Enrichment Updates

See below for a few updates from our enrichment classes! We will share classroom updates next week.

Art: We are halfway through the school year and these students have earned the privilege to use hot glue guns. Even with our supervision they quickly learned that the glue was, well, actually HOT. With this tool they are able to use an infinite number of materials in their sculptures and this delightful benefit is worth the sore fingers. Soon they will get their hands in clay. They are busy painting, drawing on big  paper with friends, and caring for supplies and each other. Second graders are prolific artists and love to talk about their work. Ask your child what they have created. Students are excited about using the Artsonia app to store images of their work in their digital portfolios.

Faith Studies: We started the New Year reviewing our Faith Studies Covenant in second grade.  The covenant is a list of promises and guidelines we created at the beginning of the school year to guide our behavior during Faith Studies.  The guidelines include respecting others, listening to the teacher, and keeping our hands to ourselves.  I think the students took the conversation to heart, as both groups have been doing an excellent job in 2017.  We moved from the book of Joshua into the book of Judges during our Bible story time in January.  The students have learned that judges can be boys and girls, as we heard the story of Deborah and Barak.  Then  we heard the story of Gideon and the miracle of the fleece.  Ask your child about the “science experiment” we did during Faith Studies last week.  We also read the story, My Daddy, Martin Luther King Jr. this month, by Martin Luther King III.  Your students were very interested in this book and talking about the ways our world has changed since the Civil Rights movement, and the ways we can continue to help his dream today.  We will welcome Mrs. Williams to lead a hymn study next week and then we will continue with the book of Ruth.  Your students are a joy to teach and I enjoy seeing them each week.  

Grace and peace,

Rev. Lindsey Wells Peery

        

PE: We have been really focusing on our fitness this trimester. We are using our yoga mats on a regular basis, practicing yoga poses, pilates exercises, and strengthening our core. We are moving into a short unit on basic volleyball skills, focusing on proper positioning (“ready”, hand position, proper bump form) and movement. We will finish the trimester with an introduction to kickball.

Spanish: Second graders are working on unit 2 of level B in the Descubre program. In this unit, children are learning culture and exploring some places in Nicaragua. We have been using the student books every week, following and practicing short conversations about types of homes, such as casa (house), apartamento (apartment), and a few vocabulary words related to animal homes such as nido (nest), and telaraña (spiderweb).  Students are also studying clothing and foods at the market. We do quick reviews of the practice done in unit 1 about greeting and good byes. Children continue practicing some family members in the conversations such as abuelos (grandparents), and niños (children). Your child's online account is a great tool to repeat the dialogs, vocabulary words, reading, comprehension and pronunciation.

Wellness: This month, the 2nd graders will learn about the difference between tattling and telling/reporting. We will begin with a discussion around the difference between “child-sized” problems and “adult-sized” problems. We will then read a book called “Don’t Squeal Unless It’s a Big Deal” by Jeanie Franz Ransom. This book tells the story of a teacher teaching her students when it is important to tell or report to a teacher what is going on and when it is OK to try and solve the problem on your own first. The teacher in this book really focuses on the point that it is important to let an adult know what is going on when someone is hurt or in danger, hurting you, hurting a pet, or hurting something that does not belong to them. In addition, I will reinforce that if you try and solve the problem on your own first and the student that you asked to stop bothering you keeps bothering you over and over again then this becomes a situation where it is also important to tell an adult. The teacher in the book also discusses that sometimes it can be hard to learn the difference between tattling and telling and that is why it is important for adults to remind children of the difference as well as important for children to practice, practice, practice this new skill! Try talking to your children at home about the difference between tattling and telling.

Weekly Update 1/9/17 - 1/13/17

Happy New Year! 2017! We hope your families enjoyed the holiday break and were able to squeeze in as much as possible. It certainly flew by, but we treasure the time spent with family and friends and are excited to be back in the routine of school. It was so wonderful to be in the classroom last Wednesday morning as your children came through the doors -- full of stories from the break and eager to catch up with us and their friends. We've heard many stories about your family traditions and travels and hope to hear more stories as we settle back in.

