2nd Grade Newsletter 5.27.22

Congratulations on completing 2^nd Grade! We’re proud of each and every student. They learned many skills and interesting things. They made new friends and read wonderful books. The best is yet come! They will discover and enjoy so much more in the years ahead. Thank you, parents, for the many ways you have encouraged your children and supported our work as their teachers. We couldn’t do it without you!

 

Summer language arts and math packets are attached. Working on these during the weeks off from school will help your child retain what they’ve learned this year. We also recommend the free website Math Playground for fun math practice. We hope your child will discover many books they want to read this summer. The Maricopa County Library summer reading program is a great way to motivate young readers. Other local libraries and book stores have kids’ summer reading programs, as well.

 

We hope you enjoy a terrific summer, and we’ll look forward to seeing you at school next year!

Second Grade Newsletter 5.20.22

Dear Families,

Thank you for your continued support, interaction, donations, and dedication to your child's education and our school at large. Your children have brought so much joy to our lives, and we wish you the very best as we send them off onto 3rd grade!

Friday is the last day of school, and we are having an End of the Year Celebration of Literature! Please send your scholar with a favorite book to read on Friday, May 27th. Scholars will rotate through crafts and snacks themed with the classic, Charlotte's Web. They will also share out their favorite book and celebrate the friendships formed in the classroom this year. 

Please send your child with a grocery bag on Thursday, May 26th. We will be cleaning out desks that day. 

REMINDER: Please return all school library and classroom library books as soon as possible. Thank you!

Summer Packets & Summer Reading

Next week, you will receive an email with a PDF including a math packet, reading packet, and grammar packet. These would be great review for your child during the summer. It is helpful to complete these, so your child doesn't experience that "summer slide" (loss of content).

Check your local library for reading programs and incentives this summer! Remember, reading daily is crucial to development at this age. Click this link for more information.

Maricopa County Reads

 

Dates:

Monday, May 23rd: Recitation of "Lincoln"

Tuesday, May 24th - Friday, May 27th: Half Days

Thursday, May 26th: Clean Desks - Bring Grocery Bag

Friday, May 27th: Last Day of School, End of the Year Celebration

Conversation Starters:

What was your favorite book in second grade?

What was the funniest thing that happened in class this year?

Do you have a new favorite subject?

Who would you like to see over the summer?

Academics:

Literature: We finished reading Charlotte's Web! Be sure to ask your scholar how he/she felt at the end of the book. We are also completing our Charlotte's Web Booklets, and the students will perform a reader's theater. 

Grammar: Recitation of "Lincoln" will begin on Monday. 

Math: Students will review measurement, graphing, and other concepts that we have covered this year with fun group activities. Wow, they have learned so much and can do so much!

History: We will conclude our unit on Civil Rights Leaders and finish the Civil Rights booklet. What has your scholar learned about the rights of citizens in our country? This makes great dinner table conversation!

 

We hope you have a wonderful, restful, adventure filled summer!

Warmest Regards,

The Second Grade Team

Second Grade Newsletter 5.13.22

 Hello Parents and Guardians!

Dates: 

• May 17^th: Grammar Assessment 
• May 18^th: Fine Arts Night 
• May 19^th: Science Magnetism Assessment 
• May 23^rd: ‘Lincoln’ Recitations 
• May 24^th -27^th: Half Days 
  

Conversation Starters: 

• Can a magnet defy gravity? 
• What did Susan B. Anthony fight for? 
• What does “keep your fingers crossed” mean? 
• How many vertices does a cube have? 
  

Upcoming Academics: 

Math: Students will continue to review previous units focusing on measurement, multiplication, and division. They have learned so much this year! They now know all four operations, fractions, how to read a clock, and how to read a graph.

Science: Our magnetism unit will continue with scholars measuring and comparing the strength of magnets before being assessed on magnetism. We will review science concepts with a game of jeopardy. Students will bring home a green magnetism review page on Monday. Please use this to help your student review before the test on Thursday.

History: Scholars will continue to learn about Civil Rights Leaders such as Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr. They will understand how segregation was a part of daily life in the U.S. and understand the challenges Jackie Robinson faced. 

Spalding: We will have our last Spalding words of the year. Students will learn 28 new words before being assessed on them on Friday.  We are writing most of our spelling words in cursive now!

Grammar: Students will be assessed on their narration, copywork, and dictation skills. They will demonstrate their comprehension of parts of speech and punctuation on a grammar assessment. Students took home a lavender grammar review page. Please use this to help your student review before the test on Tuesday.

