The children really seemed to enjoy the field trip to the Birmingham Children's Theater where they watched "Alice."  This was a play written by Whoopi Goldberg.  The children really enjoyed this play and were very well behaved.  Again, I would like to apologize that parents were not allowed to come with us, but I would also like to thank the parents who took time out of their busy day to meet us at the Golden Corral for lunch.  All the students got a lot of compliments from the employees there on their good manners and well behavior, while we were guests in this restaurant.  On the way home, a lot of the students were tired and chose to take a quick rest before we returned to school.  However, others were wide awake and on the prowl for something to do.  A lot of the kids decided to try to persuade the passing 18-wheelers to toot at us as we were driving down the high-way.  Everytime one would toot, there would be a loud, "YEAH!" and the clapping of hands to follow it.  They really seemed to enjoy themselves during the field trip and after.

            

              

        

    

      

            

    

Around once a month, a lady comes to our classroom to allow the students to participate in some type of art project.  On this particular day, the art teacher told the students to take a black marker and draw some lines that were round, curve, zig-zag, straight, and whatever else they wanted to do with their marker.  The only rule was they could not draw a specific shape or figure on the page.  After the students finished, you could look at their papers and see different things.  Whatever the students saw, they had to color it, so it would stand out more.  I want you to look at their papers and see if you can see what the children could see in the pictures.  Below each picture, I will write one item that the student saw in the their picture.

(Ice-cream in a bowl)

(a duck)

(a butterfly)

(a dog)

(a horse)

(a hawk)

The kids really enjoyed these.  You could easily plan to do one of these with your child again...just ask them how they did it.

I found a web quest on the internet for the students to use.  It went along with our unit in science where we were learning about the different classes of animals such as mammals, amphibians, reptiles, etc.  For this web quest, the students had to get on the computer and research a particular animal from one of the animal classes.  Then, each student shared their information with the whole class.  Finally, each student created their own Pet Shop.  Since they did such a good job, they were all included in a picture for the local newspaper.  Jacob's Pet Shop was also selected to go to Montgomery for a Visual Arts Contest.  I was so proud and amazed at everyones creativity.  It took us about two weeks to complete the assignment, but it was worth it.  The children really enjoyed doing this project. 

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

 

The students write in their agenda every day.  Here, you will find important information such as what the homework assignment is, reminders, and important up-coming events.  It is important to look at your child's agenda each night.

 

Ways we can work together to make our neighborhoods a great place to live. 

Andrue and Savana said we could vote for someone who will find ways to keep our neighborhoods looking great.

Jacob, Taylor, Clayton, and Kelsie suggested that we help others to make our neighborhoods great.  You could do this by cutting your neighbors grass or giving food to a family or community that needs assistance.

Samantha and Aniyah thought the best way to keep a neighborhood looking great is by picking up trash, so help Woodsy Owl by picking up litter.

Connor and Jacob decided to contribute great neighborhoods to the police officers and fire fighters who risk their lives for other people everyday. 

Amaya and Cassie recommended that people plant more trees to help keep a neighborhood looking great.

Finally, Morgan chose to remind people that they should eat healthy, so they could live longer.  I would agree with this because if there are not any people, how would we keep our neighborhoods looking great?

 

What better way to teach the children that a constellation is a group of stars that form a picture than by making them create their own picture of a constellation.  In the following list, you will see what kind of constellation each student created.

 

Amaya – heart

 

 

Mackenna – face

 

 

Jacob – cheerleader

 

 

Kelsie – heart

 

Samantha – sun

 

 

Jacob – turtle

 

 

Clayton – deer

 

 

Cassie – butterfly

 

 

Andrue – alien

 

Aniyah – chair

 

Connor – dinosaur

 

 

I try to do experiments with the kids for every lesson, if there is one related to the topic.  The kids really enjoy getting to see these experiments and predict what they think will happen.  Then, after the experiment, we can discuss what actually happened and why.  I think these experiments are great hands-on visual aids for the students and a great way to reinforce the lesson we are learning in science.

 

Take a close look at the kids and see if you can figure out what they are doing.

 

Morgan is holding up a jar that shows oil and water will separate and not mix.  At first, when we shook the bottle, they did mix.  Once we let it sit for a few seconds, we were able to see the two liquids separating.  Later, in reading, we were able to relate this concept to a story we were reading about how ducks don't actually get wet, because their feathers are covered in oil.

 

 

Clayton was observing a way to separate the dirt and water.  We could have simply pulled the dirt out, but by waiting, we were able to see that the dirt separated itself by sinking to the bottom. 

 

 

Aniyah was able to observe a sponge that would float to the top of a container of water.  Then, we brainstormed other objects that would sink or float in water.

 

Amaya, Jacob, and Taylor were able to show use that a liquid takes the shape of its container by pouring the same amount of water into each bottle.  Even though one may look like it has more or less, they all actually contain the same amount even thought the bottles are different sizes

 

 

Samantha was able to show us an example of the state of matter called gas by blowing air into this balloon.  Even though we can't see it, we know it is there since the balloon is getting bigger.

 

 

Amaya, Cassie, Jacob, and Connor were able to use pipe cleaners to show us how to bend an object.

 

 

 

 

Connor, Savana, and Mackenna are showing us how you can change or shift the weight of an object by using a yardstick with balloons on it as a balance. As soon as one of the balloons are popped, the yard stick will lean toward the side that still has a balloon on it. 

 

 

 

1st nine weeks

   A Honor Roll

      Morgan, Jacob, and Andrue

   A/B Honor Roll

      Jacob, Cassie, Amaya, Taylor, and Aniyah

   Other Certificates

      Perfect Attendance:  Kelsie

      Good Citizen:  Jacob and Samantha

      Caught on Fire in Reading:  Morgan

      Best Reader with the most AR points:  Jacob

      Most Improved Work:  Amaya

                      

 

                               

2nd nine weeks

   A Honor Roll

      Jacob

   A/B Honor Roll

      Jacob, Cassie, Amaya, Taylor, Clayton, Morgan, Aniyah, Mackenna, and Andrue

   Other Certificates

      Good Citizen:  Connor and DeUnte

      Most Improved Work:  Samantha and Clayton

      Best Reader with the most AR points:  Jacob

      Caught on Fire in reading:  Morgan and Andrue

      B.U.G. Club:  Clayton

 

 

The kids got to wear the colors of their favorite team to school.  We had a lot of Alabama fans and one hard core LSU fan.  Once the students realized their teacher was an Auburn fan, they didn't hesitate to give her a hard time anytime the subject came up.  Even though a small percentage of us were Auburn fans, I guaranteed our opponents that there bad decision to support the wrong team would not affect their grades. 

 

The students go to computer lab everyday.  At the end of each week, the computer teacher will average all the classes scores together.  The class with the highest average gets to keep a trophy in their classroom for a week.  It is so exciting to get to walk into another teacher's class to grab the trophy and have a week to gloat and brag about being so successful.  We have only gotten the trophy once, but I hope the kids will keep working hard, so we can have the privilege of saying we got the trophy again.

 

Look at their noses.  Are they sick?  No, they were preparing for their program.  The entire second grade body got together to perform some Christmas carols for the school and parents.  In addition, each class got to choose one song to sing.  Our class chose "Rudolph, the Red Nosed Reindeer" -hence the red noses.  While performing, the kids were very dramatic and entertaining.  Everyone who talked to me said they were a hit.