April 9, 2026

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 started chapter 12 over measuring length.  So far students have estimated the length of an object by relating the length of an object to a known measurement.  They also used a ruler to measure length and height of objects in inches, feet, and yards.

GUIDANCE:  On April 10 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. 

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

SCIENCE:  We are wrapping up our unit over Earth's surface.  Next week we will begin a new unit over changes to Earth's surface.

HANDWRITING:  This week students have been practicing the uppercase cursive N, M, H, and K.

BOOK ORDERS:  I am sending book orders in the take home folder today.  If you are interested in ordering, please order online by going to clubs.scholastic.com.  Book orders are due Friday, April 17.  Our class code to order online is LJWD4.

SPIRIT DAY:  Tomorrow, April 10 is a Spirit Day at St. Malachy.  Students can pay $1.00 to wear sweatpants or a hat to school if they wish.  They money raised will help those in need in our local community.

April 2, 2026

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.

MATH:  We wrapped up our chapter over subtracting numbers within 1,000 by recording three-digit subtraction using the standard algorithm with possible regrouping of both tens and hundreds, and explaining why subtraction strategies work using models, place value, and mental math.  We will begin a new chapter over measuring length next week.

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.

HANDWRITING:  Students practiced writing the uppercase cursive C and E.  They also reviewed the uppercase cursive A, O, and D.

FOR YOUR INFORMATION:  School will not be in session tomorrow, April 3 since it is Good Friday.  School will also not be in session on Monday, April 13 due to teacher professional development.

SPIRIT DAY:  Next Friday, April 10 is a Spirit Day at St. Malachy.  Students can pay $1.00 to wear sweatpants or a hat to school if they wish.  They money raised will help those in need in our local community.

March 26, 2026

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/ as in coin and joy, decoding words with the prefix "mis," using story vocabulary in context, and learning ten new high-frequency words.

MATH:  Students subtracted 10 or 100 mentally using place value strategies, used an open number line and models to subtract three-digit numbers, and recorded three-digit subtraction using the standard algorithm with the possible regrouping of tens.

GUIDANCE:  On March 27 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. 

HANDWRITING:  This week students practiced writing the uppercase cursive A, O, and D.

SCIENCE:  We discussed how water can be in the form of a solid, liquid, or a gas.  We also explored the water cycle.

SPIRIT DAY:  Tomorrow, March 27 is a "Spirit Day" at St. Malachy.  Students can pay $1.00 to wear sweatpants or a hat to school if they wish.  They money raised will help those in need in our local community.

March 5, 2026

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.

MATH:  Students added three-digit numbers using place value and partial sums, and recorded three-digit addition using the standard algorithm with possible regrouping of ones, tens, or both.

GUIDANCE:  On March 6 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.

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.

SPIRIT DAY:  Tomorrow, March 6 is a "Spirit Day" at St. Malachy.  Students can pay $1.00 to wear sweatpants or a hat to school if they wish.  The money raised will help those in need in our local community.

PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES:  Parent/teacher conferences will take place on Monday, March 9  from 3:40-7:00, Tuesday, March 10 from 3:40-7:00, Wednesday, March 11 from 3:40-5:00, and Thursday, March 12 from 8:00-11:00.  I look forward to visiting with you about your child's progress next week!

February 26, 2026

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 mentally using place value strategies, used an open number line to add three-digit numbers, and added three-digit numbers using models.

SCIENCE:  Second graders are continuing to gather key facts about their chosen habitat, use Google Docs to type and print the facts, and create an informative visual display (a poster, book, or bookmark.)  They are making some great progress! I can't wait to listen to their presentations!

GUIDANCE:  On February 27 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.

HANDWRITING:  This week students practiced writing the lowercase cursive m, y, x, and v.

PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES:  Parent/teacher conferences will take place on Monday, March 9  from 3:40-7:00, Tuesday, March 10 from 3:40-7:00, Wednesday, March 11 from 3:40-5:00, and Thursday, March 12 from 8:00-11:00.  Please sign up for a conference time on the JMC website if you have not already done so.  I look forward to visiting with you about your child's progress!

