Many Seconds in Second

Many Seconds In Second:

Our days are filled with lots of ‘seconds’ filled with rich learning experiences.  Although we are in the final quarter of second grade we are intent on mastering new and exciting things.  Let me share with you what are plans are for this week.

Writing: 

We will begin our last writing unit of second grade this week.  Your child will be creating opinion pieces of writing.  Second graders are naturally persuasive talkers-arguing for a later bedtime, debating why they should attend a camp in the summer, or wanting to be a proud pet owner.  During writing time, your child will give their opinions about books they’ve read and places they’ve  visited.  We will learn that our opinion must be with substantiated with reasons.  I can’t wait to read their persuasive paragraphs!

We will also be studying reviews and evaluating reviews people write.  The students learn the quality of good writing that make reviews more interesting like specialized language and vocabulary, and how to research these reviews.  Students love living a life of a reviewer and begin viewing the world around them in a new light.  We are looking forward to sharing these writing pieces with you in the coming weeks.

Reading:

Last week we started our Folktale/Fairy Tales unit in reading.  We compared and contrasted many familiar fairy tales with new versions from different cultures.  This coming week we will focus on our reading fluency by reading fairy tales.  We will be changing our voices to match the characters along with interpreting the characters feelings.  This will be a lively time in our classroom.  You child’s book boxes are filled with fairy tales/folk tales/fables and other narrative books.  Reading Workshop is an exciting time in our classroom where each child is reading books that are a ‘good fit’ for him/her.

Please remember:

*Reading minutes are due each Monday.

*Spelling words went home on Friday.

Math:

We will begin learning/reviewing telling time this coming week.  Your child is expected to know how to read an analog clock to the nearest minute by the end of second grade.  Also we will begin our graphic unit.  Your child will be collecting and interpreting data by looking at pictographs and bar graphs.  ****Please have your child bring a small stuffed animal to school on Thursday.  We will be using this stuffed animal in math.

*Math homework due is on Friday.

Bible:

We are beginning the study of the Early Church.  In these lessons your child will learn how the Holy Spirit gave power for the spreading of the gospel, how the church grew despite severe opposition, and how God sent Peter a vision telling him that the gospel message was for gentiles as well as for Jews.  This coming week we will learn about the Stoning of Stephen, Philip and the Ethiopian, and Saul’s Conversion.

Social Studies:

We've been learning about our local government and how it helps our community. The children show a lot of interest in these lessons.

I want to also highlight some important dates this week:

*Monday: Reading minutes are due.

*Tuesday: Library books are due.

*Tuesday: We will also visit the fifth graders Living Wax Museum.

*Thursday: small stuffed animal for math is due.

*Friday:  Bible memory and math homework is due.

*Friday~ Spelling Test.

Wonderful Wednesday

On Wednesday we have two excited experiences.

The author Nancy Shaw came to visit.

We also watched the sixth graders perform their poems at forensics.

Passover

I love sharing stories from God's Word, the Bible, with my students. We've been walking through Jesus' last week and his death during our Bible story time. One of the special traditions we have as a second grade at Rose Park is to celebrate an abbreviated version of the Passover feast. We enjoyed this special time this afternoon with a number of parents joining us. 

We ate matzah and drank grape juice, we retold the story of the ten plagues and the first Passover, and we blessed God for the gifts He's given us. Most of all, we saw that many parts of this festival point to Jesus as the True Passover Lamb, who was sacrificed to set us free from the power of sin. We tasted the bitterness of sin (horseradish) as well as the sweetness that comes with God's grace and forgiveness (haroset - a mixture of chopped apples, cinnamon and honey). It was a fun afternoon, experiencing the love of God for His people and the fellowship of our second grade family at Rose Park. I pray that these children will know the great love God has for them.