Literature: Students will finish reading Charlotte’s Web and create a medal for Charlotte or Wilbur, compose a eulogy for Charlotte, and identify the hope in the final chapter of the story

Have a wonderful weekend! 

Warm Regards, 
The Second Grade Team 

2nd Grade Newsletter 5.5.22

 

Dates: 

May 9th: "The New Colossus" Poem Recitations

May 10th: Math Assessment - Geometry

May 18th: Fine Arts Night

May 24th-27th: Half Days

 

Conversation Starters:

How did Andrew Carnegie live the American dream?

Why did Mrs. Zuckerman bathe Wilbur before the fair?

How many sides does a hexagon have? How many vertices does it have?

Why did the magnets we hung from a string turn North?

Every preposition must have an _____________________.

Which Spalding word this week was a compound word? (sometimes)

 

Upcoming Academics:

Math:

Students will wrap up our brief geometry unit with an assessment on Tuesday. Then we will begin reviewing math concepts from the entire year to prepare for a cumulative test in Week 9.

Science:

We will continue our magnetism unit this week, discovering how magnets attract and repel, how to change a metal object into a magnet, and comparing Polar North to Magnetic North.

History:

We will begin our unit on Civil Rights this week. Students will learn what civil rights are and consider why things needed to change in order for people to be treated equally. Students will also learn about several leaders who worked to improve civil rights in America.

Spalding:

We will have a regular week of Spalding words, with 8 words from each daily list in cursive. Please check for accuracy of letter formation. Thank you!

Grammar:

Memorization of "The New Colossus" is due on Monday. Students will compose their own 2-3 sentence narrations of short passages from Bunnicula. We will continue to review various parts of speech and punctuation as we prepare for our end of the year grammar test.

Literature: 

We will read chapters 17-19 this week in the classic, Charlotte's Web. As we read, scholars will practice identifying character traits and plot features.

 

We hope you enjoy a terrific-iffic-iffic (ask your student!) weekend. 

Warm Regards,

 The Second Grade Team

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

Second Grade Newsletter 3.25.22

 Second Grade Newsletter 3.25.22

 

Welcome to the 4^th quarter of 2^nd Grade!

 

Dates: 

March 26: Medieval Faire

April 1: Stanzas 1-5 of “The Land of Story-books” due

April 4: “The Land of Story-books” recitations begin

April 15: No school

 

Charlotte’s Web

We will begin reading Charlotte’s Web on Monday, April 4. Please send in your student’s copy of the book. We need Reading Group volunteers! Please sign up using your classroom's link.

 

Reading Logs

Please ensure that your student has completed every part of their Reading Log (including their name at the top!) and that a parent or adult who listened to them read has signed for each day. Students should write the name of the book, not the name of the series, if their book is from a series.

 

Conversation Starters:

Would you rather have a dollar or 22 nickels?

Which tall tale did you most enjoy-Johnny Appleseed, Pecos Bill, or Paul Bunyan?

What is the preposition in the following sentence: Fred hopped over the rope.

What was Harriet Beecher Stowe’s famous book about?

Does it take more or less force to push something that is heavy versus light?

 

Studies:

 

Literature:

We will continue reading and enjoying tall tales such as Pecos Bill and Casey Jones. Students are recognizing exaggeration and how tall tales were often set during America’s westward expansion.

History:

We will continue our study of the Civil War. We will learn about Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, and the Underground Railroad. Students will discover Lincoln's words and how his pursuit of knowledge and truth helped him lead our country during its darkest time.

Grammar:

Students will practice narration, copy work, and dictation using passages from The Magic of Oz . Students will continue learning about prepositions, and discover objects of the preposition.

Science:

Students will learn about the six simple machines, beginning with the inclined plane and wedge. They will learn how these simple machines make work easier.

Math:

Students will begin a short unit on fractions. Please continue to help your child practice their math facts for Rocket Math.

 

Warm Regards,

The Second Grade Team 

Second Grade Newsletter 3.11.22

News:     

    Our scholars have learned so much this quarter! We have participated in science experiments about the human body, completed our reading of Little House in the Big Woods, learned about how America became a great Nation, and expanded our knowledge of real-life applications to math - money! Please continue to allow your scholar to count and handle money at home. If possible, allow your child to pay for a small item with cash at the grocery store! Does he/she know how much change he/she will receive? 

