May 29th.....May 29th????

Could this really be the last post of the year?  It seems very hard to believe that I'm sending those sweet children all the way to ... third grade!  Wow!

I should begin this post by thanking all of the parents in this awesome class for their support.   I have been in awe of your support and generosity throughout the year.  This is a fine bunch of students and I know it is because of your hard work and dedication to your child's education.

We have had a great week and I have enjoyed our last days together.  As most of you know I  am moving to Kindergarten next year and the last few days with big second graders are much appreciated!  This is a sweet, independent and fun class.  They work really hard and work well together.  I wish them nothing but the best in third grade and beyond!

There are a few things you should know about the last few days.

• Wash those Bye Bye Blacktop T-shirts!  We want everyone to wear them on Friday for our ground breaking ceremony! (2:15 pm)  Hooray!
• Writing Portfolios came home Wednesday.  It has most of our published writing from the year.  Enjoy!
• Report Cards come home home on Friday.  Look for them and be proud.
• I am sending workbooks and locker goodies home tomorrow.  
• Look for information about the summer math incentive in the report card envelope.
• On Friday, before the Groundbreaking ceremony, we will have a school-wide Drop Everything And Read "party" on the blacktop.  That is why towels/blankets have not been sent home.  We will use them on Friday to read our new books and enjoy the last hours of the black top!

Have a Fantastic Summer!!!  I will see you all next year!

This just in...Second Graders from Room 204 are reporting on all the things you can expect in second grade.  Click here to see the video that will be shared with our first grade classes.  Enjoy!

May 13-17

We had a great time at the zoo!  Thanks to everyone who chaperoned.  The weather was wonderful and the kids seemed to have a good time and learn a lot.

Don't forget this week:

• We will be taking our final spelling test of the year on Friday.  We plan to practice our spelling words with sidewalk chalk.  If it looks like rain we might work outside on Wednesday instead.  Please send chalk if you have some lying around.
• We are also planting on Thursday.  No dressy clothes that day!
• Please send in some things for making boats next Monday.  Before you throw something in the recycling bin or garbage, throw it in a bag and send it into school.
•  Art Fest and Poetry night is Wednesday.  It is probably my favorite Irving event because it showcases our students' talents and our special area teachers' dedication.  I left last year wondering why anybody would send their children anywhere else but Irving!  

We are working on fractions and area/perimeter in math this week.  We are reading folktales and fables and identifying the central message, theme and moral. 

May 6-10

Don't forget to practice those spelling words!!!!

We have been busy with MAP testing, learning about making and keeping a budget and writing poems.  We had the firehouse visit us this week and the kids learned about fire safety.  The presentation is a second grade tradition and it is a very effective demonstration on fire safety in the house..

Please review the dates below.  

Monday, May 13th:  Field Trip to Lincoln Park Zoo-Please dress for the weather!  All kids need a packed lunch.  Chaperones, please plan on meeting us there.  Please bring a backpack so you can carry your group's lunches. 
Thursday, May 16th:  Spelling Review Day-send chalk, Garden Planting-wear old clothes, and Art Fest/Poetry Slam! Whew!
Friday, May 17th:  All School Library Books due today!
Monday, May 20th: Sink and Float your Boat day!  Send in boat materials!  We need materials that could be used to make  boat.  We'll test them out in our buckets which are about 9 inches x9 inches x9inches.
Tuesday, May 21:  Tribute to Excellence and (Shhh)
Thursday, May 23:  Reading Review Day-send in a towel for a reading picnic!
Friday, May 24th: Olympic Day (day)
(evening) Parent/Teacher Softball game and GET RID OF THE ASPHALT PARTY!!!!!
Tuesday, May 28, 10-3 Barrie Park Second Grade Picnic
Wednesday, May 29th:  Second Grade Promise Board Game Day-send in board games
Thursday, May 30th:  Cleaning Day.  Send in an extra shopping bag to haul all that stuff home!

April 29-May 3

It is hard to believe that May is just around the corner!

Homework:  In your child's folder today there is a homework calendar for the entire month of May.  Please note-

• There is a sheet of paper for you to record 3 activities per week attached to the calendar.  Turn in the whole packet on May 28th.  These are short review activities that should not require a lot of time.
• We will not send home reading logs anymore.  Please make sure that you continue to read throughout May and the summer months!  
• There is a FINAL spelling list with the homework today.  The final test will be May 17th.  Please keep this list in a safe spot and practice it often before the 17th.  These are words that your child chose from all the previous spelling lists.

Review Days:  Towards the end of the month we will be having review days for different subjects and topics.  On some of the days we will need some simple supplies from home.  Please look at the list.  I have also included these in the dates to remember IF your child needs to bring something from home.

Spelling Review Day:   We will use sidewalk chalk to practice our spelling words.  I have some, but if you have a few extra pieces, please send them in on May 16th.

Sink and Float Review:  We will create boats that float.  PLEASE send in materials that your child could use to construct a simple boat such as empty containers, styrofoam, SMALL pieces of wood, clay, foam trays, etc.  We will do this on May 20th.

Three Branches of Government: We will take a look at our presentations, play a game and watch a short video.  And of course, we will rock out to  some Schoolhouse Rock!

Math Review Day: We will play all of our math games from the whole year!  

Reading Review Day: Bring a towel and we will read our favorite books outside (weather permitting).  If you  have a favorite picture book you want to share with a friend, please bring that from home as well. We will celebrate reading on May 23rd. 

