This Week in Grade 2 We had a fun week learning about what scientists do and how we are all scientists. We observed how and why popcorn pops, experimented with Root beer floats(yum) observed ice cubes melting and condensing on a metal plate above a kettle and watch a phenomenon with hot water and a balloon. We also got to celebrate Rushdan's birthday and learn some new Apps on the Ipad. We are getting into our new units which means new partners and new reading and math groups. Thank you all so much for commenting on Seesaw as well as signing up for mini academies! Your support is always appreciated. I do a lot of communication through Seesaw so please try to check it every so often=) Language Arts As readers we have started “amping up our reading power” by paying extra special attention to our fluency and how we are reading our books.  Our lessons focused on being mindful of our fluency as we read with others or in our heads, pay attention to punctuation and word strings to scoop up our reading in larger phrases and pausing at appropriate times, and where dialog is present in our texts reading like the characters.  This fluency work will continue into next week. As writers we started exploring the way scientists document their work and their thinking by introducing lab reports.  Our main focus for this week was the procedural aspect where the students observed and then wrote “how to make popcorn” including using diagrams with labels, a list of materials needed, and the detailed steps involved in the process.  We will keep building on the this work to include all the different aspects of lab reports like the question, hypothesis, results, and conclusion. Math In math we introduced addition strategies with single and double digits without regrouping. Students will NOT do traditional algorithms till grade 4 so please do not teach them in this way. They need a conceptual understanding first in concrete ways before moving into abstract. They learned how to add by drawing and building base 10 blocks, using number lines as well as breaking numbers into tens and ones. Next week we will work on regrouping and then move into story problems. Science In science we started our investigation into matter and the difference states of it (solid, liquid, gas) through a series of small experiments. We will unpack how matter can change states and the difference between physical and chemical changes in the coming weeks by conducting further experiments.  It is my hope that all the students see themselves as scientists and that by asking questions and investigating they are open and excited to explore the wonders of the world around them. Important Dates On Monday, October 30th we will have our Mini-Academies.   On Tuesday, October 31st we will have a Halloween bash.  Students are allowed to come to school wearing costumes however in order to be sensitive to our diverse beliefs and cultures we ask you to be mindful of the following: No scary costumes, blood, weapons On Friday, November 3rd the Melawati campus will be celebrating Deepawali with hallway activities and an Elementary wide assembly at 11:00.  Parents are welcome and encouraged to join us. *Some students have brought home photos, they are slowly being handed to us. Please check their bags. Dinner Questions What are the traits of a scientist? What does it mean to read fluently? Tell me about how scientists write? What strategies can you use to solve addition problems?