Archive for September, 2009
Mrs. Arrington is a Grandma!
September 24th, 2009 | 
Author: Today we got to experience the joy with Mrs. Arrington. Her pet roaches had babies. After recess, we walked down to her room to get a sneak peek at the new babies. They were very interesting. We also signed the baby book.
Here is a thank you/announcement from Mrs. Arrington about her babies.
I’d like to thank everyone for the well wishing e-mails and cards regarding the recent births of my grandchildren. The letter from Mrs. Arnold’s class was especially touching. Many of you have been by and held the angels as well as signed the SpongeBob baby book. We have named them traditional Madagascar names: Mimi, Hasina, Andry, Domina, Fabien(because he looks just like a romance novel model) Anja, and Narindra. As you can see in one of the photos, I didn’t waste any time reading to them a book titled My Pet. Mimi has already spoken her first words and they were Benchmark Test! Advanced!
Thank you again,
Mrs. Arrington
Aka Granny E
Posted in 
Read 100 Books
Our classroom is participating in the Scholastic Books Classrooms that Care. We are on a race to read 100 books. When we reach our goal, Peyton Manning will give 1 million books to children who don’t have any. So help your child reach his/her goal. As they read the book, have them right down the author and the title of the book and bring it to class the next day. Below is the scoreboard for the Classroom that Care. So far we have read 17 books towards our goal.
International Literacy Day
On September 8th, schools around the world celebrated International Literacy Day. Drew Central second grade was not any different. All 4 classes gathered into one room to listen to Barbara Milburn read The Egyptian Cinderella. Students were very entertained and interested in listening to the Egyptian version of our Cinderella story.
Poor Rhodopis! She has nothing-no mother or father, and no friends. She is a slave, from a far-off country of Greece. Only the beautiful rose-red slippers for master gives her master gives her can make Rhodopis smile. So when a falcon swoops down and snatches one of the slippers away. Rhodopis is heartbroken. For how is she to know that the slipper will land in the lap of the great Pharaoh himself? And who would ever guess that the Pharaoh has promised to find the slipper’s owner and make her queen of all Egypt? To read the online version of The Egyptian Cinderella click here.
Independent Work
In second grade, students no longer have centers or corners that they attend while the teacher is teaching small groups. This is a big change for most students. Students are required to complete individual assignments while I attend to small group reading. These independent assignment include various activities. See below:
- Reading Response: Once a week students are required to write me a letter informing me about a book they have read. For full credit they must give me 5 details. (A sample will follow next week).
- Quick Reads: After reading a small nonfiction article, students must answer 2 questions to show they comprehended the article they were reading. This starts September 14.
- Word Study: Students must sort their spelling words everyday and then right them in the word study notebook. Some days they may have to highlight the vowel pattern, divide the word by onset and rime, etc.
- Guided Reading Assignment: After attending their small group reading assignment, students are required to complete an short assignment given by the teacher one the book they just received.
- Vocabulary: Everyday, they must write and illustrate a sentence using a vocabulary word that will be on their test on Friday.
- Other Assignments: This usually includes Reading, AR test, and G/T activities.
Here are a few pictures from independent time in the classroom.
Ja’Lyon and Deaunna are taking an AR test on their guided reading book.
Justin and Zy are choosing a book to read from the class library.
Trenton is working hard to finish up his assignment while Zy is in the background reading a book fromt he book talk corner.
Elijah and Lane are also taking AR test.
Ja’Lyon is returning to seat after turning in an assignment. Olivia and Mitchell are in the class library finding a perfect book to read.
