Second Grade Update – Week of 10/31

Happy Friday! 

First, thank you to all the parents who stepped forward to chaperone or drive for our field trip to the Bay Area Children’s Theater! We have enough to go now! 🙂 I will send out a separate communication to drivers/chaperones soon. Thank you again!

Wow, we are already nearing the end of October! Time in second grade is flying by. Students continue to be good models of our SLEs – in the classroom, outside at recess, with enrichment teachers, and in church. They are routinely recognized for lining up quietly after recess! Go second grade! Students are also doing a wonderful job staying on task during independent work while we have reading groups. Many students are also engaging in some additional challenges we have added to the classroom as well, including “Math Masters”! They are demonstrating that they are true lifelong learners! 🙂

Please ask your child what AR books they have read recently in class. Students are working up through their AR range (their “just right” books). They are completing thoughtful reading logs and demonstrating success with comprehension quizzes. Please congratulate them on their good choices and practice! As we approach trimester two, I will be challenging them to add more to their reading logs, both to practice good writing skills and demonstrate that they understand details within the text. They are ready! 🙂

Next week, we will enjoy a fun and spooky Halloween on Monday (please remember it is noon dismissal). On Tuesday, we will celebrate All Saints’ Day with an All School Mass. Students should remember to bring their school sweater or sweatshirt.

On Wednesday, we have our trip for the Dia de los Muertos performance at the library. We will leave school around 10:10 and be back around 12:30. Please send a home lunch for your child as we will not be back in time for hot lunch.

Below is our second grade update.

Focus Areas for Our Learning Next Week:

• Reading – 
  • In reading groups, students will continue SUPER magazine. Students focus on informational text skills, including understanding and using text features such as titles, different fonts, and the table of contents. Students will also identify how photographs and illustrations support their comprehension.
  • At night, students should read aloud to practice fluent reading skills. Please encourage your child to observe punctuation, read at a good pace, and read the words as they appear in the text (no deletions or substitutions).
• Grammar/Spelling – In Superkids, students will practice decoding and encoding words with r-controlled vowels (ex. car, fork, girl). We will continue practicing the rules for adding ‘ed and ‘ing endings as this is proving challenging for many students. Students should practice their spelling words for homework so they are prepared for the quiz on Friday.
• Writing – Students will complete the final copy of their personal narratives and add an illustration to match the details of their story. They will have an opportunity to share their narratives and share constructive feedback / questions / compliments with classmates either this week or next.
• Math – Students will continue working with place value by demonstrating proficiency with comparing 3-digit numbers and fluently adding 10 and 100 to 3-digit numbers.
• Religion – We will start our chapter about God the Father and focus on his love for us as well as how we honor Him. Students will also be given a copy of the Glory Be prayer in their homework folder. This is a simple prayer, and students should work to memorize it by the end of the trimester.
• Science – This week, students will make hypotheses and investigate the formation of canyons. In the activity, Cornmeal Canyons, students create a model landform using cornmeal. Then they drip water over this “land” to observe how water can change its shape and to understand how, over long periods of time, canyons can be formed through a similar process. It will be messy fun for sure!
• Social Studies – Students will use a compass rose to interpret directions on a map. We will also introduce new vocabulary: globe and equator. As a class, we will connect to the importance of celebrating our families and ancestors with our Dia de los Muertos performance at the library.

Other Updates for this Week:

• October Enrichment Newsletter!
• Covid Daily Screening – Please continue to do the daily screening. Your diligence is important and appreciated.
• Dates to Remember:
  • Monday, Oct. 31 – Noon Dismissal – Halloween
  • Tuesday, Nov. 1 – All School Mass
  • Wednesday, Nov. 2 – Una Ofrenda Musical at the library! Please send your child with a lunch from home that day! No hot lunch!
  • Friday, Nov. 11 – No School, Veterans Day
  • Nov. 14-18 – Scholastic Book Fair
  • Tuesday, Nov. 15 – Free dress for November b-days
  • Friday, Nov. 18 – Report Card Day
  • Nov. 21-25 – Thanksgiving Break

We look forward to seeing our students on Monday for a fun Halloween

All the best,
Catherine