IMPORTANT DATES:
March 13 - 17: NO SCHOOL - Spring Break
CURRICULUM UPDATE
READING:
We will begin Unit 6 of our Benchmark Reading Workshop curriculum. This fiction unit focuses on tales that teach us. We will focus on the following skills:
Drawing inferences
Creating mental images
Identify elements of fables / folktales
Using context clues to build vocabulary knowledge
Explaining poetic structure
Identifying Elements of Poetry
WRITING:
Our next writing unit is Opinion Writing. By the end of the unit students will be able to:
Write about an opinion (likes or dislikes) and give reasons why
Have a good beginning in which you state your opinion and set the reader up to expect the writing to convince them
Make Comparisons
Connect parts
Have different parts, a lot of lines about each part
Have at least two reasons
Have an ending that reminds our reader of your opinion
Chose words that would make your reader agree with your opinion
Conventions are a big emphasis in second grade as well:
Capital at the beginning of each sentence
Punctuation at the end of each sentence
MATH:
Topic 10: Add Within 1,000 Using Models & Strategies
Topic 10 focuses on expanding students’ understanding of addition to 3 digit numbers using models and strategies. Students explain why addition strategies work using place value and properties of operations.
Addition Strategies:
Mental Math: Students learn to add 10 or 100 mentally. Place value blocks and place value understanding support the work
Add on an Open Number Line
Use Place Value Models to Add
Add using Partial Sums
Topic 11: Subtract Within 1,000 Using Models & Strategies
Topic 11 focuses on expanding students’ understanding of subtraction to 3 digit numbers using models and strategies. Students explain why subtraction strategies work using place value and properties of operations.
Subtraction Strategies:
Mental Math: Students learn to subtract 10 or 100 mentally. Place value blocks and place value understanding support the work
Subtract on an Open Number Line
Use Place Value Models to Subtract
Subtract using Partial Sums
We will continue to focus on the mathematical practices of precision, making sense of problems, and persevering to solve them and constructing viable arguments to explain our mathematical thinking.
WORD WORK/ SPELLING:
Students will learn about closed syllables
o A closed syllable is a word or part of a word that has one short vowel closed in or followed by one or more consonants. The vowel does not need to have a consonant in front of it, but it needs to have at least one consonant after it. Examples of closed syllables include at, mat, math, mast and clash. The short sound of the vowel is marked by the breve sign.
Students will learn about vowel - consonant - e syllables.
We will explore how we go from a closed syllable such as cap to a v-e syllable such as cape. It is the vowel e at the end of the word that is silent but makes the first vowel say it’s names. We mark these words:
We will discuss how the letter v never comes at the end of a word. Therefore some words have an e at the end but the vowel is short. We call this a v-e exception such as give.
We will learn about the open syllable. The open syllable has only one vowel and it does not have a consonant after it. Some examples are: go, flu, we and I.
They are marked:
Open syllables can be combined with closed and v-e syllables to form longer words such as: pretend and provide.
SCIENCE:
After learning about quick changes to land, we will learn about slow changes to land, such as erosion.
February
IMPORTANT DATES:
February 14: Class Valentine’s Party
February 17: NO SCHOOL - Teacher professional development
February 20: NO SCHOOL - Presidents Day
February 28 / March 2: Spring Conferences
VALENTINE PARTY:
We will have our class Valentine’s Day party on Tuesday, February 14th. Children are welcome to create a Valentine’s Day Box to collect Valentines in. Please send these in on the day of the party. Please make sure that the opening on the box will fit a card with candy attached (if families choose to do that). If your child chooses to make a Valentine for students in our class, please make sure that you bring one valentine for every student in the class. A class list was sent home. Let me know if you need another copy!
CURRICULUM UPDATE
READING:
We will begin Unit 8 of our Benchmark Reading Workshop curriculum. This nonfiction unit focuses on how water and wind shape our land. While reading about slow and fast changes to land, we will focus on the following skills:
Summarizing and synthesizing information
Creating mental images
Connect ideas in a science text
Use text and graphic features
Identify elements of the drama genre
Explain how graphic features contribute to meaning in two texts
WRITING:
We will continue with our Informational Writing unit, and will finish up before the long weekend for Presidents’ Day.
