Second Grade Newsletter 9.30.22

Hello Parents!

News:

Parent Teacher Conferences:

We are so excited to share your scholar's progress! Parent Teacher Conferences are mandatory, and they are offered on October 17th-19th. A sign up link was sent. Thank you to the many that have already signed up. Looking forward to seeing you there!

Reminder: Fall Field Trip to the Musical Instrument Museum is Monday, August 24th. Don't forget to send your child with a water bottle, labeled snack, and bagged lunch that day. 

Important Dates:
Tuesday, October 4th: Science Quiz-The Water Cycle
Thursday, October 6th: Unit 2 Math Assessment

Thursday, October 6th: Second Grade Papa John's Pizza Party

Friday, October 7th: 12:30 Dismissal
October 10 - 14: Fall Break
Monday, October 17th-19th: Mandatory Parent Teacher Conferences
Wednesday, October 19th - Students Return-Early Release

Conversation Starters:

When do you need to rename ones? When do you need to rename tens?

Which type of sentence is this: "Dr. Dolittle, why do you keep so many pets?" (Interrogative/Question)

What is the longest river in Asia? (Answer: The Yangtze River)

Can you sing the Water Cycle Song? (Water travels in a cycle, yes, it does...)

What were the main events of the story The Emperor's New Clothes?

 

 

Academics

History
This week we learned about China by discovering important symbols and land formations.  They did wonderful in class as we worked as a group writing this.  This coming week we will continue to learn about China with Confucius and the importance of ancestors. This week we will have an optional at home page they can choose to do, which is their Family Tree of their ancestors up to their great-grandparents.  Again, this is optional and students will be welcomed to share their family trees beginning Tuesday, October 25th.

Science
This week students will create clouds in a vase and simulate precipitation to predict what will happen as the water reaches the ground.  We will review the water cycle of evaporation, condensation, and precipitation before taking a short quiz over our last cycle on Tuesday.

Literature
Students will enjoy the beauty of Fairy Tales this week as we read and discuss Beauty and the Beast. 

Grammar
Students will write based on passages from, 101 Dalmatians. We will continue to study the four types of sentences-declarative, imperative, interrogative, and exclamatory. There will not be a poem for recitation this week, though we will study and read, "Something Told the Wild Geese."

Math
Monday, students will practice adding up to four numbers using different strategies. The remainder of the week, we will review all the addition strategies and renaming using the standard algorithm before taking a Unit 2 assessment on Thursday.

Second Grade Newsletter 9.23.22

Hello Parents!

News:

Field Trip:

The second grade students will be going on their first Field Trip on Monday, October 24th to The Musical Instrument Museum! We will be leaving school at 8:30am, spending most of the school day at the museum and enjoying lunch at Desert Horizon Park, arriving back at school around 2:00pm. We are also looking for chaperons. If you are available, please complete the form through the parent portal to sign up. Please note that spaces are limited. This link will be active at 6pm on Monday, September 26th.

https://archwaychandler.configio.com/pd/3845/22-23-2nd-grade-field-trip-chaperon--musical?cid=389&returncom=productlist&source=search 

Items to label with name in black marker:  

• Lunch will be eaten at Desert Horizon Park, 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 with his/her name written on it as well, because the ride to the museum is lengthy.  

• 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.
  

 

Reading Bags:

Reading aloud for 20 minutes each night is a crucial piece of your child's education. Your signature in your child's agenda is your written indication that he/she completed his/her 20 minutes of nightly read and retell homework. Your child will turn his/her reading bag in on his/her assigned day.

Rocket Math:

Please support your scholar by practicing Rocket Math at home. It should only take 2 minutes! Your child's graded Rocket Math test is in his/her yellow folder every day except Wednesday. (Yes, it's graded and returned the day they take it!) Please have your child go around the outside of the test and give you the answers to each equation as you look at the key. That's it! Happy sprinting! 

Conversation Prompts:
How many tens are in 100?
How many ones are in one ten?

Give an example of a helping verb.
What happened at the end of Sarah Plain and Tall?
How did the clever Rani trick the Raja in One Grain of Rice?

