This is Sharon Shifrin’s twenty-third year of teaching and her seventeenth year at Hamilton School. She has taught second grade for most of those years.
She was born and raised on Chicago’s south side, attending Coles Elementary School and South Shore High School. Mrs. Shifrin graduated from the University of Illinois in Champaign where she earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education and met her future husband, Marshall.
Prior to coming to Hamilton, Mrs. Shifrin taught in Skokie District 68 and then took time off to raise her two daughters. During that time, she enjoyed being an active participant in the Parent-Teacher Association and helped develop an Art Appreciation program for the school in conjunction with the Art Institute.
Mrs. Shifrin has had a lifelong love of literature and especially enjoys reading to her classes and her two granddaughters. She is an avid gardener and is looking forward to watching Hamilton’s new garden grow.
Welcome
February 17, 2012
This week in math, the students were introduced to a paper-and-pencil algorithm for addition as they continued to discuss other strategies for solving addition problems. We will be practicing these skills through games and daily application.
During science the children have been exploring the ways that the amount of weight and the position of weight affect how a beam balances on a fulcrum. They made new discoveries as they changed the position of the fulcrum in their efforts to balance the beam. Next week they will apply what they have learned as they design and create mobiles.
Abraham Lincoln and George Washington have been the subjects of our discussions in Social Studies. We are learning about them and why they are celebrated. The class is making comparisons between the two Presidents’ lives and their accomplishments. We are making a list of questions we would have liked to ask them .
Everyone was excited to share their I Pad stories and illustrations . The class really enjoyed hearing them and gave some very constructive praise as well as suggestions for improvement to the authors.
Our field trip is next week on Wednesday, February 22nd. Please send your child with a paper bag lunch.
Thank you to the parents who helped out at our Valentine’s Day party and to those who sent treats. It was a sweet celebration which the class really enjoyed.
In observance of President’s Day, there will be no school on Monday, February 20th.
Have a good weekend.
February 10,2012
We will be celebrating Valentine’s Day in our class on Tuesday, February 14th.
Your child is welcome to bring Valentines to share with his or her classmates. Please be sure that there is one for each of our 17 students. The cards should be signed at home; however, we are not addressing them to specific students in order to make delivery of the cards easier.
Mrs. Hayden is arranging for the party treats.
Reminder: We have no school on Monday, February 13th in observance of Lincoln’s birthday.
Thank you and have a good weekend.
February 3, 2012
We are at the halfway mark in the school year. Although February is short, it will be a very busy month with a lot to learn and do.
During the month of February, our class will be learning about Black History through the lives of the people who have made important contributions to our society. Next week we will be reading a biography about George Washington Carver who was a scientist and an inventor.
This week the children learned to measure the mass of objects in grams using a two- pan balance . They had a great time predicting and comparing the weights of the objects they brought from home.
The class has been studying about different reference sources to help them find information. We looked at a dictionary, a glossary, a thesaurus, an atlas , an encyclopedia, and the Internet . We discussed the purposes of these reference sources and tried to identify which ones we would use to accomplish certain tasks. The children will practice using all of them in the months to come.
Book orders are due on February 7th.
Have a good weekend.
January27,2012
In our first science lesson on balance, the children balanced a cardboard cutout of a crayfish on their fingertips. After finding the balance point, they were challenged to balance the crayfish on its edge, its tail , and its nose, using clothespins as counterweights. We discussed our observations on why the weights helped us balance the crayfish. In the weeks to come, encourage your child to notice the ways in which we need to use balance in our everyday lives.
The class continues to work on their writing skills as they write their stories around the settings and characters they have created. They have given their main characters a problem which needs to be solved and now they need to come up with some possible solutions to that problem. Soon we will put all the story elements together like the pieces of a puzzle.
Next week , the second grade students will take the mid-year Scantron tests in Science, Reading and Math.
There is no school for students next Friday, February 3rd.
Have a good weekend.
January 20, 2012
This week we started our second Storytown reader. The theme title is “Dream Big,” and the stories have to do with imagination and creativity. We have been concentrating on the importance of the setting in the stories we read. The children practiced looking for word and picture clues in a variety of books to help them determine the settings. Now our young authors are trying their hands at creating interesting and imaginative settings for their own stories. They have been working on the I Pads as well as using paper and pencil to do this project. When they complete their settings , they will add the other story elements.
The children have been building three-dimensional models with connecting cubes in math. They develop ways to compare, contrast, and sort their cube models. They also develop cube model plans on paper (blueprints) to represent their three-dimensional structures. This week they practiced building each other’s models from the plans they were given.Then they found the volume of the cube model by counting the number of cubes. This is challenging but also a lot of fun.
