Grinch Day

Tuesday, December 19th, 

“Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before! 
What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. 
What if Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more!” 

Week of December 11th

RELIGION

*Church Seasons study

*Identify distinguishing characteristics of each chruch season

*Illustrate the colors used to identify each church season

*Advent Prayer Service

MATH

*Weekly time tests continue

*Ballpark estimates (rounding to the nearest 10)

*Begin double digit addition

*Learn partial sums algorithm

*Learn how to regroup (carry) the one

DAILY 5

*Read to Self, Read to Someone, Word Work & Listen to Reading

*Mini Lesson: Story elements

SOCIAL STUDIES

*Christmas, Kwanzaa and Hanukkah study

*Identify important characteristics of each

*Identify fun traditions for each

*Compare to our celebration of Christmas

WRITING

*Sheila Rae the Brave

*Create a character to write a story about

*Alexander and Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

*Create a characters and write about something that happens to that character

Week of December 4th

Congratulations to all of the 2nd's graders on a beautiful first Reconciliation weekend.  We are so proud of all the students and thankful to have been a part of the journey. 

RELIGION
*Reconciliation reflection ~ How did it go?

*Learn about the season of Advent

*Advent Prayer Service

*Reflect on how to share our time, talents and treasures

*Prepare a kindness prayer chain for the classroom

MATH
*Weekly time tests continue

*Estimating costs when given $1.00 to spend

*Explorations

*Ballpark estimates (rounding to the nearest 10)

*Begin double digit addition

DAILY 5
*Read to Self, Read to Someone, Word Work & Listen to Reading

*Mini Lesson: Adverbs; all parts of speech review

SOCIAL STUDIES

*Christmas, Kwanzaa and Hanukkah study

*Identify important characteristics of each

*Identify fun traditions for each

*Compare to our celebration of Christmas

WRITING
*Write a pet story either real or made-up

*Add adjectives to make writing more interesting

*Sheila Rae the Brave

*Create a character to write a story about

*Fun activity for Christmas: Elf Application

Week of November 27

RELIGION
*Guided Meditation: How Many Times?

*First Reconciliation Review

*Assessment

*Practice the Act of Contrition

*Answer any questions the students may have

MATH
*Weekly time tests continue

*Problem solving tasks using different models: Start to Change: Part Part Total

*Explorations Day

*Review how to read a thermometer and identify temperature

DAILY 5
*Read to Self, Read to Someone, Word Work & Listen to Reading

*Mini Lesson: Adjectives

SOCIAL STUDIES

*Identify state and country capital names and locations on a map

*Using Pebblego, begin to research the roles of a mayor, governor and president

*Compare and contrast mayor, governor and president using a tri-venn diagram

*Unit review and assessment

WRITING
*Tradebooks: I Will Never Not Ever Eat a Tomato & Let's Get a Pup!

*Make a likes/dislikes list

*Write a story from the list

*Write a pet story either real or made-up

*Add adjectives to make writing more interesting

Week of November 13

Thank you St. Francis families for your generosity at the Bid for the Kids Auction 2017! We are very grateful for your generosity and love for this school.  It is a true blessing. 
With heartfelt gratitude, Mrs. Waters, Miss Neugent, Mrs. Kock

RELIGION
*Students will complete an Examination of Conscience

*Listen to the story of The Prodigal Son

*Understand why the father in the story was so forgiving

*Connect to the mercy and love of our forgiving father, God

MATH
*Weekly time tests continue

*Review how to solve frame and arrow tasks

*Practice coin exchanges and how to make values using various combinations of coins

*Unit 3 Review

*Unit 3 Assessment

DAILY 5
*Read to Self, Read to Someone, Word Work & Listen to Reading

*Mini Lesson: Common Nouns vs Proper Nouns

SOCIAL STUDIES

*Veteran's Day remembrance and observation

*Identify state and country capital names and locations on a map

*Using Pebblego, begin to research the roles of a mayor, governor and president

WRITING
*Publish scary stories

*Illustrate a cover

*Free journal writing time

*Author's Chair sharing

Week of October 30

RELIGION
*Learn about the 10 Commandments and their meaning here and now

*Identify the Great Commandment

*Discuss Jesus as an example of respect and love

*All Saints Project - how are the students everyday saints?