 

Academics:

 

Math 

This week, students worked on renaming and the standard addition algorithm. Please practice renaming with your child at home! This proves to be a challenging math concept for many 2nd graders. Remind your scholar that ten ones equals 1 ten, and ten tens equals 100! Next week, we will continue working on renaming up to 1,000.

History
This week we continued to learn about the country of India and finished with learning about King Asoka and Gandhi. The students did very well recognizing the virtues displayed in the story: One Grain of Rice and wrote their own opinion about being wise and fair. Next week the students will complete a Diwali project and complete their India assessment. Then it’s on to the next country!

Science
Students will learn about evaporation, condensation, and precipitation. We will also go outside to observe clouds.
 
Literature
For the remainder of the quarter, we will read and consider some fables and fairy tales. This week, we will read “The Tiger, the Brahman, and the Jackal”, “The Blind Men and the Elephant”, and “The Emperor’s New Clothes”.

Grammar
Next week, students will listen to excerpts from Dr. DoLittle as a basis for our narration, copywork, and dictation practices. Students will demonstrate mastery over nouns, pronouns, and verbs on our first grammar quiz. Then, we will move on to learning about the four types of sentences.

Second Grade Newsletter 9.16.22

 Hello Parents/Guardians!
Please be aware that this blog site/email newsletter is for your benefit and should not be viewed by your student. We don't want to spoil the discovery of learning!

Important Dates:

·        September 19th:  Mid-Chapter Math Quiz

·        September 20th: Earth Cycles Quiz

·    September 26th: Poetry Recitations, "The Secret"

·       October ^7th: Half-Day Friday. School ends at 12:30pm

 

Important Classroom Reminders:

·       Friday Folders were sent home with your scholar today. Please review the work with your scholar, empty the folder, sign the folder, and return the folder with your scholar to school on Monday.

*Please sign up for reading groups, the students love reading to you!

 

Conversation Starters:
How would you add 143 and 406?

Give an example of an action verb.

What happened in the middle of the story, Sarah, Plain, and Tall?

What causes the seasons? Describe each season.

How is Diwali celebrated?

Who was Prince Siddhartha? What did he want to do for the people?

Academics:
Poetry:
Recitation of the entire poem, The Secret, will begin on Monday, September 26^th. Please practice the poem with your scholar this weekend. The poem is in your scholar’s yellow folder.

Grammar:

Students will further their ability on differentiating between action verbs and linking verbs. We will read and discuss excerpts from Pilgrim's Progress to continue working on copy work, narration, and dictation.

Math:

We will have a mid-chapter quiz on Monday. This will be over addition without renaming. For the remainder of the week, we will learn about renaming and the standard addition algorithm.

History:
Scholars are continuing to learn about the country of India. They have learned about the Festival of Lights, the Sacred River, and Prince Siddhartha. Scholars will continue their study of India next week and learn about Gandhi.

 
Literature:

Scholars will finish reading Sarah, Plain and Tall. We will discuss the main events, draw a picture of the sea, and write a short letter to Sarah.
 

Science:
We will review the day/night cycle and the seasonal cycle on Monday. Then students will take a quiz on these Earth cycles on Tuesday. We will then begin our study of the Earth’s water by identifying the different states of water (solid, liquid, gas) and how they are presented on the Earth (oceans, glaciers, atmosphere).

We hope you and your family enjoy a terrific weekend. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or concerns.

Warm Regards,
The 2nd Grade Team

Second Grade Newsletter 9.9.22

 

Hello Parents!

Important Dates:

Papa John's Fundraiser Night: Monday, September 12th

Love & Logic Parents Night: 9/15

"The Secret" Recitation: 9/26

News:

Sign up to volunteer for Reading Groups in your child's classroom if you are able! (Link on the sidebar). Just a reminder that all volunteers must have completed the Raptor process. Please see the Headmaster Update for more information.

If you haven’t already, please send our current literature book, Sarah, Plain, and Tall, to school with your child.

Students should bring their reading bags to school, as we continue to launch our reading bag program.

Sign your student's agenda each night, and send it back each day.

Empty the Friday Folder over the weekend, sign it, and return it on Monday.

