Next week is Spring Break and we have a lot going on! This week we had a student return from a long term trip to the Philippines. Upon his return, he shared a scrapbook that he has created to document his activities while he was away. The students learned about the culture, language, and geography of the Philippines. They were also informed of the typhoon that had hit the area while our student was away. He was able to help in the relief efforts and had an unforgettable experience. Below is a photo taken of him sharing the scrapbook with the class.
This week we are taking our ECRA writing assessment. The students have been working on a great deal of writing this school year and have been progressing well!
When we return from Spring Break we will be taking the MAP Reading test on April 5th. Please make sure that your child is well rested and ready to do his or her best! All year long students have been working hard in class. We have also created and worked toward goals to help students improve their MAP scores in both reading and math. The students have chosen the goal that they believe fits for them and are doing a wonderful job putting forth the effort necessary to accomplish them. Our MAP Math test will be taken the following Monday on April 9th.
I hope that everyone has an enjoyable Spring Break and I look forward to seeing all of the smiling faces when we return. As always, if you have any questions please let me know! 
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This week the students read a narrative nonfiction story titled Firefighter! The kids were very excited about the job and responsibilities that a firefighter has. We discussed what responsibilities are and how to maintain fire safety. This morning, we had a special opportunity to Skype with a fireman from the Lockport Fire Department. Firefighter Young gave us a video tour of the fire station. His tour included a look inside the ambulance, the kitchen, the garage, and the fire engine. He even had another firefighter show us how he puts on all of his gear! It weighed about 80 lbs! Not only did we get a great chance to speak with and ask questions of a real firefighter, a student in our class was also kind enough to bring in real firefighter gear to share. We were able to see in person how the gear is made and how heavy it feels. What a great opportunity! Below is a picture of the second grade classes absorbed in our video chat.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Welcome back! I hope that everyone had a wonderful holiday and was able to sleep in at least once! We are back in the swing of things here in Room 109. This week we will be reading a story titled “Rosa and Blanca” in our Reading books. The students will be learning how to determine the “big idea” or theme of a story. In Math we will be working on place value. Students are grouping items into groups of hundreds, tens, and ones. We will be challenging ourselves by using this grouping strategy to solve word problems with our classmates! Our Science unit on animals will be finishing up this week with our science test occuring next week. Please check with your child to see when he or she receives the study guide to prepare for the assessment.
Before winter break, the students were studying fables. During their study, the class composed their own fable based on a majority voted moral. Please click on the link below to read our story, “Harry and the Missed Field Trip”!
December is here! We have been busy, busy, busy learning in Room 109. We have recently taken our Unit 5 Math test on measurement, median, word problems, and riddle problems. The students did a great job! We are now studying time. We will be using both analog and digital clocks to ensure that the students have a well rounded understanding of telling time.
This morning, Dr. Markgraf presented the students with their Homer Reading Awards for the month of November. We read the most minutes so far this year! 6, 720 minutes! That adds up to almost 5 entire days of reading. Wow! We also had two students that didn’t miss a single day of reading ALL MONTH! Very impressive. Our December reading has begun so let’s keep it up!
Next Friday will be our winter party. The students are very excited to celebrate with their friends here at school. I would like to take the chance to thank all of the parents that put forth a great deal of time and effort towards making our classroom parties a success. Thank you!
As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please let me know!
I wanted to say thank you to all of the parents that were able to come in to visit during American Education Week. The students were very excited to host our visitors.
Parent/Teacher conferences are on November 21st and 22nd. Please call the office if you have not yet scheduled your conference. If the available times do not work for you, I am happy to find another time to meet at your convenience.
Over the upcoming Thanksgiving break, students will take home an At Home Reading Log to be completed in place of their daily reading slips. In the month of October, the students read 193 hours! They have been working very hard to increase their reading slips for the month of November. Enjoy the Thanksgiving break!
First quarter is over and we are heading into the second quarter with enthusiasm! Report cards were sent home on Tuesday and returned with parent signatures today.
Spelling City is updated weekly so be sure to check it out! Play games, compose sentences and stories, or take a practice test on our weekly words. This is a great resource to use to add variety to study options at home. This week we are studying the Unit 2 Week 5 words. Next week’s words will be the Unit 2 Review lists.
We have a very busy next couple of weeks in second grade! Picture retakes will take place on Thursday, November 3rd. Please return your student’s photo package in full if you would like your child to participate in picture retakes.