Next Quarter will begin with Tall Tales, but your scholar will need Charlotte's Web by the third week after spring break. Thank you!

The Medieval Faire is quickly approaching. It will be held on Saturday March 26th. Be sure to sign up for a slot for our classroom's booth or donate items if you are able to. Thank you!

Volunteer & Donation Link: https://signup.com/group/755835760012

Group Page: 2019 Medieval Faire | SignUp.com About SignUp.com. At SignUp.com, we believe that when people get together, great things happen. That’s why parents and teachers, business and community leaders, and friends and coworkers trust our coordination resources and applications to save time and achieve remarkable outcomes. signup.com

Dates: 

March 14-18: Spring Break

Friday, March 25th: Math Assessment-Money

Saturday, Match 26th: Medieval Faire

Monday, April 4th: "The Land of Storybooks" Recitations

Conversation Starters:

What food did you make during Literature this week?

What happened in the final chapter of Little House in the Big Woods?

Who was your favorite character? Why?

What science experiment did you do this week? (Hint: Eggs and chicken bones)

Why do you need calcium to keep your body healthy?

How do you make change for $1.50 when paying with a $5 bill?

Why were the bison important to the Plains Indians?

Academics:

Math: Scholars will have an assessment on Money on Friday, March 25th. They will be assessed on identifying, counting, writing in word form, adding, subtracting, and making change. Please practice with real money at home!

Literature: Next quarter, we will continue enjoying the pioneer times and westward expansion by reading some famous American Tall Tales. Students will learn that this is a genre of fictional stories written about real-life folk heroes that features the use of exaggeration and humor! We will read tall tales about John Henry, Johnny Appleseed, and Paul Bunyan this week.

Grammar: Our next poem will be our last Robert Louis Stevenson poem before moving onto historical poetry. Students will study and memorize, "The Land of Storybooks." This will be recited in full the week of April 4th. We will learn our next part of speech the preposition while also continuing to review the adverb, adjective, interjection, pronoun, verb, and noun. Writing will continue with the exercises of narration, copy work, and dictation based on passages from Hans Christian Anderson's The Real Princess. 

Science: Next quarter, students will learn about the six simple machines-the lever, ramp, wedge, pulley, inclined plane, and screw. Students will learn about each type and the work they do. They will be asked to find simple machines in their every day life as a project this quarter.

Spalding: Scholars now know how to write all lowercase and uppercase letters in cursive. We will continue to practice connecting letters by writing one spelling word a day in cursive this week. Please have your child practice the daily cursive word's spelling and cursive formation on their homework. They will demonstrate their command of cursive by writing three words in cursive on the first test of the quarter, gradually building to two words a day the week after, then three, etc. until the entire week's spelling list is written in cursive!

History: Moving forward in time, after Westward Expansion in the US, life in the North and South grew differently. Students will learn about the practice of slavery and the differences between the North and South that would eventually lead to a civil war.

As always, please contact your teacher with questions, concerns, or joys!

Warm Regards,

The Second Grade Team 

2nd Grade Newsletter 3.4.22

 Hello Parents and Guardians! The students had a wonderful time at the Pioneer Living History Museum! Favorite moments included panning for gold, learning history in the Pioneer Schoolhouse, seeing chickens and goats, and of course, the Hay Maze.

Important Dates: 

• Land of the Counterpane Recitations: Monday, March 7^th 
• Athletic Field Day: Thursday, March 10th
• Half Day: Friday, March 11th
• Spring Break: March 14^th – 18^th  
• Medieval Faire: March 26^th 

Conversation Starters:

• Name 3 ways to make $0.25 
• What is a threshing machine used for? 
• Describe how pioneers panned for gold. 
• What important nutrient helps our bones stay strong? 

Studies:
Grammar: Scholars will recite the Land of the Counterpane this week. We will use selections from Little House in the Big Woods to reinforce copywork and dictation. Students will also further their understanding of parts of speech by identifying adverbs, nouns, and verbs in sentences.  

Math: We will continue our learning on money by learning how to make change for $1, $5, and $10. In addition, we will practice adding and subtracting money within $10. 

History: In history, scholars will continue to study the Westward Expansion by learning how important bison were to Native Americans as well as read a Native American story.

Literature: Students will discuss food in the Little House in the Big Woods by writing the steps on how to make butter. We will take an assessment on Little House in the Big Woods before we dive into the story of Florence Nightingale.

Science: In science, we will continue to study the impact of chemicals in our body. We will demonstrate this with hard-boiled eggs (acting as bones/teeth) soaked in various liquids. Students will then continue to observe their bone experiment before learning about white blood cells and their role in our immune system.

Have a wonderful weekend! 

Second Grade Newsletter 2.25.22

 Field Trip

Our field trip to the Pioneer Living History Museum is Friday, March 4th! Please login into Parent Payment Portal to submit a permission slip for your child to attend. Here are some important details for the field trip:

We will be leaving school at 8:30am, spending most of the school day at the museum, and arriving back at school around 2:30pm. 

Items to label with name in black marker: 

• Lunch will be eaten on the museum grounds, and we ask that you pack an easy-to-eat lunch for your child (lunches will be in a cooler).  Please, put your child’s lunch in a brown paper bag with his/her name written on it in black marker. 

• Large disposable water bottles are ideal, as it is a long day. His or her water bottle for the day should also be disposable with his/her name written on the top. 

• We would like each child to bring a snack that is wheat-free, orange-free, and nut-free (such as popcorn, carrot sticks, fruit, potato or rice-based snacks) with his/her name written on it as well.

• Please make sure all food/drink items are disposable, as we do not want the students to lose any of their belongings at the museum.

 

Please do not send money with your child. Children will not be able to buy their lunches or snacks. 

 You may send a hat and sunglasses with your child since it is an outdoor museum, and please apply sunscreen before dropping your child off at school. The students are still expected to wear their uniform, as they are representing our school. 

The students and teachers will ride buses to the museum, while we ask parent chaperones to drive themselves.  Carpooling is encouraged!  We ask that you do not drive your own child to the museum with you, because the bus ride there is part of the experience! 

If you are willing to bring a cooler and ice, please let your teacher know!

Please contact us if you have any questions! 

 

Athletic Field Day

Athletic Field Day will be Thursday, March 10th! Please make sure your child comes to school well rested, wearing proper athletic clothing (no pop culture, please), and with plenty of water. You may apply sunscreen as well as send a hat and/or sunglasses. This will be a fun morning of sportsmanship with academics in the afternoon.

 

Important Dates

March 1: Science Test-Human Body

March 3: Westward Expansion history test

March 4: Field Trip to The Living Pioneer History Museum 

March 7: "The Land of Counterpane" Recitations

Stanzas 1-3 due Thursday 3/3, entire poem recited week of 3/7

March 10: Athletic Field Day

March 11: Half Day

March 12 – 20 Spring Break

 

Conversation Prompts:

What do the words “quit”, “quite”, and “quiet” mean?

What does a topic sentence do in a paragraph?

What is 100 ÷ 10? When we divide, are we trying to find the whole or a part?

Name an example of a food from each of the food groups: Fruit, vegetable, grain, dairy, and protein.

Why did Laura and Mary like helping Ma make cheese? What did Pa collect from the hollow tree in the woods?

What were some things that were important for people to carry with them on the Oregon Trail?

 

Academics

History

Students will learn about Sequoyah, who invented the Cherokee tribe’s written language. Then, they will learn about settlers on the prairies, and cowboy life on ranches. Our Westward Expansion unit will conclude with a test on Thursday. Students have a study guide to use for preparation.

Science

Monday will be a review day in preparation for our Human Body unit test on Tuesday. Students have a study guide for this assessment. On Thursday, we will perform an interesting experiment to observe how acids affect bones.

Literature

We will learn about harvest time in the Big Woods, and about a wonderful machine that helped the Ingalls with their harvest work. We will finish the book on Friday.

Grammar

Students are working to complete their Oregon Trail paragraphs, and will begin learning about adverbs and their usage through excerpts from Moominland Midwinter. 

Math

We will begin our unit on money. Students will practice counting and writing money amounts, become familiar with decimal notation, and convert between denominations. 

Spalding

Students will learn and practice a mix of spelling words, cursive phonograms, and cursive uppercase letters next week. Wednesday will be the review day, and the phonogram quiz and spelling test will be Thursday (due to the field trip on Friday). For the cursive practice homework, please have your child write each phonogram or letter in cursive three times.

 

Thank you for all your support!

Second Grade Newsletter 2.18.22

 Field Trip

Dear Second Grade Families,

Our field trip to the Pioneer Living History Museum is Friday, March 4th! Please login into Configio/Parent Portal to submit a permission slip for your child to attend. Here are some important details for the field trip:

We will be leaving school at 8:30am, spending most of the school day at the museum, and arriving back at school around 2:30pm. 

Items to label with name in black marker: 

• Lunch will be eaten on the museum grounds, and we ask that you pack an easy-to-eat lunch for your child (lunches will be in a cooler).  Please, put your child’s lunch in a brown paper bag with his/her name written on it in black marker. 

• Large disposable water bottles are ideal, as it is a long day. His or her water bottle for the day should also be disposable with his/her name written on the top. 

• We would like each child to bring a snack that is wheat-free, orange-free, and nut-free (such as popcorn, carrot sticks, fruit, potato or rice-based snacks) with his/her name written on it as well.

• Please make sure all food/drink items are disposable, as we do not want the students to lose any of their belongings at the museum.

Please do not send money with your child. Children will not be able to buy their lunches or snacks. 

You may send a hat and sunglasses with your child since it is an outdoor museum, and please apply sunscreen before dropping your child off at school. The students are still expected to wear their uniform, as they are representing our school. 

The students and teachers will ride buses to the museum, while we ask parent chaperones to drive themselves.  Carpooling is encouraged!  We ask that you do not drive your own child to the museum with you, because the bus ride there is part of the experience! 

We are very excited for our field trip and we know it will be a wonderful experience for everyone.

If you are willing to bring a cooler and ice, please let your teacher know!

Please contact us if you have any questions! 

Athletic Field Day

Athletic Field Day will be Thursday, March 9th! Please make sure your child comes to school well rested, wearing proper athletic clothing (no pop culture, please), and with plenty of water. You may apply sunscreen as well as send a hat and/or sunglasses. This will be a fun day of sportsmanship with academics in the afternoon.

Important Dates:

February 21: No School, President's Day

February 25: Multiplication & Division Assessment

March 1: Science Test-Human Body

March 4: Field Trip to The Living Pioneer History Museum 

March 7: "The Land of Counterpane" Recitations

 Stanza 1-2 due Friday 2/25, Stanza 1-3 due Thursday 3/3, entire poem recited week of 3/7

March 9: Athletic Field Day

March 11: Half Day

March 12 – 20 Spring Break

Conversation Prompts:

What is 17 divided by 4? What is left over?

What is important to include in a letter? What must you write on the envelope?

What is the name of the trail settlers traveled on to the Pacific Coast? Why did people move west?

How does the digestive system work?

What is the weather like in the Big Woods now? (It is warmer, it is now springtime.) What do the Ingalls do now that the weather is warmer? (They go to the general store and buy goods.)

Academics

History

The students are loving the Unit on Westward Expansion! So far, they have learned that the Erie Canal helped carry people West, and we read about the invention of the steamboat. They got to re-enact the Pony Express for our Great Hearts celebration, which was a lovely way to incorporate movement with history. We will continue our Westward Expansion unit as we discuss the Goldrush, daily life in a covered wagon, the Oregon Trail, the building of a transcontinental railroad, and the Trail of Tears.

Science
Students reviewed the digestive system and are working on identifying the parts of the system and their role in digestion. We discussed ways we can stay healthy and the five food groups. Next week, we will examine some food labels and learn about making healthy choices. We will also learn about the importance of exercise before reviewing for the unit test. A study guide on white paper was sent home Thursday for students to prepare for the test on February 29th. 

Literature
Next week, students will read about summertime in the Big Woods. The Ingalls welcome many visitors now that the weather is nice. Pa finds a tree loaded with honey and retells how he was able to collect it.  Ma sets about making cheese and the girls help her. 

Grammar

The students will begin work on an informative paragraph about the Oregon Trail. They will learn that good writing undergoes the process of brainstorming, rough draft, edits and revisions, and a final draft. 

Math

This week, students worked on multiplication facts of 4s and 5s. Next week, they will continue work with multiplication of 4s and 5s, and they will also study multiplication and division of 10s.  If you find your scholar is struggling, here are a few helpful suggestions: 

• Use items from around the house to create groups and demonstrate multiplication problems.  
• Similarly, use items to create equal groups when dividing. Remind students that division is sharing equally.  
• Remember to PECS (Picture, Equation, Complete Sentence) on Word Problems. Often, beginning with a picture is best practice. 
• Create and study multiplication flash cards.   