Our next writing unit is Opinion Writing. During this unit students will be writing reviews to give their recommendations on books, places, products and more! By the end of the unit students will be able to:
Write about an opinion (likes or dislikes) and give reasons why
Have a good beginning in which they state their opinion and set the reader up to expect the writing to convince them
Make comparisons
Connect parts
Have different parts and write a lot of lines about each part
Have at least two reasons for their opinion
Have an ending that reminds their reader of their opinion
Choose words that would make their reader agree with their opinion
Conventions are a big emphasis in second grade as well:
Capital letter at the beginning of each sentence
Punctuation at the end of each sentence
MATH:
We will continue Topic 8.
Students will work on solving problems with coins and dollar bills. We will focus on:
Using different coins to find equivalent values
Finding combinations of coins that equal $1.00
Telling and writing time to the 5 minutes
Saying time in different ways
Determining if an event is happening in the am or pm
As we move into topic 9, our studies will focus on place value as students decompose, compare, add, and subtract 3 digit numbers. Students are also refining their addition and subtraction strategies, including solving story problems, and working towards accurate and efficient strategies that can be generalized to greater numbers.
These are some of our focus points:
Identifying the value of each number in a 3 digit number - in 354, the 3=300, 5=50, 4=4 ones
Representing 3 digit numbers in expanded form - 354 is written as 300+50+4
Comparing 3 digit numbers (>, <, =)
Adding 10 or 100 and subtracting 10 or 100 from a given number and noticing the pattern / changes
Noticing how the digit in the tens place changes when the addends in the ones place sum to greater than 10
Relating single digit combinations (8+2=10) to multiple digit combinations (80+20=100)
Solving 1 and 2 step story problems by visualizing and representing the problem
WORD WORK/SPELLING:
Our word work focus for February will be on the following phonics patterns:
VCe (e.g. inside) syllable and consonant -le (e.g. table)
/oi/ vowel teams: oi, oy (e.g. boy, coin)
/ou/ vowel teams: ou, ow (e.g. cloud, cow)
SCIENCE:
Because our reading unit focuses on how wind and water shape our land, we will begin a science unit in our Stemscopes curriculum on quick changes to land, such as volcanic eruptions, landslides, tsunamis, and so on. After learning about quick changes to land, we will learn about slow changes to land, such as erosion.
IMPORTANT DATES:
January 9th: NO SCHOOL - Teacher professional development
January 16th: NO SCHOOL - Martin Luther King Jr. Day
CURRICULUM UPDATE
READING:
We will be working through our forth Benchmark Unit: Different Characters, Different Points of Views. We will be focusing on the following fiction skills:
Drawing inferences
Identify first person point of view
Identify third person point of view
Analyzing characters point of view
Explaining poetic structures
Identifying Elements of Poetry
Using context clues to build vocabulary knowledge
WRITING:
We are continuing our Informational Writing Unit. Students have planned and wrote their own chapter books on topics they are experts on. Some of our teaching points have included:
Planning with a Table of Contents
Drafting and Revising With Feedback
Studying Mentor Texts
Using Comparison
Addressing an Audience with Strong Introductions and Conclusions
Editing with a Checklist
MATH:
Students are refining their addition and subtraction strategies, including solving story problems, and working towards accurate and efficient strategies that can be generalized to greater numbers. We will continue to focus on the mathematical practices of precision, making sense of problems, and persevering to solve them and constructing viable arguments to explain our mathematical thinking.
Over the next few weeks, we will work on with Topic 7: More Solving Problems Involving Addition and Subtraction.
In each topic students will…
Topic 7
Model word problems using equations with unknown numbers in any position
? + 15 = 37
76-29 = ?
Use drawings, equations and models to solve one and two-step addition & subtraction problems.
Make equations true: example: 24+5=28+?
We will then move onto Topic 8: Work with Time and Money
Topic 8
Solve problems with coins and dollar bills
Tell and write time to the 5 minutes
Say time in different ways
Determining if an event is happening in the am or pm
Please continue to practice fact fluency using the flash cards that were sent home in the fall.
