Second Grade Newsletter 4.29.22

 

Reminders:

Please send your child with a water bottle every day. 

Please complete and return the history homework titled, "My Family's Story," if you have not already. Thank you to those that have. 

 

Dates: 

May 2nd: End of Year Dibels Testing begins

May 6th: No School

May 9th: "The New Colossus" Poem Recitations

May 10th: Math Assessment - Geometry

May 18th: Fine Arts Night

May 24th-27th: Half Day

Conversation Starters:

Tell me 2 facts you find interesting about the Statue of Liberty.

What was the miracle at Zukernman's barn in Charlotte's Web?

Name the shapes that compose a 3-d object.

What are some items in your home which have a magnetic field?

Upcoming Academics:

Math:

Students will learn more about geometry this week including how to compose and decompose shapes. They will also learn about patterns and angles. Please encourage your child to find examples of geometry in the world around them!

Science:

We will learn more about magnetism this week using magnetic force to determine if objects with magnetic fields can be moved through objects. We will also identify parts of a magnet, including the strongest part of the magnet. Thursday's lesson we will learn about the magnetic pulls in the earth and use a compass as we discover this.

History:

Studies of Immigration continue with lessons on becoming a citizen of the United States.  We will focus on our basic rights and responsibilities as a citizen, learn about voting and the importance for all citizens to have this right and responsibility, and hear Senora DeCossio share her story about when she became a United States citizen. This is a highlight of our year, and we are grateful she will be joining our class to discuss this with our scholars.

Spalding:

As we have a short week, we will have 10 words. Scholars will write 7 words in cursive each day of dictation. Please check for accuracy of letter formation. Thank you!

Grammar:

There will be a memory check for the first 8 lines of the poem, "The New Colossus" on Monday. Students will compose their own 2-3 sentence narrations of short passages from The Hobbit. We will review prepositional phrases and comma usage as we prepare for our end of the year grammar test.

Literature: 

We will read chapters 14-16 this week in the classic, Charlotte's Web. As we read, scholars will work on identifying the main idea of chapters and use visualization to help them comprehend the story.

We hope you have a wonderful weekend! 

Warm Regards,

The Second Grade Team

2nd Grade Newsletter 4.22.22

 Hello Parents and Guardians!

Important Dates: 

• Simple Machine Projects Due April 25^th - April 26^th 
• Math Graphing Assessment: April 27^th 
• Science Simple Machines Assessment: April 28^th 
• History Homework Due: April 29^th 
• No School: May 6^th 
• Fine Arts Night: May 18^th 

News:

During our history unit on immigration, students will be asked to interview family members to learn more about their ancestors. They will discover how and when they came to America. They will fill out questions on a worksheet that they bring home today. Please have your children return the form by Friday, April 29th. They will use this information to create a mini-book in class which they will present. Thank you for helping your child with this assignment!

Conversation Starters:

• Why is Abraham Lincoln someone who we remember? 
• Name one reason immigrants came to the United States. 
• Was Wilbur successful at making a web? 
• What is a complex machine? 

Studies:
Grammar: Scholars will complete narration, copywork, and dictation exercises by using passages from the book “A Child’s Geography of the World”. We will also review interjections, synonyms and antonyms, conjunctions, and reinforce quotations. 

Math: We will finish our unit on graphing with a graphing assessment on Wednesday, April 27^th. We will then begin our unit on shapes by identifying curved and flat shapes as well as combining shapes to make new shapes. 

History: In history, we will continue learning about immigration and citizenship by recognizing the Statue of Liberty as a symbol of freedom, explore Ellis Island to understand the process immigrants took to come to America, and learn of the different jobs immigrants had once in America.

Literature: Scholars will continue reading Charlotte’s Web, chapters 11-14. We will practice summarizing by composing a newspaper article, identify character talents, and learn about personification. 

Science: Scholars will finish our unit on simple machines with a simple machines assessment on Thursday, April 28^th. We will then begin our unit on Magnetism with scholars identifying what magnets are, how they work, and which items magnets are attracted to.

2nd Grade Newsletter 4.14.22

 

Dates:

April 15th: No School

April 19th: Civil War Assessment

April 19th-26th: Optional Simple Machines Project Due

April 21-22nd: "Harriet Tubman" Recitations

May 18th: Fine Arts Night-Music Concert & Art Show

 

Conversation Starters: 

How have our classroom caterpillars changed? What do you expect to happen next?

What does Wilbur think about the way Charlotte gets her food?

What is another way to say 4:15?

What is a synonym for the word “quiet”?

What does it mean to surrender? Why did Robert E. Lee surrender to Ulysses S. Grant?

What does the apostrophe in "o’clock" take the place of?   o(F THE) clock

 

Reminders:

Friday Folders – Expect your child’s Friday Folder to come home most Fridays. This week is short, so they are coming home today (Thursday). Check through your student's Friday Folder papers. Sign and return the papers that are stamped (usually assessments), keep the other papers at home, sign the inside of the folder, and send it back to school with your child the next school day (usually Monday).

Reading Logs – Students receive a homework completion grade for their Reading Logs. Each day must be signed by a parent or adult. We prefer that the student fill out the rest of the log. These are due weekly. If your child doesn’t turn in their Reading Log when it’s due, make sure they turn it in the next school day in order to receive half credit. Diligence with the Reading Logs is an important skill that is also expected in 3^rd grade.