Spalding​​​​​​​
Scholars will continue to practice new spelling words and cursive letter formation by learning to connect letters through writing the phonograms. Please continue to dictate the spelling words and have your child rewrite any missed words. For the cursive practice, please have your child write each phonogram in cursive three times.

Thank you for all your support. Best-Your Second Grade Team

Second Grade Newsletter 2.11.22

Hello Parents and Guardians! 

Important Dates: 

· Great Hearts Day: February 14th, 2022 

· No School (President’s Day): February 21st, 2022 

· Field Trip to the Pioneer Museum: Friday, March 4th, 2022 

 

Conversation Starters: 

Name two ways Americans moved west (by carriage, walking, flatboats, keel boats) 

Skip count by 4 up to 48 (4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48) 

What happens to our food after it reaches the stomach? (Food moves into the small intestine where it passes through villi walls into the bloodstream) 

In Little House in the Big Woods, what is sugar snow? (Melted snow that helps tree produce for sap) 

 

Academics: 

Grammar: Scholars will receive their next poem for recitations, "The Land of Counterpane" by Robert Louis Stevenson. We will use excerpts from "The Plant that Ate Dirty Socks" for our writing exercises. Students will also practice addressing envelopes and writing letters on a postcard.

Math: In math, students will learn to relate division by 4 to multiplication by 4 as well as count and multiply by 5. 

 History: We will continue our unit on the Westward Expansion with learning about the invention of the steamboat, identifying important land features American used on their journey west, and explaining what the California Gold Rush was. 

Literature: Our reading of Little House in the Big Woods continues with emphasis on citing textual evidence and reviewing alphabetical order with vocabulary from the text. Please consider signing up to volunteer for reading groups at the links on the sidebar

Science: In Science, we will finish our unit on the digestive system and begin our unit on healthy eating with learning the different food groups and how to make a healthy plate. 

Spalding: Next week, we will begin writing the alphabet in cursive. For homework, scholars will practice cursive letters along with spelling words for the week. Please have your child write each cursive letter three times.

Have a wonderful weekend! 

Warm Regards, 

The 2nd Grade Team

Second Grade Newsletter 2.4.22

 

Hello parents and guardians!

 

Great Hearts Day:

Great Hearts Day is just around the corner! On February 14th, we will be celebrating each other’s virtues. Our 2nd Grade Great Hearts Celebration will be from 12:00pm – 1:10pm. Please do not send store bought cards or candy. All store-bought cards and candy will be returned home with your child that day. It would really dampen our spirits to have to disappoint a child in this way. We have other fun and thoughtful ways to celebrate the day.

The students will write a friendly letter and deliver their Great-Hearted cards via a reenactment of the Pony Express. Students will learn to work together as we learn to Square Dance after reading about the dance at Grandpa's in the book, Little House in the Big Woods. We will also celebrate Arizona's birthday with a fun craft. We are still looking for a few more stick horses, such as this (see this link). If you have one that you would like to lend for our Pony Express reenactment, please email your homeroom teacher. Thank you!

Important Dates:

Monday, Feb. 7: The Preamble recitation due

Tuesday, Feb. 8: Math subtraction assessment and History War of 1812 assessment

Thursday, Feb. 10: Galileo testing (Make sure your student gets plenty of sleep and a full breakfast so they’ll feel their best. Please arrive at school on time -- or early!)

Friday, Feb. 11: Half Day

Monday, Feb. 21: No School; President’s Day

 

Dress Code Reminder:

Just a reminder that per the Family Handbooks, "Boys and girls are permitted to wear one watch. This may not be a smart watch. Bracelets, rings, and necklaces are not permitted unless for religious reasons." Thank you for your help with ensuring that special accessory items are left at home and students are in dress code. The purpose for the dress code is to help students focus on their academic pursuits; certain smart watches have become distractions for students and those around them. Thank you!

 

Conversation Prompts:

What did Dolley Madison save from the fire in Washington DC?

What does your epiglottis do?

What punctuation do we use after the Greeting and the Closing in a letter?

Why was a sugar snow helpful for Grandpa?

What is the difference between steal and steel?

How can we rearrange 42 + ______ = 68 to make it easier to solve?

 

Academics:

Math

Monday will be a review day, leading to the subtraction assessment on Tuesday. Then, we will move on to counting and multiplying by 4.

Literature

We will continue learning about sugar snow and how Grandpa made maple syrup. Then, we will focus on the main characters in the book and the dance at Grandpa’s.