Storypath has raised great excitement in our classroom! Last week, our class "took a trip" to the Great Barrier Reef to kick start our study of coral reefs and its inhabitants. Storypath will blend with Reader's Workshop and Writer's Workshop as students begin research on a specific animal alongside a classmate from the Austin/Gardner class. By learning how to read a non fiction text carefully, students will collect information on their given animal and work with their partner to record this information on a graphic organizer. Students will learn important skills like paraphrasing, note taking, and how to use nonfiction text features such as captions, labels, and diagrams. All of this work will transform into a research book that students will share with you during our Coral Reef Museum in March.

In Math, we continue working through Unit 3 of Investigations. Lately we have been focusing on the number 100 -- in particular, how to make it using multiples of five as well as with coins. Story Problems now include both addition and subtraction, and we are encouraging students to use number lines as a problem solving strategy. Please encourage your children at home to always, always show their work as it helps us understand their thought process! This is a life long skill that will serve all students well as math concepts grow more complex.

In Word Study, we will be focusing on the use of adjectives, adverbs, nouns and verbs during the next few weeks. This will be an all-class sort and we will have an assessment following MLK weekend after several weeks of practice identifying, using, and naming these important parts of speech. This work will also work to strengthen students writing skills within Writer's Workshop.

Aside from academics, 2nd graders are hard at work for their production of The Jungle Book later this month. Over the next two weeks we will have several additional practices as a grade level to make sure we're in tip top shape for our performance!

And finally, we will hopefully be making a trip to ImaginOn this Thursday, January 12th, so please be sure you do not have any fines so that your children can check out some new books! Our partnership with InReach will pick back up later in the month, so please stay tuned for volunteer driving opportunities. Thank you in advance for your willingness to help!

Reminders for the Upcoming Month:

• Monday/Tuesday, January 16-17th -- MLK Holiday, school closed. 
• Wednesday/Thursday, January 18/19th -- All Trinity Builds. Materials are being collected at the front desk should you have any to donate. 
• Wednesday, January 25th at 2:30 -- The Jungle Book! Students will perform and we'll have a celebration afterwards. We hope you'll join us to celebrate their hard work! 

Stay warm out there -- and we hope to see you soon!

Weekly Update 12/12/16 - 12/16/16

The holiday spirit is alive and well within our classroom and hope the same is true within your homes! Noticing Books are full of stories about elves, Christmas trees, and visits with family, and we know there are more celebrations ahead. As we heard in Chapel last Friday, it is a season for joy and we hope you are each finding that amidst the hustle and bustle. 

This week will be no less busy, so take a look below at what we've got going on before break. 

Reader's -- Our "Nonfiction Nook" is in high demand! Now that we are off and running with nonfiction texts, the class has started to spend a portion of workshop reading non fiction as they search for "gems" to hold onto. The class has taken to this quite easily and is using Reader's Workshop as a time to learn and record new learnings in their Reader's Notebooks. We've discussed the different types of nonfiction books --- some that you pop in and pop out of, and others that are meant to be read in their entirety. This unit is equipping us for some research we will do when we return to school in January.

Writer's/Storypath -- Having published letters to you to share over Thanksgiving, we are using our skills as persuasive writers to advocate for the rainforest. Students are writing letters to various positions within local and national government, as well as to the government of Brazil. We've discussed the many gifts of the rainforest and why it's necessary to advocate that we stop mass destruction of this valuable land. We look forward to mailing these letters before the holidays! Please cross your fingers alongside of us that we get a response! 

Math -- You may have noticed our shift from geometry to numbers through recent homework assignments. The first investigation of Unit 3 has been focused on place value and learning to understand the two digits of a two digit number. We will continue to work on place value and will be using "strips and singles" to better understand the tens place and the ones place. We've learned several new games to help cement this understanding and are very pleased with everyone's work thus far. 

Word Study -- Because we are in the final stretch of school before break, we will be doing an all-class sort this week and into next week. We will be focusing on the "Bossy R" rule, which focuses on r-controlled vowel sounds (-ar, -or, -er). 

To keep things exciting, entertaining, and busy, we have a few additional things on the schedule this week and next. Mark your calendars!

• Thursday, December 15th -- Best Christmas Pageant at the Children's Theater 
• Friday, December 16th -- Holiday Celebration with InReach
• Monday, December 19th -- A visit from Mary Ottley, a Peace Corps volunteer in Guatemala. 
• Tuesday, December 20th -- Lessons and Carols at 2:00 in the gymnasium. We hope to see you there! 