We will be writing some winter-related poetry in the week to come. All we need to do is look out the window for inspiration. Also, I see some lessons about snowflakes in our future.
Our new science unit is about balancing and weighing. It is filled with great opportunities for hands on learning. In the beginning lessons , we will examine the variables that affect balance.
There is no school for students on Friday, January 27th.
Have a wonderful weekend.
January 13, 2012
Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a wonderful winter vacation. The students seemed excited to be back in school and ready to learn. This week they wrote about some of the things they would like to achieve in the New Year. They have ambitious goals and that is great.
We celebrated Alexander Hamilton’s birthday on Wednesday by learning some interesting facts about the man for whom our school is named. We also sang Happy Birthday and ate cupcakes in his honor.
This week we completed our first Storytown reader. The children have been discussing the literature and making connections across the theme. They have been reflecting on what they learned about growing and changing in each of the stories.
In math we did a lab using marshmallows and containers to explore the relationship between the shape and volume of various containers. The students organized, graphed and analyzed the data they collected. They found it interesting to learn that the tallest container does not necessarily have the greatest volume.
We have been studying about the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The class has been reading about and discussing his and our dreams for the world. We are making a quilt which will represent his beliefs and the events in his life.
In science we watched a movie about the earth’s movement and learned how its rotation and revolution causes day and night and the change of seasons. We are also observing the changing shape of the moon and the reasons why that happens.
Our weather this week has certainly been a fine example of change , going from 50 degrees to snow. The children enjoy their recess outdoors . Please make sure they bring all the necessary cold weather clothing .
There is no school on Monday due to Martin Luther King’ s birthday .
Have a good weekend.
December 23, 2011
Even with the anticipation of holidays and vacation in the air, we had a very fruitful and enjoyable week. The children created their own animated cartoons on the I Pads. They worked with partners to select characters and the setting, make up a story line, record the story, show the animation and add the music. They were very excited about the results and the class really had fun sharing their cartoons with one another.
We watched the movie version of the book, “Sarah, Plain and Tall” and then discussed the differences between the movie and the book which we read earlier. The students were very perceptive at making the comparisons and noting how their visualizations of the characters in the story were similar or different from the way they were portrayed in the film.
The class had a terrific end of the year celebration complete with a flamenco dance lesson and presentation done by Juan Carlos’ sister. We were sad to say good-bye to Juan but I am sending home his address so that the children can keep in touch with him. Thank you to all the parents and room moms who sent treats for the party. There was an abundance of goodies to be had.
We have been learning about different holidays and the ways in which they are celebrated here and around the world. The children are realizing that cultural diversity makes the world a more interesting place for all of us.
On that note, I wish all of you joyful holidays and a Happy and Healthy New Year. See you in 2012.
December 15, 2011
Our class had many wonderful learning experiences at The Museum of Science and Industry yesterday. We experienced the sights, sounds and feelings of storms at the Science Storms exhibit. The children were able to participate in many hands- 0n activities having to do with tornadoes, avalanches, lightning, tsunamis, and other weather related phenomena. It enriched what we have been studying in class. We were also able to tour Christmas Trees from Around the World and the Your Body exhibit. Many thanks to our parent chaperones who were so helpful and generous with their time and energy.
On Friday, Dec. 16th, the class will be attending a performance of The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe at school.
Our end -of -the -year party will take place on Thursday, Dec. 22nd. Mrs. Haydon is coordinating refreshments for the party.
Have a good weekend.
December 8, 2011
This week we learned about telling time using analog and digital clocks. The children are not expected to master these skills at this time. They will learn to tell time as they use clocks to follow the daily class schedule during the year. I encourage you to bring time telling into their lives on a regular basis by placing a nondigital clock in his or her bedroom. Over the next few weeks your child will be developing place value concepts for two- and three- digit numbers.
The class has enjoyed presenting and listening to the information that was gathered in their interviews. We have discovered that the second grade of fifty years ago was somewhat similar in certain ways but so different in many other ways. Thank you to the friends and family who were willing and able to answer our questions.
In Science, we have been studying about wind speed and how it is measured. We went outside on a very windy day and watched our anemometer spin. We also made pinwheels to provide further evidence of how fast the wind is blowing. Next Wednesday is our field trip to The Museum of Science and Industry where we will see the Storms exhibit. The children are learning about different types of wild weather in preparation for the trip.
