August 29, 2024
LANGUAGE ARTS: This week we read and discussed We Are Super Citizens and Clark the Shark. We Are Super Citizens is a personal narrative while Clark the Shark is a fantasy. We worked on skills such as decoding words with short "a" and "i," using story vocabulary in context, identifying the subject and predicate in a sentence, blending and decoding words with a consonant-vowel-consonant pattern, identifying action verbs in a sentence, identifying the setting of a story, recognizing antonyms (words that have opposite meanings,) and learning ten new high-frequency words.
MATH: Our first chapter is over fluently adding and subtracting within 20. This week students used the strategy "make a ten" to add numbers, used number patterns on an addition table to complete addition equations, counted on and back on a number line to subtract, and used addition to help with subtraction facts.
SPELLING: Your child brought home a list of words for week 1 on Monday. We have been working on our spelling words at school, but any help from home with studying the words would be greatly appreciated! We will take the spelling post test over our week 1 words tomorrow, August 30. The post test will be sent home each Friday so you can see how your child scored.
SCIENCE: Our first unit is called "engineering design process." So far students discussed how things we use and see in our everyday lives, such as ramps, phones, and even a stapler can be used to solve a problem. They explored how an engineer defines a problem and solves it by using steps in a design process. The steps are: Define a problem, plan and build, test and improve, redesign, and communicate.
SOCIAL CONTRACT: In last week's newsletter I mentioned that the second grade would be creating a social contract, an agreement of behavior for the class to follow. Below is the social contract the second graders created:
- help others
- be respectful/polite
- include others
- be kind
- share/take turns
- listen to others
- be responsible
- follow the Golden Rule (treat others the way you want to be treated)
August 23, 2024
WELCOME TO SECOND GRADE: Another great school year is beginning and I am thrilled to be a part of it. We are going to have an excellent year, and I'll do my best to keep you informed about events, student progress, and school subjects throughout the year.
WEEKLY TAKE HOME FOLDERS: I plan to follow the same procedure as Mrs. Levine did last year. All work and other notes or letters will be sent home EACH THURSDAY in a folder so you can look at what your child has been working on. PLEASE return the folder to school EACH FRIDAY.
STAR READER OF THE WEEK: Each Friday students will take turns being the "Star Reader of the Week." The "Star Reader" will read a favorite story from home to the class. I will let you know in advance when your child will be the "Star Reader."
SHOW AND SHARE: Each second grade student will have an assigned "Show and Share" day of the week. When it is your child's show and share day, please have him/her bring ONE item from home that he/she would like to share with the class. Please look in next week's take home folder for when his/her show and share day will be each week.
Please do not bring live pets/animals for sharing. Some students have allergies, and pets can get excited in a different setting. If your child would like to share about his/her pet, pictures may be brought in to share with the class.
SCHEDULING INFORMATION: Mondays and Thursdays are P.E. days. Tuesdays and Fridays are music days. Wednesdays are school Mass/dress up days. We will also have library on Thursdays.
BIRTHDAYS: We will celebrate your child's birthday in our classroom. Summer birthdays may be celebrated on your child's half birthday or at the end of the school year...whichever you prefer.
As stated in the family handbook, birthday treats are to be:
- STORE BOUGHT
- INDIVIDUALLY WRAPPED
- ONE SERVING
- NO DRINKS, PLEASE
- NO CUPCAKES FROM A BAKERY/STORE ( These are not individually wrapped and are very difficult to hand out.)