April 21st- 25th

Happy Easter! Christ has risen! Alleluia! It is my hope that you all had a restful and joyous Easter break! 

Literacy- 

Continuing with the lesson from last week: we are reading a story called "A Weed is a Flower." This is the biography of George Washington Carver. We are talking about where creative ideas come from. 
We are also talking about fact and opinion. We are learning the words excel, process, research, opportunity, accomplish, original, scientist and unusual. We will also be using comparative endings -er and -est. 


Religion-

    Continuing with the Easter season, we will be continuing to talk about the mass, sacraments and the Eucharist in mass. We will have our First Communion retreat May 6th. A field trip permission slip will be coming home this week. 

We will be in charge of mass on April 30th, students were told what their jobs will be for the mass. If you have any questions, please let me know. 
Math-
  
Geometry has been so much fun,  I love seeing those light bulbs pop up after a lesson! This week we are going to finish up geography by dividing rectangles into equal parts, using and showing equal parts as well as using reasoning to solve riddles about shapes. On Friday we will be taking our Topic 12 test. 

Next week we will begin Topic 13, which is money. 

Social Studies/Science-

Your students did really well with Westward Expansion. We played the Oregon Trail on the computer on Friday and unfortunately, we didn't make it. It was funny to hear the reactions of the kids after we had finished. Many of them said, "I used to think it would be fun to travel on the Oregon Trail, but it would be too hard." "Good thing we have planes, 'cause that would be rough." 


Spelling-

Our spelling test this week will be working with -er and -est endings. We began our lessons on this topic last week, however the spelling test will be this week. 
Your kids know what shape spelling words they have :)

Square:                       Triangle:
sooner                         sooner
soonest                       soonest
busier                          busier
busiest                        busiest
happier                       happier
happiest                     happiest
drier                           hotter
driest                         hottest
straighter                   smaller
straightest                  smallest
fatter                          fatter
fattest                        fattest

Reminders-

There is extremely important information about the beginning of next school year on the Colt Express. It is almost near the bottom of the post. Please check it out.

Our school calendar of events can be found at cccscoltexpress.blogspot.com

If you have questions about anything, please feel free to email me.

• St. Anselm, pray for us.

Holy Week 2014

Good evening! I hope that you have a blessed Holy Week and enjoy your Easter break. As a reminder we will have no homework this week, which includes our weekly spelling test. There is no school Friday or Monday of next week.

Literacy- 

This week we are reading a story called "A Weed is a Flower." This is the biography of George Washington Carver. We are talking about where creative ideas come from. 
We are also talking about fact and opinion. We are learning the words excel, process, research, opportunity, accomplish, original, scientist and unusual. We will also be using comparative endings -er and -est. 
We are going to be doing a lot of writing about Holy Week.

Religion-

    We have been having fabulous discussion about Jesus in the Eucharist. This Holy Week has been wonderful so far and we are going to continue to focus on the journey of Christ during this week. We have also been talking about First Communion. 

We will be in charge of mass on April 30th, I will be sending home what your child will be helping with during mass later this week. 

Math-
  
We completed our unit on addition and subtraction and have moved into geometry. Your kids are loving it so far and they are all excelling. 

Social Studies/Science-

We have one more topic to discuss on Westward Expansion and then we will be moving into simple machines.  


Spelling-

We will be working with -er and -est endings, however there will be no spelling test this week. We will resume spelling tests next week.

Reminders-


Our school calendar of events can be found at cccscoltexpress.blogspot.com

If you have questions about anything, please feel free to email me.

• Passion of Christ, strengthen us.

March 31st - April 4th

I hope you had a wonderful Laetare Sunday. I hope that your Spring Break was restful. We are going to get back into the full swing of things tomorrow. 

Literacy- 

We are going to finish our unit on "Anansi Goes Fishing." For the next two days we will be reviewing the past unit and on Tuesday, we will take our test. On Wednesday we will begin the next unit which is called "Rosa and Blanca."
We will be answering the big question "When does a creative idea lead to a surprise?"  We will work to understand that creative ideas can lead to surprises when we share with others, help others and use clever thinking. We will be learning 8 more amazing words! They are abundant, assist, generous, dismay, efficient, beam, forever, situation. Our high-frequency words this week include: alone, buy, daughters, half, many, their, youngest. Children will also be able to work with verbs and different forms of them. We are also going to begin working with poetry and writing it.

Religion-

    As we approach our first communion date, we are going to start talking about Jesus as our shepherd as well as the Eucharist and mass. I know that your kids are excited about receiving their first communion. Our second grade will be making their First Communion retreat on May 6th. We will get out more details in the next few months. We are also going to need a few parent volunteers to drive. 

