What are you thankful for?

Today, students worked on a Thanksgiving art project. All week, we have been reading books about Thanksgiving and wrote in our journals about what we are thankful for. Today, we created beautiful fall trees that will remind us of all the things that we are thankful for.

Students used sponge painting to paint clothespins. They then chose words that were meaningful to them to write on the dried pins. Everyone was very proud of their work!

Enjoy the long weekend! 

Colours of the Prairies

This week we have been talking about Saskatchewan and how it is the same/different from Calgary. Today, we checked out the weather in Regina, SK, we read the book "A Prairie Alphabet" and wrote 3 sentences about things we learned from the book and this afternoon, we worked on an art project.

Students were shown pictures of the prairies. We talked about how the prairies are flat, with few trees. Students pointed out how the grasses were different colors and we looked at all the different shades of blue. Students then had to use paint chips to create their own prairie scene. Everyone did a great job!

\Looking at the Prairies. How many colors do you see?

Planning out a landscape

In math, we practiced counting by tens and ones, using math manipulatives to help us build the number. For gym, we took advantage of the beautiful weather and went outside.

Please remember to return home reading bags tomorrow!

Whose bucket are you filling?

This week, each student has been given a popsicle stick with a name of a classmate on it. Their challenge is to secretly fill that person's bucket all throughout the week. On Friday, we will reveal whose bucket we were working to fill!

The story "Have you Filled a bucket today" is a beautiful way to teach kindness and empathy. You can watch and listen the story through YouTube:

We are moving into looking at a community in Saskatchewan. We talked about non-fiction books today and read about the weather in Saskatchewan. It is cold there!

We continue to focus on reading and writing in the mornings. Students are doing a fabulous jobs reading to themselves and reading to a partner. Today, we talked about 'chunking' words if we get stuck.  We also got to use our 'best work' printing books today. Ask us about Frog Jump Capitals!

How to become a super reader

Here are some tips for helping us become SUPER READERS!

You should not be playing around or watching t.v. when you are reading. Kaleb

If you don't know a word, your mom or dad can help you. Jordyn

You should sit close together because if you don't, they won't be able to help  you. Skie

Don't bother asking your parents to play with your friends because you have to read before you can play. Adrianna

Don't wave your book around because it might be from school or the library. It might break because the pages might be old. And other people need to use them so they can get better at reading. Mackenzie

You have to read the pictures. Sofia

You have to not get distracted. Aurora

You can't talk to other people and not do your work or you have to do it tomorrow before you go to school. Arthur

If you don't know a word or the title and your mom or dad know how to read, then you can ask them for tips. Justin

Your mom or your dad, before you go to bed, can read you a bedtime story or you can read before you go to bed. Sage

If you don't know any words and your mom or dad don't know it too, come back to school and say it is not a good fit book. Erdas

The main thing - try your best! Ms. Ketcheson

Home Reading Program

Home Reading Program

Our grade 2 class will be starting our home reading program this week. Your student will be receiving a bag every Monday. This needs to be returned on Friday.  In the bag, you will find:

     A poem that we will be reading in class

     A fiction book

     A non-fiction book

Books are chosen for your student based on their reading level. As we ease into the school year, you may find the books to be similar to ones read prior to grade 2. This is done to help students adjust and build confidence for the grade 2 year.

In order to build fluency, it is important for your child to read and REREAD the same books multiple times. This will increase your child's sight vocabulary and become familiar with the text and the story. Often the first time a child reads an unfamiliar text he or she is simply sounding out the words (decoding). The next time the text is read your child will feel more comfortable with the sounds and begin looking for the meaning of the story. You may want to follow up your child's reading by asking questions about the story. If your child is unsure about something in the story, you may want to encourage him or her to go back and reread the story.  

Please also take note of the tracking sheet sent home with your student. Every night, please record what book(s) you read. Students will also be tracking this information at school. On Fridays, students will be asked to read their home reading books in class. 

If you have any questions about home reading, please feel free to write a note in the agenda or to contact me directly.

Thank you for helping our class become super-readers!

Ms. Ketcheson