recg
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