Weekly Updates September 21-25

Dear Second Grade Families,

In Reading we've been practicing fluency! Second graders are paying attention to reading smoothly and respecting punctuation, reading with expression, and using different characters voices.

This week in writing we had our first writing celebration with another second grade class! We answered the essential question: "How can we write so others can read our stories"? Writers learned how to use the personal narrative checklist and how to be reflective about their stories, making it even better. Congratulations writers!

MATH: End of Unit 2 and Progress Check! Students still need to practice counting strategies for subtraction facts by using the triangles fact families.

SCIENCE: River Rocks! We are exploring river rock mixture containing earth material particles of different sizes. 

"The size and the distribution of rock particles give geologists clues about earth-shaping processes".

Reading Extensions:

Making Connections During Reading

Students should make connections to the things they read.  Reading should activate prior experiences, and allow students to relate the text (or story) they are reading now to something they have done, seen, or read before.  There are three types of connections:

• Text-to-Self Students connect what they are reading to a personal experience or memory;
• Text-to-Text Students connect this text or story to another text or story they have read; and
• Text-to-World Students connect what they are reading to something they have heard about, seen, or that others have experienced.

Helpful Hints...How can you help at home?

• After your child reads for homework, ask them to make a connection…and to explain!
• Make connections yourself!  Children need to know that adults read and use these strategies, too.  By discussing your own connections to things you read, your child will learn as well!
• The site, "Into the Book", will allow your child to practice Making Connections (and other strategies) in a fun, interactive way!  You will be asked to enter your first name on your first visit, then you will use the login information for future visits.