Week 6

Midterm is at the end of this week, meaning we’re already 1/6 of the way through the school year!  It’s been fun to see the progress the class has made already!  We moved spots last week, so the kids are settling in to a new arrangement and we’ve gotten our routines down!

Picture Day!
Picture day is Thursday, October 3.  Packets went home last week, but if you need another, you can either pick one up in the office or let me know and I’ll send one home with your child.  Even if you don’t order pictures, each child will get their picture taken for the yearbook!  I'm happy to hold onto picture packets until Thursday, so feel free to send them in early, if they're ready!

Christian Studies:
This week in Christian Studies we’ll be talking about Joseph forgiving his brothers, and we’ll relate that forgiveness to the way God forgives us.  We’ll also talk about God calling Moses and we’ll talk about how God calls us to do His work.

Math:
This week in math we’ll be finishing up our module on equal groups and starting our new module on collecting and showing data.  We’ll be taking data via a survey, and we’ll interpret and draw picture graphs.

Language Arts:
This week’s phonics concept is Bossy R -ir.  This is the second most common way to spell the sound /er/.  The kids picked up on last week’s Bossy R concept really quickly, so I have no doubt they’ll do a good job with this one!

We’ll also be looking at our story Maybe Something Beautiful and analyzing the story through close reading to discuss realistic fiction and focusing on the characters.

Science:
We categorized land last week, and this week we’ll use the types of land that we learned about to start our models of land and water.  This week we’ll add two types of land.  After we learn about types of water, we’ll add two types of water to our models and they’ll grow as we learn more.

Week 5

We have a short, but full, week ahead of us!

No School Friday:
We have no school on Friday for a professional day.  Please plan accordingly!

Fall Fest Fundraising:
Our Fall Fest fundraising is in full swing!  Envelopes can be turned in each day, and they will be returned to you.  We’re well on our way to our first incentive: spirit wear last day!  As soon as we earn it, I’ll let you know!

Christian Studies:
We’re moving through the Old Testament, and this week we’ll discuss Jacob and Esau.  We get the interesting perspective of examining the brothers years after Jacob tricks Isaac and Esau.  We’ll discuss forgiveness and link it to our forgiveness from God.  We’ll also learn how God works everything for His good, even bad things, as we discuss Joseph and some of the injustices he had to deal with.

Math:
This week in math we’ll examine odd and even numbers, using equations to represent equal groups.  We’ll also work with arrays and use addition to find the total.

Language Arts:
This week our phonics concept is Bossy R (er).  Over the next few weeks, we’ll also look at ir and ur, but this is the most common of the Bossy R combinations that says /er/.

In reading we’ll discuss ways we can make our neighborhood a better place.  We’ll also examine the characteristics of realistic fiction and find those characteristics in our text for the week: Maybe Something Beautiful.

Science:
Now that we’ve introduced the unit and the students have had a chance to show me what they know about making a map to show land and water, we’ll dive in to categorizing different types of land and discussing their characteristics.  The students will also choose two types of land to add to their clay model.

 

Week 4

The weather’s changing, and we’re settling into our routines and procedures!  I’m so proud of the 2^nd graders not only working on our procedures these past few weeks, but also for handling changes in our schedule with grace.

Christian Studies:
This week in Christian Studies we’ll look at the story of Abraham being tested.  We’ll connect that to God providing for us in our lives.  We’ll also talk about Isaac and Rebekah and how God’s plan happens, regardless of how people choose to try to “help.”

Math:
We’ll finish our first module in math this week, taking our test on using addition strategies to help fluently add and subtract.  We’ll also begin our second module, which focuses on number sense.  We’ll examine odd and even numbers as we end the week.

Language Arts:
This week’s spelling concept is fun, but fairly difficult to wrap our brains around.  We’ll be looking at “schwa,” which is an unstressed vowel in a word that is spelled with a surprising vowel (i.e., bacon—the “uh” sound being spelled with an o).  We’ll practice figuring out which syllable is unstressed, helping us identify the schwa.  We’ll also use the same words on our practice test as on our spelling test.

