Second Grade Newsletter
from Mrs. Andrews
May, 2007
Dear Parents,
It was so nice to see you at the Rain Forest Review. The children did an outstanding job and really loved performing for you.
Our class has begun a scientific student of insects. We will be caring for and investigating several different insects to discover secrets of their lives. Some of the insects that will be visiting our class undergo complete metamorphosis, as in the classic case of the butterfly – egg to butterfly. Other insects reach maturity by growing through a less dramatic sequence of stages in a process known as simple metamorphosis. Your child will probably have a heightened interest in insects over the next several weeks.
One goal of our work with insects is to help the children develop a deeper appreciation for the diversity of life and to cultivate a sense of respect for all living things. If your child wants to catch an insect in a jar, please invite your child’s insect friend into your home for a short time, and then encourage your child to return the insect to the wild after a short captivity. We’re looking forward to lots of fun and lost of learning as we explore a world full of insects.
Thanks so much for your support.
Sue Andrews.
April, 2007
Dear Parents,
It is time once again to catch up on all the news in 2-A.
First of all, I would like to say "Welcome" to Leah Lynch. Leah has just joined our classroom family. We are very glad to have in in 2-A.
Rainforest Unit. During the next month so so, the children will be moving full steam ahead. We are just beginning a unit about the tropical rainforests of the world. The purpose of this exploration is to increase the children's understanding of the magnificent world around them, to add to their knowledge of animal life on our planet, to develop a rich vocabulary associated with rainforests, and to begin to understand the interaction of ecological systems.
Enormous opportunities in reading and writing will grow out of this central theme. As a result , the children will gain practice in envisioning, accumulating information, communicating, recording observations, and enjoying the excitement that new experiences bring.
In several weeks the children will begin researching a rainforest animal. Each student will be asked to select one animal he or she finds particularly interesting. They will then be asked to collect fascinating information about this animal under the following headings: What does it look like? Where does it live? What does it eat? Does it have enemies? and What special skills does it have?
After these facts are gathered, the children will create oral stories to share with each other. The final sep in this process will be to write a simple report. The children will be given ample time to work on this project at school but any help from home is always welcome.
To mark the end of this investigation and to celebrate all we have learned, our class is planning a performance entitled "A Rain Forest Review." For this presentation the children will prepare and perform various songs, poems, dramatic readings, and reports about the jungle. this performance will be scheduled for some time at the end of March. I will send all the details home at a later date so that you can save the exact date.
Math. In math we are in the early stages of regroupng with addition and subtraction. Many of us know this skill as "borrowing and carrying." The children are also refining their knowledge of telling time, measurement, and counting money.
Reading and Writing. Workshops are in full swing. This month the emphasis is on becoming an expert about the reading series we enjoy. We are also continuing to grow as writers by learning how to write "How-To" Books.
A Word About Homework. Each day in class there are new concepts introduced or previously introduced concepts are practiced. If students do not finish the assigned work for one reason or another, the work is frequently sent home to be completed. Please ask your child if he or she has any unfinished work to be done. In addition, there is always reading homework. I expect the children to be reading for 15 minutes or so each night. This homework will improve fluency, give students practice in reading strategies, and build comprehension skills. The reading work will either be a guided reading book from reading group or a "just right" book from reading workshop,. Each child should be studying his or her spelling words each night as well. Addition and subtraction facts should be practiced several time a week too.
Language Arts. I have sent home some basic concepts the children have been learning in Language Arts (see below). Developing a working knowledge of sentence structure and word usage will help with comprehension and give them some control over the English Language. Practicing these concepts will greatly improve their written language.
The 100th Day of School. At present, it looks like we will be holding our "100th Day of School" celebration on February 9. Of course, this will change if we have a snow day.
Thanks so much for your support. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me.
Some examples of Language Arts Skill being covering in the classroom include the following:
When the subject of a sentence is singular, an s is usually added to the verb so it will "agree" with the subject. E.g., Jack likes ice cream for dessert.
When the subject is plural, an s is not added to the verb. E.g., Jill and Jamie like fruit for dessert.
When the pronoun I or you is the subject, an s is not added to the verb. E.g., I like cake for dessert. and You like cookies for dessert.
A present tense verb in a sentence tells about action that is happening now. E.g., I walk home. Sandy bakes cookies for Christmas.
A past tense verb tells about action that has already happened. The letters ed or d are usually added to make a verb past tense. E.g., I walked home. I baked cookies yesterday.
Sometimes the spelling of a verb changes to show past tense. E.g., He runs to the finish line. He ran to the finish line.
Sometimes a verb is combined with another word to make a contraction. In a contraction, one or more letters are dropped or replaced with an apostrophe ('). E.g., Can not -- can't, I would -- I'd.
The verb be has many form: When the subject of the sentence is singular, the verb be takes the form is, am, or was. E.g., Renee is my sister. The dog was brown.
When the subject is plural, the verb be takes the form are or were. E.g., We are late. Time and Joe were absent.
Sometimes the forms of be are used as helping verbs. E.g., He is running fast. Lee was painting a picture.
How to Study Spelling Words:
1. Look at a word. ocean
2. Copy the word. ocean ocean
3. Say the word aloud. "ocean"
4. Spell the word aloud. "o-c-e-a-n"
5. Write the word. ocean
6. Check the spelling.