Weekly Update for the Week of Aug 17-21

Dear Second Grade Families,

This week in the 2nd grade....

Language Arts - In Reading Workshop this week we have been working on stopping to think about what we are reading. In writing we have been working on bringing our stories to life by unfreezing people and writing the story by breaking it down into small steps.

Math - Key Concepts and Skills:

• Review telling time and the calendar
• Count by 2s,5s, and 10s on the number grid
• Identify odd and even numbers
• Use the number grid to find 1 more,1 less,10 more, or 10 less
• Solve calculator Place-Value Puzzles
• Counting Patterns
• Compare numbers
• Calculate and compare the values of combinations of coins
• Read, write,and explain the <,>,+ symbols and their relations

Social Studies - What is different when you visit other countries? This week we will be comparing and contrasting how behavior expectations and rules might differ at home, at school, and in different countries.

Second Step - Success in school is not just about reading and math.  It is also about knowing how to learn and how to get along with others.  At Graded we use the Second Step program to teach these critical skills.  This week we learned that focusing our attention and listening help us be a better learner and are ways to show respect.

Extensions for Learning

This week we will be working on making a movie in your mind.

This activity helps build your child’s reading comprehension skills and helps them become better authors. Creating a mental image in her mind when she reads can help her better understand and retain what she is reading.  

What You’ll Need:

Descriptive passage from a book, Paper, and Art materials 

Here’s How To Do It

Explain to your child what a mental image is. Discuss with him how the five senses can help him create a mental image. Review the five senses: sound, sight, taste, smell and touch. Have your child describe an object, such as an orange or a plant in the room, using the five senses.

Read aloud a descriptive passage from a book. Ask your child to close his eyes and create a mental image while you read. Ask him to think about the five senses. Have him draw or paint a picture of his mental image. Discuss the picture he drew. Ask questions such as “What words from the passage helped you create the image?”

Until next week...
The Second Grade Team