WORD WORK/SPELLING
Unit 4 focuses on:
r-Controlled Vowels
ar as in barn
er as in fern
ir as in shirt
ur as in burn
or as in born
oar as in roar
ore as in chore
ear as in fear
eer as in steer
ere as in here
air as in pair
are as in rare
Upcoming Dates:
Winter Party / Book Exchange Wednesday, Dec. 21
No School December 22 - Teacher Work Day
EPR’s Released in December
December 22 - January 9: Winter Break
School resumes Tuesday, January 10th
Candy Cane Holiday Shoppe
Save the Date! Our class will be visiting the Candy Cane Holiday Shoppe on December 8th from 9:50 - 10:20. If your child would like to participate, please help them think about who they would like to purchase gifts for and a budget amount for their purchases. Use the Gift Giving Guide that comes home this week, and remind them to bring cash. This is the only time they will be able to participate. Here is the flyer and FAQs document for more information. You can also sign up to help volunteer in the shoppe here and earn a shopping voucher.
Curriculum Update:
READING: We will be working through our third Benchmark Unit: Government Working for Us. As we learn about why we need a government, we will be focusing on the following nonfiction skills:
Identify the importance of details to comprehend informational texts
Identify the main idea and supporting evidence
Use text and graphic features to gather information
Determine the author’s purpose for writing a text
Use context clues to build vocabulary knowledge
Recognize text structures through cause and effect and chronological order
WRITING: Students will begin a new unit on Informational Writing. They will practice writing about topics they’ve studied or know a lot about to inform others. Students will practice the following skills:
Writing like scientists to teach people about what they’ve learned
Telling how to do something
Drawing pictures with labels and details
Using a writing checklist to make goals
Revising and editing their writing
Using vocabulary specific to their topic
Making a Table of Contents and adding other text features into their writing
Writing comparisons
MATH:
We will finish up Topic 5. Students have learned various strategies to subtract within 100.
Students learned to:
Use place value (tens and ones) to subtract
Use an open number line to subtract tens and ones within 100.
Subtract 2 digit numbers using models
Subtract and break apart numbers using mental math and compensation
Model one and two step problems
Select the most efficient strategy to solve a math problem
In Topic 6 students will build upon the subtraction strategies taught in Topic 5. They will focus on the following:
Using place value blocks to model subtraction
Subtracting using partial differences (tens and ones)
Breaking apart the number they are subtracting
Solving one and two-step problems
Using bar diagrams to model a subtraction problem
Word Work/Spelling: Unit 3 focuses on the following skills:
Long u vowel teams
U as in menu
Ue as in cue
U_e as in cube
r-Controlled Vowels
ar as in barn
er as in fern
ir as in shirt
ur as in burn

Upcoming Dates:
November 11 GRE Veteran’s Day Celebration Assembly
November 21-25: Thanksgiving Break NO SCHOOL
Curriculum Update:
READING:
We are wrapping up unit 2 in Benchmark Workshop which focused on how characters learn and grow.
We focused on the following:
Identify phrases that helped them create mental images of the story
Describe characters and how they respond to challenges
Retell Fiction Stories
Identify words that help us recognize important character traits
Identify context clues that helped us determine the meaning of unfamiliar words
Write down the central message of a folktale
Compare and contrast variant tales
Our next unit in Benchmark Workshop focuses on why we need a government.
We will focus on the following:
Identify the central idea
Use text and graphic features to gather information
Determine the author’s purpose for writing a text
Use context clues to build vocabulary knowledge
Recognize text structures
WRITING:
Second graders have worked hard in all stages of the writing process. Students are publishing their Narrative story.
Students will:
Revise and edit rough drafts
Conventions are a big emphasis:
Capital at the beginning of each sentence, for the word ‘I’, and proper nouns
Punctuation at the end of each sentence
Quotation marks when using dialogue
Include a 5 star illustration
It matches my words
It has 5 or more colors
It is neat
It includes details
It takes up space
Include a back blurb giving their readers a sneak peek of their small moment story
Share their writing with peers
MATH:
In Topic 4 , students will build upon previously taught addition strategies to fluently add within 100.
