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!