September 28 - October 2

Can you believe it's October this week?! This year sure is flying by so far! Here are a few reminders for the week first:

Tuesday, September 29th is OPEN HOUSE! Our classrooms will be open for you to visit from 5:30-6:30pm. Please come by with your student and let them show you all we are doing in 2nd grade! After Open House the first PTA meeting will be held at 6:40. Coach Thompson has graciously offered for the students to watch a movie in the gym for the duration of the PTA meeting! Thanks, Coach Thompson!

Also, soon you will be receiving information about how to sign up for Parent Teacher Conferences October 22nd and 23rd. There will also be information about signing up at Open House.

Here's what we are learning in 2nd grade this week..

Reading – Readers describe main characters in works of fiction, including their traits, motivations, and feelings. Readers also notice characteristics of fairytales, folktales, and legends.

Writing – Writers continue writing non-fiction books on topics in which they are experts. Writers will use tools and features to teach their readers.

Math – We will be learning about addition without regrouping! We will use base ten blocks and what we know about place value to add 2 and 3 digit numbers to the 1,000’s.

Social Studies – We will be learning several USA symbols! Students will be reviewing the symbols so that they can explain the significance of each and how they tie to our country.  

Science – We will be exploring the physical properties of matter and how it changes. We will be demonstrating that things can be done to materials to change their physical properties such as cutting, folding, sanding and melting.

Traffic Light Questioning

Readers ask questions while we read! This week we have been talking about Traffic Light Questioning! We talk about questions we ask ourselves before we read, while we read and after we read! Check out the picture below to see what kinds of questions we encourage the students to ask.

We use these questions to help check for understanding and increase comprehension! Please feel free to use these at home and encourage your readers to ask questions and think out loud with you! 

September 21-25

We hope you had a wonderful weekend! 

Please always remember to send back Spelling Test spirals signed on Mondays! They will come home every Friday with your child. Progress Reports will be coming home on this Friday, September 25th! So be on the look-out for those.

Here's what we're learning this week..

Reading – Readers make meaningful text to world connections to the books they are reading. Readers ask questions when they read. Readers read to identify the lesson taught in folktales, myths, fables, or stories.

Writing – Writers choose topics they are interested in. Writers begin making a plan or what they will write. Writers have lots of tools they use to teach about their topics.

Math – We will be wrapping up our unit on place value, comparing and ordering numbers.

Social Studies – We will be learning about Texas state symbols! Students will be reviewing the symbols so that they can explain the significance of each and how they tie to our state.  

Science – Students will be getting a chance to think like a scientist. We will be doing different hands on experiments. The students will compare and contrast the mass and volume of different types of matter and record their observations!

Text Connections

Above you'll find some "making connections" vocabulary that you can use with your child! This is a chart that we actually made in class that helps us understand what connections are and how we make them!

Also.. Here are some guiding questions you can use for discussion! These are great questions to ask your children while reading!

Text-to-self:
What does this remind me of in my life? 
What is this similar to in my life? 
How is this different from my life? 
Has something like this ever happened to me?
How does this relate to my life?
What were my feelings when I read this?

Text-to-text:
What does this remind me of in another book I’ve read? 
How is this text similar to other things I’ve read? 
How is this different from other books I’ve read?
Have I read about something like this before?

Text-to-world:
What does this remind me of in the real world?
How is this text similar to things that happen in the real world? 
How is this different from things that happen in the real world? 
How did that part relate to the world around me?

September 14 - 18

Don't forget CURRICULUM NIGHT on Tuesday, September 15th in the Library! 2nd grade Curriculum Night is from 5:30-6:15! The 2nd grade teachers will be there to tell you all about our year and answer any questions you may have! We look forward to seeing you there!

Also, Monday (September 14^th) our spelling homework begins! Look for a note from your teacher for details on homework. We are excited for the learning to continue at home!

Here's what we're learning this week...

Reading: Readers make meaningful connections (text to self, text to text, text to world) with the books they read.

Writing: Writers read to learn and write to teach. We are starting our topic unit!

Math: Each part of a number has a place value. Ones can be added to make tens, tens can be added to make hundreds. When we compare numbers we use the terms greater than, less than and equal to.

Social Studies: We will continue to learn the traits of a good citizen! We will be discussing the following characteristics that all good citizens should possess – respect, honesty, caring, and responsibility.

Science: The three different types of matter we will look at are solids, liquids and gases! We will also wrap up our unit on measurement.

September 8 - September 11

Can you believe it's already our third week in 2nd grade?! We are having a great kick-off to our year! As you have heard, this is the place where you can check to see what we're learning and what's going on!

PICTURE DAY is September 10th!

Here's what we're learning this week:

Reading - Readers notice when they are not understanding what they have read,  and they use “fix-up” strategies to clear up any confusion.

Writing - Writers apply all they know about good grammar and spelling to their writing.

Math - We are learning about numbers to the 1,000's and place value!

Science - Students will be experimenting in measurement using standard and nonstandard units. We will also be exploring matter and the phases of liquids, solids and gases!  

Social Studies - This week in social studies students we will continue our discussion on citizenship! Specifically, we will be discussing the Cougar Code and what it means to be a HCE Cougar!

 

Homework will be starting NEXT WEEK! 

Heads Up!

Today your child will be coming with their Friendly Letter Spiral. We are very excited. Please look for the attached note explaining our new, authentic way for students to practice the friendly letter format as a means of communicating about school. Thank you for your participation! We are so excited for a great year!

Welcome!

Welcome to Second Grade! We are so excited to have your students!

This blog will weekly have a post containing what your kids will be learning as well as fun games and strategies to use at home! Check back weekly to stay up to date on what's going on!

We are looking forward to a GREAT year!

Love,

Your Second Grade Teachers