Dear Parents and Guardians, 

We had another amazing week here in second grade! It’s so nice to have the beautiful weather back so students could get some fresh air! In math, students learned how to add three-digit numbers using models. Students then learned how to add three digit numbers using partial sums. For this strategy, students began by adding the hundreds place, then the tens place, then the ones place, and then added the sums from each place value to get a final sum. In writing, students continued to practice writing opinion pieces. This week, students wrote about the prompts: fall v. spring and living in a treehouse  v. submarine. After writing their rough drafts, and editing them with me, students wrote final copies of both opinion pieces. Students also wrote all about their week in their Nothing Books. In our Superkids Phonics Book, we learned about long o words. Then, students chose which long o word fit correctly in the blank. Next, students learned about the suffix “ness.” Students learned that if the adjective ends in a “y”, they change the “y” to an “i” then add “ness.” In reading, students learned about what a pun is and how to identify them in the books The Good Egg and The Cool Bean. Next, students learned about allusion, and how to identify it while reading Taste Your Words and The Sour Grape. Lastly, we read all about Hermit Crabs, and answered comprehension questions about the reading. In spelling, we got brand new spelling words and began practicing them with our spelling activities. In religion, students learned about the biblical stories of King Solomon and the Ark of the Covenant. In addition, students also learned about the Feast of Saint Joseph, and why we celebrate it. In science, Doug answered “How do we sing?” We also started our brand new unit on examining simple machines! In social studies we learned about Misty Copeland and Selena for Women’s History Month. 

Reminders for next week:
3/24: No School- Faculty Faith Formation
3/25: School’s Auction (Begins @ 6pm)
3/28: K-2 Mass @ 8:45am 
3/31: Flower Pick Up

Dear Parents and Guardians, 

We had a wonderful week of warm weather and outside time! It was nice to get the kids outside and moving again! In math this week, students continued to learn about three-digit numbers and their place values. We began by looking at three-digit numbers, and identifying patterns they see when adding by 10’s or 100’s. Next, we learned how to use place value to help us skip count. By looking at the hundreds place, tens place, and ones places, we learned that we could easily identify the rule of the pattern of numbers. Then, we learned that by again using the three-digit numbers hundreds, tens, and ones place values, it was easier to compare numbers. Lastly, we learned how to compare those three-digit numbers by using a number line to plot those numbers. In writing this week, students continued their rough drafts to their opinion prompts of “which is better, lunch or recess?” Then, students began their final copies of that prompt after reviewing it with me! Next, if students finished their final copy of their lunch v. recess piece, students were able to brainstorm their own opinion piece they would like to write about. Lastly, students wrote all about their week in their Nothing Books. In our Superkids Phonics Book, we learned different ways to spell long “e” words. For example, ee, ea, or ie. Next, we learned different ways to spell long “a” words. For example, ai, ay, or when a word has super e at the end of it.. This week, we began learning about personification. To help students better understand personification, we read the books The Legend of Rock, Paper, and Scissors, as well as Twilight Comes Twice. We also learned about alliteration! To better help students understand alliteration a little bit better, students listened to The Great Fuzz Frenzy and The Spaghetti- Slurping Sewer Serpent. Lastly, we read all about Orangutans, and answered comprehension questions about the reading. In spelling, we got brand new spelling words and began practicing them with our spelling activities. In religion, students learned about the biblical stories of David Counts the People, Selecting a New King, and Bringing the Ark to the Temple. In science, Doug answered “How do astronauts get ready for space?” We also learned more about investigating forces at work! In social studies, we learned that March is Women’s History Month. We began our Women’s History Month by learning about Oprah Winfrey, Audrey Hepburn, and Dian Fossey.

Reminders for next week:
3/15: Report Cards Go Home

Dear Parents and Guardians, 

We finally got our long awaited snow day! We were very busy this week! In math, we learned how to read and write three- digit numbers. Students learned three different ways to do this: standard, expanded, word, and base ten forms. Next, students learned different ways to name a three digit number according to their place values. Lastly, students made Addition Clovers for our classroom line! In writing, students learned what is needed to plan an opinion piece. Students learned to begin with an opinion statement, and give three reasons with three corresponding examples, and a conclusion. Next, students began their rough drafts to their opinion prompts of “which is better, breakfast or dinner?” Then, students began their final copies of that prompt after reviewing it with me! Lastly, students got brand new Nothing Books, and wrote about their week. In our Superkids Phonics Book, we reviewed compound words. Compound words are made by joining two words to make a new word. For example,  “any” and “one” makes “anyone.” Students then had to read a Superkids Story, and identify the compound words throughout it, and organize them into specific categories. Lastly, students needed to identify if the person/ people in a given sentence was singular or plural. In reading, we continued learning about figurative language! This week, we finished learning about metaphors and read Pigsty, and began learning about hyperboles and read Thunder Rose and Library Lil. Lastly, we read all about Field Mice, and answered comprehension questions about the reading. In spelling, we continued practicing our spelling words by using our spelling activities, then, we took our spelling test! In religion, our Youth Minister, Mr. Tome came in and taught us about different ways to live our lives. Students also learned the story of David and David’s Mighty Men. In science, Doug answered “do dogs sweat?” We also learned more about investigating forces at work! In social studies, we learned all about who Hariet Tubman and Jesse Ownes were, and why they were so important to our country’s history.

