April 25, 2024

LANGUAGE ARTS:  This week we read and discussed a folktale called Abuelo and the Three Bears and discussed a video called Ducklings Jump from Nest.  We worked on skills such as decoding words with consonant + /le/ as in "apple," identifying how to form possessives with nouns that name one or more than one, decoding words with the prefix "pre," using story vocabulary in context, and learning ten new high-frequency words.

MATH:  We took the chapter 12 test and started chapter 13 over shapes and their attributes.  So far students have described plane shapes by how they look and drew polygon shapes and cubes.

SCIENCE:  We are wrapping up our unit over changes to Earth's surface and will soon begin a new unit over how people grow and change.

SPRING CLEANING DAY:  Due to the weather forecast for tomorrow, "Spring Cleaning Day" will now take place on Tuesday, April 30 at St. Malachy School.  Second graders will be picking up trash and sticks around the school and playground area.  Your child may bring a pair of work gloves if he/she wishes.  Students can wear sweatpants that day if they wish.  Also, as part of spring cleaning day, students are encouraged to donate $1.00 to the cleaning day.  These funds will be used to purchase soil and flowers for the entrances of the school.

HANDWRITING:  This week students practiced writing the uppercase cursive Z, V, W, and X.

FIRST EUCHARIST:  First Eucharist will take place on Saturday, May 4 at 5:00 P.M.  Students need to arrive by 4:00 for the group picture and practice.  There will be a reception following Mass in the church basement.

FIELD TRIP:  Second and third graders will be taking a field trip on Tuesday, May 14.  Please look for a note in the take home folder for more information along with a permission slip to sign/return to school for this trip.

April 18, 2024

LANGUAGE ARTS:  This week we read and discussed an informational text called Sea Otter Pups and a collection of poems entitled At Home in the Wild.  We worked on skills such as decoding words with three letter consonant blends as in "splash" and "throw," identifying adverbs that tell when, where, and how, identifying contractions, decoding words with the prefix "mis," using story vocabulary in context, and learning ten new high-frequency words.

MATH:  We estimated and measured length and height of objects to the nearest centimeter and meter, and told how much longer one object is than another.

SCIENCE:  We discussed changes caused by wind and water, such as erosion.  We looked at windbreaks, using sandbags, and building a dike as ways to prevent wind and water erosion.

RELIGION:  We described examples of the love shown by Jesus.  Everything Jesus did expressed God's love.  We also read about Father Damien.  He is an example of loving service.  Long ago he helped people with leprosy.  He gave up his life to help others.

HANDWRITING:  This week students learned to write the uppercase cursive U and Y.  We also reviewed the uppercase cursive N, M, H and K.

SPRING CLEANING DAY:  Next Friday, April 26 is "Spring Cleaning Day" at St. Malachy School.  Second graders will be picking up trash and sticks around the school and playground area.  Your child may bring a pair of work gloves if he/she wishes.  It is also a "Spirit Day."  Students can pay $1.00 to wear a hat or sweatpants that day if they wish.  Also, as part of spring cleaning day, students are encouraged to donate $1.00 to the cleaning day.  These funds will be used to purchase soil and flowers for the entrances of the school.

April 11, 2024

LANGUAGE ARTS:  This week we read and discussed The Best Habitat for Me and The Long, Long Journey.  The Best Habitat for Me is an opinion essay while The Long, Long Journey is an informational text.  We worked on skills such as decoding compound words, using apostrophes to form contractions, decoding multisyllabic words with the prefixes "pre," "dis," "un," and "re," using story vocabulary in context, and learning ten new high-frequency words.

MATH:  We took the chapter 11 test over subtracting within 1,000 and started a new chapter over measuring length.  So far students have estimated the length of an object by relating the length of an object to a known measurement, and used a ruler to measure length and height to the nearest inch, foot, and yard.

GUIDANCE:  On April 12 we will discuss our final lesson in the guidance book.  Lesson 10 is called "More Connections."  In this lesson we will identify the different kinds of families we belong to and what we can learn from our families.  We will also explain what having a friend means and the importance of friendship. 