February 19, 2026

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:  Students used place value patterns to mentally count by 1'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 place value, and compared and wrote a three-digit number that is greater or less than another three-digit number.

GUIDANCE:  On February 20 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.

LENTEN ACTIVITIES:  Each week throughout the Lenten season students will be getting together with their "Advent Angel" to complete a Lenten activity together.  These activities are planned help students become closer to Jesus during this time of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.

FIRST RECONCILIATION:  For those who have a child making his/her First Reconciliation this month, the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation will take place at Holy Spirit Church next Wednesday, February 25 at 5:30 P.M. followed by dinner and cake.

HANDWRITING:  This week students practiced writing the lowercase cursive c, q, n, and m.  Everyone is doing such a GREAT job with their cursive letters!

February 12, 2026

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.

MATH:  We counted by hundreds to 1,000, used place-value blocks and drawings to model and write three-digit numbers, told the value of a digit by where it was placed in a number, wrote three-digit numbers in expanded form (as in 100+20+3,) standard form (as in 123,) and word form (as in one hundred twenty-three,) and made a number in different ways to show the same value.

GUIDANCE:  On February 13 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.

SCIENCE:  We have been learning about various habitats.  To go along with this, students will participate in a "habitat investigation project" in the classroom.  They will gather key facts about their chosen habitat, use Google Docs to type and print the facts, and create an informative visual display such as a poster, book, or bookmark.  After the projects have been completed, each student will present his/her habitat project to the class.  I am looking forward to seeing their creativity shine with this hands-on activity!

HANDWRITING:  This week we practiced writing the lowercase cursive a, d, g, and o.

VALENTINE'S DAY:  We will be having our valentine exchange at school tomorrow, February 13.  

BOOK ORDERS:  Book orders are due tomorrow, February 13.  If you are interested in ordering, please visit clubs.scholastic.com.  Our classroom code to order online is LJWD4.

February 5, 2026

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 money and time.  This week students wrote the time in different ways using words such as "quarter past," "half past," and "quarter to," and used reasoning to state if the event is happening in the A.M. or P.M.  Next week we will begin chapter 9 over numbers to 1,000.

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 clubs.scholastic.com.  Our classroom code for ordering online is LJWD4.  Book orders are due Friday, February 13.

GUIDANCE: On February 6 we will discuss lesson 4 in our guidance book.  Lesson 4 is called "I Can Choose."  In this lesson students will identify how they have grown and changed.  They will also develop a strategy for making good choices. 

VALENTINE'S DAY:  We will have our valentine exchange next Friday, February 13.  Students are welcome to bring valentines to school anytime next week to place in valentine bags decorated by each student.

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, Aliens for Breakfast by Jonathan Etra and Stephanie Spinner, 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.

January 29, 2026

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:  Students solved problems with dollar bills, found different ways to make the same total value of coins, and wrote time to the nearest five minutes.

HANDWRITING:  This week students reviewed the lowercase cursive i, t, u, w, e, l, and b.  They also practiced writing the lowercase cursive h and f.

FIRST EUCHARIST:  There is a parent meeting at 6:00 P.M. on Wednesday, February 4 at St. Malachy School for those who are Catholic and will be making the Sacraments of Penance and Reconciliation and First Eucharist this year.  If you have any questions, please contact the director of religious education, Anna Mealey.

GRANDPARENT/SPECIAL GUEST DAY:  Tomorrow, January 30 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.  

ENROLLMENT FOR 2026-2027:  Enrollment is happening a little differently this year.  To secure your child's spot for K-8th grade for the 2026-2027 school year, you have until January 31 to do so.  We do have a waiting list for some grades, so by enrolling now, your spot will be guaranteed.  Please call the school or visit the school website at www.crestonstmalachy.org for more information.

January 22, 2026

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 23 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.

