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  2. All About Second Grade

All About Second Grade

ALL ABOUT SECOND GRADE

Second grade is a time for the children to enjoy the skills they worked so hard to learn in first grade. The first part of second grade is spent reviewing those first grade skills. They need to have some time to gain confidence in what they have learned and what they are capable of achieving. Then we take them a step further.

Second grade marks quite a transition for the children. Now the children are expected to work more independently, read and follow directions on their own, make wise decisions, and think for themselves more. You can make the transition easier by giving them tasks to do at home, seeing that they carry them through, and by encouraging some independence.

Literacy

We will be reviewing letter sounds, blending, and working on syllables. We will be studying sight words and using phonetic and structural analysis to learn unknown words. We will be reading children's literature and poetry where we focus mainly on comprehension, fluency, and higher-level thinking skills.

Homework

I want the children to read as much as they can throughout the school year. It helps improve fluency, vocabulary, and so many other things. Homework this year will consist of just one thing: READING. I want your child to read for at least 10 minutes each evening. I will provide a book for your child to read that is at his/her reading instructional level. I will send the book home in a book folder along with a sheet for you to record what they read and for how many minutes. Have fun reading with your child!! It is so important!

Math

We use and love the Ready Math program. The children will be participating in a variety of different math activities that will help them apply basic math concepts in everyday life. We will concentrate on basic addition and subtraction facts, borrowing (trade first), partial sums (carrying), counting money, telling time, basic geometry, and data analysis.

Grading

We do many papers and activities together. I usually do not collect those papers. If you find errors on these papers, talk to your child about the importance of listening and following along. When the students do a paper independently, they turn it in and I grade it. If the student makes an error, we try to correct it that same day before the paper goes home. When the student skips a problem or doesn’t answer it, I circle it and give it back to them to complete. If you notice that your child has many circles on their paper, please stress the importance of being a careful worker. Their daily papers will be marked with stamps, stars, happy faces, stickers, etc.  

They have many opportunities to practice new skills before a recorded grade will be taken for those skills.  The skills are learned through the daily work, homework, etc.  We usually record their assessments (Phonics, Spelling, Comprehension, and at the end of each lesson in Math).  They are graded with a fraction: number correct over number possible. 

Book Orders

I will be sending home book orders about once a month. Please do not feel you have to order each month. I do hope you can order occasionally, as the kids get really excited when they receive new books. It helps our classroom get new books, too! For each parent order that is placed online, our class will receive a new book. How exciting!

Birthdays

Children who have a birthday during the school year usually want to share it with the class. They may bring treats if they like, but it is not required. A child with a summer birthday may celebrate it on any day of their choice. Please do not send birthday party invitations to be passed out at school unless you are sending one for EVERY child in the class.

Classroom Rules

1.  Work as a TEAM
2.  Be RESPONSIBLE
3.  LISTEN to others
4.  Be RESPECTFUL to everyone
5.  Be KIND and HELPFUL
6.  Do your BEST
 

Other Important Information

Please send me a note if your child needs to stay in from recess or P.E. due to an injury or illness.

Call the school office by 8:30 a.m. if your child will be absent or late.

If you would like homework collected for your child if he/she is absent, please let the office know when you call in. Please do not expect to pick up homework until after lunch so that I may have time to get everything together.

If you are taking your child from school or bringing them in late, you must sign them in or out of the office.

The front of the school is reserved for busses only before and after school.  Parents should use the south driveway before and after school or if you have a preschooler or kindergartner you can drop off and pick up your 2nd grader on the east side. 

Please find a little time each evening to do a little “academic growing” with your child by: reading to them, listening to them read, going over their papers, practicing math facts, and/or practicing spelling words.