Second Grade News

Mrs. Kornack, Mrs. Anderson, Mr. Gauger, and Mrs. Ertel

We are off to a great start. Our second graders are enjoying our learning environment. It is so important to use our literacy skills, so please encourage your child to read daily and turn in their reading log. We have been reading every day at school and taking Accelerated Reader tests. Our students have also started writing in their journals and are practicing the paragraph format. 

   Adequate sleep is critical in early childhood.  Brain foundations that last a lifetime are still being built in second grade.  The brain does important work while children sleep, which is why they need so much rest.  Please ensure your child goes to bed at an appropriate time to allow his/her brain to get the time it needs to work without environmental stimuli.  The National Sleep Foundation recommends 10 to 11 hours of sleep a night for seven and eight-year-olds.  

Ask your child about growth and fixed mindset.  We have been studying this concept in order to begin the process of metacognition (thinking about learning).  When we teach our children that they actually have control over growing their brains through the actions they take, it is empowering!  We tell our learners that when they work hard by asking questions, practicing, and actively participating in their learning, they grow, make connections, and build their neurons. Learning from mistakes and applying effort is the most powerful way to become “smarter”.  Praise effort (you worked so hard) as opposed to comments about intelligence such as (you are so smart).

We will be completing our fall screener-AIMSWEBPlus the first two weeks of October. This evaluation helps to identify students' reading skills, such as phonemic awareness, decoding, and comprehension, allowing for targeted instruction tailored to individual needs. By using the data, we can implement effective interventions that align with the science of reading principles, helping students build a strong foundation in literacy. Early identification and support not only enhance reading proficiency but also help to foster a lifelong love for learning, setting the stage for academic success.