"Children have an amazing way of becoming exactly who we tell them they are, as our words often become their inner voice and shape their identity. By consistently speaking strength, kindness, and capability into them, we help them believe they can face challenges." This quote reminded me of the approach needed for the last two weeks of February. I find these two weeks to always be the most challenging time for students and their ability to focus and be their "best." Needless to say, we have spent some time discussing how to make good choices, how to fight distractions, and how to help each other. I love reminding them of all they can do.
It’s been a busy and productive week of growth in our math classrooms! Here is a look at what our 1st and 2nd graders have been tackling:
1st Grade: Our 1st graders spent the week diving deep into the world of 2-D shapes, mastering their names and specific attributes. Through hands-on exploration, students learned how to compose larger shapes using smaller ones and put their spatial reasoning to the test with a shape puzzle game.
2nd Grade: In 2nd grade, the focus shifted to the practical world of currency. Students practiced making coin trades and calculating the difference between various monetary amounts. Understanding the value of money—and realizing there are multiple ways to create the same total using different coins and bills—is a vital life skill. These lessons are helping our students comprehend the cost of items and the mechanics of making change, ensuring they are well-prepared for real-world transactions.
The circus excitement continues to roll on as we deepened our focus on the whimsical world of clowns! Drawing inspiration from last week's presentation, the students put the finishing touches on their clown portraits, and the results are truly fantastic. Beyond the art, the class has been busy documenting their discoveries in their circus journals. By applying the same observation and recording techniques used in their science units, the students are keeping their technical writing skills "in tune" while exploring a creative theme. It is wonderful to see them having so much fun with this unit, and we are all eagerly counting down to our culminating work with the talented Troy Wunderle!
Last week's read a louds focused on the series of books titled "What If You Had Animal . . .." The "What If You Had..." book series, written by Sandra Markle and illustrated by Howard McWilliam, is a brilliant blend of whimsical imagination and rigorous biological science. Each book poses a playful "what if" scenario—such as having a shark’s teeth, a polar bear’s fur, or an elephant’s nose—and explores how those specialized animal traits would function on a human body. They are incredibly instructional because they break down the concept of biological adaptations into digestible, fascinating facts, showing exactly how an animal uses its unique features to survive in the wild.
The students took big strides in their persuasive writing unit this week as they tackled a topic close to their hearts: "Do kids need more recess time?" The classroom was full of passionate arguments as students focused on crafting solid endings that leave a lasting impression on their readers. Our 2nd graders leveled up their writing by practicing "twin sentences," a technique used to elaborate on their thinking and provide deeper detail for their arguments. To wrap up their pieces, everyone practiced the vital habit of self-editing, with a specific eagle-eye focus on consistent capital letters and correct ending punctuation.
NOTES:
*There are no Weekly News entries for this week so the journals are not in their bags. We will pick up with these again after the break.
*On Thursday, February 19th the school will be performing in a circus. This is a culminating event from our work with Troy. The event will start at 6:00. We will have a 1st and 2nd grade open house from 5:15-5:45 that evening. This will be a chance to stop by the classroom and see some of the work that your child was involved in during the circus unit. I hope you will all have a chance to stop in and take a look. This will end promptly at 5:45, so that we can all get to the gym and set up for our performance. Please plan accordingly.
That is all for now. I hope you all have a great weekend. Happy Valentine's Day!
Peace,
Mr. Young
1st Grade: Our 1st graders spent the week diving deep into the world of 2-D shapes, mastering their names and specific attributes. Through hands-on exploration, students learned how to compose larger shapes using smaller ones and put their spatial reasoning to the test with a shape puzzle game.
