Second Grade News and Homework

March 10, 2008

Dear Parents,

Students have especially enjoyed our unit on adding money because we had a “store” set up in the classroom. Each child has had more than one opportunity to receive individual attention and go “shopping” for two (and then three items) and add up a receipt, remembering to write numerals in neat columns, to carry, and also to write the ¢ sign. Once the student knows how much the items will cost in total, the child then counts out exact change and “pays” the cashier. This gives students real motivation to learn to add carefully and accurately and to learn to count money. I will give a test on Wednesday to see how students are doing with carrying in addition. If students are ready, next week we will then begin learning to regroup with subtraction, usually called “borrowing.” Borrowing is one of the most difficult concepts for students to understand in second grade, but I make it as easy as possible by teaching fun and important lead up activities using manipulatives so that students can see and understand visually before starting to actually “borrow” using abstract numbers. This week students will start working on memorizing their zeros and ones subtraction facts.

In class this week for reading we will read a story called Hungry Little Hare. To learn more about this story and the vocabulary, see the attached sheet. Students will bring home the decodable reader: Clare’s Secret to read on Monday night.

In religion we will finish up last week’s chapter and take a Chapter Review test. We will start memorizing the Act of Spiritual Communion prayer. We have discussed what the prayer means and have been reciting it in class almost every morning. I will start testing students who want to volunteer to say this prayer at the end of next week. The following week I will test the rest of the class. We will hear a story about St. Patrick to learn why we celebrate his feast day around the world and...What about those shamrocks? How do they relate to the Catholic Faith? Your child will be able to tell you about these this week.

Monday: Complete spelling pages 105-106. Turn in tomorrow morning. We will correct and discuss it together in class. Read the decodable reader: Clare’s Secret to one of your parents and then read on your own. Review math facts for about 10 minutes. Be sure to fill out your reading log each day this week.

Tuesday: Write a paragraph using the spelling words. The paragraph must contain at least 5 sentences. Each sentence must start with a capital and end with an “end mark,” and be a complete thought. Use neat writing and finger spacing between words. Then copy all spelling words down that were not used in the sentences. Turn these into me tomorrow morning. Be sure to proof check it. Read to one of your parents for at least ten minutes and then on your own. Review math facts for about 5 minutes.

Wednesday: Complete the math worksheet p 248 (Do not forget the ¢ sign!) Turn in tomorrow morning. We will correct and discuss it together in class. Read to one of your parents for at least 10 minutes and review math facts for about 10 minutes.

Thursday: Have a parent give you a "practice spelling test" and speed drill in preparation for our weekly tests. Read to one of your parents for at least 10 minutes and review math facts for about 5 minutes.

Have a good week!