And finally, please see the following message regarding All Trinity Builds, which will take place January 18th, 19th, and 20th. 

If you have any of the following materials, please send them in with your child or drop them in the ATB collection boxes located near the front desk: toilet paper tubes, paper towel rolls, PVC pipe, cans, milk cartons, old keys, oatmeal canisters, tennis racquet string, plastic cording, shoe boxes, gift wrap tubes, plastic clam shells, old silverware, coffee cans, milk jugs, pie pans, bells, old pots and pans, bamboo, dental floss, straws, or a vibraphone.

Thank you all for your constant support and let us know if you have any questions!

Enrichment Updates

Please see below for updates from our enrichment teachers!

Art
At the end of each trimester students earn skill ratings on their report cards. We take time now to explain what each skill rating looks like in the art room.

Understands Studio Procedures: Students knowing how to enter the room, listen to instructions, use studio materials to create work and clean up and store their work.

Approaches Art with a Collaborative Spirit: Students sharing ideas and materials and working well with each other.

Takes Risks and Embraces Mistakes: Students willingly trying new materials and experimenting with unfamiliar techniques while learning from their explorations.

Exhibits Scholarly Habits and Follows the Honor Code: Students behaving with kindness and respect while making choices that benefit the learning of every student.

Second graders had a busy and creative first trimester. The new sculpture studio is a hit!

Music

Second Grade Music is all about continuing to learn our music basics and have fun with Music! The Second Grade Music Classes have been learning a large spectrum of challenging songs and enjoyable circle games. They have been reviewing eighth notes, quarter notes, half notes and whole notes. The students have been learning about the staff and where pitches land on the staff. We have composed songs using DO, MI and SOL.

During the next month, the second grade class will begin learn more about jazz music. So far, we have learned how to scat and about Ella Fitzgerald. We will be learning about Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong and North Carolina’s own Duke Ellington. We are on our way with our unit on musical theatre. Our 2nd Grade musical “The Jungle Book” will be performed on Wednesday, January 25.

Healthful Living
Second grade has been working on the basic basketball skills of dribbling, passing, and shooting. We spent two weeks working in skill stations and small group work. We are currently playing a basketball game called blitzball. It’s been a big hit! A couple of our classes have been dedicated to “mat” (yoga, pilates, core) work and we will start working with basic cone drills in the coming weeks to work on speed and agility.

Spanish

Second graders have been practicing vocabulary words about festivals in Mexico, such as el festival, la piñata, la comunidad, las flores, la música and la comida.

We continue working on expressions and words about some family members, and reviewing greetings and good byes, using full sentences through short conversations, games and reading and writing exercises. Students are also comparing punctuation in both languages, and they are using question and exclamation marks in written sentences.

We already ended unit 1, Nos Conocemos, so now it would be a great time for you and your children to visit their online accounts (trinityepiscopal.schoology.com) and practice/review some of the skills we have been working on in class. The week 3 and 4 online activities under Unit 1's "Descubre Online" section would be great practice vocabulary words of family members, greetings, some subject pronouns and the verb ser.

Also, you might want to check out the videos embedded in the "U1 eBook" on pages 18, 26, 34, and 42.  They are only 3-5 minutes long and each one reviews one "week/semana" of the program. (Remember that Spanish only meets twice a week, so one week in Santillana is more like 3 weeks for Trinity!)

Faith Studies

We started the month of November learning about Dia de Los Muertos and All Saints Day, and  sharing many of the stories of the saints. We continued our studies in the Old Testament by hearing the stories of Joshua this month. These stories were shared using storytelling, animated video clips, and reading from Children’s Bibles.  Mrs. Williams also led a lesson on the hymn, “Once in Royal David’s City.”  As we enter the season of Advent, students are hearing stories of those who lead the way to Bethlehem.  So far we have met the prophet Isaiah and Mary and Joseph on the way to Bethlehem.  Second grade students will also make ornaments for the Jesse Tree which will be in the lobby through the month of December.  I really enjoy working with your second graders during faith studies.  Please let me know if you have any questions.