 

Next Week's Academics:

Math: 

Scholars will practice creating, reading, and interpreting picture graphs, bar graphs, and line plots.

Grammar/Writing: 

Scholars will complete narration, copywork, and dictation exercises by using excerpts from a poem called, “The Duel”. They will continue to learn to recognize and use synonyms and antonyms. 

Recitations of “Harriet Tubman” will be Thursday, April 21^st and Friday, April 22.

Literature:

We will continue Charlotte’s Web with chapters 6-10. Scholars will practice identifying main events and character descriptions. We will also discuss the idiom, “back to the drawing board.”

Spalding: 

We will have a normal week of Spalding words. Scholars will now have 5 words in cursive and 5 words in manuscript on Monday through Wednesday.

History:

Students brought home their Study Guide as well as a Lee/Grant Venn diagram. Please review these with them so they are prepared for their Civil War assessment on Tuesday, April 19th. We will review in class on Monday, as well. Later in the week, we will begin our unit on immigration. On Friday, scholars will bring home a “My Family’s Story” worksheet. Please take time to discuss your family’s background with your child. These worksheets will be due Friday, April 29.

Science:

We have butterfly chrysalides in our classrooms! Our caterpillars grew quickly and are now encased in their chrysalides. The students are very excited about their development! This week we will learn about pulleys. Scholars will complete their simple machines study guides for home study use. We will also have a fun activity where students will attempt to create a complex machine.

 

We hope you have a terrific long weekend!

Warm Regards,

The Second Grade Team

 

Second Grade Newsletter 4.8.22

Dates:

April 13th: Telling Time Math Assessment

April 15th: No School

April 19th: Civil War Assessment

April 19th-26th: Optional Simple Machines Project Due

April 21-22nd: "Harriet Tubman" Recitations

May 18th: Fine Arts Night-Music Concert & Art Show

 

Conversation Starters: 

Explain how a screw works and where force is applied. How does a lever help us do work?

What happens when Wilbur escapes? (He is caught and given medicine.)

On Saturdays at home, when do you have lunch:  AM or PM?

Tell me about Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee.  Why were they important to the Civil War?

 

Next Week's Academics:

Math: 

Students will review telling time, including using the prepositions past, to, until, and after. They will take an assessment on Wednesday. Please ask your child to read the clock and tell you the time. We will then move on to learning about picture graphs, bar graphs, and line plots.

Grammar/Writing: 

Scholars will listen to excerpts from “The Story of the Greeks” during Writing With Ease and will complete class summaries and dictation. In grammar, we will learn about synonyms and antonyms. 

Students will begin memorization of the poem, “Harriet Tubman” this coming week. Recitations will begin Thursday, April 21st.

Literature:

During Literature we will read chapters 4 – 5 this coming week. We will discuss and use figurative language such as the phrase, "Don't judge a book by its cover," and recognizing the main points of the chapters.  We will also discover a new friend Wilbur will make. (Charlotte!) If your child does not have their “Charlotte’s Web” book at school yet, please send it with them Monday.

Spalding: 

There will be new words on Monday and Tuesday, we will review on Wednesday and take our spelling assessment on Thursday due to the holiday. They will write 4 words in cursive each day of new word dictation. Currently, we are working on correctly connecting our cursive letters.

History:

We will continue to discuss the two generals, Lee and Grant. We will also learn about Clara Barton, an important woman figure of the Civil War.  Students will bring home their Study Guide Wednesday; please review with them so they are prepared for their assessment on Tuesday, April 19th.

Science:

Students enjoyed some fun experiments as we learned about screws and levers this week. Next week, we will learn about wheels and axles and gears. We will look at how weight, friction, and force affect how our simple machines work. Our students seem to really enjoy this unit as they are learning about simple machines and how they make our work easier. Students will have the opportunity to complete an optional at home science project, where they will find a simple machine in your household and complete a worksheet about it. Then they will present their object and worksheet in class. Look for this worksheet to come home on Monday.

 

We hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Warm Regards,

The Second Grade Team

Second Grade Newsletter 4.1.22

 Hello Parents and Guardians,

Important Dates: 

• The Land of Story-books recitations: April 4^th 
• Math fraction assessment: April 6^th  
• No school: April 15^th  

News:  

• Please make sure your scholar brings in their copy of Charlotte’s Web, if they have not done so already. 

Conversation Starters:

• Name three simple machines. 
• Who was your favorite Tall Tale? 
• What is an abolitionist? Name one abolitionist. 
• What is the preposition in the following sentence: Austin ran around the table. 
• How many halves make 4 whole pizzas? 

Studies:
Grammar: Scholars will read excerpts from “The Story of Mankind” in Writing with Ease to further their copywork and listening and writing skills through dictation. Students will begin “Land of Story-books” recitations.  

Math: Scholars will review fractions before being assessed on them. The fraction assessment will be on Wednesday, April 6^th. We will then start our new unit on telling time. 

History: As we continue our studies of The Civil War, students will learn about the Emancipation Proclamation, Ulysses S. Grant, and Robert E. Lee.

Literature: We will begin reading Charlotte's Web! Please bring in the book if you have not done so already. 

Science: Students will enjoy hands on experimentation with Screws, Levers, and Wheel and Axles next week! Be sure to ask your scholar all about the fun and funny things simple machines can do! 

Have a wonderful weekend!  

2nd Grade Team