SCIENCE:  We described what happens during an earthquake, volcano, landslide, hurricane, and flood.  They all bring about quick changes to Earth's surface.  We also learned about Dr. Rosaly M.C. Lopes.  She is a volcanologist.  A volcanologist is a scientist who studies volcanoes.  She studies the history of volcanoes, measures any seismic activity, and collects date which can help to predict future eruptions.

FIRST EUCHARIST:  There will be a parent/student session on Sunday, April 13 at 1:00 P.M. in the basement of Holy Spirit Catholic Church for those who will be making their First Eucharist in May.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT:  School will not be in session next Friday, April 19 due to teacher professional development.  We will take the spelling post test on Thursday, April 18.

April 4, 2024

LANGUAGE ARTS:  This week we read and discussed Don't Touch Me.  This informational text is about how plants have many ways of defending themselves from hungry animals.  Some of their defenses can hurt you, sting you, or make you itch if you get too close, so we must be careful about touching plants we don't recognize.  We worked on skills such as decoding words with /au,/ /aw,/ /o,/ and /al,/ that all make the same sound as short "o" as in sauce, jaw, olive, and talk, identifying and forming irregular action verbs such as say/said, eat/ate, run/ran, hide/hid, sit/sat, tell/told, give/gave, take/took, see/saw, and go/went, decoding words with the prefix "dis," using story vocabulary in context, and learning ten new high-frequency words.

FIRST EUCHARIST:  There will be a parent/student session on Sunday, April 14 at 1:00 P.M. in the basement of Holy Spirit Catholic Church for those who will be making their First Eucharist in May.

RELIGION:  We have been discussing Easter and the resurrection of Jesus.

GUIDANCE:  On April 5 we will discuss lesson 9 called "Family Connections."  In this lesson students will identify seasons and times when families celebrate together and explore how families celebrate and help each other. 

SCIENCE:  Students described what happens during erosion by water and ice.  We also discussed how farmers try to prevent or reduce the effects of erosion. 

HANDWRITING:  This week students learned the uppercase cursive A, O, D, and C.

SPIRIT DAY:  Tomorrow, April 5 is a Spirit Day at St. Malachy.  Students can pay $1.00 to wear sweatpants or a hat to school.  All money raised will go to help those in need in our local community.

March 28, 2024

LANGUAGE ARTS:  This week we read and discussed Jack and the Beanstalk and Jackie and the Beanstalk.  Both are fairy tales.  We worked on skills such as decoding words with /ou/ and /ow/ as in cloud and cow, identifying when to use irregular verbs has/have/had and do/does/did, decoding words with /oi/ and /oy/ and in coin and joy, decoding words with the prefix "mis," using story vocabulary in context, and learning ten new high-frequency words.

FIRST EUCHARIST:  We discussed chapter 6 in the First Eucharist book.  This is the last chapter, so if all work has been completed in the book, it is yours to keep and does not need to be returned to school.

Also, there will be a parent/student session on Sunday, April 14 at 1:00 P.M. in the basement of Holy Spirit Catholic Church for those who will be making their First Eucharist in May.

MATH:  We took the chapter 10 test over adding within 1,000 using models and strategies.  The test has been placed in this week's take home folder.  We started chapter 11 over subtracting within 1,000 using models and strategies.  So far students have subtracted 10 or 100 mentally using place-value strategies, and used an open number line and models to subtract 3-digit numbers. 

RELIGION:  We have been discussing Holy Week and the Easter Triduum (Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday).  We described what makes each day so special and how we can remember Jesus during the Easter Triduum.

GUIDANCE:  On March 29 we will discuss lesson 8 in our guidance book.  Lesson 8 is called "Promises."  In this lesson students will learn that marriage vows are a sign of love.  We will discuss how families work at solving problems.  We will also show how making promises relates to the sacraments.

SCIENCE:  We took the unit test over Earth's surface and started a new unit over changes to Earth's surface.  So far we have described what happens during weathering by water and ice, weathering by plants, and erosion by wind.   All are slow processes.

