Hanging Tight!
Important Dates:
12/5 - Book Fair Preview
12/7 - Book Fair Purchase - YOU ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND! (8:00 - 8:20am)
12/7 - Grammar Test
12/7 - STORY BOOK NIGHT!
12/13- Spelling HW goes home, it is due 12/14
12/15 - Spelling Quiz
12/20 - Math Unit 3 Test
12/20 - 2nd Grade Winter Party
What We're Learning:
Phonics: Vowel Patterns (long and short)
Please be sure your child is practicing their spelling words in some capacity weekly. See the photo above for an example of coding the phonics patterns! Kids can do this at home as a way to practice!
Please practice for the spelling quiz on 12/15!
Reading: How Do Characters Respond to Events?
We are learning how characters change throughout a story, and specifically how they respond to a problem or challenge. How is the character at the beginning of the story? The middle? The end of the story? Character traits can be internal and external . When reading this week with your child ask "What traits would you use to describe the character in this story? ", "Does that character remind you of anyone you know - or anything you have experienced?" When students are able to make connections to the characters in a story it helps them understand the character more. Be sure to discuss your child's nightly reading with them, and encourage the reading of fiction and realistic fiction stories.
- This pairs with our writing, as you'll see below.
We are moving onto Comparing & Contrasting 2 versions of the same story. We will be focusing on several famous stories, such as The Three Little Pigs, The Little Red Hen, The Gingerbread Man, Hansel & Gretel, and more. We will read the "orginal" versions and compare them to other cultures' interpretations as well as fun new twists on the stories.
Writing: Realistic Fiction Writing
Students are writing their own "Gripping Fiction" stories! They are writing what we call 'edge of your seat stories' that have characters that develop through their plot. They are practicing coming up with characters, a setting, a problem or adventure, and a solution or ending to the story. Please encourage your child's creativity and writing at home! A chart is shown in the images above that helps guide their thinking process.
Grammar: Review Skills
Our Semester 1 Grammar Test will be Thursday the 7th. Students will use their journals (going home on 11/31) and a provided IXL list (will be sent by 12/4) to study. The test will cover the skills we have cycled through this semester. Please review these skills at home!
Reflexive Pronouns: Students should be able to find and use reflexive pronouns regularly and appropriately.
(I --> myself, her --> herself, them --> themselves, etc.)
Science: Forces and Motion
Students will be learning about forces such as pushes, pulls, and gravity. They will also learn about types of motion and friction. We are exploring force and motion with lots of hands on fun - race cars, toys and how changing surfaces can change the experience with those toys. We will continue this unit up until the winter break. You will notice that the way we are assessing students in this area are changing as the science standards are becoming more of an "exploration and explanation of a phenomena " as opposed to just memorizing facts about a topic. Be prepared to see some different forms of evaluation - for example, a rubric may be attached to an assignment that students worked on together or in a group. Be assured - we are planning meaningful experiences that explore these science standards deeper with your student.
Math: Measurement and Line Plots (Unit 3)
*IF YOU NEED A NEW PARENT LETTER LET ME KNOW! IT IS VERY HELPFUL!*
We will be continuing our work with measurement, and moving onto line plots. Please practice estimating an item's length at home, and then measuring it in multiple units. Students should be able to explain why the same object comes up as different #s of measurement depending on the unit. They should also be able to compare measurements (find the difference), and measure from the middle of a ruler (this means they count the length like a number line).
A line plot is below, and students will be expected to take a list of data and create a line plot from scratch.
Now we are moving on to working on a.m. VS p.m., and telling time to the nearest 5 minutes. PLEASE practice this skill at home! With losing a day from the early dismissal (we were not able to teach math), and the missed Monday, we need your help!
Our test will be on 12/20. If your child will not be present, you must communicate this so they can take the test before the long break. This is vital to their success.
Thank you for all that you do,
Mrs. Crisp
