Week of 9/24

Last week I sent home a note about our field trip on October 12th to Linder Farms.  I've already gotten many permission slips and money sent in for it.  I have attached the note to the bottom of this post in case you didn't see it come home.

You will also find next week's spelling list and math study guide attached.  Students are struggling with time and money so any opportunities to practice those things at home will help.

This week 24 out of 28 students returned their homework!  That is a record.  We are shooting for 100% next week.

Today, students celebrated their second marble party.  They enjoyed wearing their pajamas and getting to snuggle up with something soft.

Next week is homecoming week so the whole school can dress up throughout the week.  Please, no masks, no face paint, and no toy weapons of any kind.  Modesty dress code guidelines are to be followed for dress-up days.

Here are the themes for each day:
Monday, 10/1 - Back in the Day
Tuesday, 10/2 - Opposite Day
Wednesday, 10/3 - Movie Character Day
Thursday, 10/4 - Superhero Day
Friday, 10/5 - School Color Day

Spelling List 4 - Test on 10/2

Math Study Guide 4 - Test on 9/27

Linder Farms Permission Slip

Week of 9/17

Students aren't quite used to the cold read routine on Mondays yet and it took a bit longer than expected to get through everyone.  About 5 students did not get their fluency homework on Monday, but it will come home today.  Please look for it.

Last week students did their second writing assignment.  They wrote about the positive points of second grade to go along with a cactus art piece they made.

They also built a model of a living thing and came up with a definition to describe what makes living things.

Mark your calendars for our field trip.  It will be on Friday, October 12th.  I will send more information when the time gets closer.

Below is the math study guide and this week's spelling list.

Math Study Guide - week 3

Spelling List - Week 3

Week of 9/10

This group of second graders is amazing!

They celebrated their first marble party on Friday.  It only took them 11 days to earn all the marbles.  They have already started working on their next party.

Picture Day
Don't forget, picture day is Friday, September 14th.

Math
Right now students are practicing manipulating numbers and reviewing facts.  Students who have these skills mastered get to try more challenging skills.  We are also adding coins.  It is important for students to know the values of coins and to know which are which.

Spelling
As students practice their words, it is a good idea to think of other words that rhyme with the spelling words.  In this way, learning to spell fine can help students spell mine, pine, and line.   We practiced finding some of these words yesterday.

Reading
Students have taken the IRI.  I will be spending time helping students increase their skills and become excellent readers. It is very important that they continue to read at home.

Don't forget the reading logs are due each Monday.  This Monday, I sent home the first fluency passage.  The directions are in a sheet protector in your child's home folder.  Remember that the 5 minutes spent on fluency can count towards their 20 minutes.

Writing
Students are working on writing at least two complete sentences with correct punctuation.  A few students have already mastered this and I have given them their own goal.

Science
Students are learning that scientists ask questions and make observations about what they want to learn more about.  We will continue practicing these skills be studying the diversity of life this month.

Spelling List - test on 9/18

Math Study Guide - test on 9/13

Week of 9/4 - Homework

This week students will begin getting some of their homework.  I will try to ease you into it so you can make a plan.

Spelling
Each week a new spelling list will come home on Tuesday.  The test for that list will always be the following Tuesday.  This week I am sending home the first list that will be graded.

Reading Log
Each Monday I will send home a reading log (this week I will send it on Tuesday since there was no school on Monday).  The reading log is due back to school the following Monday.  The expectation is that your second grader will read 100 minutes each week.  You may divide those minutes whichever way is easiest.

A couple of tips:
1.  If it is difficult to find time for your child to read, think about using time you are in the car.  You can listen while you drive.  They can read while you prepare meals.  Reading a little before going to bed is always a great idea.

2.  This is your second graders homework, not yours.  Give them the responsibility of filling out the paper.  Put it in a place where they can keep track of their own reading.  Check it over Sunday night, sign it and it will be ready to bring to school on Monday.

Fluency
Beginning on September 10th, I will also be sending home a fluency page for students to practice.  It will also come home on Monday and be due the following Monday.  I will send an example and instructions for the fluency page.  The ultimate goal of practicing fluency is to read the way we talk.  Students should have good pacing, inflection in their voice, and read accurately.

Math
Each Thursday students will take a math skills test and a fact test.  On Tuesdays I will send home a study guide that we have practiced in class so you can help your second grader study for Thursday.

To summarize
~Students will receive fluency and reading homework on Mondays.  These assignments are due the following Monday.

~Students will receive spelling lists and math study guides on Tuesdays.  The math test is on Thursday and the spelling test is on Tuesday.

Therefore, you should expect homework to come home every Monday and Tuesday.

I have attached the spelling list and math study guide below.

Spelling List #1 - Test on 9/11

Week 1 Math Study Guide