Math-
  
We have been working with three-digit addition and are now moving into subtraction. We are going to be working more in depth with subtraction this week as we finish up our unit on Friday. 

Social Studies/Science-

We finished making our covered wagons and will now be talking about the Erie Canal, the Oregon Trail and the Pony Express. We will finish up our unit on the pioneers next week. 


Spelling-

We will be working on spelling the vowel patterns i, ie, igh, and y

We have been using differentiated spelling lists in class. There are two different groups. 
Your students knows if they are a square or triangle. These words can be found in your child's planner.

Square words:             Triangle words:
find                              find
child                            child
bright                          bright
spider                          spider
myself                          myself
blind                            blind
frighten                       sky
identify                       wild
style                           fly
arrival                         right
delight                        flight
rely                             cry

The spelling test will be on Monday of next week.

Reminders-


Our school calendar of events can be found at cccscoltexpress.blogspot.com

If you have questions about anything, please feel free to email me.

• St. Isidore of Seville, pray for us.

March 10th- 14th

Good evening! I apologize for the absence from blogging, but we are back in the swing of things! 


Your kiddos did an amazing job during testing! They were fabulous and I can't wait to see the results! 


Tomorrow, we will have our spelling test from last week. I left school early on Friday, due to sickness, and we were not able to get to the spelling test. 
Our spelling test for this week's words will be on Friday. 


Literacy- 

This week we will be answering the big question "In what creative ways do we communicate?" Our main selection will be called "Dear Juno."  We will work to understand that we communicate in creative ways through speaking, writing, signs and symbols as well as actions and behaviors. We will be learning 8 more amazing words! They are correspond, postage, transport, cove, footprint, deaf, imitate, sign language. Our high-frequency words this week include: answer, company, faraway, parents, picture, school, wash. Children will also be able to identify and use verbs with plural and singular nouns. We are also going to be focusing on writing a friendly letter.

Religion-

    This week we continue to talk about prayer and the need for adoration, praise, thanksgiving, intercession and petition. We will also begin talking about Jesus and the miracles that he performed. We will begin by talking about the Wedding at Cana and the multiplication of loaves. 

Math-
  
Last week we went back to finish topic ten, we will take our test on Monday and begin topic 11. In topic 11, your child will learn how to add and subtract three-digit numbers.  

Social Studies/Science-

The insect projects were amazing! I was extremely impressed and I could tell that your children knew their stuff! 
On Friday, we began talking about pioneers and westward expansion. This week we will be creating covered wagons, talking about the hardships that the pioneers faced. We will also be creating a map with significant places such as the Erie Canal and the Appalachian Mountains. 


Spelling-

We will be working on spelling the vowel patterns ow, oa, and o

We have been using differentiated spelling lists in class. There are two different groups. 
Your students knows if they are a square or triangle.

Square words:                                          Triangle words:
goat                                                            goat
hold                                                            hold
show                                                           show
almost                                                         most
bowl                                                           bowl
throat                                                        float
toast                                                          toast
ocean                                                         ago
open                                                           open
told                                                            told
locate                                                        toad
slow                                                          slow

The spelling test will be on Friday of this week.
Reminders-


Our school calendar of events can be found at cccscoltexpress.blogspot.com

If you have questions about anything, please feel free to email me.

• St. Anastatsia Patricia, pray for us.

Feb. 18th- Feb. 21st

Thank you so much for meeting with me at Parent/ Teacher conferences, I always enjoy talking with each and every one of you! 

I hope that you all enjoyed the four day weekend. We are going to have a packed week this week.  Our spelling test will be on Friday. 

Reminder: There is going to be no homework next week due to ITBS, but please make sure that you are reading with your child every night! 
Literacy- 

This week we will be answering the big question "How can we work together to solve problems?" Our main selection will be called "One Good Turn Deserves Another."  We will work to understand that working together resolves conflict, share responsibility and work, allows us to spend time with others as well as help those in need. We will be learning 8 more amazing words! They are conflict, pursue, resolve, deserve, mope, coax, ramp and startle. Our high-frequency words this week include: behind, brought, door, everybody, minute, promise, sorry. Children will also be able to identify and use possessive nouns.

Religion-

    We will be be talking about prayer and learning about the petitions in the Our Father. 

Math-
  
As a second grade, we are going to skip a few topics in Pearson (we will be going back to them.) We will be covering measurement, time and money before moving into three digit addition and subtraction. 

