Your Child is a Poet

Yes, it is true. Your child is a poet, in case you didn't know it! As cheesy as it sounds, it IS true! Ask them to show you what they have written this week. They have poetry journals and some of their writings might be in their writing journals as well. I love the way kids think...so simple and then all of the sudden, they slip in some poignant, meaningful, philosophical statement. We are actually trying to stay away from the rhyming poems for now as to not limit them in certain words or expressions.

We made some really cool cloud posters analyzing stratus, cumulonimbus, cumulus, and cirrus clouds. We attempted to make a cloud in a 2 liter bottle, but the demonstration on-line was a bit more impressive. See for yourself... http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=msSVQ903T8k&feature=endscreen. This week we will be making a rain gauge, anemometer, and a weather vane.

Do the best you can in completing the weather journals. They will not be penalized for not completing the journals as homework since we are doing them together in the classroom. The fog in the morning has made it difficult to see the moon at all. Ask your child if he/she can explain to you the differences in the clouds.

This week we have learned that fables teach moral lessons; being a peacemaker, sharing, and being happy with who we are and what we have. We will continue with some funny tall tales like Paul Bunyan and Davie Crockett. Some of these stories are wacky, hilarious and can help bring the two of you together as you enjoy reading!

We are not doing reading logs this week, but they will have one Reading Activity due on Friday 30 (or before if they want). It will be to read a fable, folktale, fantasy, fairytale, legend, or a myth. They will need to bring the book in by Friday and share their favorite part from the story.

Feel free to use maybe some of your old books you have at home, and we will be looking for some in the school library on Monday as well. They will have a homework sheet that goes home with them on Monday to remind them.

Their Writing Activity due on Friday 30 is to write a poem.

• at least four lines (can be as long as they want)
  
• no need to rhyme but can if you want it to
• can write about anything (suggestions: pets, weather, friends, nature, family, questions)
• have a title

These are the things we are learning in poetry so, feel free to inquire about them from your child:
(These don't have to be included in the poem, I just wanted you to know what they are learning.)

• personification
• metaphor/simile
• line breaks/pauses
• onomatopoeia
• rhythm/music
• repetition
• describing the five senses

To summarize our geometric studies, they will be asked to do a shape hunt in their home, yard, or anywhere and draw a picture of them. For example, if searching for a rectangle, your child could draw a picture of your TV. Shape hunt activity will be due Friday 30th as well. (This makes a total of 3 activities, which should not take more than 1 - 2 hours for the entire week.)

We are having fun and I hope your child is teaching you a few things. My challenge to you as a parent and a poet yourself is to write a poem and share it with your child.

Don't forget our class has Gathering this Friday, March 30 starting at 2:20pm!

Hope to see you then!

Ashley Simpson and Mr. Hass

Where's the Moon?

Who knew so much could be learned in second grade! We are trying to wrap our heads around 3-D shapes and finding them in the world around us. We started off by creating triangular pyramids with marshmallows and toothpicks. We are now in the process of completing our CiCi's cities. Cici's Pizza donated 22 pizza boxes to our class to give us the foundation of our geometric cities that we are building in class.

We are also embarking on a weather unit. Have you seen their weather and moon journal? If not, ask your child to show you their moon sketches. Currently, we don't get to see the moon until 2am, so the kids aren't able to observe it until the following morning. Although confusing, this has brought up interesting discussion about the earth's rotation. This week we will be learning the different types of clouds and making weather instruments.

Check out www.moonconnection.com to sketch the different moon phases and make observations in the weather journals.

The kids have taken a liking to poetry as well. It has been neat to see your children access different ways to express themselves. There are so few guidelines in poetry, the kids aren't so sure what to do with the freedom. For example, they are encouraged to NOT write in complete sentences, to only have a few words per line, to write what they feel even if it doesn't make sense to someone else, and to not even worry about capitalization.

This week and next week we will also be studying fables, folktales, fairytales and the like. Due to all of the activities going on in the classroom, feel free to come by and be a part of the fun! Drop by anytime and stay for as long as you can and challenge yourself if you can be smarter than a second grader!

Enjoy your extra day off this week!

Thanks,
Ashley Simpson

Newsletter: March 11, 2012

Dear Families,

We had quite a full week. On Monday we shared our culture projects with four other CFI classes before enjoying our "Global Lunch." Everything went extremely well. Thanks to all of you for your help in assisting with their project boards, sending in all sorts of delicious ethnic foods, and helping us reduce our trash production by providing plastic plates and cups for the feast.



On Tuesday we were visited by author Jerry Palotta. He is well known for authoring a wide variety of ABC books, math books, and Who Would Win? books. The kids thought he was wildly funny and enjoyed hearing a bit about his writing process and upcoming projects.



Later in the week we joined Mr. O's class to sing the song "Carefully Taught" from the musical South Pacific. A few days prior to this our class read through the lyrics and discussed our reactions and thoughts. Here are the lyrics for those of you who may not know this song...

You've got to be taught

To hate and fear,

You've got to be taught

From year to year,

It's got to be drummed

In your dear little ear

You've got to be carefully taught.

You've got to be taught to be afraid

Of people whose eyes are oddly made,

And people whose skin is a diff'rent shade,

You've got to be carefully taught.

You've got to be taught before it's too late,

Before you are six or seven or eight,

To hate all the people your relatives hate,

You've got to be carefully taught!

Many of the kids took the song very literally. Someone said "I'm not sure the message is all that nice!" After a good bit of discussion I think we ironed it out. I promised them I would never bring in a song of hatred for us to sing together! We plan to share this song at our next Gathering. This will be the last day of school before Spring Break.



We've been collecting change in an effort to buy a couple of goats for Rwandan families. This idea came to us a few weeks ago during a visit from Nancy Strachen. Nancy runs a non-profit called Rwandan Hugs that works to help the people of Rwanda. During her visit she shared with us how lucky she is to work with the Rwandan people. Watching them continue to recover from the genocide, she has learned from them the power of forgiveness. If you have any loose change you'd like to send in please do so. We have $31 so far but are hoping to raise MUCH more by the end of the school year.


Mrs. Simpson has been taking on more and more responsibilities in the classroom. This week she began a mathematical exploration into geometry. Next week she will begin an inquiry into poetry writing, a study of fairy tales, fables, and tall tales, and a scientific inquiry into weather. That's a lot! However, she is poised and ready. On Wednesday she will begin her two week solo teaching. During this time I will still be in the building but out of the classroom. I will use this time to work on progress reports, observe other classrooms, and work on some projects for the classroom. I will still be available before and after school as well as by e-mail if you need me.

Thanks,
Chris

Homework: March 6 - 13

1. Reading log (at least twenty minutes a night)
2. Some of the kids have brought home a sheet for recording information from news articles. This is only five or six people in the room so ask your child.

ALSO: We are collecting change to purchase a goat or two ($50/apiece) for families in Rwanda. We have raised around $31 so far. We are also collecting old towels and blankets for an animal rescue in Camden. If you have either please consider sending them in.