November Update

Can you believe that the first trimester of this school year is drawing to a close?  2nd graders have been working hard, and I'm really looking forward to sharing their progress with you next week at conferences!  Please read on for important information about this month's curriculum, as well as upcoming dates.

Reading:  

We are wrapping up our first unit of Reading Street this week.  During this unit students have learned about different places to explore, as well at the importance of asking curious questions and seeking the answers.  Comprehension skills covered during this unit included working with main idea and details, as well as discussing author's purpose.  Students have explored various spelling patterns and strategies, including words with endings, consonant digraphs and blends, and short and long vowels.

We will start our next Reading Street unit this coming week.  This unit is titled "Working Together".  During this unit, students will explore texts in many different genres and answer  questions like "How can we help each other in dangerous situations?", "How has working together changed history?" and "How can we work together to solve problems?"

Students continue meeting in their reading skill groups several times a week.

Writing:  

We will be wrapping up our narrative writing unit this week and next.  As a class, we have been closely studying the written work of Jane Yolen and trying some of her craft moves in our writing.  Students are collecting personal narratives as they navigate their way through the writing process.  Next week, we will have our first publishing party!  After conferences, we will begin a unit on expository writing.  Over the course of this unit, students will learn about technical writing and the strategies needed to put together "how to" pieces.

Math: 

The Unit 2 math test will be at the end of this week.  This would be a great time to review 2-digit addition, place value, and counting coins with your 2nd grader.  ABCYA.com has some excellent activities and games for practicing these skills.  Unit 3 will be on measurement and estimation.

 Please remember that math homework comes home each Wednesday.  Completed homework is used for a cooperative activity each Thursday morning, so it's important that students return homework on time so that they are able to participate.

Science/Social Studies:  

Your 2nd grade scientists have been hard at work last week and this week, studying water and its effects on the surface of the earth!  We will be wrapping up our water unit by the end of next week.  Students are participating in some in-class research and lab work.  We should have some great erosion models to share with you at conferences!

After conferences, we will be stepping away from science to work on Social Studies.  We will be studying different inventors and the impact they have had on history.  More information on this new unit will be coming soon!

Have a wonderful week!

Upcoming Dates

November 3 - Wear blue in celebration of the Royals' World Series victory this weekend!

November 6 - No School

November 11-12 - Parent Teacher Conferences

November 12-13 - No School

November 18 - Birthday Breakfast - Happy birthday, Ellie!

November 25-27 - No School - Fall Recess

December 21 - Winter Break Begins - Have a wonderful holiday season!