Grace and peace,

Rev. Lindsey Peery (lpeery@tescharlotte.org)

Wellness

For Wellness this month the 2nd graders engaged in a discussion about what it means to practice kindness and consideration. We examined what that section of the Trinity Honor Code means and then brainstormed ways that we can be kind to each other, kind in the classroom, and kind in the world. We then discussed the definition of the word empathy and engaged in conversation around what it means to “stand in someone else’s shoes”. To conclude we read the book, “Stand in My Shoes” by Bob Sornson which is about a young girl who learns what the word empathy means and as a result makes a conscious effort to notice how other people are feeling. The 2nd graders enjoyed the book and discussed ways that they could be more intentional about noticing other people’s feelings moving forward! I am enjoying teaching Wellness to your 2nd graders and wanted to introduce myself as the new counselor at Trinity. Please do not hesitate to reach out with any comments or questions!  -Kimberly Enicks; kenicks@tescharlotte.org

ImaginOn this Thursday

We will be visiting ImaginOn this Thursday, December 1st. Please send in your children's library books ASAP so that we can return them on time and ensure everyone is able to check out new books. Thanks so much! This will be our last visit to ImaginOn before the holiday break.

Quick Updates and Happy Thanksgiving

As we settle into Thanksgiving break, we'd like to share a brief update on what to expect when we return. The race to Christmas Break will be upon us and we will certainly be staying busy in the classroom. No surprise there!

In Writing, we will use our new skills as persuasive writers to write letters advocating for the rain forest. Having been exposed to the many gifts of the rain forest, the threats to the rain forest, and having built a rain forest right outside our classroom, we look forward to seeing the passion and excitement that your children will pour into these letters -- which we will, in fact, mail to cattle farmers and paper companies! While we cannot promise a response, we can count on students learning that their voice makes a difference and that words can be powerful. Reader's will begin to merge in with our work as writers, given we will shift our focus in nonfiction reading. Generally, this is an exciting unit for students as they learn the different parts of a nonfiction text and it will also help make their writing stronger.

In Math, we will jump into Unit 3 of Investigations which will lead us back into problem solving with numbers. We will be revisiting story problems and efficient strategies to problem solve, as well as continuing work with money and time.

Other things to take note of:

• Continued time with InReach. Stay tuned for more detailed, logistical information!
• Tuesday, December 6th: Hour of Code with Josh Thorton
• Thursday, December 15th: Best Christmas Pageant Ever at the Children's Theater
• Tuesday, December 20th: Lessons and Carols Service 2:00

We will share more post Thanksgiving and as December settles in -- but wanted you to have a blueprint of the direction we're headed. Wishing you all a happy Thanksgiving! We hold so much gratitude for you and your families. 

Weekly Update 11/7/16 - 11/11/16

Big things happening this week in Second Grade! Mark your calendars...

Tuesday, November 8th -- Election Day! Many thanks to Mr. Grady Smith for hosting Kids Voting. We'll be taking a trip upstairs tomorrow morning to participate in a voting simulation. Having studied the election process in Social Studies, we're excited to make this learning real. Students will even complete voter registration cards!

Thursday, November 10th -- Dream Makers Luncheon with InReach! Thanks to Jennifer Bankhead for quickly coordinating our volunteer drives for this event and for the many willing volunteers who will join us. We're so excited to participate in this program put on by InReach and look forward to an afternoon singing and celebrating what has been a wonderful beginning to our service learning partnership. During our past visits with InReach, we have been rehearsing "Climb Every Mountain" with Mrs. Brenda and hope to be ready for the stage come Thursday. The program will be held at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral on East Boulevard and we will be sure to take pictures for those who are not joining us by driving. InReach has kindly offered to provide a pizza lunch for students, so if you child will not enjoy a pizza lunch, please send a bagged lunch on Thursday. Please also be sure that your child wear a BLUE Trinity shirt. Let us know if this poses a problem for you.

Wednesday - Thursday, November 9/10th -- We start our rain forest build! The classroom will be abuzz with creative minds as we work together to represent the rain forest and its layers on the windows outside our classroom. Groups have been assigned layers of the rain forest that they are responsible for building and we look forward to seeing the final product come Friday!

Friday, November 11th -- Middle School Musical! All TES will head to Pease Auditorium at 1:00 to see the production of Legally Blonde and we will return right before dismissal. Thank you for your patience on Friday afternoon as we scurry back for carpool!

Outside of these exciting additions to our schedule, we will continue moving forward across subjects and will send a more detailed update regarding curriculum later in the month. Let us know if you have questions, and we'll look forward to seeing many of you this week!