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK:  Catholic Schools Week is January 25-30.  Many wonderful activities have been planned for this special week.  Please note the following:

SUNDAY, JANUARY 25:  Today is the opening of Catholic Schools Week with a Eucharist Celebration at 9:00 a.m. at Holy Spirit Church.  

 MONDAY, JANUARY 26:  This day is “Out of This World Day.”  Students may come to school dressed like something from outer space. They could dress as an astronaut, planet, alien, star, etc. Students will also be writing letters to students in Catholic schools around the United States as a pen pal activity in hopes of hearing back from them.  Second graders will be writing to a second grade class in New Jersey.   

 TUESDAY, JANUARY 27: This day is “Winter Olympics Day.”  Students may come to school dressed as someone would for the winter Olympics.  They could wear red, white, and blue for team USA! Students will also be getting together with their Advent Angels in the afternoon for “religion station rotations.”  Students will rotate from classroom to classroom to participate in various religious activities.

 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28:  This day is “Wild West Day.”  Students may come to school dressed in western gear such as cowboy boots, cowboy hats, cowboy shirts, etc.  Students will also be writing letters to the Iowa National Guard members that are stationed overseas.   

 THURSDAY, JANUARY 29:  This day is “St. Malachy 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.  An all-school talent show will take place in the school gym in the afternoon.  We hope to see you there if you can come! 

 FRIDAY, JANUARY 30:  This day is “Grandparent or Special Guest Day/Dress to Impress 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 at 1:00 and go to Holy Spirit Church by 1:25 since Mass begins at 1:30.  Students will be dismissed from Holy Spirit Church.  If students need to ride the bus home after the Mass, there will be a bus waiting at the church to take students where they need to go.

ENROLLMENT FOR 2026-2027:  Enrollment is happening a little differently this year.  To secure your child's spot for the 2026-2027 school year, you have from January 25-31 to do so.  We do have a waiting list for some grades, so by enrolling now, your spot will be guaranteed.  Please call the school or visit the school website at www.crestonstmalachy.org for more information.

January 15, 2026

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.

MATH:  This week we took the chapter 7 test and started chapter 8 over money and time.  So far students have found the total values of collections of quarters, dimes, nickels, and pennies, and solved problems with coins.

GUIDANCE:  On January 16 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. 

HANDWRITING:  This week students practiced writing the lowercase cursive w, e, l, and b.

SCIENCE:  We have been discussing various water habitats such as a pond, river delta, and tide pool. Students compared the diversity of life in each one and discussed how plants and animals meet their needs in the water habitat in which they live.

TALENT SHOW:  There will be an all-school talent show on Thursday, January 29 during Catholic Schools Week.  If your child has a talent he/she would like to share, please encourage him/her to participate! Students can show their act to the talent show committee members through next week.  This way we know ahead of time what talent your child will be performing so the talent show program can be put together.  We're hoping to get a record number of participants this year!

January 8, 2026

LANGUAGE ARTS:  This week we read and discussed Wilma Rudolph:  Against All Odds and Great Leaders.  Wilma Rudolph:  Against All Odds is a biography while Great Leaders is an opinion article.  We worked on skills such as decoding words with long /i/ (i, ie, igh, y, i_e) as in iron, pie, right, fly, and bike, capitalizing the first letter in the names of the days of the week, months of the year, and holidays, decoding words with the prefix "dis," identifying statements of fact and opinion, using story vocabulary in context, and learning ten new high-frequency words.

MATH:  Students used drawing and equations to make sense of the words in problems, modeled and solved two-step problems using equations, used different ways to solve two-step problems, and found unknown numbers in equations that relate four or more whole numbers.

GUIDANCE:  Tomorrow, January 9, 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.  Enclosed in today's take home folder is a "Parent Connection" resource book for you to have at home.  This goes along with and supports our guidance program.  It is yours to keep and does not need to be returned to school.

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 9 is a Spirit Day at St. Malachy.  Students can pay $1.00 to wear sweat pants or a hat to school if they wish.  The money raised will help those in need in our local community.