November 27, 2017

I have been preparing and getting ready for the next 3 1/2 weeks!  I'm excited to integrate all areas of learning with the awe and excitement that this season offers!  I came across this quote:  "Our student's bring great excitement to our classrooms.  Let their excitement encourage you, inspire you and grow your love of teaching!"   I think this can be true for our homes as well.  It's a great perspective to have during this time of the year.  

We will be sticking to our regular routine in 2nd grade as much as possible.  However, we will weave Christmas themes in and out of our learning.  I really want to focus on the spirit of giving, which will be easy to allign with our virtues each week.  We will be on a special mission each day (starting on December 1st) to spread joy around our school and even at home!  

Sharing- Students can bring in Christmas books to share and read during the day.  Please have the book marked with your student's name.  All books will be sent home on Thursday each week.

This week's theme is based on the book, Bear Stays Up.  It's a great story to get us thinking about the gift of friendship and how we want to decorate the room.  

This Week in 2nd Grade

Math- We will be diving into double digit additon this week!  The best thing for parents to know about the "new way of doing math" is identifying place value.  It really isn't anything new, it's just part of having a good number sense and lays the foundation for regrouping (aka: borrowing).  So if you are working on math at home, ask your student to identify the ones and the tens and be sure they line them up directly under each other when adding.  Take a look at this video to help your child use base ten block strategy:   https://youtu.be/b8pvg4r_JPo​

Science- This Friday we will continue to explore the amazing world of plants.  We will be growing grass heads in hopes to discover the importance of the sun and plant growth.  

Reading/Writing-  This week we will be decorating the classroom for Christmas as an incentive for reading.  All of their hard work will earn them a lightbulb or ornament to decorate with throughout the week.   We are going to focus on Read Live and Lexia this week to sharpen our reading skills after a week off.  

Social Studies-  Christmas is a perfect time to discuss consumers and producers and the demands and limitations of resources (does anyone remember the Cabbage Patch craze?!?!).  We will have some fun discussions and activities that will help generate their thoughts and ideas on this topic.  

Spelling-  Spelling lists will be sent home in HW folders this week.  Our test will be on Friday morning.

STAR Homework

The homework menu will be the same as recent menus.  I will be sending home math practice pages from the student's math book as an option for math homework.  Have fun with reading Christmas stories this season.  Reading is the most important activity your student can do at home!  

Upcoming Dates & Events

12/14- Winter Performance @ CMA 7pm
12/20- Classroom Party (Half Day)
12/21-1/5- Christmas Break
1/8- Back to School!
1/15- MLK Day (No School)