Week 25

We have a busy week this week!  Here are some things to know:

Chapel:
Chapel this week is on Friday for Grand-Friend's Day, rather than on Wednesday.

Book Fair:
The book fair is this week!  Our class will get to preview it on Monday morning, and can bring money starting Tuesday.  Please make sure their money is in a bag or envelope with their name on it.  You can calso refer to the Newslice for information on how to add money to their account.  They will be able to shop during recess!

Report Cards:
Report cards will go home on Thursday, February 29.  Please check their homework folders for them.

Grand-Friend's Day:
Grand-Friend's Day is on Friday, March 1.  If you haven't done so yet, please follow the QR code on the flyer sent home last week.  Each student needs an adult to accompany them that day.  Please see my email for more information.

Early Dismissal on Friday:
Friday is an early release day.  Students will be released at 11:15.  Please plan accordingly, and let me know if your child's regular after-school plans are different that day!

Week 24

We're back to an almost-normal week, and we have a lot on the docket this week!

Math:
We'll be reviewing adding with regrouping (aka "carrying the one"), and we'll start on subtraction with regrouping (aka "borrowing").  We'll list the steps for both addition and subtraction, and we'll be spending lots of time practicing going through each step.  The more they practice the steps in order, the easier it will become.  Here are the steps that we're using:

Addition:
1.  Add the ones
2.  Regroup, if needed (10+)
3.  Add the tens

Subtraction:
1.  Look at the ones
2.  Regroup, if needed (top # is less than bottom #)
3.  Subtract the ones
4.  Subtract the tens

Language Arts:
This week we'll be using our language arts time for a big writing piece.  We've read two stories about kids who have made decisions about money.  In Alexander, Who Used to be Rich Last Sunday we read about Alexander's poor decisions about money.  In A Chair for My Mother, we read about the little girl and her family's decision to save to buy a chair.  The second graders will create a character who makes a decision about money. They'll write a story with a couple of events, using signal words (i.e., first, next, then) to signify the sequence of events.  They'll go through the writing process to prewrite, write a draft, revise, edit, and publish their writing.

Christian Studies:
We're into the start of Jesus' ministry in Christian Studies!  This week we'll be talking about Jesus and Zaccheus.  We'll focus on Jesus' grace and forgiveness, and the way our hearts can change when we're forgiven.  We'll also talk about Jesus stilling the storm, and we'll connect that miracle to how Jesus can still the storms (or fears) in our lives.

Science:
We've learned about some of the things a plant needs to survive.  This week we'll be looking at pollination and how plants can reproduce.  We'll be examining bees and why they're such good pollinators, and then the students will design and build their own pollination gadget, using their knowledge of bees and pollination.

Art:
In art we'll learn about Thomas Kinkade and the style of his artwork.  Then the kids will create their own masterpiece, inspired by Thomas Kinkade's artwork.

Week 23--LEST Week!

 Monday, February 12:

~Day 100! ~Tri-City Americans assembly at 9:20 AM. (Fall Fest incentive) Tuesday, February 13: ~LEST spirit day--students can wear standard of dress bottoms and any LEST shirt (this year's or previous years' LEST shirts). If they don't have an LEST shirt, they should wear standard of dress. ~LEST Preview Assembly at 1:45 PM. Wednesday, February 14: ~Spirit wear last day ~Early dismissal on at 11:15 AM. ~Valentine's Day party. Students can bring valentines for their classmates!

Monday, February 19:

~No school (Presidents' Day)

Week 22

We’re heading in to a full week of school!  Here’s what to expect:

Stuffed Animal and Movie Day!
The 2^nd graders will be watching The Lion King (2019 version) on Thursday afternoon!  For the movie, they can bring a stuffed animal (standard-size or smaller, please) to have on their desk.  If they’d like to bring an extra snack for the movie, they can bring that in their lunchbox that day.

Christian Studies:
This week in Christian Studies we’ll be learning about the start of Jesus’ ministry.  We’ll discuss how He called His disciples, and we’ll talk about Him healing a man at the pool.

Math:
This week in math we’ll finish off our module on taking apart (“decomposing”) numbers to help us add and subtract more fluently.  We’ll then start two-digit addition and subtraction.  We won’t finish this module before our long LEST break, so we’ll do some review when we get back and make sure we get some extra practice in before we move on after LEST.

Language Arts:
This week we’ll be reviewing spelling concepts we’ve learned over the last several weeks.  Those patterns are: the 3 Great Rules (doubling, change, and drop), Consonant-le endings, Kind Old Words, and the Bossy R concept for or and ar.  The practice test will have the same 10 concept words as the test on Friday, so they will be able to get some good practice in.

Science:
We planted some radishes last week and they’ve popped up quickly!  This week we’ll be observing the parts of that plant.  We’ll also be discussing the fruit and pollen in plants and what purposes they serve for the plant.  We’ll start to discuss how animals can help plants.