MATH
*Weekly time tests continue

*Halloween problem solving tasks - solve using pictures, numbers and words

*Begin Unit 3

*Please look for a new family letter

*Students will review hundred, tens and ones place value concepts

*Solve money problems using coins

DAILY 5
*Read to Self, Read to Someone, Word Work & Listen to Reading

*Mini Lesson: Common Nouns vs Proper Nouns

SCIENCE

*Human Body Unit

*Identify the heart, brain, lungs and digestive system on the human body

*Name distinguishing characteristics of each

*Recognize ways to keep each healthy

*Guest Speaker: Dr. Stephanie Cox

WRITING
*Turn scary sentences into scary stories

*Sequence thoughts using a graphic organizer

*Use sight and sound words to enhance stories

Friendly Reminder

Tis the season for head lice!  Please remind your children to keep their hats inside their backpacks or coat pocket during the day, especially since they have locker buddies.  And of course, NO sharing hats!  Check your child's head often to be sure there are no lice. Thank you for your help in keeping everyone healthy!!!

Week of October 23rd

 
RELIGION
*Finish sacraments brochure
*Identify symbols and key words for each of the seven sacraments
*Review why we have sacraments and how they strengthen our faith
*Assessment this week ~ look for a study guide to come home!

MATH
*Begin weekly time tests

*Tests will be given at each students' readiness level

*Objective is to solve any given addition/subtraction fact within three seconds

*Finish Unit 2

*Review and Assessment this week

DAILY 5
*Read to Self, Read to Someone, Word Work & Listen to Reading

*Mini Lesson: Opinion writing

SCIENCE

*Human Body Unit

*Identify skin, bones and muscles on the human body

*Name distinguishing characteristics of each

*Recognize ways to keep each healthy

WRITING
*Silly sentences based on the book Dogs Don't Wear Sneakers

*Choose a silly sentence to turn into a story

*Edit and publish silly sentence stories

*Create a cover during technology class with Mr. Southward

Week of October 17th

 
RELIGION
*Begin Reconciliation Preparation
*Define "sacrament" in the church
*Create a sacraments brochure to support student learning
*Identify symbols and key words for each of the seven sacraments

MATH
*Name collection boxes: identify multiple ways to "name" a number

*Review how to solve "frame and arrow" problems

*Practice "What's my Rule?" boxes - manipulating operations (+/-)

DAILY 5
*Read to Self, Read to Someone, Word Work & Listen to Reading

*Mini Lesson: Opinion writing

SCIENCE

*Human Body Unit

*Identify the smallest living part of the human body: cells

*Yeast experiment

*Germs experiment

*Students will practice steps of the scientific method during experiments

WRITING
*Silly sentences based on the book Dogs Don't Wear Sneakers

*Choose a silly sentence to turn into a story

Feast of St. Francis

Week of October 2nd

 
RELIGION
*Chapter Three: God's Word

*Introduce and discuss The Beatitudes

*Rosary on Tuesday, October 3rd

*Celebrate the Feast of St. Francis with Mass

*Create images on how to be "instruments of peace"

MATH
*Review doubles facts = doubles answers will always be even

*Doubles + or - one answers will always be even

*Introduce the nines trick to solve +9 facts

*Review how to use addition facts to solve subtraction facts = fact families

DAILY 5
*Read to Self, Read to Someone, Word Work & Listen to Reading

*Mini Lesson: Identifying challenges characters face and their responses

SOCIAL STUDIES

*Community Unit

*Use PebbleGo on iPads to support student learning

*Identify how we use characteristics of citizens in our community, school and home

WRITING
*Add sight and sound words to personal stories

*Halloween writing activity "Who's behind the mask?"

Week of September 25th

 
RELIGION
*Chapter Three: God's Word

*Guided Meditation ~ Who Knows Best?

*Identify the Bible as a holy book

*Name the two parts of the Bible: Old and New Testament

*Bible Scavenger Hunt

MATH
*Unit One Assessment Tuesday

*Begin Unit Two ~ Look for a new family letter

*Solve number stories (word problems)

*Review easy addition facts and strategies

DAILY 5
*Begin rotations in small groups

-Read to Self, Read to Someone, Word Work & Listen to Reading
*Mini Lesson: Irregular Verbs (sat, knew, ran, sang, threw, etc..)

SOCIAL STUDIES
*Each student will make his/her own "Barefoot Island"

*Apply map skills using a state map of Iowa

*Begin Community Unit

*Use PebbleGo on iPads to support student learning

WRITING
*Book: Shortcut by Donald Crews

*Create lists to develop ideas for writing

*Write an "It Happened to Me" story

*Practice how to reread writing to add details

Week of September 18th

 
RELIGION
*Chapter Two: God's Promise

*Understand our unique ability as humans to make choices

*Identify our responsibility to obey God

*What do good choices look like?

*What consequences can come from poor choices?

