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Now Presenting...
Second Grade Stars in the Making! |
Thistlegirldesigns
The purpose of this site is to provide students and parents a link between home and school in a fun, exciting way. Thanks for stopping by and please check back with us frequently.
***Parents, click on the highlighted words below to connect to our school website.***
Moore Elementary
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Studies show that the more children read, the better readers and writers they become.
**Click now for Parents and Reading**
In second grade, we use a reading and writing workshop format that incorporates a balanced literacy framework. This framework combines explicit skill instruction with a language-rich environment to promote the development of fluent readers, writers, and communicators.
During reading workshop a literacy management program called, "The Daily 5," will be used.
Daily 5, created by Gail Boushey and Joan Moser, is about helping students develop independent literacy habits while the teacher works with students.
includes students choosing:
Read to Self (everyday)
Work on Writing(everyday)
Word Work
Listen to Reading
Read to Someone
When students are given choices, the literacy task becomes motivating.
Reading Workshop for June 1-3, 2009
-Students will work on Reader's Theater script this week.
-Continue to work with the Cafe Menu Board as part of the reading goals
students will be working on this year
Reading for facts and details
Locating main idea
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Comprehension-"I understand what I read"
Accuracy-"I can read the words"
Fluency-"I can read smoothly with few errors"
Expanded Vocabulary-"I know, find and use interesting words"
**Click the links below for practice!**
Summer Reading List
The Bicycle Story
The Three Magic Apples
***Click the link below for month long reading ideas to do at home.***
November Calendar of Reading Ideas
       
We learn to spell using a program called Words Their Way. It involves learning to spell words by patterns and associations and this is done through a series of sorts.
Students will be given two copies of their sorts each week. One is kept at school for practice.
The other will be kept at home for practice. Below is a brief explanation on using spelling sorts in the classroom or at home.
When students are given their spelling sorts on Monday, please use the sort activities mentioned below or try the spelling links for a fun, new way to practice.
Spelling Sorts
- Closed/Writing Sort
Lay down the guide words (bold words). These are used to sort the rest of the words. Mix up the remainder of the words. Your child chooses a word, says the word aloud and sorts the word into the correct column. (This is done in class with the teacher on Monday.) Write the words for practice into the correct column. Have your child explain how the words are sorted. Ask: What do the words have in common? What is different about the words?
- Buddy Sort
Lay down the guide (bold) words. Then read the rest of the words aloud one at a time and have your child indicate where the word goes without seeing it. Place the card where they tell you and let your child move it into the correct column if necessary. Repeat if your child makes more than two errors.
- Speed Sort
Lay the guide (bold) words down. Time your child while he/she sorts the rest of the words into the correct column as fast as he/she can. This speed feature helps children work toward automatic fluency with the feature under study. Try it a second or third time to see if your child can beat the time. They LOVE this in class!
- ABC Sort
Have your child put the spelling words into alphabetical order. Check the order, help if necessary, and have them write the words down.
To learn more about spelling and how you can help your child, click the link now.
Word Study Parent Information
Word Work for June 1-3, 2009
-Students will use selected materials during word work
-There will be no more spelling words this year.
When students go home with a spelling list for the week, one activity called Look, Cover, Write, Check can be used for practice. Click here-Spelling Practice. Type in your spelling words. Watch the words disappear. Can you spell your words correctly? What an awesome way to practice spelling!
Another activity students can use to practice spelling words involves clicking the picture above. Click on the tab at the top-Find Your List. Type in the name Gorsulowsky. Look for your list using the header words of the week. Click on your list and decide what you want to do-teach, test, play a game, or print.
Just a note about word walls
Word Wall words will consist of 5 new words each week that will be put up on "Our Developing Word Wall." These words are placed in the room and are expected to be spelled correctly each time your child uses the word in his/her writing.
We will have no new word wall words for the remainder of the year.
     
"Did you know reading interesting stories and poetry aloud to your child exposes him/her to vocabulary and language he/she may not be able to read independently? Children need to "hear" literary language before they can use it in their own writing"-Reggie Routman
**Click now for Parents and Writing**
Writing Workshop begins with a mini lesson followed by independent writing time and ending with share time.
During writer's workshop, students learn to write by writing. The more children write about what really matters to them, the greater their chance of growing into independent thinkers.
Writing Workshop for June 1-3, 2009
-Students will continue with the poetry unit using the book, This is the Tree by Miriam Moss as a model of their own story/poem.
-Students are continuing to work with similes and metaphors as a type of figurative language. I will also be introducing idioms this week with practice on their meanings.
-Continue to work with the Writing Targets board as part of the writing goal students will be working on this year.
