Have a Happy and Safe Holiday Break

As we end the first half of the school year, I've been thinking about all the things I am  blessed with in my life.  I have a wonderful family and a job that I love.  During this time I am thankful for the opportunity to unwind, and spend time with the ones I love the most.  With that said, there are many ways that we can spend quality time with our families.

Here are a few:
Bake holiday treats (and deliver them to those in need)
build a gingerbread house
Play board games
Put a puzzle together
Watch a movie
Get outside and play (especially if it snows)

For more ideas, check out:  http://www.squidoo.com/kidslovechristmascrafts

Eye Dissection

Yesterday the 2nd grade shared use area was filled with excited 2nd graders.  They had the pleasure of observing nurses dissect a cow's eyeball and explain the parts of the eye.  This matched up perfectly with our class' unit of study on the human body.  We had recently read and discussed the parts of the eye.  This activity cemented their knowledge of this information.  

Spending Time With Your Children

Holidays are a great time of the year to spend quality time together as a family.  Most of the year we spend at work, running to activities and events and well sleeping.  Holidays allow time to settle down and enjoy your time with the ones you love. 

Why is spending time with your children so important?
Spending time with your children

The Importance of Teaching Gratitude During the Holiday of Giving Thanks

Did you know learning to be thankful is actually healthy?  There is actual research out there and published books specifically on the topic of gratitude!

http://www.everydayhealth.com/saying-thanks/teaching-kids-the-importance-of-gratitude.aspx

Vision Care Trip

Our PIE partners this year is Vision Care.  We recently took a quick field trip to check out some of the things they do there.  It was perfect timing due to the fact that we had been studying the eye in Science. 

Teaching honesty and trust instead of punishing lying.

Below is an article I found about teaching children to be honest and modeling honesty for them, rather than punishing them for lies.  This article contradicted my own method of confronting students who lie and helped me gain a new perspective on the issue.  Though I still believe punishments are possible in some cases and can be effective I do know that alternative methods should be explored and are just as effective.

Article:
Teaching Your Kids To be Honest

_______ Sees __________

This year the school has been implementing the 6 + 1 writing traits into its writing curriculum.  Here are some stories our class has written from an Ideas trait lesson.  The stories follow the sequence of the book "Tulip Sees America" by Cynthia Rylant.

Byan Sees Chicago


Chicago is in Illinois.  The Chicago Bears play there.  There are tall buildings.  There are skyscrapers, too.  The skyscrapers are the tallest buildings. 


Austin Sees Iowa City


Iowa City is in Iowa like Storm Lake.  Iowa City is far away from Storm Lake.  Kinnick Stadium holds a lot of people.  People come to watch  the Hawkeyes in Kinnick Stadium.  Iowa Hawkeyes play football.  I like to watch Iowa Hawkeyes play football in Kinnick Stadium. 


Alayna Sees Storm Lake


Their is a big lake in Storm Lake.  There are two island their.  One is big and the other is small.  Storm Lake has a beach that has yellow sand.  The sand is almost yellower than the sun.  There are a lot of seagulls on the sand when we get their.  Do you know why I know so much about Storm Lake?  I live their. 


Eduardo Sees Sioux City


What I like to go to Sioux City because we get to eat at Subway.  And when you go inside it smells good; very, very, very, good.  The Subway is very, very, very, good.  We get to talk about a lot of things.  We get to talk about funny things.  Sometimes we get to bring paper to draw and write.  We make funny things.  We go once a week it is very, very , very, very, very, very, very fun!


Karina Sees California


I went to California to see my grandparents.  They took me to see the big buildings.  You could see a view from the big buildings.  They took me to see the big star.  I saw a lot of cool things at California.  I saw a big mall. 


Odoll Sees Minnesota


When I went to Minnesota I was home alone with my cousins.  Then after awhile they left.  Then I was home alone .  Then the sky was turning dark.  Then I got scared so I ran to find my cousins house but I didn't know where it was.  So I got lost in the building.  So I went out the back door.  Then I ran out into the storm to my cousins house.  Then I got to the other building.  Then I went to my other cousin's house.  Then I went to sleep and I was safe. 


Viviana Sees Sioux City


Sioux City is in Iowa.  In Sioux City there is a lot of  tall buildings.  Sioux City has a log of different places.  One of the places is Chucky Cheese.  In Chucky Cheese there is a lot of games.  I like going to Sioux City.  


Maia Sees Sioux City


Sioux City is not in Storm Lake.  Sioux City is not that far from Storm Lake.  At Sioux City there is a lot of malls.  In Sioux City their is lots of people.  At Sioux City there is lots of cars.  I like to go to the malls all the time when I go to Sioux City. 

Conferences

Thank you to all of the parents who attended their child's conference.  You are the most important person to your child's education.  Their first teachers are you and they model how they act and what they say after you as well.  Thank you for supporting their needs and everything else you do for them!


What researchers say about parent involvement in education.

Field Trip - BV County Park and Prairie Heritage Center

On Monday, October 3, half of the second grade classes went on a field trip to study animals and their habitats. This trip gave our students a real life enrichment to their study of animals and their needs during science class.

ANTS!!!

Second Grade students have been observing animals in their habitats to discover the needs that animals have to survive.

Group Work

Throughout the day our class has opportunities to work as a team.  They've participated in many activities that allow them to get to know one another on a more personal level with the hopes that they create a closer bond as a team.  Here are just a few team activities they've participated in with their team members.

Welcome to Creative Composers!!

This blog is set up for Mr. Wilson's second grade writers to show off their creative talents.  We will also be posting information on events that happen throughout the year in our class.  Enjoy!