During Topic 4 students will focus on the following:
Using place value (tens and ones) to add and subtract
Using an open number line to add tens and ones within 100.
Adding 2 digit numbers using models
Adding and breaking apart numbers using mental math and partial sums
Modeling one and two step problems
Selecting the most efficient strategy to solve a math problem
In Topic 5, students will learn various strategies to subtract within 100. We will build upon previously taught addition strategies to fluently subtract within 100.
During this unit students will be focusing on the following:
Using place value (tens and ones) to subtract
Using an open number line to subtract tens and ones within 100.
Subtracting 2 digit numbers using models
Subtracting and breaking apart numbers using mental math and compensation
Modeling one and two step problems
Selecting the most efficient strategy to solve a math problem
WORD WORK/SPELLING:
Unit 2 focuses on: Vowel teams- vowel teams are two vowels together that make just one sound.
Long A Vowel teams:
ai as in bait and wait
ay as in play and way
ea as in steak
a_e as in game
Long O Vowel teams:
oa as in coat
ow as in low
o as in bold
oe as in toe
o_e as in hope
Long E Vowel teams:
ee as in green
ea as in mean
ey as in money
Y as in funny (2 syllable words)
e as in me
e_e as in theme
Long I Vowel teams:
ie as in yield
I as in mild
Y as in cry (1 syllable words)
igh as in night
I_e as in pipe
Sound-tapping strategy to help segment and blend sounds in words for both reading and spelling.
Upcoming Dates:
October 11 & 13 – Parent Teacher Conferences
October 17 - 21 - No School (Fall Break)
October 28 - Halloween Parade & Party
October 31: No School (Professional Development)
Curriculum Update:
READING:
We wrapped up our first content-related unit in Benchmark Workshop. The first unit was called Habitats.
As we read and learned about the different habitats around the world, we focused on the following:
Building new vocabulary
Identifying the main idea and supporting details
Identifying text structures
Using text features to clarify information
Asking questions to deepen our understanding of the text
Our next unit in Benchmark Workshop focuses on how characters learn and grow.
We will focus on the following:
Identifying fiction characteristics
Creating mental images of characters
Retell events in sequential order
Studying characters and how they respond to challenges
Building new vocabulary
Identifying story elements
WRITING:
We are continuing Narrative Writing. During this unit students have written several short stories based on true events from their lives.
Students are continuing to:
Discover small moments that matter-generating ideas
Tiny Topics- using a notebook to remember topics for writing
Stretching out small moments- learning to plan a story by touching each page and saying what they will write
Writing a good beginning, middle and end
Writing with detail: Magnifying a small moment
Bringing characters to life by using talk, feel or actions
Setting goals and making plans for writing time
Using checklist to self assess and plan for next parts
Close Reading: Looking closely at how mentor authors write and trying it
Collaborate a partner to help make a story better (revise by listening)
Word choice
Revising and editing rough drafts
Conventions are a big emphasis:
Capital at the beginning of each sentence, for the word ‘I’, and proper nouns
Punctuation at the end of each sentence
Quotation marks when using dialogue
MATH:
During Topic 2: Work With Equal Groups, students will focus on:
Even and odd numbers
Using arrays to find totals
Making arrays to solve addition problems
Modeling problems with equations, drawings, and arrays
During Topic 3:, students will learn various strategies to add within 100.
These strategies include:
Add tens and ones on a hundreds chart
Add tens and ones on an Open number line
Break apart numbers to add
Add using compensation
Practice adding using strategies
WORD WORK/SPELLING:
We have finished our launching unit that has allowed us to build routines that will help us be successful in our new phonics program - Benchmark Phonics Word Study Workshop!
Unit 1 focuses on:
Digraphs and trigraphs: Digraphs are two letters that make one sound, such as sh, th, wh. Trigraphs are 3 letters that make one sound, such as tch.
Blends: 2- and 3-letter consonants, as in trip (tr) and strip (str).
Reviewing Short Vowels: a, e, i, o, u
Closed open syllable types: A closed syllable is a word or part of a word that has one short vowel closed in or followed by one or more consonants. The vowel does not need to have a consonant in front of it, but it needs to have at least one consonant after it. Examples of closed syllables include at, mat, math, mast and clash. An open syllable has only one vowel and it does not have a consonant after it. Some examples are: go, flu, we and I.