Last week the class wrote letters to their favorite fairy tale characters from the story “Cinderella.” You can see our Fairy Tale Mail on the bulletin board outside of our room. We have been reading variations of the same story and identifying the fairy tale elements in each.
The children did a great job of performing at the Winter Assembly. So proud of all of them!
Have a good weekend. Looking forward to Merry Market on December 13th.
November 23, 2011
We are striving to reach our class reading goal of 2,840 reading minutes by November 28th. I sent home reading logs to help the children keep track of their progress. Please make sure they return the signed logs by that date.
Thanksgiving opens up so many opportunities for interesting learning activities and discussions. We have been talking about being thankful for the many gifts in our lives. We have linked the story of Thanksgiving with our own family histories by discussing where our families lived before coming to the United States. Today we will have our own mini-feast in the classroom during which we will enjoy making butter and eating it on cornbread.
The children are bringing home instructions for an assignment in which they will interview an adult to gather information about what life was like for a second grader about 50 or more years ago. The due date is December 5th.
Today we spent time outside blowing bubbles and observing the direction and speed of their movement with the air. We discovered that bubbles can show the direction the air is moving and its speed.
My best wishes for a joyful holiday celebration.
November 17, 2011
I appreciated meeting with you at report card pick - up and am looking forward to your continued support .
In science, we have been observing and comparing several types of clouds and discussing how they move across the sky. We have learned that different clouds can indicate the kinds of weather we will be experiencing. The class discussed the kinds of clouds that bring rain or snow. We have placed a rain gauge in the garden to measure rain or snowfall.
On December 14th, the class will be going on a field trip to The Museum of Science and Industry to visit the exhibit on Storms. I will need about 4 parents to accompany me on this trip. Please let me know if you are able to join us. More information will be coming home with the children.
The class continues learning about pioneer life as they listen to the story “Sarah, Plain and Tall”. It is filled with rich vocabulary and description. It’s central theme is the importance of family which we are all thinking about as the holidays approach. The children will soon be writing about their own reasons for gratitude.
Today was Picture Day. The children looked wonderful and had their beautiful smiles ready for the photographer.
There is no school tomorrow. Have a very good weekend.
November 4, 2011
We were excited to see everyone in their Halloween costumes on Monday. Thank you to our parents for the wonderful treats and the fun craft activity.
This week we read a Native American porquoi (French for why) tale which gave an explanation for why the birds fly south for the winter. We identified the plot of the story and compared it to the plots of other stories . Today we will perform ”The Great Ball Game” as a Readers’ Theater.
The children are finishing their first independent reading contracts. For each contract, children make choices about which reading, writing, and skill-building activities they will complete. Making choices fosters a sense of responsibilty and ownership, encouraging children to take the contracts seriously.
During math we measured each others’ heights and arm spans using a chain of links. We recorded the information on a data table and then graphed it. The children were asked to analyze the information and answer questions based on the data. They will be asked to do a similar assignment at home regarding colors of shoes.
The end of the first quarter is just around the corner. I am sending home a form for you to indicate your 1st, 2nd and 3rd choices for a conference time on report card pick-up day, Wednesday, November 16. Appointments will be filled in the order that requests are returned to me.
Each day one student is responsible for being the class meterologist. He or she will report and record the weather for the day. The class will observe daily weather conditions such as temperature, rainfall, cloud cover, wind speed, and wind direction. They will be recording this information on a class calendar and in a science journal. We will also being learning about and making the tools that meterologists use.
Here’s hoping for sunny weather this weekend.
October 21, 2011
This week , our class had a wonderful time at The Grove. The children learned about pioneer life first hand by participating in activities related to the times. We have been comparing and contrasting our lives to those of the pioneers as we study about how times have changed. Some of the children thought they would like to try living in a log cabin, at least for a little while. Again many thanks to our chaperones.
The Book Report assignment was sent home today. The due date is Friday, November 4th. The children may read any fiction book that is at their reading level. Please give your child an opportunity to practice their presentations at home so he or she will feel confident and comfortable in front of the class.
The children brought home a set of triangle math fact flash cards which should be kept at home. They will be adding more cards in the future. Please keep these in a safe place and practice the facts for a few minutes each night.
We will celebrate Halloween on Monday, October 31st. There will be a parade and a party in the afternoon. The children may wear costumes to school, but no masks or weapons. Please apply all face make-up at home. Mrs. Hayden will be contacting parents regarding treats. There are 18 students in our class.
Have a good weekend.
