Mrs. Ballnik's Second Grade

Friday, October 4, 2019

Mrs. Ballnik’s Classroom News

My email is ballnic@dearbornschools.org

Please email me (or use Class Dojo), if you can because I read it at least twice a day.    Send notes or call the office and I will get back to you.

SCIENCE

         Did you notice the sun hats that your child came home with.  These are hats that were to use materials (matter) with the properties to make a good sun hat.  We had a Mystery Science project that taught how to plan the use of materials based on their properties.  We wanted to keep the sun off and absorb sweat.  We discussed types of brims or no brims on hats.  Ask your child to explain how they came up with their design.

PLANNERS– Please send these every day because we use them. The spelling words will be written in them, also. There is a charge, if a planner is lost.

SPELLING WORDS FOR NEXT WEEK ARE Different words with LONG VOWELS THAT END IN E contrasted with CONSONANT VOWEL CONSONANT WORDS that have a short vowel sound.  Please continue to point out the pattern of the spelling words each week and help your child discover words with these patterns in their reading.  Soon your child will be pointing these out to you, if they do not already.  A good idea is to get a blank notebook and keep a list.  Send them in for extra credit.

The words will be:  hope, hop, cute, cut, bit, bite, can, cane, kit, kite, cub, cube, robe, rob, fin, fine.

There are 16 words this week.  I correct the test on the weekend and send it home on Monday.  Please sign that you see the test and send it back for a sticker.  Many of you are already doing this.

Social Studies– Please continue to point out things that you see as you walk/ride through our COMMUNITY of Dearborn.  We are studying about community.  There are natural characteristics (tree, river, grass) and human characteristics (bridge, road, store) of our community to be seen.  Please discuss these as you see them at home.   Can your child name the 5 characteristics of a community? Transportation, Buildings, Natural Characteristics, Places to have Fun and Businesses.  What does each of these categories mean to your child?   

     Now we will be discussing 3 types of communities:  Rural/Country/, Suburban, Urban/City.  We live in a suburban community.  This language can be confusing.  Thank-you for discussing things at home, too.

Reading Bags– Read the books at home.  There is a letter inside the bag, if you did not see it.  The bookroom is at the other end of the school, so books are not replaced quickly.  Please read books more than once, especially if any words are missed.  Don’t stop going to your neighborhood library, also.