Weekly Newsletters

Hello Second Grade Parents! I hope your long weekend is off to a good start! Below you will find a few quick updates, as well as a look at what we were up to this week in 2nd grade!

Conferences: It was so nice to meet with everyone this week and chat about your wonderful kiddos! Thanks so much for taking the time to come in!

Halloween Party: Thank you to everyone who has already signed up! We are still in need of just one more volunteer to run a game at our party on October 30th. If you are interested in helping out, please use this link to sign up!

Bubbles: Due to popular demand, I have recorded one of Bubbles’ feeding times and you can view it on our class website if you’d like to experience the excitement behind watching Bubbles eat 😂.

THIS WEEK IN SECOND GRADE:

Math: In math this week we continued our work with place value models, pushing our way into the 3-digit number territory. We also introduced two new workplace games: Number Path Race and Pick Two, Roll, & Subtract. These games are a really cool way to continue to push ourselves mathematically!

Writing: This week in writing, we enlisted in Sentence Bootcamp, where we learned the important parts of a good sentence (Who [noun], What [verb], and a finished thought). We then practiced all week recognizing complete sentences vs. sentence fragments, editing fragments to turn them into complete sentences, and making sure our sentences start with capital letters and end with punctuation. Check out our class website for a glimpse at one of our Sentence Bootcamp activities!

Phonics: This week in phonics, we took a second to review all of the spelling patterns we have learned so far this year! This included digraphs like -ck and -th, trigraphs like -dge and -tch, and more!

Reading: In reading this week, we focused all of our attention on comprehension. We utilized a curriculum called Story Champs to teach students how to synthesize information and retell stories in a meaningful way.

IMPORTANT DATES:

Oct 16th: HHS Football Elementary Night

Oct 20th: Picture Retakes

Oct 30th: Classroom Halloween Party

Oct 30th: Halloween Costume Parade, 1:30-2:00 pm

Nov 2nd-6th: Book Fair

Hello Second Grade Parents! I hope everyone is enjoying the wonderful weather we’re having this weekend! Below you will find a few important updates, as well as a look at what we were up to this week in 2nd grade!

Conferences: Thank you to everyone for signing up for a conference time slot! I can’t wait to see everyone on Tuesday and Thursday this week. If you are unsure of the time slot you signed up for, please reach out to me, and I will let you know!

Halloween Party Sign-Ups: Our Halloween party will be on October 30th from 10:10-11:10 this year! For our party, we will have a 5-station rotation for the kiddos, with 2 games and 2 crafts, as well as a snack. If you would like to sign up to help out at our party, please use this link! Please make sure you also have a background check on file with the office, which can be filled out here. 

Halloween Parade: Our school’s Halloween parade will also be on October 30th from 1:30-2:00. Parents are more than welcome to come see the parade! Weather permitting, you will be able to watch the parade from the sidewalk out front of our building.

Gym Shoes: We have gym on Tuesday this week. Please make sure your child has their gym shoes!

THIS WEEK IN SECOND GRADE:

Math: In math this week, we transitioned from talking about addition and subtraction strategies in Unit 1 to working with place value in Unit 2. We used a variety of different place value models, including cups of beans, Unifix cubes, and base ten number pieces to show and manipulate quantities of 2- and 3-digit numbers.

Writing: This week in writing, we wrapped up our small moment story unit. We completed our rough drafts, then embarked on writing our final copies. We will be transitioning to nonfiction writing starting in a week or so!

Phonics: This week in phonics, we focused on the letters c and g, which can make two different sounds on their own: the soft and hard sounds. C’s hard sound is /k/ (can), while its soft sound is /s/ (cider). G’s hard sound is /g/ (garden), and its soft sound is /j/ (gym). We learned how to break words up with this pattern, as well as how to spell words with these letters. The rule of thumb is that when a c or g is followed by an e, i, or y, it will make a soft sound.

Reading: In reading this week, we started to work on word-solving strategies. We started by introducing flexibility when solving words in our books. We then got more specific, discussing vowel teams (-ee, -ea, -ow, etc.) and r-controlled vowels (-er, -ar, -or, etc.).

IMPORTANT DATES:

Oct 13th & 15th: Conferences

Oct 16th: No School

Oct 16th: HHS Football Elementary Night

Oct 20th: Picture Retakes

Oct 30th: Halloween Party, 10:10-11:10

Oct 30th: Halloween Parade, 1:20-2:00

Hello Second Grade Parents! I hope your weekend is off to a great start and you’re enjoying this cooler fall weather! Below you will find a few important updates as well as a look at what we were up to this week in second grade!

STAR Reports: A STAR reading report came home in your child’s folder yesterday. This report is based on our start-of-year STAR test, which is a computer test. While this is a valuable piece of information about your child’s reading skills, it is just one piece of the puzzle of their reading achievement. When evaluating reading skills, we look at multiple different data points, and I also sit down and read with each child independently. If you have any questions or concerns about your child’s STAR score, we will be able to discuss that at your conference soon!

Conferences: Conferences are coming up on October 13th and 15th. You should have received an email from Mrs. Mucha yesterday with a link to sign up for your preferred conference time. You can also follow the link here to sign up.

Walk-a-Thon: What an exciting end to our week on Friday! We had so much fun at our big Walk-a-Thon event, and we found out we made it to 2nd place overall! Thank you so much for your generosity and fundraising efforts! While I did not participate in the running activities on Friday, I did sit at the finish line and play photographer, so check out our class website for some fun action photos! 

Upcoming Celebrations: Because we did such an amazing job with our fundraising efforts, and every student registered for our Walk-a-Thon event, we have some fun celebrations coming up in the next couple of weeks! Next week we will be enjoying an extra recess and ice cream treat, and the following week we will have a dance party, pajama day, and another special treat! Thank you again for all of your hard work with this year’s fundraiser!

Spirit Week: On top of our fundraising celebrations, next week is also homecoming spirit week! Check out the schedule below for each day’s dress-up theme!

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Library: Reminder that our library day is Tuesday! Please make sure library books are returned to school each week on Tuesday!

THIS WEEK IN SECOND GRADE:

Math: In math this week, we continued our work with addition and subtraction by introducing two new workplace games: What’s the Difference and Turn Them Over. We then used these skills to help us solve story problems using a variety of tools and strategies. Then on Friday, we took our first unit test!

Writing: This week in writing, we continued to improve our small moment writing, looking for places where we can fix our spelling, add punctuation, and add even more details. We ended the week by celebrating all our hard work on these stories and sharing them with a partner!

Phonics: This week in phonics, we discussed the digraph “ck” and the trigraph (three letters) “dge.” We broke words up with this pattern, learned how to spell them with the spelling rules, and practiced spelling words within sentences.

Reading: In reading this week, we continued our work with series books and the story elements inside of them. We discussed our main characters and how we can learn things about them from their actions and the things they say. We also filled our reading thermometer by reaching our goal of 35 minutes of solid reading time! We have been working hard to build our reading stamina, so this was an awesome goal to reach on Friday! (Especially after our exciting morning at Walk-a-Thon!)

IMPORTANT DATES:

Oct 5-9th: Homecoming Spirit Week

Oct 13 & 15th: Conferences

Oct 16th: No School

Oct 20th: Picture Retakes

Hello Second Grade Parents! We had another amazing week this week in second grade! Below you will find a few quick updates, as well as a look at what we were up to this week in 2nd grade!

Shout Out: I wanted to start off my email today by just telling everyone how wonderful your kiddos are! We had our first full-day sub on Wednesday this week, and I was absolutely blown away by the note that the sub left for me. She raved about how kind and respectful the kids were, and how helpful they were to not only her, but each other as well. In all honesty, it was the best sub note I have had in my 5-year career as a teacher, and I made sure they knew that. I am so blown away by how amazing your kids are, and I am so thankful I get to be their teacher this year!

Walk-a-Thon: Walk-a-Thon is coming up quick! Next Friday, October 2nd, is our Walk-a-Thon day already! Although the deadline for guaranteeing your child’s correct size for their T-shirt has passed, there is still time to get them signed up! We are just 2 kiddos away from 100% registration to get a special ice cream treat. If you still need to sign up, it’s FREE to do so using THIS LINK.

A Note from the Office: Nee-Doh and other gel/foam/liquid filled fidgets are not allowed at school. Please see the infographic below for more information.

THIS WEEK IN SECOND GRADE:

Math: In math this week, we discussed a variety of different strategies for adding and subtracting numbers up to 20. These strategies included the near doubles strategy, using compensation, making 10 to add, and subtracting using a strategy called “up over 10.” We ended the week learning a subtraction workplace game called “Battling Bugs!” Please reach out if you would like to know more about these strategies. I would be happy to explain them :).

Writing: This week in writing, we focused heavily on revising and editing our small moment stories. We also “graded” ourselves and our writing so far using a rubric, which was helpful in identifying next steps and goals for our writing time. We will continue working through this small moment unit for the next couple of weeks!

Phonics: This week in phonics, we talked about the digraph “th” and the different sounds it can make. These two sounds are called voiced and unvoiced. The easiest way to understand this difference is by looking at the words “bath” and “bathe.” In bath, the “th” does not create a vibration in your throat. However, in the word “bathe,” it does! Therefore, the “th” in bathe is considered a voiced sound. We also learned about the common homophones to, too, and two, and there, their, and they’re. These homophones are super tricky, but we learned some strategies to help us remember and practiced using them correctly!

