February 17 in Room 11

• After working for weeks on regrouping the tens when adding, the class tried two digit subtracting without any regrouping today. Pandemonium! Everyone forgot how to subtract!!!! Luckily, Mrs Craig offered a few gentle reminders, Mrs. Stebbins helped with completing worksheets, and calm was restored.
• Mr. Dunn explained the difference between sea lions and seals. He showed pictures and some short videos. Then, students filled in pictorial charts, labeling pinniped body parts. Those who finished early drew whales and labeled them, too.
• Music was today.
• Students colored, cut and glued ant life cycles.
• Ant observations continue, with students looking for specific changes in tunnels, ant numbers and eating habits.
• Instead of Walk-to-Read this week, second graders remain in their own classrooms to gather information and write about their assigned animal.
• In researching animals, students have books from which they find characteristics, habits, habitat, food and behaviors of animals. Later they may be allowed to use computers for further fact-finding. Not only are students learning to read for information and how to write a research report, they are also learning fascinating animal facts.