Write sentences using dialogue
Write with your audience in mind
Write with a clear beginning, middle, and end
Write sentences that are smooth and easy to read
Writing Target Board includes
Conventions-"I can use correct capitalization and punctuation in my writing."
Content-"I can gather and use ideas, information, and experience about a topic."
Form-"I can use different kinds of writing depending on my audience."
**Click the links below for practice. **
Poetry for Kids
Similes and Metaphors
Idioms
**Click the highlighted words below for help with grammar terms used in class.**
Grammar Glossary
Sentence Practice One
Sentence Practice Two
Ideas for Stories
Statements and Questions
Exclamations and Commands
Character Practice
Character Quiz
Friendly Letter Practice
Setting Activity
Story Element Fun
Sequence Practice
Personal Narrative
Summary Lesson
Summary Practice 1
Summary Practice 2
Summary Test
Sequence Test
Personal narrative
Summary Test
Editing Sentences
School House Rock-Nouns
Noun Practice
School House Rock-Pronouns
Practice with Pronouns
Schema Song
Schema Thinkmark
Schema Poster
Editing a Paragraph
Character Traits Activity
Character Feelings and Actions
Nouns-1
Nouns-2
Nouns-3
Pronoun Cards
Text-to-Self Connection Practice
Text-to-Text Connection Explanation
Text-to-Text Connections
Verb Practice
Setting Activity
setting practice
Adjective Video
Practice with Adjectives
Verb Video
Text-to-Text Connection Practice
Cause and Effect Practice
Cause and Effect Test
Alejandro's Closet
Circular Story Outline
Story Circle
If-Then
Zoom On Over to Our Class Wiki
Using Transistion Words in Writing
Transistion Words
Typing Skills
Text-to-World Connection Practice
Text-to-World practice
Predicting outcomes practice
Predicting outcomes test
Predicting Review
Folktale Reading
Folktale Writing
December Calendar of Reading Ideas
A Gingerbread House
Building a Gingerbread Man
Main Idea Practice
Main Idea Test
A Gingerbread Story
The Gingerbread Man
Click here to take a survey
March Calendar of Reading Ideas
Antonym Practice
Synonym Practice
Vocabulary Practice
What are Homonyms??
Homonym Practice
Detail Writing
Inference Practice
Inferring Practice Part 2
Drawing Conclusions Practice
Author Links
Determine Purpose
Author's Purpose
Contraction practice
Visualization Activity
Poster on Visualizing
Sensory Details in Writing
Making Inferences
Inferences
Using sensory details in writing
Facts and Details Practice
February Calendar of Reading Ideas
Facts and Details Activity
Main Idea Practice
Main Idea Test
Vocabulary for Dear Mr. Blueberry
Webquest for Dear Mr. Blueberry
Reading Response Starters
Slideshare for Reader's Response
Nonfiction Text Feature Information
Nonfiction Text Feature Practice Four
Nonfiction Text Feature Practice One
Nonfiction Text Feature Practice Three
Using Have, Has, and Had
Cheetah Nonfiction Passage
Orca Nonfiction Passage
Chicago Nonfiction Passage
Best Practices in Reading Nonfiction
Prereading Organizer for Nonfiction
Nonfiction Text Feature Practice Two
Schooltube Video on Nonfiction Features
Feature Article-Question Practice
National Geographic Online Magazine One
KidsNewsRoom Online Magazine
Dig-The Archaeology Magazine for Kids
Read, Cover, Remember, Retell
Nonfiction Main Idea
Biography
Cause and Effect
Looking at Newspapers
Link to Language Arts |
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Well, the countdown is on...soon our little second graders will be marching on as third graders. In Math they will be mastering fractions, comparing fractions, multiplying, dividing, and adding and subtracting three digit numbers! Wow! I know it is so hard to believe. They only have one benchmark left and that is at the end of May.
The kids just took their second Social Studies Benchmark and did a wonderful job. We will take the last benchmark towards the end of May. We will start our next unit in two weeks. It is very exciting because this unit ties into Junior Achievement. We are so fortunate to have four parents that have offered to come to class each week and work with the kids on Junior Achievement. A huge thank you to Mr. Scherer and Mrs. Strickler in my homeroom class, and Mrs. Chapman and Mrs. Accrocco in Mrs. G's class. The kids will be learning all about goods, services, producers, consumers, and practicing some of these things first hand in our Junior Achievement class.
We have a Science Benchmark on March 12th. The kids highlighted their Science study guides and brought them home to help review. They can return those study guides on Thursday the 12th. We are currently learning all about insects and spiders. Our Big Event for Second Grade is the Butterfly Metamorphosis. We should be getting our eggs any day now. The kids will get to watch all the stages of how the eggs change into butterflies. It is very exciting for all of us.
Link to Math, Science, & Social Studies |
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Moore Elementary
Terri Gorsulowsky
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