A Brand New Year!

July 17, 2018

Dear Second Grader,

I am delighted to be your teacher this year! I have been planning for you all summer and we are going to have so much fun together. Second grade is full of exciting learning and fun projects.

The most important thing you will do this year is master reading second grade books. If you work hard and practice, books become a lot of fun! A whole world of learning opens up to you when you master reading. We will read lots of exciting and interesting books and texts this year. Get ready to unlock a world of information!

In math, you will learn how to add and subtract big numbers, all the way to 1,000! It is really fun to play with numbers and learn to see patterns. You will also learn how to skip count and how to count money. We will use rulers and learn how to measure with different tools. Second grade math is so much fun!

You will get to do a lot of writing in second grade! Sometimes we will write just for fun and other times you will get to show how much you have learned by writing about books you have read. You will get to write letters and emails, write reports on books and animals, and tell stories from your imagination. Becoming an author is the best!

In science, we will learn where water is found on the Earth in both solid and liquid forms, and patterns of where different kinds of plants and animals live on the land and in the water. You will also learn how the land can change slowly or quickly by wind or water. You will explore the needs of plants and how animals and people can help to meet plant's needs.

Social studies is full of exciting information! You will learn how families remember their past and why people move. You will learn about California and how we can describe it. You will also get to find out a lot about how government works. Finally, you will get to talk about heroes and what makes someone heroic.

This year you will have lots of chances to perform in front of the class! We will do several plays and reader's theater performances. Have you heard of Flipgrid? Flipgrid lets you record yourself performing your own work! You will have lots of chances to present yourself on video to the class and maybe even to other classes!

Did I mention Book Buddies? This year you will have a 5th grade friend to help you with your reading! Buddies are so much fun and a big help with reading. Sometimes we might even do some fun science and social studies projects with our friends from Ms. N's class. Last year we made catapults to shoot candy pumpkins! Who knows what Ms. N and I will dream up this year!

If you aren't already excited to grow your brain, I have some surprises planned that will help to bring learning to life! Have you ever wanted to go deep in a cave? This year you will have a chance to visit the world famous Pinnacles National Park! We might even get to see some wild animals!

I can't wait to see you and learn all about you! This will be the best school year ever!

Your teacher,

Ms. McKee