Reading: In reading this week, we first talked about clues that authors give us to help us read better. These clues include punctuation and font, which impact how we should read. We then transitioned into a discussion about series books, specifically surrounding story elements. These include concepts like characters, setting, problem, and more!

IMPORTANT DATES:

Oct 2nd: Walk-a-Thon

Oct 3rd: Alward PTC Fall Fest, 5-7 pm

Oct 20th: Picture Retakes

Hello Second Grade Parents! 

We had another great week in second grade! The kids were so excited to get their classroom jobs today! I’m looking forward to job training next week and watching these kids take ownership of their new careers! Below you will find a couple of quick updates, as well as a look at what we were up to this week in second grade.

Library: Reminder that our library day is Tuesday, so library books should be returned to school every Tuesday.

Walk-a-Thon: We are so close to 100% registration for Walk-a-Thon! If you have not yet registered your child, please use this link! It is free to register, and your child will get a T-shirt to wear on Walk-a-Thon day if you do!

THIS WEEK IN SECOND GRADE:

Math: In math this week, we introduced four new workplaces, which are independent or partner math games! We learned about counting by 2s and 5s, making sums using number cards, and more! We also discussed the patterns we see when subtracting the tens or the ones from a teen number. For example, 17-7=10 and 17-10=7. 

Writing: This week in writing, we continued our small moment stories. We started by discussing ways to magnify our stories by adding details. We then worked on editing, discussing the four important parts of a complete sentence. These include capital letters, understanding (does it make sense?), end punctuation, and spelling. We use the acronym CUPS to help us remember these steps!

Phonics: This week in phonics, we discussed the difference between -ch and -tch. We broke up words with the “ch” sound, learned the spelling rules, and even took a quick check yesterday. The typical “rule of thumb” to know the difference is: if the “ch” sound comes immediately after a short vowel sound, the spelling will be -tch. If not, the spelling will be -ch!

Reading: In reading this week, we discussed different strategies to help us read more fluently and effectively. These strategies include reading in phrases, breaking up words part-by-part, and more.

IMPORTANT DATES:

Sept 20th: Walk-a-Thon Registration Deadline

Oct 3rd: Alward PTC Fall Fest, 5-7 pm

Oct 20th: Picture Retakes

Hello Second Grade Parents! We had another great week in 2nd grade! Below you will find a few quick updates, as well as a look at what we were up to this week in 2nd grade.

Picture Day: Please make sure your child brings their picture form back to school with them on Monday, even if you are planning on ordering pictures later or not ordering at all. Geskus needs the student code that is on the form in order to ensure all the kiddos get the correct photos!

Classroom Jobs: A job application packet came home with your child earlier this week. I apologize for not sending an email when it came home; it completely slipped my mind! These applications will be used to assign our classroom jobs for the first part of the year. Please do your best to have your child return their application by this coming Monday. Also, don’t stress out about the letters of recommendation. As I mentioned in the packet, this is supposed to be something fun! Brag about your kiddo and all of their strengths, or have someone close to them do the bragging! I absolutely love reading these letters each year, and I learn so much about your kiddos from them!

Gym Shoes: Our gym day is specials rotation day 3. Your child must have tennis shoes for gym in order to keep Ms. Johnson’s floor in good shape! It is also super helpful if they have a pair of tennis shoes that they can keep at school so they never have to worry about whether they need gym shoes or not. If your child will be bringing their shoes each time we have gym, you can find our specials schedule here to make sure you know which days to bring them in!

Walk-a-Thon: Walk-a-Thon is officially upon us! Make sure to register your child by using this link! Every child who registers gets a free t-shirt to wear on Walk-a-Thon day! Plus, if our class reaches 100% registration, there will be a special treat! This is a super important fundraiser for our school, and it is how we raise most of our money for all the fun activities we do throughout the year, as well as to cover all our student field trips! 

THIS WEEK IN SECOND GRADE:

Math: In math this week, we learned about picture and bar graphs through our beetle glyphs! We also took a screener and discussed our number racks and how to use them.

Writing: This week in writing, we kicked off our small moment writing unit! We talked about what a small moment is and how to stretch it out across 5 pages. It has been so cool to see the students jumping right into this writing unit!

Phonics: This week in phonics, we discussed two different digraphs: “sh” and “ph.” A digraph is two consonants that work together to make one sound. We broke words with these digraphs apart, put them back together, and started our phonics notebooks to help us remember all of our spelling patterns!

Reading: In reading this week, we discussed and reviewed the material that was learned in first grade and talked about becoming Big Kid Readers! We also made some super awesome bookmarks to commemorate a strong week in reading! 

IMPORTANT DATES:

Sept 14th: Picture Day!

Sept 15th: First Library Day!

Sept 18th: Early Release, 12:15 Dismissal

Sept 20th: Walk-a-Thon Registration Deadline

Oct 3rd: Alward PTC Fall Fest, 5-7 pm

Hello Second Grade parents! We had an awesome second week in 2nd grade! I have been absolutely blown away by the kids’ transition back into the school year, especially considering how HOT it has been! They have been absolute rockstars at staying focused while we learn about 2nd grade expectations and routines! I am so excited to continue getting to know everyone and continue rocking this year! Below you will find a quick update, as well as a look at what we were up to this week in 2nd grade!

Classroom Website: I do my best to take photos of all the fun things we do in our classroom and post them on our class website. I have updated the site with some photos of our getting to know you activities, as well as the fun we had trying out our math workplaces! You can find the photos here.

THIS WEEK IN SECOND GRADE: 

Math: In math this week we hit the ground running with our first unit. We started by making beetle glyphs, based on information about ourselves. We then created categories for these beetles, as well as compared them using Venn Diagrams. We also introduced the first four workplaces of 2nd grade, which include learning more about the math manipulatives in our classroom.

Writing: This week in writing we went over writing expectations and then got started writing! This included learning more about complete sentences, as well as discussing writing stamina. We will start our first unit “officially” next week!

Reading: In reading this week we also went over expectations, both for independent reading time as well as book shopping in the classroom.

Phonics: We spent phonics time this week learning about SOAR expectations for different areas of the school. We talked about SOARing in the bathroom and cafeteria, as well as in our classroom. Next week we will officially jump into our phonics curriculum.

IMPORTANT DATES:

Sept 7th: No School, Labor Day Holiday

Sept 14th: Picture Day!

Hello 2nd Grade Parents!

We had an AMAZING first few days of school this week! It has been so wonderful getting to know all the kids, and they are doing a fantastic job so far. These first days of school can be pretty boring for the kids, I know, because we have a lot of rules and procedures to get through, but I’ve been doing my best to keep it fun, and they’ve been rocking it so far! I can’t wait to see where the rest of the year takes us! Below you’ll find a couple quick reminders as we head into the weekend.

Green Folders: Please make sure your child’s green folder comes to school each day, and that you are checking them each night. While there won’t be something in their folder every single day, it is where you will find important communications and any work that comes home!

Gym Shoes: Our first day of gym is this coming Monday (August. 31st). Please make sure your child has appropriate shoes to wear! I recommend keeping a pair of tennis shoes at school so that it is never something that needs to be remembered!

IMPORTANT DATES:

Sept 4-7th: No School, Labor Day Holiday

Hello Second Grade Parents!

It was so wonderful to meet everyone last night, and I am excited for our first day tomorrow! I just have a few quick notes before our first day!

Sack Lunch: Please make sure your child knows whether they should be choosing a sack lunch option for each of our half days this week! 

Gym: Our first day of gym will be on Monday, August 31st (that’s next week ). Please make sure your child has gym shoes by then. I highly recommend keeping a pair of shoes at school, that way they will always have them on the days we have gym.

Student Information: If you have not already, please fill out this Google Form. This will help me out so much!

I’m so excited to see all the kids tomorrow. It’s going to be a great year!

Important Dates:

Aug 26-28th: Half Days, 12:15 Dismissal

Sept 4-7th: No School, Labor Day Holiday

Hello 2nd Grade Parents!

My name is Kayla Childs, and I will be your child’s teacher this school year! I am so excited to get this year started. I just have a few notes I'd love to cover in this email to help us get ready for second grade.

First of all, our open house this year will be this Monday, August 24th from 6:30-7:30 pm. This will be a great chance for you and your child to check out the building and our classroom! Please try your best to make it on the 24th, but do not feel as if your child will be behind in ANY way if you are unable to attend. I completely understand that life is crazy, and I will be able to provide any information covered at open house during the first week of school as well. 

Please complete this short Google Form before the first day of school. This helps me gather some information about you and your child and also helps me if you are unable to attend our Open House! Thanks so much!!

We also have a second grade school supply list! I have made a couple of minor changes to fit our classroom specifically, which you can find on my website (click HERE for Mrs. Childs’ website). Simply click on the "School Supply List" tab found on the website to access everything your child will need for the year! If possible, please bring these supplies to our open house on Monday. It will make the first couple of days of school less chaotic! If this is not possible, no worries at all!