October snuck up on me. It’s been a very busy month here in second grade.
Our class is motivated and eager to learn!
All of my initial reading assessments have been completed, and I am about to
start a short fluency assessment with everyone during the next couple of
weeks. Four literature circle groups have been established. The books being
read are The Chalk Box Kid, Henry and Mudge, Junie B. Jones Smells Something
Fishy, and George and Martha. I meet with each group regularly and they have
assignments to complete between sessions. They enjoy this and it helps them
to become more independent workers.
Everyone is working in a spelling workbook now. I have asked that these books
go home each night so that they study their words for the week. I do ask that
they NOT go ahead in their workbooks. I meet with each group each day, Monday
through Thursday, and go over the directions and skills with them. They then
go back to their seats to complete that day’s page. There will be a test each
Friday on the unit’s words. (If we have a shortened week, we will not have
spelling that week.) Each unit usually has two “Bonus” pages at the end, and
these may be done at home. I don’t expect them to, I just offer it to them.
If they complete the pages during the week we’re doing the unit, I do correct
them.
You can find us actively engaged in math class each day. While learning a
little bit about time and counting change, we have been learning new games
that help us to learn the combinations of 10, along with the +1 and +2 facts.
We have just begun story problem solving. Determining which operation should
be used to solve a problem, along with selecting a strategy that makes sense
to solve it, and showing his/her thinking clearly and in an organized way on
paper are important points that are being emphasized. We will be doing a lot
of this work throughout the year.
The student math handbooks have been going home regularly with a list of pages
and games that reflect what we have been covering in class. I would ask that
you try not to go ahead, though, as our work in math tends to spiral from one
unit to the next, introducing related concepts that were covered earlier in
the year. Please feel free to revisit any games or activities that you and
your child have played already. That certainly helps to establish a firm
foundation from which to build as the year goes on.
We completed our study of insects, and learned a great deal, including the
various types of mouths they have, how they breathe, and how they protect
themselves from predators.
We also completed our map work in social studies. I am very pleased with the
efforts that students (and their families!) put into learning the names and
locations of the continents and oceans. I was amazed at how many students
were able to spell many of them, too!
Currently, we are learning about Columbus. Included in this study is
understanding the purpose of his voyage and the impact he had on the native
people he met. Students are enthusiastic about learning about long ago times!
Thank you for helping your child to complete reading logs. Keep up the good
work! They more they read, the stronger their developing skills become!
Please encourage your child to be a good messenger between home and school. I
do send notices and math letters home from time to time, as well as occasional
homework assignment, so getting into the habit of checking backpacks would
help to ensure that these are received.
Thank you for your continued support. Open House and Celebration Books Night
will be on October 22nd. I hope you will be able to come in to visit. Your
child will be most anxious to give you the grand tour!
