Second Grade


Ms. Summer Choi	Ms. Gail Jutkowitz	Ms. Amira Sharara	Ms. Alison Glaser

Check out the wonderful Caterpillars our kids created. Throughout the first quarter of the school year, second graders studied the life cycle of butterflies in science. To culminate our unit, we completed an at home science project. Each second grader created a model of a caterpillar including all of the body parts we learned about. A variety of materials were used to create our unique and creative models. Can you guess what we used to replicate the body parts of a caterpillar?

Math
*Ms. Sharara’s math class, please see the math section on the third grade webpage.

Second graders have been pre-assessed on and are working on Unit 2 - Geometry. Over the next several weeks, we will continue working on the following essential questions:

What are the attributes of a shape?
What are ways shapes can be sorted?
How are plane shapes different from solid shapes?
What make a shape symmetrical?
What makes shapes congruent?

Through whole-group, small-group, and independent exploration using manipulatives, models, and technology, we will develop a greater understanding of these topics.

How is second grade differentiating mathematics instruction?
A classroom that is differentiated is a classroom in which all students are being appropriately challenged through academic tasks. In Second Grade math, you can see your child’s class differentiated in a variety of ways:

In whole-class lessons – through asking a variety of questions that appropriately challenge children of differing abilities.
In smaller group lessons – students are placed temporarily in smaller groups with children of similar abilities based on their performance on pre-assessments. These flexible groups spend time focusing on topics presented with an appropriate level of challenge. This includes support for students requiring enrichment through above-grade-level objectives as well as those needing review.
Through one-on-one instruction, for those students needing more concentrated support.
Through anchor activities – tasks that students may complete after finishing required work. These activities change each time the students work with them, and are available at a variety of levels of difficulty.

Below are some good websites to check out with your child:

Harcourt School Web Site The password is Andrews.
Glossary of Geometry Terms
Work with Pattern Blocks
Explore with Pattern Blocks
Multiplication Practice
Online Flash Cards
Math Fact Cafe - Print out traditional flash cards for your child, as well as practice pages.

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Reading
Second quarter, we will be Reading to Be Informed. Students continue to be taught how to read and use the features of non-fiction texts. Students will be instructed in the use of graphic organizers and text structures, such as compare and contrast. Also, the strategy of questioning will be introduced. When we use informational texts to be informed, we can also Read to Perform a Task. Texts used for performing a task explain how to do something, describe how something was done, or answer the question, “How did it happen?” The purpose for this type of reading can be found in recipes and following directions for a game or project. Some of the questions we will be exploring are:

How are directions written to help me perform a task?
What could be added to make a set of directions easier to understand?
What are the text features I can use to help me locate facts and information quickly?
What is the author’s purpose in writing this text?

Writing
Writing to Inform will be the instructional focus during the second quarter after children read and listen to multiple nonfiction texts. By reading nonfiction texts, students not only learn new factual information but also learn about how nonfiction works. Connections will be made between using text features and structures while both reading and writing. We will focus on the following essential questions:

How can writing help me share information with others?
What is my reason for composing this writing?
Who will be reading this piece of writing?

Below are some fun websites to check out with your child.

Starfall Here is a great website that offers free reading activities and practice for primary students:
Language Arts This is a great website that reviews and reinforces many second grade language arts skills.
Parent's Corner Learn more about the importance of reading with your child.

Spelling
The spelling/language mechanics program is on a two week cycle. The first week of the cycle focuses on spelling. Students will have spelling homework during this week and a quiz on Fridays. The second week of the cycle focuses on language mechanics. Topics to be studied include parts of speech, sentence and paragraph formation, capitalization and punctuation. There will be homework during the week and a quiz on Fridays.

Parents, please check your child’s homework assignment book daily. Be on the lookout for the spelling/language mechanics homework, which occurs weekly. Returning homework on time is an important work study skill to foster. Let your child know, “This is important!”

Science
We will shortly begin to explore balance and weighing. Through experiments, here are the essential questions we will answer:

What affects balance?
Do objects of equal volume or size weigh the same?

Social Studies
Second graders will begin to study two diverse cultures: the Wampanoag Native Americans and the Pilgrims. We will continue to focus on the individual’s role in a democratic society and students will learn how writing down rules and laws helped the Pilgrims and Wampanoag to work together.

This year in second grade we will be learning about communities and economics. Check out these websites with your second grader:

Learn about community workers
The History of Making Money click here to learn all about the history of money.
The United States Mint visit the site to learn all about coin collecting, take the time machine to other eras in US history, or play some cool money games.
The Story of the Coin Press click here for fun online activities that help your child learn about money

Field Trips
On December 3rd, we will take a field trip to Imagination Stage to see Miss Nelson is Missing.

Birthdays
We have a very packed academic schedule. If your child wishes to celebrate his/her birthday in school, please notify your teacher at least two weeks prior. In addition, please limit the birthday celebration to a small treat. Because there are children throughout the grade that have nuts and chocolate allergies, please be prepared to provide an alternative treat as well.

Other Important Information
Parents, please check your child’s homework assignment book daily. Be on the lookout for the spelling/language mechanics homework, which occurs weekly. Returning homework on time is an important work study skill to foster. Let your child know, “This is important!”

It has been quite cold lately. However, when conditions permit, we will have outdoor recess. Please dress your child appropriately. In addition, temperatures in our classrooms fluctuate. For his or her comfort, encourage your child to dress in layers (i.e. long sleeved shirt with a sweater).

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The second grade team would love to receive your email. If you have questions or concerns about your child and would prefer to correspond electronically, please email: