Photo Credit: Let Ideas Compete via Compfight

Wow, I can not believe that we are in our 4th week of school. We are finally getting into the routine and learning some fun things. Last week, in our science experiments we looked at color pigments. As the trees start to change colors, we recognize that those are color pigments. So we experimented with markers and saw how a black marker is actually made up of many colors. The class loved being hands on and I am sure you saw some evidence of it as well! In addition, we are learning about citizenship and friendship and how they are involved in our classroom. We will be using our Flat Stanley’s next week in my Social Studies class so make sure you send me your picture with him and then return him to class! 

My Reading class is currently learning about friendship too in their story so it all relates well! I am sorry for the delay in posting the spelling words on my blog. Each week, I do send home a paper copy of the spelling words that your son or daughter can practice with as well…but I know they have a lot to remember so that is why I put them on here! Our story this week has a lot of new words that would be great for your student to practice so that they can become more fluent readers. I sent home a list of those words for your son or daughter to read each night. If you don’t get to do it every night, don’t worry. I know just like school, home is a busy place too. However, it can be helpful and a fun way to incorporate some reading in the night! 

In my Math class, we are happily practicing our basic addition facts. We began using one-step word problems to solve our addition facts. Each night would be a great time to practice their facts as well so that they can only become better in math! They are trying their best and are enjoying the centers that I have made for them to practice at during the math instruction time! 

Overall, the students and I are establishing a routine and I can tell they are trying their best in their work! Just a reminder, it is a half-day tomorrow! Enjoy the fall weather! As always, if you have any questions, feel free to contact me! 

Mrs. Hoffsmith

It is great to know that we are enjoying our second week of school! My homeroom students are beginning to know which classes they switch to already…WHICH IS GREAT! They have picked up on it and always come back to the classroom with smiles! Also during homeroom, we have begun to use computers during our center time and they are engaged in a Math program called ST Math. The students are loving it and I’m sure will have lots to say about it! 

It has been fun to get to know the students in Language Arts. We have been investigating different communities and learning about them! It is fun to hear about different experiences the students have done this summer. They tell stories of how they noticed something different in the community! We also begun reviewing short vowel sounds and practicing their spelling words! 

In math, we have been reviewing how to add to 10. We have been doing an awesome at doing our best and will soon be adding to sums of 20! They have been really enjoying an activating strategy called “Happy Counting” which we do in the beginning of class each day! I have some of the same children in my Language Arts class, but it has been fun to get to know even more students! I think I know everyone’s name, which I am excited about!

As always, we are a team working together for your child! I wanted to update you on what is happening in the classroom! They are excited to learn! 

Have a great rest of the week!

Mrs. Hoffsmith

Good Morning!

A lot of information is being sent home today! It is an exciting time as we finish up our first week in second grade! Make sure you check your child’s yellow folder so that you know what is happening in our classroom as well as with transitioning between classes! If you have questions, feel free to contact me! 

Have a fabulous four day weekend! 

Mrs. Hoffsmith

Photo Credit: Stuart Williams via Compfight

Hello Parents!

We are having a great first day of school! We have gotten to know each other so well and have had a great start to the school year! Today, we read about friendship and accepting our differences so that we can be successful in the classroom! In their take-home folder, you may see a school building coloring. Based on the directions, they colored different parts of the school to represent themselves. Feel free to ask them about it…they really enjoyed doing this! We also wrote about our summers and what we are looking forward to most this year! After lunch, we are planning on identifying patterns in our names and going to try a science experiment focusing on the scientific method! In the following days, we plan on focusing more on activities and small group learning so that we can get to know your children! It has been a pleasure to get to hear about your summers and get to meet your children! I am so excited for the year! If you have any questions, please feel free to email me! Have a great week! 

-Mrs. Hoffsmith

Hello Second Graders and Parents!

I am so excited for the school year to begin, but I hope you  are enjoying the last few weeks of your summer vacation! I am excited to hear about all your fun adventures that you have done this summer! These past few weeks, I have been preparing for our classroom by putting new bulletin boards up and organizing all the school supplies we will be using this year! I am putting up new bulletin boards and new decorations, but during the first week of school, we will be doing different activities that will help further decorate our classroom together! I am in the midst of learning different technology and teaching strategies that I will be able to use in our classroom! It is getting super exciting! I am looking forward to the new school year, but would love to see you all for the Back to School Night here at Blue Ball Elementary on August 21st at 6pm. Keep on reading a couple minutes per day and practicing those math facts while you enjoy the last weeks of summer! If you have any questions before the school year begins, feel free to contact me at jenna_bucklew@elanco.org.

See you soon!

Mrs. Hoffsmith

Photo Credit: Scott Wills via Compfight