October 14, 2011
This week was marked by the completion of Theme 1 in our “Storytown” readers. The children are being asked to reflect on what they have learned and to share their likes and dislikes about the stories they have read. Next week they will receive their first book report assignments which will be due on Friday, November 4th.
We have been learning about firefighters and fire safety. In appreciation of the hard and dangerous work that firefighters do to keep us safe, the children will write them thank you notes.
Next Wednesday is our field trip. Please return the permission slip and money due if you have not done so already. Each child will need a bag lunch with his or her name on it. Make sure that your child is dressed warmly because we will be participating in some outdoor activities as we learn about what life was like for pioneer children . We will also be doing chores inside the authentic 1850’s log cabin. Thank you to our parent volunteers who will undoubtedly help make this a terrific experience for all the children.
There is a conflict with our trip and Picture Day. I have been told that our Picture Day will be rescheduled.
Buttons!!! We will be elbow deep in buttons as we learn to classify, sort, estimate, count, organize and graph quantities of buttons. We are using buttons in math class to explore place value concepts and solve word problems.
Enjoy the weekend.
September 30,2011
This week the children learned about realistic fiction as we read “Henry and Mudge”. They read the story with a buddy and as a Readers’ Theater, during which each student took the part of a specific character or the narrator. Our focus was identifying the main idea and details of this story and others . At the beginning of each week, you receive a Home-School Connection letter which has some really good suggestions for reading and writing activities that go along with each lesson.
We had a great time making and flying parachutes . What better way to learn about air resistance than to watch our parachutes float from the second floor to the basement. The class also had a lesson in air pressure and what it can do.
In Math, we collected and analyzed data about our classmates’ favorite sandwiches . Then we practiced graphing the information. Activities such as these help children connect math to real life events. We continue to work on multiple solutions to problem-solnving.
Thank you to the parents who have volunteered to accompany us on our field trip. As of today, I have enough chaperones for the trip.
Reminder: Please send your Walk-a-Thon donations to school. We still need to meet our goal.
Have a great weekend .
September 23, 2011
This has been a short but interesting week at school. We read the second selection in our reader “Frog and Toad All Year” concentrating on the characters. We compared and contrasted Frog and Toad to real frogs distinguishing fiction from non-fiction.
We spent time this week in the Science Lab looking for evidence that air is matter – that it is something real. Ask your child about their investigations and what they discovered.
The emphasis this week in math has been on building and using the 200 Chart.We found many different patterns on the chart and have been utilizing them as we play games.
We will be taking a Field Trip on October 19th to The Grove in Glenview, Illinois. More information will be sent home next week.
What is Bucket Filling? Your children may have mentioned this activity which we do in our class. It involves each child writing a kind note to a classmate and placing it in his/her “bucket”. At the end of the week the children read the notes they have received from their classmates. The object is to create an awareness that by making others happy you bring extra happiness into your own life.
Have a great weekend. Hope everyone’s buckets are filled to the brim.
September 16, 2011
We are off to a good start!
We had a busy week which included our first visit to Hamilton School‘s garden. The children thoroughly enjoyed sitting in the garden while observing its plants, colors, insects, scents and sounds. We will have many other learning experiences in the garden throughout the year.
We have launched our science unit on weather. Our young meteorologists will be tracking weather patterns and reporting on them.
In Reading, we are learning skills that will help us become more fluent readers and to comprehend the stories we read. We started our first reading unit called Count on Me and have been using graphic organizers to help us identify and describe the main characters in a story. We are learning new vocabulary words and reviewing high frequency words. I have encouraged the children to try using these new words in their everyday conversations.
We have been getting to know each other and working together to create a set of classroom rules. We brainstormed ways to be responsible, respectful and to always do our best in the classroom and throughout the school. Also, we have been discussing bullying behavior and ways to respond to it.
In math, we have been working on creating graphs and developing problem-solving skills which involve multiple steps, more than one solution and numerous solution paths.
During Writers’ Workshop, the class is given a mini-lesson that targets some specific skill or concept. This lesson is followed by independent writing time and then a sharing session. This week we focused on identifying and writing complete sentences.
It was a pleasure meeting those of you who were able to attend Open House.
Reminder: Scholastic Book orders are due on Wednesday, Sept. 22nd.
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September 9, 2011
Dear Parents,
Each month you will be receiving a Scholastic Book order form. This is a great opportunity to expand your child’s personal library and as a bonus the class will receive free books due to your orders. If you choose to purchase books, please fill out the form and send it back to school by September 22nd with either cash or a check made out to Scholastic Book Club.
Thank you!
Mrs. Shifrin