Long A Vowel teams: vowel teams are two vowels together that make just one sound. The vowel teams we will study in this unit are:
ai as in bait and wait
ay as in play and way
ea as in steak
a_e as in game
Sound-tapping strategy to help segment and blend sounds in words for both reading and spelling.
SCIENCE:
In science, we have been learning about Habitats. In our studies, we explored how plants and animals use the resources in their habitats to survive. We discussed the various adaptations plants and animals possess in each habitat. Students researched about their habitat and taught their peers about their habitat. Be sure to keep your eye out on Seesaw to see their presentation!
Upcoming Dates:
Monday, September 5 - No School (Labor Day)
Friday, September 23 - No School (Professional Development)
Friday, September 30 - Digger Dash (Time TBD)
CURRICULUM UPDATE
Reading
During Reader’s Workshop, students are building on the following:
Practicing the routines and rituals that will make Reader’s Workshop successful
Choosing Just Right Books- Books that we can read most of the words without difficulty or can use strategies to figure out the hard words
Building our stamina to be able to independently read for longer periods of time
Recording our thinking while reading
Stopping, thinking, and retelling a story to check for comprehension
The week of September 12th, we will begin our first content-related unit in Benchmark Workshop. The first unit is called Habitats. As we read and learn about the different habitats around the world, we will focus on the following:
Building new vocabulary
Identifying the main idea and supporting details
Identifying text structures
Using text features to clarify information
Asking questions to deepen our understanding of the text
Writing
We are working on Narrative Writing. During this unit, students will write short stories based on true events from their lives. By the end of the unit students will be able to:
Discover small moments that matter-generating ideas
Stretching out small moments- learning to plan a story by touching each page and saying what they will write
Writing a good beginning, middle and end
Writing with detail: Magnifying a small moment
Bringing characters to life by using talk, feel or actions
Setting goals and making plans for writing time
Using checklist to self assess and plan for next parts
Close Reading: Looking closely at how mentor authors write and trying it
Collaborate a partner to help make a story better (revise by listening)
Word choice
Revising and editing rough drafts
Conventions are a big emphasis:
Capital at the beginning of each sentence, for the word ‘I’, and proper nouns
Punctuation at the end of each sentence
Quotation marks when using dialogue
Math
We are wrapping up Topic 1: Fluently Add and Subtract Within 20
During this unit students focused on the following:
Math Tools and classroom routines-using manipulatives, number lines, and tens frames
Understand if order matters when adding two or more numbers together (commutative property)
Adding and subtracting within 20 using a variety of strategies
Making 10
Doubles or near doubles facts
Fact families
Counting on
Using a number line to count on or count back
Bar diagrams
Beginning to develop fact fluency within 20
Understanding the connection between addition and subtraction
Solving addition and subtraction story problems, sharing strategies for solving, and ways to record
During Topic 2: Work With Equal Groups, students will focus on:
Even and odd numbers
Using arrays to find totals
Making arrays to solve addition problems
Modeling problems with equations, drawings, and arrays
Word Work/Spelling
Our word work this month will focus on the reading and spelling of the following:
Digraphs and trigraphs: Digraphs are two letters that make one sound, such as sh, th, wh. Trigraphs are 3 letters that make one sound, such as tch.
VCe syllable type: this syllable type contains a vowel, consonant, and then a silent e, such as cake, bike
Ways to spell the long vowel sounds for a, e, i, o, and u. For example, you can spell words with the long a sound with ai like in train, or ay like in play.
Sight words: and, is, come, some, that, what, are, my, put, you, want, your, with, to, of, from, here, said, there, where, was, saw, little, look for, me, do, have, does,
Social Studies
Civics- Roles, Rights and Responsibilities of responsible community members.
During this unit we will describe important characteristics of a responsible community member. We learned that people can express their ideas respectfully within a community. We also explored the idea that responsible community members influence the rules, policies, and laws in their communities (including classrooms).
Communities - We are exploring how communities change, reasons for living in a specific community, and the different types of communities.