Twin/Triplet Day!

Our class earned twenty stars for showing excellent behavior in specials and recess.  The children chose to have twin or triplet day!  The children loved dressing up as twins or triplets!  How adorable!

Sadie and Sasa with their matching dresses!

Liam and Mason wearing jeans and Tom Brady jerseys!

Seri and Song with their black tops and blue jeans!

Sofia, Sara, and Keira wearing black leggings and gray sweaters!

Miles and Connor sporting their Gronk jerseys!

Ava and Haydon wearing pink sweat shirts, a blue top, and black pants.

Granuaile and Laney looking pretty in pink!

Trevor, Alexander, and Tristan wearing striped shirts and blue jeans!

Great teamwork!

Elf Store!

The students showed incredible innovation as they created their elves during our Elf Holiday Store Event which took place this past Friday, December 4th.  The children had a fabulous time!  Thank you to all the parent volunteers who helped to make this event so special! Here are some pictures of the students:

Liam got some help from his big brother Michael!  Michael is a pro making elves as he completed this activity when he was a second grader in my class! 

Alex and Keira's innovation shined!

Sasa showed deep concentration and GRIT!

Tristan, Haydon, and Granuaile enjoyed every moment!

Miles and Trevor chatting about their 'elf plans'!

Ava and Sadie thinking about their 'next steps'!

Sara sharing her thoughts and plans!

Trevor and Mom...showing teamwork!

Connor and Mom working together to create a masterpiece!

Sadie gluing on her elf's clothes

Song and Mason-creativity at work!

Sara, Seri, and Song giving each other pointers!

A wonderful time was had by all!  Thank you parents for your help, and all the donations of craft materials.  I hope your child's elf will adorn your home during the holiday season for years to come!

Help Wanted!

HELP WANTED
We are looking for a few more volunteers to help out at Elf Store this Friday, Dec. 4th from 1:15-2:30.  We only have three volunteers so far.  If you are interested please email me. Thank You!

We have G.R.I.T.!

During the month of November, the students have been working hard to earn their 'G.R.I.T.' feathers.  
This is how the children earned feathers!

Our Whole class worked extrememly hard this month and earned all four feathers!

Way to Go Boys and Girls!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!!

Learning about syllables and compound words

In Fundations last week, the children worked in 'stations' which practiced reading and segmenting multi-syllabic words. The students also reviewed compound words-two words that are put together to make a new word.  (Example:   sun+flower=sunflower)

Haydon, Ava, Granuaile, Connor, and Miles tackeling a syllable sort!

Laney, Sasa, Song, and Keira breaking down multi-syllabic words!

Alex, Sofia, and Mason sorting syllables on chart paper!

Sadie and Sara working together to sort syllables!

Liam, Trevor, and Seri are completing a compound word hunt!

Learning About the Veteran's in our Family

During the week of Veteran's Day, the children were asked to conduct an interview to learn more about a family member who is a Veteran or currently serving in the military.
This is what the children learned:
My grandpa was in the navy.  He towed broken ships.  -Sadie
My dad was in the air force.  He was a self-defense and weapons instructor.  -Tristan
My great-grand dad was in the navy.  He stopped German boats from hurting England. -Haydon
My mom is in the army.  She fought in wars in Afghanistan.  Thank you Mommy for your service. -Granuaile
One of  my great-grandfathers was in the Navy on the "Yorktown" and another great-grandfather was in the Army.  They both served our country during World War II. -Liam
My great grandfather, my grandfather, and my Aunt are all Veterans.  My grandfather and aunt were in the marines, and my great grandfather was in the army.  They did physical therapy for the soldiers who got hurt, and sent them back to war. -Sara
My dad was in the navy.  He fixed self defense weapons systems.  Daddy, thank you for your sacrifice. -Seri
My dad served in the navy.  He was on a ship during the Persian Gulf War.  Daddy, thank you for protecting our freedom. -Song
My grand father was in the air force.  He served four years in Germany.   -Trevor
My dad was in the army.  He was in the infantry. Dad, thank you for serving our country. -Connor
My Uncle was in the army.  He went to Iraq to help protect the people.   -Ava
John Clark was in the army.  He fought to free Italy. -Alex
My great-grand father was in the marines.  He served during the end of World War II.  Thank you, I really appreciate your sacrifice! -Laney
My grandfather was in the U.S. Navy.  He was an engineer who worked on naval buildings.   -Sasa 
My grandfather served in the air force.  He went to war and risked his life to protect our country.  Thank you Grampa for your bravery and for letting us have freedom. -Sofia
My grandfather was in the army.  He served during the Korean War.   -Mason

Celebrating Veteran's Day!