March 21, 2024

 LANGUAGE ARTS:  This week we read and discussed The Growth of a Sunflower and Experiment with What a Plant Needs to Grow.  The Growth of a Sunflower is a photo essay while Experiment with What a Plant Needs to Grow is an informational text.  We worked on skills such as decoding words with /oo,/ /ou,/ /o,/ /ew,/ /ue,/ and /u_e/ as in food, group, to, stew, blue, and tune, identifying adjectives that tell how many, identifying adjectives that end in "er" and "est," listing words in alphabetical order and using a dictionary to understand word meaning, decoding words with inflected endings "s" and "es" (as in jumps and branches,) using story vocabulary in context, and learning ten new high-frequency words.

SECOND GRADE MASS:  The second grade class is in charge of the school Mass next Wednesday, March 27.  Please look for a note in the take home folder for more information about what your child's special job will be.  If your child has a speaking part, it will be attached to the note.  Mass begins at 9:15 in the school gym.  We hope to see you there if you are able to attend!

FIRST EUCHARIST:  Thank you for sending your child's First Eucharist book to school.  We discussed chapter 5 in class this week.  Please complete chapter 6 and return the book to school on Monday, March 25.  

CROSS WALK:  Next Thursday, March 28 St. Malachy students will be participating in a cross walk (weather permitting) to the church.  We will reflect on the Stations of the Cross along the way and at the church.  An all-school picture will be taken of the students this day.  Students are to wear a plain white shirt to school for the picture.

GUIDANCE:  On March 22 we will discuss lesson 7 called "Signs of Love."  In this lesson we will explain that love is shown by using signs of love, such as with kind words, fair actions, etc.  We will discuss ways we can be peacemakers.  Students will practice steps for reconciliation and forgiveness.

RECONCILIATION:  This week, students in grades 2-8 had the opportunity to receive the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation here at school.  Students who are not Catholic were able to receive a blessing from Father Patrick or Father John.

HANDWRITING:  This week students practiced writing the lowercase cursive y, x, v, and z.  We have now learned how to make all of the lowercase cursive letters and will begin practicing the uppercase cursive letters next week!

February 29, 2024

LANGUAGE ARTS:  This week we read and discussed the poetry of Margarita Engle called Drum Dream Girl.  Students also watched and discussed a video about Roberto Clemente.  We worked on skills such as decoding words with /oo/ as in "book" and "broom," identifying adjectives that tell how things look, feel, taste, smell, or sound, identifying and using adjectives that are articles (a, an, and the,) identifying and decoding compound words, using story vocabulary in context, and learning ten new high-frequency words.

MATH:  We took the chapter 9 test over numbers to 1,000 and started a new chapter over adding within 1,000 using models and strategies.  So far students have added 10 and 100 using place value blocks and mental math, used an open number line to add three-digit numbers, and added three-digit numbers using place value models.

FIRST EUCHARIST:  Thank you for sending your child's First Eucharist book to school.  We discussed chapter three in class this week.  Please complete chapter 4 with your child and return the book to school on Monday, March 4.

GUIDANCE:  On March 1 we will be discussing lesson 6, "Caring for Life."  In this lesson students will identify things that God has created.  We will discuss the Golden Rule as a way to care for others.

SCIENCE:  Students presented their habitat projects to the class.  Everyone did such a great job! We all learned so much about a variety of habitats.  The at-home projects will be on display in the hallway for you to look at during parent/teacher conferences next week.

SPELLING:  We will not have a spelling pre and post test next week due to the short school week.

TAKE HOME FOLDERS:  I will not be sending take home folders next week due to spring break.  I will also not be posting a second grade newsletter on my blog.  Any important notes from the office, etc. will be sent home in your child's backpack next week.

PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES:  Parent/teacher conferences will take place on Monday, March 4  from 3:20-7:00, Tuesday, March 5 from 3:20-7:00, Wednesday, March 6 from 3:20-5:00, and Thursday, March 7 from 9:00-noon.  Please sign up for a conference time by clicking on the JMC link that was emailed to you if you have not already done so.   I look forward to visiting with you about your child's progress!

