A School Year Ends

Thank you families for helping make this such an enjoyable school year.  On the last day of school the students were elated to finally have the chance to bring home their spider plants.  All 22 came from one parent plant.  Imagine the  many rooms and houses we can positively affect if each of these little plants is taken home and nurtured.  Best of luck to you and your families in the future,

Mr. Hagen 

May Update

The class enjoyed a beautifully sunny day at the Minnesota Zoo this week.  Thank you to the ten volunteers who came along and helped make the day so successful. 

The class is also revisiting metamorphosis.  As previously seen in the development of mealworms, the class is now following the development of  honeybees, examining wax and brood boxes in the classroom this week.  See if your 2nd grader can identify the stages of development seen in this photo.

April Update

It has been a busy two weeks for the class as we completed both the reading and math MAP tests.  Students showed some very nice gains from the fall.  Remember that there is a regression in skills for students who take the summer off from all things academic.  Reading at home is especially important in order to have your child ready to hit the ground running when school begins again in September.

Speaking of running, the class reached its goal of 5 minutes of continuous  running today.  Our class will be having the mile run on either Tuesday, April 27  or Thursday, April 29, so remember to have them dress for the weather.

Lastly, in honor of Earth Day, the students had a very good time helping to clean up the school grounds today.

Music Program TV Schedule

The 2nd grade music program will be aired a number of times on the local public access channel 14.  Below are the dates and times.  Also, if you wish to have a copy of the show, please send to school a DVD-R and Mrs. Althof will gladly burn a copy for you.

ShowID	10848
Event Date:	3/29/2010
Length:	00:31:57
Category:	General – Produced Here
Producer	Rob Clark
Schedule Information:	4/6/2010 at 6:00 PM 4/7/2010 at 2:00 AM 4/7/2010 at 10:00 AM 4/7/2010 at 9:26 PM 4/8/2010 at 5:26 AM 4/8/2010 at 1:26 PM 4/9/2010 at 6:00 PM 4/10/2010 at 2:00 AM 4/10/2010 at 10:00 AM

Music Program Highlights

2nd grade had its annual spring music program this week.  The other classes at school got to enjoy an afternoon dress rehearsal with an evening performance for parents and family members.  E-I-E-I-Oops! tells the story of a cow who is reluctant to moo but is encouraged and prodded until finally gathering up the courage let loose at the end of the show.  Students did a great job of remembering their lines, lyrics and dance moves and delivered them all with excellent expression.

MAP Testing Coming Soon!

In the second week of April students will be taking the spring MAP (measures of academic progress) test for both reading and math.  The students took this for the first time in the fall and both tests are completed independently on computer.  When comparing the fall score with this spring’s, it helps us gauge a student’s progress in the school year.  Look for a new link on the sidebar, prepdog.com, for MAP skill practice questions.  It also gives families a better understanding of what the MAP questions your child will encounter will look like.  In many cases they are surprising advanced for 2nd grade so it’s a good idea to get in some practice time.

New Links

This week each student has chosen a continent to research and write about.  Today the class collected information from both a student atlas and a couple of different websites.  Upon student request the links have been added to the blog.  Look to the right column under science and social studies for the new geography links.

Thawing Out

With any school year in Minnesota we experience a bit of the doldrums in February.  The newness of snow and winter is long gone and spring still feels a long ways away.  I think that our weather is a great part of the reason that Minnesota, while tied with New Hampshire and North Dakota, has at 96% the highest adult literacy rate in the nation.  Maybe we’re stuck inside too much.  Maybe we need to escape (mentally) more than our neighbors to the south.   In any case, reading interest has really taken off in the class and it’s important that we take time at school and at home each day for the activity.  Twenty minutes nightly is ideal for 2nd graders.

While there is such great interest it’s important that we get new, exciting books in their hands.  At school members of the class who have brought their library books back from home are given the opportunity to go to the media center in small groups each day.  Here is a group from today that’s ready to go.  Please remember to visit your local library as well.

Lastly, Mrs. Althof is busy getting the class ready for the 2nd grade music program, E-I-E-I-Oops!  The performance will take place at 7:00p.m. on Thursday, March 25, at the high school Performing Arts Center.  Here the class is in the early stages of learning the moves and songs they’ll need to know for the show.

As we near the performance date be on the lookout for individual lines that students will need to memorize.  Mrs. Althof will also be sending out information on help needed for creating costumes for the show.

Scooter City!

Centennial Elementary’s favorite gym unit, Scooter City, began this week.  Mrs. Nickelby continues to top herself, turning the school gym into a miniature city, complete with drive-in movie theater, teacher wall of fame, car wash, gas station, fast food restaurant and much more.  Our class was able to visit on both regular gym days as well as a bonus visit on Wednesday.

And after a long wait, our mealworms are slowly, but surely reaching adulthood.  Completing full metamorphosis, this insect changes from egg to larva to pupa to…

…a darkling beetle.  This one enjoys a drink of water from a fresh slice of apple.  Mealworms are a common snack for a pet lizard, fish or wild bird.  For those looking to enjoy these critters at home a container of 50 can be yours for under $4 at your local pet food warehouse or bait shop.

Fieldtrip to the Art Institute

 

On Wednesday the class concluded its Art Adventures program with a trip to the Minneapolis Institute of Arts.  Students were able to enjoy the actual art pieces that were learned about in class as well as other exciting works.  About a mile south of the Mpls. Convention center on 3rd Avenue, the Art Institute is a free museum and great opportunity for a weekend family event.  Look to the right under the art links for a connection to their website.