Dear Parents, We owe so much to our Veteran's and active service men and women for protecting our country!  This week, one of your child's homework assignments will be to learn about a family member who was in the military, or who is a 'actively serving duty' in the military.  This homework assignment is arranged in an 'interview' format.  The children feel very connected to 'Veteran's Day' already, as many students are honored to have parents and other family members who have a connection with our country's military! On Tuesday, November 10th, Steward School will hold a Veteran's Day Assembly, 9:15-10:15.  Veterans and active duty members are encouraged to attend if able.   In preparation for this assembly, all students have been practicing a special song.  The song is posted below, and it truly tugs on the heart strings.  

A Wickedly Wonderful Halloween Party!

The children and I would like to thank our 'Room Mom's':  Mrs.  Booy, Mrs.  Graves, and Mrs.  Mitchell for organizing a fantastic Halloween Party!  Thank you to all the parents who helped conduct a craft, and/or brought in food/beverages for our party!  The children had a fabulous time!   Here are some pictures of our Halloween Party!

Making Vampires!

Creating spider webs!

Halloween Fun!

Enjoying Treats!

Building Spiders!

All dressed up for Halloween!

Having a great time!

Friends helping friends!

Halloween Creativity!

A wonderful time was had by all!

Our Halloween Party is scheduled to take place on Friday, October 30th from 1:30-2:30.  Students are asked to bring their Halloween costumes to school in a bag clearly labeled with his/her name.  Please have your child leave small items at home, so items will not get lost before trick or treat.   Our rooms parents may contact you to provide food/beverages, or to volunteer to help out at our classroom party. The children are getting excited for Halloween!

Xtra Math

Xtramath Computer Program

The Munchkins learned how to use 'Xtramath'-a computerized fact fluency program they can access at school and home. This program will provide ample opportunities for the children to practice and master their math facts to twenty in both addition and subtraction.  This skill is an expectation of Grade Two.
Common Core Standard 2.OA.2-Operations and Algebraic Thinking:  Add and subtract within 20.

• 2.OA.2. Fluently add and subtract within 20 using mental strategies. By end of Grade 2, know from memory all sums of two one-digit numbers.

Learn more about Xtramath:

https://xtramath.org/

Practicing Xtramath on the IPAD

Resiliency Song

Dear Parents, As you know, our theme this year at Steward School is G.R.I.T. (guts, resilience, innovation, and teamwork).  Second graders will focus on the term resiliency, and this Wednesday, the students will perform a song at our whole school assembly entitled, Don't Give Up by Bruno Mars.  
I am sending the video and also the lyrics.  Please have your child practice this song at home.
http://nicertube.com/v3mrh3gs

Don’t Give Up by Bruno Mars

When you want to do something that’s new

And it seems really, really hard to do

You feel like quitting, you feel you're through

Well I have some advice for you

Don’t give up, keep on trying

You’re gonna make it, I ain't lying

Don’t give up, don’t ever quit

Try and try and you can do it

Don’t give up, yeah

If you want to catch a ball

But you’re having no luck at all

The ball hits your head, it hits your nose

It hits your belly, your chin and toes

Well, try and try and try again

Keep on trying until the end

You put your hands out in the air

You’ll catch the ball

Yes this I swear

Don’t give up, keep on going

You’re on a boat, so keep on rowing

Don’t give up, don’t ever stop

Try and try and you’ll come out on top

Don’t give up

You got yourself rollerskates

You put them on

And you feel great

You stand up

Then you fall, don’t think you can skate at all

You get back up, then you trip,

You skip and tip and slip, and flip

You try and try and try some more

Soon you’re skating across the floor

Don’t give up, keep on moving,

You’re gonna get there, just keep on grooving

Don’t give up, don’t pack it in

Try and try, and you’ll win

Don’t give up, no no no

Don’t give up, no no no

Don’t give up, no no no

Don’t give up, no no

Don’t give up!

Dear Boys and Girls,

I am so excited for our school year to begin!  The classroom looks a bit different then when you saw it last June.  Guess what.....

We have a brand new Smart board!

And a brand new math center!

Our egg-cellent class is off to a great year!