February 22, 2024

LANGUAGE ARTS:  This week we read and discussed How to Make a Timeline and The stories He Tells:  The Story of Joseph Bruchac.  How to Make a Timeline is a procedural text while The Stories He Tells:  The Story of Joseph Bruchac is a biography.  We worked on skills such as decoding words with /er,/ /ir,/ and /ur/ as in "serve," "shirt," and "turn," using commas in a series of nouns or verbs, putting sentences in chronological order, decoding words with /air,/ /are,/ and /ear/ as in "pair," "share," and "bear," decoding words with the prefix "pre," using story vocabulary in context, and learning ten new high-frequency words.

MATH:  We used place-value patterns to mentally count by 1's, 5's, and 10's from a given number, skip counted by 5's, 10's, and 100's using a number line, compared numbers using the "greater than," "less than," and "equal to" symbols,  and wrote three-digit numbers that are greater than or less than another three-digit number.

GUIDANCE:  On February 23 we will discuss lesson 5, "New Life."  In this lesson students will discuss how families grow with the addition of a new child.  They will also identify ways in which parents lovingly care for a baby and discuss what parents teach to their children.

FIRST EUCHARIST:  Thank you for sending your child's First Eucharist book to school.  We discussed chapter 2 in class this week.  Please complete chapter 3 with your child and return the book to school on Monday, February 26.

HABITAT AT-HOME PROJECT:  Just a reminder that your child's habitat at-home project is due Monday, February 26.  Students will be giving their presentations about the habitat they chose to the rest of the class next week.

PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES:  Parent/teacher conferences are quickly approaching.  Conferences will take place on Monday, March 4, Tuesday, March 5, Wednesday, March 6, and Thursday, March 7.  An email was send out from the school last week to schedule a conference time.  If you did not receive the email or have questions about signing up, please contact Mrs. Sanchez in the school office.  I look forward to visiting with you about your child's progress!

February 15, 2024

LANGUAGE ARTS:  This week we read and discussed Get to Know Biographies and I Am Helen Keller.  Get to Know Biographies is an opinion essay while I Am Helen Keller is a biography.  We  worked on skills such as decoding words with /or/ and /ore/ as in "for" and "store," using commas in dates, places, and parts of a letter, identifying shades of meaning among closely related words (as in tumble/slide/slip,)  using story vocabulary in context, decoding words with the suffixes "ful" and "less," and learning ten new high- frequency words.

GUIDANCE: On February 16 we will discuss lesson 4 in our guidance book.  Lesson 4 is called "I Can Be Brave."  In this lesson students will identify how they have grown and changed.  They will also develop a strategy for making good choices. 

FIRST EUCHARIST:  Thank you for sending your child's First Eucharist book to school.  We discussed chapter 1 in class this week.  Please complete chapter 2 and return the book to school on Tuesday, February 20.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT:  School will not be in session on Monday, February 19 due to teacher professional development.

HABITAT AT-HOME PROJECT:  A note was sent in last week's take home folder about an at-home science assignment for your child.  Please have your child choose one of the four habitat projects listed on the note to complete.  The due date for this assignment will be Monday, February 26.  Please call the school or email if you have any questions concerning this at-home assignment.

BOOK ORDERS:  I have enclosed book orders in the take home folder.  There is also a wide selection of books available to choose from online as well.  If you are interested in ordering, please order online at scholastic.com/bookclubs.  Our classroom code for ordering online is LJWD4.  Book orders are due Friday, February 23.

CHAPTER BOOKS:  In second grade chapter books become a part of a child's reading time for many students.  I look forward to reading to the students each day.  I read various picture books to the class but also enjoy reading chapter book to them as well.  I have already read Ramona the Pest and Henry and the Clubhouse by Beverly Cleary, The Magic Tree House:  Dinosaurs Before Dark by Mary Pope Osborne, Junie B. Jones Smells Something Fishy by Barbara Parks, Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder, and The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner.  Right now I am reading No Flying in the House by Betty Brock.  It was a favorite chapter book of mine when I was in elementary school! I am glad to see that students are showing an interest in reading and listening to chapter books.

