Second Grade Update – Week of 11/28

Dear Second Grade Families, 

Happy Friday and happy Thanksgiving break!

This week, thank you to Ms. Ortiz who led your children in a beautiful fall art docent project to celebrate the season. Thank you also to Mrs. Kyle and Mrs. Dignon for assisting to support our students in their creativity! 🙂

Another highlight was watching students’ enthusiastically read each others’ personal narratives and give written feedback. This took the form of questions, comments, and compliments. While I had only asked them to read and comment on three narratives, many asked to do more! Awesome! This process is very valuable from both sides – learning to give positive feedback to help another person get stronger and stronger and learning to receive it as well. I look forward to more of these opportunities during second grade!

The week we return from break will start our season of Advent, a time of preparing for our Lord. It is a time to reflect on how we can prepare our hearts and homes for Christ’s birth in the world as it is today. It is a time for faith communities and families to remember, through prayer, reflections, special music, and good deeds the true meaning of Jesus’ birth.

Below is our second grade learning update.

Focus Areas for Our Learning Next Week:

• Reading – 
  • In reading groups, students will start their new book clubs. We will identify genre, discuss first impressions of characters, and make predictions. 
  • 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 practice decoding and encoding ay/ā/words (stay, play, say) and /ô/ words (draw, haul, tall, chalk). We will also practice using commas. Students should practice their spelling words for homework so they are prepared for the quiz on Friday.
• Writing – Students will begin an informational piece focused on a continent. This week, we will practice reading an informational text for information, deciding what important information we might want to share with others, and take notes in an organizational planning page.
• Math – The class will continue practicing 2 and 3-digit addition and subtraction using the number line. We will also be learning a few other strategies. The goal is for children to learn each strategy and then narrow in on the one that works best for them.
• Religion – We will continue our chapter about Jesus, the Son of God. Please see the Mass Responses sheet that was included in your child’s homework folder. Children should learn these responses over time so that they can actively participate at Mass (a couple already know them – great!).
• Social Studies/Science – This week, science and social studies collide as we learn about different types of landforms and make connections to the continents we are researching for our writing projects.

Other Updates for this Week:

• Field Trip Permission Slips – Permission slips will be sent home on Monday, November 28th in your child’s homework folder. Please sign and return no later than Friday, December 2nd. 
• Mass Responses – A “cheat sheet” will be sent home in your child’s homework folder so that they can continue learning how to actively participate during the Mass. Some of these responses are sung, and children can become very familiar with them during Saturday and Sunday Masses. 
• Annual Fund! – The Annual Fund is still going on!  The school is at $22,000 and we still need your help! Classes that reach 100% earn FREE DRESS! The first class to get to 100% will earn a PIZZA LUNCH and FREE DRESS! Currently 2nd grade is at 33% (we are fourth out of all grades). Please contribute! Our goal is 100% participation – a donation (any amount, large or small) from each family. THANK YOU!
• Covid Daily Screening – Please continue to do the daily screening. Your diligence is important and appreciated.
• Dates to Remember:
  • Nov. 21-25 – Thanksgiving Break
  • Tuesday, Dec. 6 – Field Trip to the Bay Area Children’s Theater
  • Thursday, Dec. 8 – All School Mass
  • Tuesday, Dec. 13 – Free Dress for December birthdays
  • Thursday, Dec. 15 – Christmas Concert – 7pm – Student participation is mandatory
  • Friday, Dec. 16 – Noon dismissal, NO Share and Care
  • Dec. 19 – Jan. 2 – Christmas Break

We wish you all a blessed, joyful, and restful Thanksgiving! We look forward to seeing our students on the 28th!

All the best,
Catherine