STRUGGLE

                                                         


                                           It's okay to struggle. 
                                       In fact, we encourage it. 

         Students should learn to grapple with challenging ideas, problems, and text. They should use a variety of strategies to break information into to smaller more familiar parts. This allows them to consideration solution strategies and formulate a plan of action. Watching the students become more skillful learners through this practice is awesome. The pride the students demonstrate when they determine an effective solution is priceless. Don't be afraid to let them struggle at home too. Talk through solution strategies to real world problems. You might be surprised at what great problem solvers you live with!

Journaling

        
                                              

          The blank composition books you sent to school in August have been put to good use. They are now filled with thoughts and ideas about reading and problem-solving. The students and I exchange letters about books we read in our yellow ELA journals. Twice a month I write a general letter to the class. The students respond with their personal viewpoint and experience. I write back to each individual student to further our conversation. The students also record and graph the books they read. Each student has been challenged to read 100 books in grade 2.
         Our blue Math journals house solutions to the Problem of the Week. Every Friday we gather on the rug to solve real world problems. We think about the numbers we are given and track our thinking using thought bubbles as we consider solution strategies for challenging multi-step problems. Our goal is to understand, represent, solve, then check our work.
         I will send the journals home for your review this week so you can see the growth and development of our thinking during the first trimester. I think you will agree that the work is impressive. Please discuss the work with your child. Ask them about their favorite entry. Talk about the most challenging activity. Try solving a problem together. Before returning the journal please take a minute to write a note in the journal to your son/daughter telling them what you noticed about their work and encouraging them to continue to work skillfully and thoughtfully.

KidsBlog

 
                                              

        We are very excited to have begun blogging. We have shared our nocturnal animal research on The Happy Little Hurleys blog. Please read our posts and then submit your positive comments on our work.

                        http://kidblog.org/TheHappyLittleHurleys2014-15/

We look forward to our electronic chats and sharing with a broad audience. We have agreed to be responsible, respectful users of technology.

Nocturnal Animal Research Has Begun

                               

         The Happy Little Hurleys are actively engaged in researching nocturnal animals. Each student has chosen a nocturnal animal for in-depth investigation. The students will become “experts” on their animal and publish a non-fiction text to share the facts they learned. When all second graders have published their texts we will invite our families and friends to Author’s Day for a release party. In the meantime, we appreciate your help in securing resources for our research and color photos for inclusion in our books.

Snowflake Festival December 19th

 
                               

          The annual Coolidge School Snowflake Festival is scheduled for Friday, December 19^th. The students will be treated to a holiday concert by the Shrewsbury High School acappella choir in the morning. Each grade level will participate in a special read aloud and craft activity in the afternoon. We would love to have volunteers help with our projects. If you are available to join us at 1:30 on the 19^th please email me - ahurley@shrewsbury.k12.ma.us