February 8, 2024

LANGUAGE ARTS:  This week we read and discussed a collection of poems called Whatever the Weather.  We also watched and discussed a video called Rain Cloud in a Jar.   We worked on skills such as decoding words with /ar/ as in "star," using forms of the verb "be" (is, am, are, was, were,) decoding words with inflected endings -ed and -ing, using story vocabulary in context, and learning ten new high-frequency words.

MATH:  We are wrapping up our chapter over time and money and will soon begin chapter 9 over numbers to 1,000.

VALENTINE'S DAY:  We will have our valentine exchange tomorrow February 9.  Students can bring valentines to school tomorrow if they have not already done so.

GUIDANCE:  On February 9 we will discuss lesson 3 in guidance class.  Lesson 3 is called "Who Are You?"  In this lesson we will recognize the special gifts of people with special needs and celebrate the unique talents that each one of us has been given.

HABITAT AT-HOME PROJECT:  A note has been placed in today's take home folder about an at-home science assignment for your child.  Please have your child choose one of the four habitat projects listed on the note to complete.  The due date for this assignment will be Monday, February 26.  Please call the school or email if you have any questions concerning this at-home assignment.

FIRST EUCHARIST:  For those who have children making their First Eucharist in May, you should have received a First Eucharist book at the parent meeting on Sunday, February 4.  Please complete chapter one with your child and send the book to school on Monday, February 12.  We will be discussing chapter one in class next week.  Just a reminder that all work in the book is to be done at home...I am just reinforcing the key objectives in each lesson here at school.

AUTHOR VISIT:  March is National Reading Month.  On Tuesday, March 5, children's author Elizabeth Gilbert Bedia will be visiting St. Malachy School.  Families have the opportunity to purchase books she has written prior to the visit.  An order form has been placed in today's take home folder if you are interested in ordering.  Books can be purchased using cash or check.  Order forms are due back to school by Tuesday, February 20.

February 1, 2024

LANGUAGE ARTS:  This week we read and discussed Cloudette and Get Ready for Weather.  Cloudette is a fantasy while Get Ready for Weather is an informational text.  We worked on skills such as decoding words with the prefixes "un," "dis," and "re," identifying correct subject-verb agreement in sentences,  spelling words with the hard and soft sound of /c/ as in "cage" and "cent" and /g/ as in "goat" and "giant," using story vocabulary in context, and learning ten new high-frequency words.

MATH:  We have been telling and writing time to the nearest 5 minutes, saying the time in different ways such as "quarter past," "half past," and "quarter to," and stating if the time is happening in the A.M. or P.M.

FIRST EUCHARIST:  There will be a parent/student meeting after the 9:00 A.M. Mass on Sunday, February 4 for those who have children making their First Eucharist in May.

VALENTINES:  Since Valentine's Day falls on Ash Wednesday this year, we will have our valentine exchange on Friday, February 9.  Your child may bring valentines to school on or before that day.

SCIENCE:  Students learned about ecologists.  They are scientists that study how plants, animals, and people interact in an environment.  They conduct research on how changes to habitats impacts the plants and animals who live there.

GRANDPARENT/SPECIAL GUEST DAY:  Tomorrow, February 2 is "Grandparent or Special Guest Day/Dress Up Day" at St. Malachy School.  Please have your child's grandparent or special guest pick your child up at the school at 1:00 and go to Holy Spirit Church for Mass at 1:30.  

January 25, 2024

 LANGUAGE ARTS:  This week we read and discussed Weather Through the Seasons and Wild Weather.  Weather Through the Seasons is an informational text while Wild Weather is a narrative nonfiction selection.  We worked on skills such as decoding words with the suffixes "y," "ly," "er," and "est," identifying subject pronouns (I, he, she, we, it, you, they) and object pronouns (me, him, her, us, them, you, it) in sentences, identifying and using reflexive pronouns (myself and ourselves) in sentences, identifying and explaining the meanings of homophones in sentences, spelling words with inflected endings "s" and "es,"  using story vocabulary in context, and learning ten new high-frequency words.

