November 2009 Newsletter
Here is an update as to what’s been happening in 2nd grade.
In science, we have been studying about how animals are alike and different. More specifically, we are learning to classify them into characteristics of birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians. We are also learning that animals without backbones are invertebrates, which make up 97% of animal species. Some of the more commonly known invertebrates include jellyfish, worms, insects, and crustaceans (lobsters, crabs, and shrimp) We are also studying the life cycle of animals. Students have reinforced the life cycle of the butterfly through typing practice and internet projects in technology with Miss Blink. Our next area of study in science will be how people grow and change.
In social studies, the first week of November we will be ending our unit on families with a writing project on family heirlooms and treasures. Your child will be asking you about a family herloom you may have in your family that may have an interesting story behind it. I will be sending home an example story of a family treasure that was passed along in my family. It will be fun for students to share about these in class, so look for more info about this coming your way the first week in November. The next area of study in Social Studies will be learning about our country and its 50 states, and how to use a compass rose in conjunction with directions of North, South, east and West on a map.
In spelling, we took our first round of pretests on Friday, so look for your child’s individualized spelling list to come home on Mondays. Part of every night’s homework should be to review this list at home, so make a place on your fridge or some other handy place to post the list and practice often. In class, we will be using a practice technique for memorizing called RCRC. That stands for Read, Cover, Recite and Check each word. It goes like this: Let’s take a sample spelling word “some”. If you were studying this word for spelling, the first step is 1) Read ( have the student read the word, focusing and concentrating on each letter pointing to each letter as he or she spells it out loud saying: “some:. s-o-m-e.” 2) In the next step, the student Covers the word and pictures it in his head. 3) In the third step, students should RECITE what they see in their head out loud and spell the word out loud, while it is still covered from view. 4) The last step is to Check, pulling their hand off the word to see if they did indeed spell it correctly. This should be followed up by students writing the words down after being dictated by you the parent. We will be practicing in class with the RCRC method for each word, please practice with your child at home. Post tests will be on Fridays, followed by pretests for the following week. The new list will come home on the following Monday. If possible, have a children’s dictionary available at home for writing assignments your child may be given. It is OK to spell a word or two for them, but beyond that, have your child look up the word in a dictionary (they may need some assistance the first few times they do this). It is still OK for your child in second grade to still sound out words the best they can and put down the sounds they hear. But our goal is to move into correcct spelling-especially on words they have had in class or on their spelling lists.
Religion: By now, you have hopefully heard that the First Reconciliation date has been moved to January. The exact date will be announced soon. We continue to learn of God’s Commandments and His love and mercy. Your child should begin to study an Act of Contrition. I will begin calling each child up to have them recite this to me starting in December. So please stat working on this at home with your child if you have not already. I will send home a version given in the religion book, but I know there are several versions to choose from. I think what is important is that your child understands what the words of the prayer mean and is able to recite it form the heart. Which version of this prayer is not as important as them knowing what its purpose is and to say it with a loving heart. If you want to just use the version I sent home, that is fine, if you want to teach your child another, that is fine with me too. If you could send me a copy of the version you are teaching at home if it differs from the one I sent, that would allow me to work with your child at school too. Feel free to email me or send a copy with your child. The Penance books are very popular with the students, thanks for taking the time to do the follow up family pages at home. I will continue to send these home on Thursdays so that you have plenty of time to get the scrap booking pages done by Monday.
Math: We are into our place value unit and are starting with grouping tens and ones. If you don’t have a set of addition and subtraction flashcards for sums 18 and less, please pick up a set of each if possible and practice at home. I will be happy to send home a set for anyone who needs them. I want students to begin memorizing math facts, as it is going to be so helpful to them when we begin regrouping two digit numbers down the road .We will be drilling on math facts at school also.
Writing: We continue to work on good letter form and spacing in our writing. using the D’nealian handwriting program. I will send home a guide that goes through every letter step by step, so that you can help your child with writing assignments at home. Your child has numerous opportunities to write during the school day including literature response activities and books, creative writing assignments, cross curriculum writing in social studies, science and math.
Reading: We continue to build our language and reading skills in our 2 hour balanced literacy block. I will continue to send home books on your child’s reading level to read at home. Please have your child read out loud to you for a portion of the 15 minutes required for the reading a night for the homework log. You can help develop comprehension, by simply asking your child to retell what they have read, or by asking them to predict what may come next or by describing the characters, setting and plot to you. Asking them abut connections they may have also connects them more deeply to the story and brings their own background knowledge into the picture, which also helps with comprehension. We have talked a lot about connections in class. Share your own connections too!
I enjoyed meeting with you at conferences! Always great to meet and talk with you about your children. Every single one of them is special to me and a blessing. Email or call me anytime with any questions or concerns you have. Thanks for your support and patience through the run of illnesses which have plagued my family and me. I know many of you and your kids have been sick as well. Let’s pray for good health for all of us in the upcoming month! Thanks again for all your generous support.
Sincerely,
Mary Evans
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