Week 19

I hope everyone got some good rest after coming back to a full week after Christmas break!  We’re diving into some new learning this week and will be cruising along!

Christian Studies:
In Christian Studies this week we’ll transition from the Old Testament to the New Testament.  We’ll start by looking at the prophesies about Jesus, looking at how God promised to send a Savior.  Then we’ll talk about the foretelling and birth of John the Baptist, paving the way for Jesus to come.

Math:
This week in math we’ll continue to look at strategies for adding and subtracting.  We’ll start to decompose (break apart) numbers to more quickly and accurately add and subtract.  We’ll be looking for the closest ten and we’ll practice breaking apart ones and tens.

Language Arts:
This week’s spelling concept is consonant-le endings.  We’ll learn that these endings are their own syllable.  We’ll practice two new red words, too: sure, buy.  Look for the family connection page going home on Monday for more information about this concept.

In reading we’ll take a deeper look at our text, The Green Kid’s Guide to Watering Plants, and we’ll answer questions about the text.  We’ll dive into the structure of the text and we’ll give evidence for why it’s informational text, why the author included headings, and how to use them.

Science:
We’ll start our new unit on what plants need to grow.  We’ll introduce the unit and talk about science safety before we dive into the lessons.

Social Studies:
We’ll look at the word “community” and what it means.  Then we’ll play a game online that helps us determine what we have in our communities and what those things are used for.  We’ll look at places where people live, work, play, and solve problems.

Week 18

I hope everyone had a great, relaxing Christmas break!  I’m excited to get back to school and settle into our normal routine!

REMINDERS:
-Library books are due on Tuesday!
-Extra credit is due by Tuesday to receive credit.
-Dress for the weather--every student should bring a winter coat each day.
-Hot lunch is no longer offered.

Christian Studies:
This week in Christian Studies we’ll be learning about Jonah and the minor prophets.  We’ll discuss the messages God sent through them and how it points to Jesus.  We’ll also discuss Nehemiah rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem and how we fix what is broken in our lives.

Math:
This week is a short module on using a hundreds chart and a number line to add and subtract.  We’ll review and practice counting strategies, getting us ready to do some double-digit adding and subtracting in future modules.

Language Arts:
This week’s phonics concepts will be review of the last few several concepts we learned:  diphthongs oi/oy and ou/ow, igh, and the 3 Great Rules (doubling, drop the “e,” and change the “y” to an “i”).  We’ll do some practice each day and our spelling words will be pulled from the daily practices.

We’ll also start a new week in our reading books.  This week we’ll read What’s in the Egg, Little Pip?  We’ll focus on reading strategies that help us understand the text better, specifically the characters.  We’ll also discuss the characteristics of fiction and identify those characteristics in our story as we read.

Week 17

This week will be an exciting whirlwind leading up to Christmas break!

Christmas Program:
We have a couple of Christmas programs happening this week!  The preschool and pre-k Christmas program is on Tuesday, December 16 at 6 PM.
The K-8 Christmas program is Thursday, December 18!  See Mr. Haan’s email from yesterday for more logistics.

·       2 PM program:  doors open at 1:30 PM, students will wear standard of dress

·       6 PM program: doors open at 5:30 PM, students can wear standard of dress or Christmassy clothes that meet the free dress guidelines

Christmas Around the World:
On Friday, K-5 will spend the whole morning traveling to 6 different countries (classrooms) to learn about how each country celebrates Christmas. As this is a half-day full of fun and excitement, we suggest students leave EVERYTHING AT HOME. You read that right: no need for a backpack, snack, or water bottle. We will spend one day this week decorating our "suitcases" for this event, so students will have something to carry their crafts home in. In a few of the countries, students will also be provided a light snack. However, if your student is staying after school for Eagles Nest, please make sure they have a backpack and lunch. Otherwise, students will be dismissed at our regular early release time. If you are volunteering for this event, please stay after dropping off your student at school. Please join us for Chapel, and then immediately afterward, Miss. Closner and Mrs. Arnold will give you instructions before our students return to the sanctuary to start our fun. It's going to be an exciting week before we head to Christmas break!

Christian Studies:
This week in Christian Studies we’ll continue through the Old Testament.  We’ll learn about the fall of Judah and we’ll talk about how things go better when we do things God’s way.  We’ll also learn about Esther and how God used an ordinary young woman to do extraordinary things for Him.

Math:
This week in math we’ll finish up our module on telling time.  Then we get a break from math homework! 

Week 16

As we approach Christmas, we have lots to do before Christmas break starts!  Here are some dates to be aware of:

Thursday, December 18:  Christmas Program Performances
2 PM—student will wear standard of dress clothes
6 PM—students arrive at 5:45 and go to their classrooms.  They can wear standard of dress or dressier clothes.
Friday, December 19:  Christmas Around the World and Half Day
-Students can wear spirit wear.
-No snacks needed, no lunch needed (unless your child is going to Eagles’ Nest after school)
-Dismissal at 11:15 AM
-No backpacks or water bottles needed

Christian Studies:
This week we will learn about Naaman, a Syrian general, who sought out God’s help and was healed of leprosy.  We’ll also connect Naaman’s healing to our own baptism.  We’ll also learn about Hoshea and the fall of Israel.  We’ll discuss how God is always with us, no matter what’s going on in our lives.