GUIDANCE:  On January 26 we will discuss lesson 2 in guidance class.  Lesson 2 is called "Rules and Choices."  In this lesson we will explain how good rules keep people safe.  We will also identify reasons for good rules.

FIRST EUCHARIST:  There is a parent/student meeting following the 9:00 A.M. Mass on Sunday, February 4 for those who are Catholic and will be making their First Eucharist in May.

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK:  Catholic Schools Week is January 28-February 2.  Many wonderful activities have been planned for this special week.  Please note the following:

SUNDAY, JANUARY 28:  Today is the opening of Catholic Schools Week with a Eucharist Celebration at 9:00 a.m. at Holy Spirit Church.  

 MONDAY, JANUARY 29:  This day is “Blue and Gold Day.”  Students can show their spirit for St. Malachy by wearing the St. Malachy colors of blue and/or gold.  If your child has a St. Malachy sweat shirt or T-shirt, today would be the perfect day to wear it!  STUDENTS ARE TO BRING A SACK LUNCH TO SCHOOL.  They will be eating with their Advent Angels.  Milk will be provided, so you do not need to send a drink.  Please note that refrigeration will not be provided, so plan accordingly.

 TUESDAY, JANUARY 30:  This day is “Dress as Someone from the Bible or Dress as Your Favorite Saint Day.”  Students can come to school as Moses (holding the Ten Commandments,) Mary, St. Joseph (carpenter,) Jonah (holding a stuffed whale,) St. Peter or St. Andrew (fishermen,) the shepherds or Wise Men who came to see Jesus, etc. 

 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 31:  This day is “Career Day.”  Students may come to school dressed as a grown-up does for their job/career.  For example, a students could come dressed as a doctor, teacher, nurse, musician, astronaut, construction worker, farmer, business person, etc.

 THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1:  This day is “Socks, Crocs, and Birkenstocks Day.”  Students may come to school wearing crocs or sandals that show off their favorite "fun" socks!

 FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2:  This day is “Grandparent or Special Guest Day/Dress Up Day.”  Students are encouraged to wear their “Sunday best” to school since it is such a special day.  Please have your child’s grandparent or special guest pick your child up at the school by 1:00 and go to Holy Spirit Church by 1:25 since Mass begins at 1:30.   If students need to ride the bus or trolley home after the Mass, there will be a trolley and bus waiting at the church to take students where they need to go.

January 18, 2024

LANGUAGE ARTS:  This week we read an informational text called Who Are Government's Leaders and watched/discussed a video called Thomas Edison and the Light Bulb.  We worked on skills such as identifying homophones (words that sound the same, but they're not spelled the same and do not mean the same such as "sea" and "see,") decoding words with the suffixes "ful" and "less," writing abbreviations for months, days, places, and titles for people correctly, identifying nouns that name people, using story vocabulary in context, and learning ten new high-frequency words.

GUIDANCE:  Tomorrow, January 19, second graders will begin lesson one in guidance class.  Guidance goes along with our religion series and focuses on family, friendships, and God's love.  There are ten lessons in the guidance book.  We will discuss a new lesson each Friday.

MATH:  This week we solved problems with dollar bills and coins.  Students also found different ways to make the same total value when counting coins.

FIELD TRIP:  Since we have been learning about money in math class, second graders will be taking a field trip to Iowa State Savings Bank to learn more about financial literacy.  Please look in today's take home folder for the permission slip to fill out so your child may attend.

HANDWRITING:  Second graders are beginning cursive handwriting! Before learning how to write our lowercase cursive letters, students have been learning the strokes used in cursive handwriting (undercurve, downcurve, overcurve, slant, and checkstroke.)  We have also discussed keys to legibility such as the shape, size, spacing, and slant of our cursive letters.

SPIRIT DAY:  Tomorrow, January 19 is a Spirit Day at St. Malachy.  Students can pay $1.00 to wear sweat pants to school if they wish.  The money raised will help those in need in our local community.