Your children may have come home today with happy stories about their experiences with Mr. Tom Wahle.  The day began with a special presentation by Tom in which he used a ten foot truss bridge, a suspension bridge, a large block arch, slides, juggling, balloon tying, blues harmonica, and other props to demonstrate basic building principles.  In a fun way, Tom showed children how the strength of a structure depends on the shapes and the materials used to build it.  He even demonstrated that it is possible to stand on eggs without breaking them!  Tom's presentation was then followed by a hands-on workshop in each of the second grade classrooms.  In the workshop, children learned to build trusses, towers, suspension bridges and arches.  Then they tried to solve a construction problem with a structure of their own design.  If you would like to read more about Tom's work with the children and view photos, you can check out his website at:  http://www.techsploration.com/structures.html   We are grateful to the Creative Arts Committee for sponsoring this wonderful program for our students.  It is a perfect compliment to our final science unit on structures.

This Thursday morning, we will be traveling by bus to visit the Newton History Museum at the Jackson Homestead.  This 1809 Homestead was a stop on the Underground Railroad before the Civil War and home to the family of William Jackson.  When we visit, children will learn about life for William and Mary Jackson and their fourteen children who lived in this homestead throughout the nineteenth century.  They will play a guessing game, learn new vocabulary, and handle real objects related to learning, working, playing and dressing.  Then children will compare their life-style with that of children in the 1800's.  If you would like to know more about what the Jackson Homestead has to offer, you can check out their website at:  http://www.ci.newton.ma.us/jackson/    Again, we are grateful to the Creative Arts Committee for sponsoring this wonderful program for our students.  It is a perfect compliment to our final social studies unit on New England Long Ago.

In Reading and Writing Workshop, we have been very busy studying the works of Gail Gibbons.  Children have read and discussed many of  her books.  We explored the different conventions of nonfiction/information books (i.e. table of contents, index, pictures with captions or labels, maps, a glossary, etc.).  Then each child chose a sea creature to research.  They learned how to take notes about important categories of information on note cards, which they later organized for pages of their own books which they would produce in Gail Gibbons' style.  Children worked hard to turn their notes into rough drafts of their own information books.  Then they revised and edited their work with a partner.  Now everyone is working on the final copy of his/her information book which they will bring home at the end of this school year.

In math, children have continued to refine their skills in solving story problems that involve adding and subtracting two-digit numbers.  Children are now in the habit of reading story problems carefully, showing their math thinking in simple ways, and then writing a complete sentence to answer the question.  Students have been learning that many problems can be solved either through addition or subtraction and that one process can be used to check the other.

Children should continue to practice counting coins at home in real life situations (i.e. to buy something in a store or from the ice cream man).  They should also practice telling time to five minute intervals with an analog clock at home (i.e. timing themselves as they get ready for bed or to go to their baseball game). 

With just ten days left of this school year, there will be no more homework for second graders other than 30 min. of reading each day.  We will continue to do word study in school, but they will not have any more spelling review quizzes.

Please remember that the last day of school (Tuesday, June 23) will be a half day for students.  The second grade classes will combine for a special end-of-the-year party on the afternoon of Monday, June 22.  Please let our roommothers know if you can assist with planning and/or running small group non-competitive games/activities for that celebration.

This is probably my last News Flash for this year, so I want to tell you all what a pleasure it has been to work with you and your children this year.  I have really enjoyed getting to know your children and facilitating their growth this year.  They are a delightful, high-energy group!  I hope you all have a wonderful summer together with your families! 

Sincerely,