Second Grade Update

Dear Second Grade Families,

Happy Friday! 

It was a joy to watch your children model rivers in science this week! Before we started, they brainstormed and worked together to develop the hypothesis that rivers start in higher places like mountains and flow down toward the oceans (wow!). They confirmed this hypothesis with their models and by examining maps to see patterns of mountains and rivers. And of course, any chance to work with spray bottles is fun, too! 🙂

This week, we also discussed and practiced procedures for different types of emergencies (fires, earthquakes, intruders). This topic can bring up anxiety for some students. I shared that these types of emergencies are unlikely to happen, but that we need to be prepared and know what to do just in case. 

I was also very proud of student’s participation during Number Corner this week! Number Corner is our daily calendar activity. Students determine patterns and practice core 2nd grade math concepts and skills. This month has a focus on odd/even numbers, time, and math facts through 20. (Number Corner is additional practice that supplements our core math curriculum.)

Finally, students enjoyed our first celebration of the marble jar – popsicles and extra recess! They worked together as a class to earn marbles for acts of participation, being ready to learn, focusing on assignments, etc. This is a class effort – well done to our students! 

Below is our weekly update:

Focus Areas for Our Learning Next Week:

• Reading – Students will continue Book Club in small groups! They will practice fluent reading (reading at an appropriate pace with accuracy and expression). They will answer questions about the story by identifying support in the text and discuss cause and effect.
• Grammar/Spelling – In Superkids, students will review pronouns and practice using the “th”, “wh” spelling patterns. Students will also practice with contractions, identifying that the apostrophe takes the place of the omitted letters.
• Writing – Students will write “get-to-know-me” letters. We will identify the main parts of a letter (date, greeting, body, closing, signature) as well as important punctuation for each part.
• Math –The class continues to develop fluency with math facts through 20 by focusing on number relationships such as doubles and halves, and doubles plus/minus 1. They apply their understanding of these relationships in a series of story problems. Students also use subtraction as a method for comparing quantities.
• Religion – Students explore how we come to know and love God and how we can show that love to others.
• Science – Continuing our unit about changes to the Earth’s surface over time, students investigate the effects of rocks tumbling in a river. Based on their observations, they construct an explanation for why there is sand at a beach.
• Social Studies – Ms. Andie from the Alameda Free Library will visit our classroom for a read-aloud and discussion of “The Heart of Mi Familia”. Students will also complete their family tree and respond to a few questions that help them learn about their ancestors and how their families came to live in the Bay Area. This will be assigned as homework (due Friday), and students will have the opportunity to share about their families in class the following week.

Other Updates for this Week:

• Safe Bodies – This continues to be a conversation in our classroom, and I will begin sending emails home, as needed. If you get an email from me, please do not be alarmed; however please do take it seriously and have a discussion with your child. The expectation is to keep your body to yourself at all times. While I understand they are 2nd graders :), we all have a responsibility to be safe with each other. Thank you for your support.
• Accelerated Reader (AR) Ranges – Students’ AR ranges are based on STAR results and help students identify “just right” books. These are books that will challenge, but not frustrate them. Students have been given their AR ranges in class and will use these ranges to support reading choices in both the class library and Epic.
• STAR Results – I will send home these results with progress reports on October 4th. 
• Headphones – Please make sure you have sent a pair of headphones to school with your child. We are using these everyday now. 
• Dates to remember:
  • Tuesday, Sept. 21st: Free Dress for Sept. B-Days!
  • Thursday, Sept. 23rd: Multiples Spirit Day (students may dress alike with other students)
  • Friday, Sept. 24th: No School, Staff Development Day
  • Saturday, Sept. 25th: Parish Fun Fair
  • Wednesday, Sept. 29th: Noon Dismissal, Teacher PD
  • October 5th-8th: Noon Dismissals for Parent/Teacher/Student Conferences (Please send back the conference form on Monday if you have not done so already. This was sent home on yellow paper and via email. Thank you!)
  • Monday, Oct. 11th: No School, no Share & Care (Indigenous Peoples’ Day)
  • Thursday, Oct. 14th: Make-up Picture Day
  • Tuesday, Oct. 19th: Free dress for October birthdays
  • Friday, Oct. 29th: Noon Dismissal – Halloween Parade

We look forward to seeing our students on Monday!

All the best,
Catherine