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.

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.