Grammar

Preamble recitations are due Monday, 2/7. Narration and Dictation Exercises will continue with excerpts from Little Women. Students will continue to practice letter writing with another letter activity.

History

Monday, students will learn about the ending of the War of 1812, as well as review for the assessment on Tuesday. Then we will begin our unit on Westward Expansion.

Science

We will continue our study of the digestive system, identifying major organs and their functions.

Spalding

Next week we will begin learning Spalding cursive handwriting. Please note that Spalding cursive may be different from any cursive your student has already been trying. It will be important for them to make a habit of Spalding cursive strokes instead. Please be aware that homework and other assignments should not be written using cursive until we instruct the students to do so. We will have a regular week of Spalding spelling words, as well.

Hoping you enjoy a wonderful weekend. Your Second Grade Team

Second Grade Newsletter 1.28.22

 Hello parents and guardians!

Dress Code Reminder: Just a reminder that per the Family Handbooks, "Boys and girls are permitted to wear one watch. This may not be a smart watch. Bracelets, rings, and necklaces are not permitted unless for religious reasons." Thank you for your help with ensuring that special accessory items are left at home and students are in dress code. The purpose for the dress code is to help students focus on their academic pursuits; certain smart watches have become distractions for students and those around them. Thank you!

Great Hearts Day:

Great Hearts Day is just around the corner! On February 14th, we will be celebrating each other’s virtues. Our 2nd Grade Great Hearts Celebration will be from 12:00pm – 1:10pm. Please do not send store bought cards or candy. All store- bought cards and candy will be sent home with your child that day. It would really dampen our spirits to have to disappoint a child in this way. We have other fun and thoughtful ways to celebrate the day. Rather than focusing on goodies and merchandise, each student will focus on their minds, bodies, and hearts. 

The students will write a friendly letter and deliver their Great- Hearted cards via a reenactment of the Pony Express. Students will learn to work together as we learn to Square Dance after reading about the dance at Grandpa's in the book, Little House in the Big Woods. We will also celebrate Arizona's birthday with a fun craft. We are still looking for a few more stick horses (such as this item: https://www.amazon.com/PonyLand-Brown-Horse-Stick-Sound/dp/B07BBTJKZR/ref=sr_1_4?crid=Z9WE5IWKGZ6M&keywords=horse+stick&qid=1643399967&s=toys-and-games&sprefix=horse+stick%2Ctoys-and-games%2C186&sr=1-4). If you have one that you would like to send in for our Pony Express reenactment, please email your homeroom teacher. Thank you!

 

Important Dates:

Feb. 4: Half Day; Teacher In-Service

Feb. 7: The Preamble Recitation

Feb. 11: Half Day

Feb 21: No School; President’s Day

 

Conversation Prompts:

What do cells group together to form? (Cells group together to form tissue.)

What was Christmas in the Big Woods like? (The Ingalls had their relatives over, they made snow pictures, heard a story, Pa played the fiddle, they opened presents, Laura received a rag doll, they ate pancakes.)

What is one cause of the War of 1812? (The impressment of American sailors  was one of the causes of the War of 1812. Another was the British aid of Native Americans groups such as leader, Tecumseh. Lastly, the War Hawks convinced many Americans to go to war.)

Academics:

Math

Students will work on Mental Math with subtraction up to 1,000 this coming week. They will use strategies such as separating the numbers into hundreds, tens, and ones, and rounding to 100, then subtracting ones.  We will also revisit subtraction with renaming. Please note that all students have moved on to subtraction in Rocket Math and should be practicing their math facts daily.

Literature

This week students will read about Laura’s life and what she may and may not do on Sundays. Pa helps her understand by telling her a funny story about Grandpa and his sled. The weather warms but then cools and Laura learns about sugar snow. To celebrate the abundance of maple syrup Grandpa hosts a dance!

Grammar

We will continue to work on memorization of the Preamble, with recitations being due Monday, 2/7. Narration and Dictation Exercises will continue with excerpts from Nurse Mathilda. Students will also learn how to write a thank you letter and address an envelope.

History

This week we discussed the causes of the War of 1812. Next week, we will discuss key individuals, such as James and Dolley Madison. We will also learn about the National Anthem and an important military vessel, "Old Ironsides."

Science

Next week, we will learn about the digestive system. Students will see via an experiment that our teeth break down food along with saliva before our tongue pushes the food down. We will discover what happens when the food arrives in our stomach and the role of the liver and pancreas.