Ainsworth SchoolWeekly Curriculum Updates
Differentiation in the Classroom: During the day students are given opportunities to work at their rate and level. During language arts time students are grouped into small reading groups to meet each child's needs. They are asked to read books that are at their level and extends their thinking. Students are also asked to answer and ask questions about the text. During math, students are grouped into homogenous math groups to work on concepts they need to work on. Students also work on reseach projects and pulling important information out of a text. In this way, all students will receive the instruction that they need at their level. If you have any ideas or concerns about differentiation in the classroom please contact me.
Language Arts: This encompasses four main areas of reading and writing.
Spelling: Each week our spelling words go along with the phonics focus. On Monday students are given a pretest of 15 words. Twelve of the words have a phonics pattern and the other three are high frequency words. The tests are then corrected and if a student misses more than five they are to study those words for the test on Friday. If they miss less than 5 then they study the ones they missed and then the challenge list. the number of words the student has to study from the regular list is taken off the bottom of the challenge list. So, each student has 15 words per week. The tests are given on Friday.
Phonics focus: vowel sound in "book" /oo/ and /u/
Grammar: adjectives for number, size, and shaper
High frequency word work: There are four words per week that are our focus. We practice these words in different ways sucy as pyramid spelling, writing the words in sentences and then putting them on the word wall.
These are our "No Excuse" words: made, my, now, people, over
This activity takes place right when students come in. They are to get a white board and pen and begin using the new words or the old words in sentences. I will also integrate the grammar into this activity.
Whole group reading: Students read a main selection each week. It is a story that has a theme that is the focus for the week. This week we are reading Life Cycle of a Pumpkin. After reading the story students are asked to write the six most important events in the story, or list words that go with the phonics focus, or write describe the main character, etc. Each day students read and then respond to the reading in some way.
Comprehension strategy: Fact or Opinion
Reading Groups: Students read a book at their level each week. They meet with other students that are at a similar level. When the students meet with the teacher they read aloud, discuss, and respond to the text. I ask questions to get them to think about the story and to activate their background knowledge.
Writer's Workshop: We are working on a short biography unit that will include poetry and a short piece about the students subject.
Writing Scale: I am including an copy of the Writing Scale for 2nd grade as I will be discussing it with the students. The scale is very helpful in making goals with students. I will discuss the scale with parents during conferences.
Math: As most of you know we have started a new math curriculum. So far I am impressed by its detail and challenge for the students. The new adoption consists of three components: Number Corner, Problems and Investigations, and Work Places. Students seem to enjoy the activities and are learning a lot already. We are now working on geometry, area, and perimeter. It has been fun and challenging.
The new benchmarks require second grade students to know their math facts to 20 (old benchmark 10). They are also required to master writing, reading, ordering numbers to 1000 (old benchmark 100). This is a jump, but I know our students are cabable. We are also working on problem solving, adding doubles and neighbors, and multiples. Within these concepts students are working in math groups that are tailored to their rate and level.
Science/Social Studies: Our current science unit is Weather. We have been learning about wind, temperature, and cloud cover. The students are enjoying our trips outside to check the temperature and wind. We are continuing our unit by exploring clouds. Right now we are beginning to talk about different cloud types and writing similies about clouds. After the winter break we wil begin our "Cloud Clubs", this is where students are grouped together and will research a certain type of cloud. Students have created large clouds and hung facts about the particular cloud to it. We are now working on writing a paragraph about their particular cloud type.