Author Visit

We are excited to announce that children’s author Nancy Shaw will visit our school on April 15. Ms. Shaw is most renown for seven humorous rhyming books in the “Sheep” series: Sheep in a Jeep, Sheep in a Shop, Sheep on a Ship, Sheep Blast Off, Sheep Out to Eat, Sheep Take a Hike, and Sheep Trick or Treat . She has also written Raccoon Tune, and a picture book for middle grades, Elena’s Story. Parents are invited to join us for this author visit onWednesday April 15.

3^rd-4^th: 8:25-9:10

K-2^nd: 9:20-10:05

Book order forms are attached—you may order Nancy Shaw’s books at discounted prices! Paid orders received by March 31 will be autographed by the author on April 15. Orders will also be accepted through April 15, but author day delivery is not assured for orders received after March 31.

Many Seconds in Second

Math: 

Until spring vacation, we will be working on subtraction strategies for solving two-digit problems. Also, small groups will meet to learn and practice telling time to the nearest minute.  Math homework is due every Friday.

Reading:

This past week be began Book Clubs!  This is an exciting time for the children.  They will be finding big ideas in their books while they read and flagging them with post-it notes.  Then, there will be time to share within your child’s book club their findings of new information. 

We will be having our Idita-Read celebration Tuesday, March 31. 

March is Reading month!  The green recording sheets are due on Monday.  If your child completes his/her reading and returns this paper he/she will receive a small prize. 

Writing:

We will begin our second round of ‘All About’ books.  Your child will be picking another topic they are experts at.  They will begin to develop a table of contents, then learn how to write different chapters within the book using non-fiction language and text features.

Bible:

We will continue to learn about the Easter story. This week will see how Jesus’ close friend betrayed him, while others denied him, and the rest ran away.  Everyone rejected and abandoned Jesus.  Through these circumstances God fulfilled his own purpose-for Jesus was not a victim.  He freely gave himself.  He steadfastly walked to the cross, remaining obedient to the Father!

Could you please have your child bring in a small/medium size basket for an Easter project. We will be retelling the Easter story using plastic eggs.  This basket is due Monday, March 16!!!

 Important Dates and Information:

Conference Sign up times:

(**Second grade students will be leading these conferences.  Please be sure to sign up for a time when your child can come WITH you to the conference.**)

Sign ups begin next Thursday, March 19 at 8:00 AM and will be open through Saturday, March 28 at 11:00 PM.

Conference Dates and Times are as follows:

Monday, March 30, 2015 --- 5:00 PM - 8:30 PM

Tuesday, March 31, 2015 --- 5:00 PM - 8:30 PM

Wednesday, April 01, 2015 --- 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

Swimming starts Monday-Thursday this week (no Friday this week).  Your child will be at the pool from 9:35a.m-10:20a.m. Feel free to stop by and watch! Lessons will be at the Holland Aquatics Center.

Important Dates and Information

Other Important Dates and Information:

-Needed:  Could you please have your child bring in a small/medium basket for an Eastern project.  We will be retelling the Easter story using plastic eggs.  This basket is due Monday, March 16.  (Giving another week :))

- Every year the second graders celebrate the Passover.  We invite you to this celebration on March 26 from 2:10-3:15.  More information to come.

-Idita-Read Celebration for those who have completed the race will be April 1.

-March is Reading Month-if your child is reading daily at home be sure to fill out the green recording sheet. If your child hands in this green paper each Monday they will receive a reading prize.

-Swimming Lessons will start the week of March 16. This is a two week program.  We will be getting on the bus at 9:20 am.  Our swimming time is from 9:35-10:20.  We should arrive back to school by 10:40 am.

-If you haven’t done so already, please fill out and sign the swimming permission slip.  This paper was sent out on Monday.

-Spring Conferences will be March 30, 31, and April 1 **Note:  These are student-led in second grade, so make sure your sign up for a time your child can come with you.

What a Day!

This week had many new and old experiences! Thursday we had a local Musher come to school with his racing dogs.  We learned about race dogs, the trails, and reviewed our knowledge of the Iditarod Race.  Take a look at our fabulous morning!

Ms. Scott on racing with the dogs!

Learning how to train a racing dog.

Yay! We even got to pet the dogs!

We are ready to watch.