Social Studies/Science-


We will be talking about pollination and harmful and helpful insects this week as well as understanding the life cycles that a bug goes through. This week we will also be looking at poetry and students will be able to compare them to the information that we have already learned. Just a friendly reminder that the insect projects are due on February 24th. There will be time that week that we will have a showcase. When we have more information I will be sure to let you know! 


Spelling-

We will be working on spelling the vowel patterns -a, -ay, and -ai

main, wait, say, away, play, raise, brain, paint, stay, today, tray, tail


Reminders-

Next week we will have ITBS testing. Please make sure that your child gets a good night sleep and good breakfast! 

Our school calendar of events can be found at cccscoltexpress.blogspot.com

If you have questions about anything, please feel free to email me.

• St. Basil, pray for us.

Feb. 10th- Feb. 14th

What a short week last week! Please make sure that you check the Colt Express, there is a lot of information about the upcoming testing as well important calendar events going on!

Due to the two snow days followed by the half day last week, we will not be doing much differently than last week. 

Our spelling test will be on Wednesday. 

Parent/teacher conferences will be on Thursday and Friday, please return the confirmation slips by Tuesday. 

We will be going on our field trip Monday, please have your child bring a sack lunch as our field trip will interfere with our lunch hour. 

Literacy- 

This week we will be answering the big question "Why is it a good idea to work together?" Our main selection will be called "The Breman Town Musicians."  We will try to understand that working together solves problems, provides safety and protection, helps us survive, and helps get the job done. We will be learning 8 more amazing words! They are partnership, solution, survival, miserable, struggle, depend, familiar and insist. Our high-frequency words this week include: bought, people, pleasant, probably, scared, shall and sign. Children will also be able to identify and spell plural nouns that change spellings. 

Religion-

    In religion this week we will be learning the corporal works of mercy and how to live them in our daily lives. We will also be talking about prayer and learning about the petitions in the Our Father. 

Math-
  As a second grade, we are going to skip a few topics in Pearson (we will be going back to them.) We will be covering measurement, time and money before moving into three digit addition and subtraction. 

Social Studies/Science-

Unfortunately because of the shortened week last week, we were not able to continue too far into our insect unit. This week we will be talking about our bug report. We will also be making an edible insect. (If you would be willing to donate to the project, please let me know.)
We will also be talking about pollination and harmful and helpful insects.


Your child brought home a bug report project, if you have questions please email me. These are due on February 24th. 


Spelling-

We will be working on spelling plurals, -s, -es, and -ies

lunch, lunches, story, stories, tune, tunes, switch, switches, baby, babies, note, notes 



Reminders-

Our Valentine's Day party will be at 11am on Thursday Feb. 13th. There is a noon dismissal on that day and there is no school Friday. 

Our school calendar of events can be found at cccscoltexpress.blogspot.com

If you have questions about anything, please feel free to email me.

• Sts. Cyril and Methodius, pray for us.

Feb. 3rd- Feb 7th

Thank you for all of your help and flexibility during Catholic Schools Week, we had a very successful week and I hope that you all enjoyed the snow day! :)

Literacy- 

This week we will be answering the big question "Why is it a good idea to work together?" Our main selection will be called "The Breman Town Musicians."  We will try to understand that working together solves problems, provides safety and protection, helps us survive, and helps get the job done. We will be learning 8 more amazing words! They are partnership, solution, survival, miserable, struggle, depend, familiar and insist. Our high-frequency words this week include: bought, people, pleasant, probably, scared, shall and sign. Children will also be able to identify and spell plural nouns that change spellings. 

Religion-

    In religion this week we will be learning the corporal works of mercy and how to live them in our daily lives. We will also be talking about prayer and learning about the petitions in the Our Father. 

Math-
  We will continue our unit on place value, we will be learning how to spell words up to 1,000. We will be changing numbers by hundreds and tens, we will also be skip counting. 

Social Studies/Science-

Unfortunately because of the shortened week last week, we were not able to continue too far into our insect unit. This week we will be talking about our bug report. We will also be making an edible insect. (If you would be willing to donate to the project, please let me know.)
We will also be talking about pollination and harmful and helpful insects.


Spelling-

We will be working on spelling plurals, -s, -es, and -ies

lunch, lunches, story, stories, tune, tunes, switch, switches, baby, babies, note, notes 



Reminders-

There will be a noon dismissal on Friday.

Our school calendar of events can be found at cccscoltexpress.blogspot.com

If you have questions about anything, please feel free to email me.
St. Blaise (patron of throat illnesses), pray for us.