Sign assessments after reviewing with your child, and leave them in the Friday Folder to be returned to school.

Rocket Math homework is an oral practice of the “orbit” (problems in the stars on border of page). Your child should hold the quiz they took while the parent should hold the answer packet. Please see the video for more information.

https://cloud.swivl.com/v/6ab9404840a0b61c51a652ea54bebcaa

Conversation Prompts:

What kind of animal did Sarah bring with her from Maine?

How long does it take for Earth to orbit the sun?

Which addition strategy would you use to solve the problem 7+8? Why?

Which word is a verb in the following sentence? “Sarah loved the sea.”

Math: Students have reviewed the addition strategies of counting up using a number line, making a fast ten using a ten grid, and using double facts. Next week, students will add numbers up to 1,000 without renaming. We will focus on mental math and strategies utilizing place value. We will also introduce the vertical standard algorithm for addition.

Literature: 
As we continue to read Sarah, Plain and Tall, we’ll learn how Sarah likes life on the prairie. She will have new experiences with Caleb and Anna, and they will learn new things about Maine from her. Will Sarah decide to stay?

History:
We will continue our study of India and learn about the Hindu gods, The Festival of Lights, the Sacred River, and Siddhartha.

  
Science:
We will learn more about what happens during each of Earth’s seasons.

Grammar/Writing/Poetry:
We will learn about the poem, "The Secret" which will be recited the week of 9/26. Students will practice narration, copy work and dictation using the poem, "My Shadow" by Robert Louis Stevenson. In grammar, we will continue to learn about the four different types of verbs-action, state of being, linking, and helping.

Second Grade Newsletter 9.2.22

 Happy Friday Parents!

Important Dates:

Monday 9/5: Labor Day-No School-R&R Weekend (No homework)

Tuesday 9/6: Please send the classic, Sarah, Plain, and Tall

Wednesday 9/7: Spalding and Singapore Curriculum Night, starting at 5pm

 

News:

Please send your child with their reading bag and book, Sarah, Plain, and Tall. We will begin both next week.

Sign your student's agenda each night, and send it back each day. Please remind your child to write the title of the book they read before you sign. Thank you!

Empty the Friday Folder over the weekend, and return it on Tuesday.

Sign assessments after reviewing with your child, and leave them in the Friday Folder to be returned on Tuesday.

Expect Rocket Math homework daily, this is an oral practice of the orbit (problems in the stars on border of page). Your child should hold the quiz they took while the parent should hold the answer packet. Please see the video for more information.

https://cloud.swivl.com/v/6ab9404840a0b61c51a652ea54bebcaa

Conversation Prompts:
What was the big surprise Mr. Alden had for his grandchildren?
What does the Japanese flag symbolize?
What are the stages in a frog or chicken's life cycle?
How many tens in one hundred?

Math:

We will start a new unit on addition next week. We will learn several strategies such as count on using a number line, make a fast ten using a ten grid, and using doubles facts to add quickly and efficiently while reviewing basic addition facts up to 20. Don't forget to practice math facts daily with your child using the Rocket Math answer packet.

 

Literature: 
Please send your scholar with a copy of the classic, Sarah, Plain, and Tall. This week we will meet Papa, Anna, Caleb, and Lottie. We will hear their memories of Mama and how Papa places an advertisement in the newspaper for a new mother for the children. He receives a response from a woman named Sarah Wheaton from Maine and the family begins exchanging letters with Sarah, but will she come? 

History:

This week we started learning about Asia and locating it on the map. The first country we learned about was Japan, and we have learned some fun, interesting facts about the country. We will continue to learn about their culture and history this coming week and then start learning about India.
  
Science:
Next week, we will learn about the day and night cycle and the seasons. Students will enjoy learning about nature and how Mother Earth changes due to the Earth's tilt and orbit around the Sun.

 

Grammar:

Students will study the poem, "Seashells," however, this poem is not for memorization nor recitation. It does lend itself to nice imagery which corresponds with our literature unit on Sarah, Plain, and Tall. Students have learned about nouns and pronouns and will expand their understanding of verbs this week as not only action words but also linking words.