Second Grade Update

Dear Second Grade Families,

Thank you for attending Back-to-School Night! If you were unable to make it, here are the slides from our presentation. Please also review the documents sent on Tuesday. If anyone has questions that you did not get to ask, please reach out. 🙂

Wow, our second week of second grade is completed! Time is flying, and our class is settling nicely into routines, procedures, and rules that keep our classroom a safe and respectful learning environment where everyone can grow! We ended our week with closing circle (as we normally will). Students shared something they learned, enjoyed, or appreciated. You have wonderful children, as you already know! 🙂

Below is our weekly update:

Focus Areas for Our Learning:

• Reading – Students will read stories that reinforce skills of making connections between the text and themselves, identifying important information, and understanding characters. Students will also practice fluent reading (reading at an appropriate pace with accuracy and expression).
• Grammar/Spelling – In Superkids, students will review spelling patterns for words with long a, o, and e sounds. Students will also practice adding -ed and -ing endings to base words.
• Writing – Students will review the types of sentences as well as adding details and adjectives to make sentences more interesting. 
• Math –The class will work toward math facts fluency through 20 using the number rack as a modeling tool. Students will also practice comparing 2-digit numbers and solving word problems.
• Religion – Students begin our faith journey by exploring the Bible as a holy book and the written Word of God. We reflect on the power of listening and showing respect to others.
• Science – The class will explore how scientists know so much! Discussions will center around the scientific process – the value of observation as well as developing and testing hypotheses. 
• Social Studies – We will begin our unit on communities with a focus on family. Students are encouraged to bring a photo of their family. Having these photos by Friday, the 10th would be great! Thank you! To further support this unit, topics for at-home family conversations include how your family came to settle in the Bay Area, your family traditions, and stories of their ancestors. 

Other Updates for this Week:

• STAR Assessments – Most students took the math and reading assessments this week. Barring technology issues or absences, all students will complete testing this coming week. I reminded the class that these assessments are simply to give me information to be the best teacher I can be for them. 🙂 
• Picture Day – Forms went home today. Picture day is next Friday, the 10th, and you may order online or fill out the envelope attached to the form. Your child needs to wear their white uniform shirt. If they do not have one, please let me know.
• Classroom Tour! – Attached are some pictures of our classroom. While we would have loved to have had you in person on Back-to-School Night, we at least wanted you to see where your children are learning each day! Also included is a video message from Bagel the hedgehog for your child. We pass Bagel around during circle time. 🙂
• Dates to remember:
  • Monday, Sept. 6th: Labor Day (no school)
  • Friday, Sept. 10th: Picture Day (white uniform shirt)
  • Tuesday, Sept. 21st: Free Dress for Sept. B-Days!
  • Friday, Sept. 24th: No School, Staff Development Day
  • Saturday, Sept. 25th: Parish Fun Fair
  • Wednesday, Sept. 29th: Noon Dismissal, Teacher PD

We look forward to seeing our students on Tuesday! Wishing you a joyful long weekend!

All the best,
Catherine

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bGOktYcuO9u9HddxqhPIjI4EX00RFKTw/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Sn51LUVhU78_MyACwlOxyjkVH2nQT52H/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1u2eTJ2p3G3PWtQ98HzIrq7xjmsxBScCN/view?usp=sharing