In reading we’ll read our text How Many Stars in the Sky?  We’ll use information from other texts to help us understand this text better, and we’ll do some analyzing in writing.

Science:
We’ll also begin looking at maps and how we can use them to learn more about land and water on earth.  This week we’ll see what we already know, making a map of a picture we see.  Then we’ll categorize pictures into different types of landforms and discuss a few different types of land on earth.  Throughout this unit, the students will be using clay to create a model with land and water!

Week 3

 This is our first full week of school, and if your family was anything like mine, it was hard to get moving on Monday morning!  We’ll settle into the year and build our stamina.  Until then, early bedtimes might be a good idea.

MAP Testing:
2^nd grade is MAP testing this week!  We’re MAP testing first thing in the morning on Tuesday, September 10 and Thursday, September 12.  There’s more information on Seesaw, so make sure to check that out!

Christian Studies:
This week in Christian Studies, we’ll be learning about the flood and relating that to God’s salvation for us.  We’ll also be learning about Sodom and Gomorrah, which focuses heavily on following God’s rules and the consequences of going against God.  We’ll discuss God’s forgiveness for our own sins, too.

Math:
This week in math we’ll continue our module on addition, relating addition to subtraction on Monday.  We’ll also be working with mental strategies to add and subtract with fluency.  We’ll finish the week with the strategy of using a tens fact to subtract.

Language Arts:
This week in spelling we’ll be working with three-consonant blends.  Look for a note going home on Monday with some information explaining the concept.

We’ll also be looking at the characteristics of realistic fiction.  We’ll read our text selection this week, and we’ll also analyze the setting of the story.

Week 2

Even though it’s not the first week of school anymore, we still have some firsts happening this week! 

Homework:
We’ll start this week with math homework.  Just a few things:

• ·       They have time in class almost every day to complete their homework
• ·       I give them time in class to study memory work and spelling (they may need additional time at home)
• ·       It is the 2^nd graders’ responsibility to get their logs signed, so I give them strategies for making it easy on the adults
• ·       Getting a daily routine in place for homework in 2^nd grade will equip them for future grades and the extra workload that comes with them

STAR Tests:
We took STAR tests last week.  Look for your child’s reading levels in their homework folder this week!

Reading Buddies:
We had reading buddies for the first time this week!  Check out Seesaw for a picture of your 2^nd grader with their 6^th grade buddy!

Flash Cards:
We’ll start flash cards this week for homework.  I provide addition flash cards to the students; however, they can use any flash cards or math fact practice they want for their 5 minutes of nightly flash cards.  Starting this week, the students will need two signatures on their homework sheets—reading and flash cards.

Christian Studies:
This week we start Christian Studies with the beginning of the world.  We’ll learn about creation and how God made everything “good.”  Then we’ll learn about humanity’s fall into sin and we’ll talk about our need for a savior.

Math:
This week in math we’ll begin our first module, which is all about fluency in addition and subtraction.  We’ll start off with using doubles facts to add, and we’ll add in some mental strategies to help become more fluent in adding.

Spelling:
This week we’re reviewing a spelling concept from the end of 1^st grade—contractions.  We’ll not only review the spelling concept, it will also give us an opportunity to re-establish our routines and remind ourselves of the layout of our spelling for the year.  Remember that they won’t have a spelling list to memorize each week; rather, we’ll focus on a spelling concept and practice several words throughout the week, then they’ll test on words in that concept.  Our first spelling test of the year is this Friday, September 6.

Language Arts:
We’ll start our language arts by reading our first passage, How Many Stars in the Sky?  We’ll focus on the realistic fiction genre this week, and we have a few new vocabulary words we’ll be discussing: backyard, treehouse, searchlights, daylight.