Friday, November 4th, will be Spirit Day. Support Erickson and wear your gold and yellow! Remember that the class that has the most participants will win the Erickson Eagle to display for that month. Let’s show our Erickson pride!
Students will be taking their Math Unit 4 test on Tuesday, November 8th. We will take time on Monday to review measuring in inches and centimeters, determining perimeter, and graphing data.
On Wednesday, November 9th, students will take their first Social Studies test. We have studied the different types of communities; urban, suburban, and rural. We have also learned about using a compass rose when analyzing a map and comparing communication long ago and today. After our Social Studies test, we will be returning to Science.
Thursday, November 10th will be our Brookfield Zoo field trip. Our field trip will last from 8:40am until 2:00pm. The students will return to the normal school schedule once we return and will be dismissed at 3:30pm. Students will need to bring a sack lunch and a beverage. Students will not be allowed to visit the zoo gift shop so they should not bring money with them on the field trip. We are all very excited to visit the zoo and explore the various animal exhibits! Thank you so much to all of the parents that volunteered to chaparone the field trip. Through a random lottery system, four parents have been chosen to chaparone our trip. Informational letters have been sent home to parents to explain the chaparone guidelines.
On Friday, November 11th, we will be celebrating Veteran’s Day with an assembly. Students are encouraged to wear red, white, and blue to support our veterans.
Have a wonderful week! :)
We have recently taken the Unit 3 Math test and the students did a fantastic job! They should all be very proud of their hard work. We will now be beginning Unit 4 where will will be working with measurement. Students will use different units of measure including links, inches, and feet. Encourage your child to become familiar with measurement by using a ruler or tape measure to measure objects around the house.
On November 10th, we will be visiting Brookfield Zoo! The students will watch a presentation about animal adaptations and will have the opportunity to learn a great deal of information about the animals at the zoo. Please return the signed permission slip and $4.50 (preferrably in cash) to your child’s teacher by October 28th. If you would like to be a chaparone, feel free to fill out the attached yellow slip and return it with your child to school. Chaparones will be decided on a lottery system. Please note that your child WILL need to bring a sack lunch and beverage with them for the field trip. We are all very excited about this great opportunity!
This evening, beginning at 6:30pm, Erickson will be hosting Family Pumpkin Night in the gym. We hope to see you there!
Tomorrow, student picture packages will be sent home. Please return the photos if you would like your child to participate in photo retakes. Retakes will be on November 3rd.
Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns!
On Monday of next week, we will be having review stations in math to practice place value and button sorting word problems. Students will be working in small groups to review the concepts that we have learned in Unit 3. Students will be taking the Unit 3 math test on Tuesday. Please encourage your child to study for the test. Use the review packet that will be coming home on Monday to prepare.
In Social Studies, we have been learning about our community. Students have discussed the many businesses in our community and finding the differences between communities and neighborhoods. Ask your child to tell you what they know about their community. Do they live in a city or in the country? An urban or rural area? Who are their neighbors? How can members of a community work together to solve problems?
Keep up those reading slips! Remember, in order to earn the Homer Reading Award, students must turn in at least 12 reading slips for the month of October. Only one slip may be turned in for each night, however, students are allowed to bring home multiple slips for nights over the weekend. If your child forgets their reading slip at school and has read for the night, simply write the minutes on a notecard or piece of paper along with your signature.
Wow! We have two students who have passed into subtraction in Rocket Math! Way to go! :) Everyone is making great progress. Keep up the nightly practice!
Spirit Day is tomorrow! Wear spirit wear to support our wonderful school!
New hot lunch forms were sent home today. They will be due no later than October 24. Please fill out the slips and return with payment if your child will be receiving hot lunch.
Welcome everyone to our second grade webpage! Here is where you can learn all of the exciting things going on in Room 109.
Dr. Markgraf presented our Reading At Home Awards in our class on Wednesday! Congratulations to all of the students that read at least 12 days in the month of September and earned an award. We are all very proud! As a class, over 93 hours were read in September. Wow! That’s impressive! :) The students made a goal that each student will read AT LEAST 2 days more in October than they did in the month of September. I know that they can achieve this goal! Parents, please encourage your child to complete their 15 minutes of nightly reading in order to help them achieve our class goal.
We have recently taken our Unit 2 math assessment and the students did fantastic! Thank you for helping your child study to prepare for this assessment. Good study habits are becoming strong and are thoroughly encouraged.
Please check back frequently for new class updates! If you have a suggestion for our class webpage, please let me know.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Miss Bridges