Second Grade Promise Day:  We promised every day to be respectful and responsible.  We will celebrate our promise by playing board games (respectfully and responsibly) for 45 minutes in the afternoon.  Students an bring games in on May 29th.  Please no electronics, no violent games.  Students should be able to explain the rules, set it up independently and be willing to share it with others.


Friday, May 3:  Irving Sleepover
Monday, May 13th:  Field Trip to Lincoln Park Zoo-
Thursday, May 16th:  Spelling Review Day (Send Chalk!) and Art Fest/Poetry Slam!
Friday, May 17th:  All School Library Books due today!
Monday, May 20th: Sink and Float your Boat day!  Send in boat materials!
Tuesday, May 21:  Tribute to Excellence
Thursday, May 23:  Reading Review Day-send in a towel for a reading picnic!
Friday, May 24th: Olympic Day (day)
(evening) Parent/Teacher Softball game and GET RID OF THE ASPHALT PARTY!!!!!
Tuesday, May 28, 10-3 Barrie Park Second Grade Picnic
Wednesday, May 29th:  Second Grade Promise Board Game Day-send in board games
Thursday, May 30th:  Cleaning Day.  Send in an extra shopping bag to haul all that stuff home!

Dates:  Check Back each week as we update and add important dates.  New dates are bold.

Monday, April 22-Thursday, April 26:  Book Fair!  Every day after school until 6:00.  There is also an online sale this year.  Click here to see teachers wish lists. (Some teachers have wish lists and some teachers have teacher picks, check both tabs if you can't find your child's teacher.)
Friday, May 3:  Irving Sleepover
Monday, May 13th:  Field Trip to Lincoln Park Zoo-Lot's of chaperones needed!
Thursday, May 16th:  Art Fest/Poetry Slam!
Friday, May 17th:  All School Library Books due today!
Tuesday, May 21:  Tribute to Excellence
Friday, May 24th: Olympic Day (day)
(evening) Parent/Teacher Softball game and GET RID OF THE ASPHALT PARTY!!!!!
May 28, 10-3 Barrie Park Second Grade Picnic


Reading and Writing:  Students are working hard to complete their research projects.  They had to take notes, organize their notes into paragraphs and then do some drafting and revising.  A few kids have completed the final drafts and they are amazing.  We will use these books as a resource next week when we talk about needs and wants. 


Science:  The students helped me write a study guide for their Science test.  We will send that home on Thursday.  Our Sink and Float test will be on Monday.


Math:  We are working on number patterns.  We are also reviewing computation skills such as subtraction with regrouping, multiplication and division.  Fun stuff!


Heartbreaker:  This was the last homework packet.  I know you are disappointed.  There will be a calendar of assignments to do in May and you will be asked to turn in a short packet at the end of the month.  The assignments are meant to review basic concepts, but also to get the kids active!  I know May is a busy month and this should give you a little more flexibility.  If you want more to do:  READ!

April 15-19

Well, if it won't act like Spring outside, we'll have to bring Spring inside.  We made giant synonym flowers to brighten up our board.  Sadly, we had to include some umbrellas and rain drops, too.  We explained how we solved a subtraction problem on the umbrella.  Writing about solving a math problem is expected in third grade and it is also part of the Common Core State Standards.

Permission slips are going home for our field trip to the zoo.  We would love lots of chaperones to make this trip fun and educational.  Chaperones will be asked to carpool.  (Read:  you won't have to ride the bumpy, loud bus!)  No chaperones will be turned away! 

Math: We continue to work on multiplication and division this week.  We are taking an end of the unit assessment and also going to take another day to practice writing about our math thinking.

Science: We discovered that changing the shape of an object affects buoyancy by creating "boats" out of clay.  Did your child's boat sink or float?

Reading: We are working on comparing and contrasting two books on the same topic.  We did Venn Diagrams in groups last week and this week we will work on one individually.

Ms. Heidloff: Our wonderful student teacher is getting ready for two lead teaching weeks.  She has great things planned to teach about economics, number patterns, comparing two versions of the same story from different cultures and lots more!  I will be in the room working in small reading groups, but other than that, she's in charge!  I'm sure she will do great.  Look for her at drop off and pick up and let her know if you have any questions.

Dates:  Check Back each week as we update and add important dates.  New dates are bold.

Tuesday, April 16th:  Academic Fair and Egg Drop (Egg drop will start around 12:30.)
Thursday, April 18th:  Sunny Notes for Sale! 25 cents each or 5/$1.00
Friday, April 19th:  Pajama Day!
Monday, April 22-Thursday, April 26:  Book Fair!  Every day after school until 6:00.  There is also an online sale this year.  Click here to see teachers wish lists. (Some teachers have wish lists and some teachers have teacher picks, check both tabs if you can't find your child's teacher.)
Friday, May 3:  Irving Sleepover
Monday, May 13th:  Field Trip to Lincoln Park Zoo-Lot's of chaperones needed!
Thursday, May 16th:  Art Fest/Poetry Slam!
Friday, May 24th:  Parent/Teacher Softball game and GET RID OF THE ASPHALT PARTY!!!!!
May 28, 10-3 Barrie Park Second Grade Picnic

Irving Green Team created an art project out of recycled materials as part of the first annual "Eco-Art Exhibit" contest.  Five schools participated.  You can find ours at the Visit Oak Park center on Lake Street.  Go inside to vote for Irving's project!   The winning project will be announced at Earth Fest on April 20th.  The winning team gets a pizza party and recognition in the local paper!  (Vote early and often until April 20th!)