MATH
*Continue "Engage" program to strengthen number sense

*Using a calculator - how to find patterns

*Broken calculator key activity

*Unit One Review

*Unit One Assessment

DAILY 5
*Begin rotations in small groups

-Read to Self, Read to Someone, Word Work & Listen to Reading
*Finish bench-marking students one:one

SOCIAL STUDIES
*Maps Unit
*Identify a compass rose and four cardinal directions

*Learn how to use a map/state map with a compass rose

*Discuss map keys and their purpose

*Create a simple map with a key

WRITING
*Book: Big Mama's House

*Using sketches to create writing

*Tour the school to make observations & sketches

*Write a story about family

REMEMBER

Week of September 11th

RELIGION
*Chapter One in Call to Faith text
*Focus on God's creation
*What is God's creation? Who is God's creation?
*Identify members of the Holy Family
*Design a square for a class creation quilt

MATH
*Count $1, $10 and $100 bills
*Introduce math boxes routine
*Begin "Engage" number sense program
*Review and practice using a number grid
*Game Day Friday!

DAILY 5
*Practice "stamina"
*Read to Self - what does it look and sound like?
*Read to Someone - what does it look and sound like?
*Listen to Reading - what does it look and sound like?

SOCIAL STUDIES
*Finish Growth Mindset lessons
*Write a growth mindset goal for the year
*Begin Maps Unit
*Identify a compass rose and four cardinal directions

WRITING
*Tribute to 9/11 writing activity
*Begin Unit one in Being a Writer curriculum
*Focus on writing community and routine

Week of September 5th

RELIGION
*Introduce students to their "Call to Faith" religion text
*House craft to represent each student's family and uniqueness
*Celebrate Wednesday Mass
*Lesson in the church to model and explain genuflecting/appropriate Mass behaviors

MATH
*Unit One begins
*Number line and sequencing numbers review
*Counting coins to $1.00
*Game Day - introduce one game to the students

DAILY 5
*Teach and practice "stamina"
*Read to Self - what does it look and sound like?
*Beginning of the year assessments

SOCIAL STUDIES
*Growth Mindset lessons
*How can we retrain our brains to support an "I can do it" mentality
*Books: Lily the Unicorn and The Dot
*Identify and create growth mindset phrases and behaviors

WRITING
*Book: Chester's Way
*Finish sentence starters titled "My Way" to learn about our classmates
*Writing prompt, "What makes me smile..." for writing review and practice

We're Glad You're Here

It was lovely meeting all of you at Back to School Night.  Please click the link below to view the video from our presentation!  It will grab your heart strings.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5-EwrhsMzY

Welcome Back

We look forward to meeting you next week!  It's going to be a great year in Second Grade.
~Mrs. Waters, Miss Neugent and Mrs. Kock

ENJOY!

Week of May 22

Religion

The Second Graders will lead Rosary on Monday, May 22nd. The students will be completing an end of the year art project this week to reflect on their faith journey in Second Grade. The week will end with a fun and interactive, online Jeopardy game that will review all of the religion curriculum from this schol year.

Everyday Math

The students will continue on multiplication readiness and practice.

Daily 5

Daily 5 routines and Guided Reading groups Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.

Mini-Lessons: Compound Words

Being a Writer

The studentswill be doing some end of the year writing tasks and assessments. They will be creating a fun bulletin board to be displayed for the 2017-2018 school year, which will encourage excitement for the incoming Second Graders.

Science

There will be a Forces and Motion Unit Test this week! Please look for a study guide.

Week of May 15

Religion

The students will be reading Chapter 21: Forever in Heaven. This chapter focuses on our invitation to heaven and the great feast that awaits us upon our arrival. Each of us is invited by God. The students will understand what it means to say "yes" to God, as well as share their images and visions of what heaven must be like. There will be Rosary on Monday, May 15th.

Everyday Math

The students will be reviewing double and triple digit addition and subtraction problems, with and without regrouping. It is our hope students are solving these problems with greater confidence and accuracy than when the year began. We are very proud of how far they have come. There will be a few lessons on multiplication readiness toward the end of the week

Daily 5

Daily 5 routines and Guided Reading groups Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.

Mini-Lessons: Main idea and details in informational texts

Being a Writer

The students will focus on friendly letter writing. They will listen to three different trade books that model how to write letters. The students will identify the different parts of a friendly letter while working through the writing process. One fun letter will be written from the perspective of an object in space to the Earth!

Science

Our Forces in Motion unit begins! The students will be able to define a force, as well as identify the four different types of forces: gravity, magnetism, moving water and moving air. We will experiment with how friction can slow forces.