Math:
This week we’ll start a module on telling time.  In 1^st grade, the students learned how to tell time to the hour and half hour.  We’ll extend their learning by telling time to 5 minutes, we’ll talk about different ways to tell and write time, and we’ll tell time with A.M. and P.M.

Language Arts:
This week’s phonics concept is the Change Rule.  We’ll discuss when we change the “y” at the end of the word to an “i” before we add the ending, and we’ll talk about when we don’t change the “y” to an “i”.  We’ll practice our new red words, too: always, hour.

Christmas Activities:
We’ll have a few Christmas activities to be working on this week, and we’ll also get a chance to learn about Norman Rockwell and create a Christmassy magazine cover in his style.

Week 15

We’re back to another full week of school!  I can’t believe how quickly November flew by, and I know December will go even more quickly!  A quick note about the weather: with the weather getting colder, I’m encouraging the students to come prepared with a heavy winter coat.  A sweatshirt won’t be enough for recesses when it gets below freezing.  They’re also welcome to bring hats and gloves; I recommend trying to write their last name on the tags and having the kids store them in their coat pockets.

Movie and Stuffed Animal Day:
The 2^nd grade class has earned a movie and stuffed animal day!  We’ll be watching The Super Mario Bros Movie on Friday, December 5!  Look for more information on a dark green note going home on Monday!

Christian Studies:
This week in Christian Studies we’ll continue our walk through the Old Testament.  We’ll talk about Solomon and how he turned from God, leading to some dire consequences for Israel.  In the midst of that bad news, we’ll also talk about the promise God gave Israel, as well as how He sent Jesus to redeem us.  We’ll then learn about Elijah and how God spoke to Him in a surprising way.

Math:
This week we’ll start and finish a new module on money, this time talking about dollar amounts.  We’ll continue to count coins and will use the amounts we’ve counted to solve other problems.

Language Arts:
This week’s phonics rule is the drop rule.  When we have a silent e at the end of a word (like when we have a Magic E), before we add an ending that starts with a vowel, we’ll drop the e.  We’ll practice this rule throughout the week, as well as our new red word: through.

We’ll also do our first unit reading assessment.  We’ll break it up into shorter pieces, and the students will use reading strategies to answer questions about a text they read independently.  This assessment also has a writing component to it, where the kids will write a paragraph about a time they helped someone.

Week 13

Parent/teacher conferences are this week and I’m looking forward to meeting with each of you!  If you haven’t signed up yet, please do so at the following link:  https://calendly.com/pickerbls/2024-2nd-grade-conferences-clone

Report Cards:
Report cards will be sent home on Friday with your student.  This is the first day of conferences.  If you don’t have time to review the report card before our conference (especially those who have conferences on Friday), I’ll have a copy at the conference.

Free Dress Day:
2^nd grade has a free dress day on Thursday, November 20!  Please review page 31 of the handbook for the free dress guidelines and let me know if you have any questions!

Christian Studies:
This week we’ll be moving along in the Old Testament.  We’ll start the week talking about Saul’s jealousy of David and the times David had opportunities to kill Saul.  We’ll discuss how David obeyed God by sparing Saul’s life.  We’ll also learn that David was a sinful man.  We’ll talk (very briefly) about David and Bathsheba, focusing on David’s repentance and God’s forgiveness.

Math:
This week in math we’ll finish our module on counting money.  We’ll practice counting coin combinations.  Then we’ll make the same amount of money with different coins.  We’ll do a practice test and review counting money, and we’ll take our test on Thursday.

Language Arts:
This week’s phonics lesson is the first of what we call the “Three Great Rules.”  We’ll be talking about the doubling rule.  When we have a one-syllable word with a short vowel sound, we need to double the last consonant before adding the ending (like “ing” and “ed”).

Week 12

We have a different kind of week ahead of us, with a day off in the middle of the week, so it'll feel a little weird.

No School Tuesday!
Please remember that there's no school on Tuesday for Veterans' Day!

Early Dismissal on Friday!
Friday is an early dismissal day, with kids leaving at 11:15, for a professional day for teachers.

Veterans' Day Assembly:
We are having a Veterans' Day assembly on Monday, November 10 at 2:20 to honor veterans.  You're welcome to join us!

Christian Studies:
This week in Christian Studies we'll learn about Eli's death and the ark of the covenant being stolen.  We'll discuss how we should come to Jesus with humility and grace, rather than manipulating or demanding.  We'll also learn about the dynamic between David, Jonathan, and Saul.  We'll talk about God's plan and how David tried to be faithful to God's plan.

Math:
This week in math we'll start our module on counting coins.  We'll start with relating tens and ones to dimes and pennies.  Then we'll identify and find the value of coins.  After that, we'll compare the value of coin combinations.  Note:  If your child needs extra practice counting coins, that's a great way to use their 5 minutes of flash cards these next couple of weeks!

Language Arts:
This week's phonics concept is the vowel team "igh."  We'll practice words with that vowel team, as well as our two new red words: "great" and "though."

We'll also finish our deep dive into our realistic fiction text called You Can't Climb a Cactus.  We'll close read the text, then focus on making and confirming predictions.