Reminders for next week:
3/8: End of Trimester 2

Dear Parents and Guardians, 

We had a very productive shortened week here in second grade! In math this week, we completed a review for our time and money test, and then we took the test! We then reviewed 2-digit addition and subtraction strategies because our next unit will include those strategies, but applied to 3-digit numbers. In writing this week, it was all about working on our animal research minibooks. Some students are finishing up their copies! In addition, we wrote about our week in our February Nothing Books. When we get back from February Break, we will be starting our new unit on opinion writing! In our Superkids Phonics Book, we read a Superkids Story, and answered comprehension questions about it. We also learned about the prefixes “mis” and “dis” and when to use them. In addition, we worked on our rhyming by using a pink word given in our workbook and then matching it to a highlighted word. In reading this week, we began our new unit! Our new reading unit is all about figurative language! We began by learning about what an idiom is, and identified idioms in two stories: The Cat's Pajamas and  Butterflies in My Stomach! Then, we started learning about similes! We then identified the similes in the book: My Best Friend is as Sharp as a Pencil. Lastly, we read all about the history of Valentine's Day and answered comprehension questions about it. In spelling, students continued practicing their spelling words with their spelling activities, and then took their spelling test. In religion, students learned about the biblical stories of David and Saul, Eating the Holy Bread, and John the Baptist. Our Youth Minister, Mr. Tome also came in and taught us about how to be selfless and played a game that showed them how to demonstrate that. In science, Doug answered “how is chocolate made?” We also learned more about investigating forces at work! In social studies, we learned all about who George Washington Carver was, and why he was so important to our country’s history.

Reminders for next week:
2/17-2/21: No School- February Break
2/22: All School Mass

Dear Parents and Guardians, 

We have been having so much fun in our time and money unit! I am so happy with how much these students relate it to everything they do now! In math this week, we learned how to tell time to the hour and to the half hour. We also learned new vocabulary terms to tell these times in different ways. For example, half past, means thirty minutes after the hour began. We even took this further, and students learned about quarter to and quarter after. We then moved on to deciding whether an event was taking place in the a.m. or p.m. Next, we practiced telling time and counting money because we have our time and money test on Tuesday! Just like before, there will be a whole class review with a review packet that is set up exactly like the test, that will come home Monday night, and they will take the test on Tuesday. In writing this week, it was all about working on our animal research minibooks. Some students are finishing up their rough drafts, while others began, and even finished their final copies! In addition, we wrote about our week in our February Nothing Books. In our Superkids Phonics Book, we continued learning about plural words, and by adding “s'' or “es” to a word, it will make it plural. Then students practiced this by making singular words plural. In reading this week, we continued to compare and contrast nonfiction topics. We read a nonfiction book about cats, and a nonfiction book about dogs, and after reading each, students had to come up with four facts they learned from each, and then compare the two animals once those facts were written. Then, students read and answered questions about the Emperor Penguin. In spelling, students got their new sorts, sorted them into their correct categories, and began practicing them with their spelling activities. In religion, students learned about the biblical stories of Saul Selected to be Kind, David and Goliath, and David and Johnathan. In science, Doug answered “how to fix a broken heart?” We also learned more about investigating forces at work, which we will be seeing lots of examples at the Connecticut Science Center! In social studies, we learned all about who Ruby Bridges is, and why she was so important to our country’s history.

Reminders for next week:
2/17-2/21: No School- February Break

Dear Parents and Guardians, 

What an exciting Catholic Schools Week we had! Students had a great time participating in all the fun activities! In addition to Catholic School Week, we also celebrated our 100th Day of School! In math this week, we began the time portion of our unit. Students learned about different types of clocks, and the differences between them. We focused on a standard clock, and students learned about the hour hand, minute hand, and seconds hand. Students also learned that the numbers 1-12 around the clock are minutes and are in intervals of 5. Next, students began learning how to tell time in 5 minute intervals. Next, students learned how to tell time before the hour and half hour. Lastly, students made Valentine's Day 2-digit Addition and Subtraction Hearts for the line in our classroom! In writing, students began research for their animal research projects. They began using articles and nonfiction books to gain information about their assigned animal. Then, they answered basic questions about their animal that they could include in their minibooks. For example, “what is the animal's habitat, what does the animal eat, does this mean the animal is a carnivore or a herbivore?” With this information, students began planning a rough draft that will eventually become their animal nonfiction minibook. Lastly, we wrote about our week in our Nothing Books! In our Superkids Phonics Books, students learned about present and past tense of words. Students realized that when a word is in the past tense, an “ed” ending is added to it to show the action occurred in the past. In reading this week, students learned that as readers we can retell topics, not just books themselves. This means that as a whole, if you read multiple books about the same topic, you will gain more knowledge and be able to explain that topic even more. Lastly, we completed a reading comprehension worksheet on a hippo! In spelling, we continued to practice our spelling words with our spelling activities. We also took our spelling test! In religion, our youth minister Mr. Tome came in and taught us about what it means to be a saint, and how to become a saint. We also learned about Saint John Bosco, the patron saint of education, and the youth. We also learned about the biblical stories of The Ark of the Covenant, and the Return of the Ark. Lastly, we discussed how Jesus Calls Us His Friends, in our 2nd Grade Religion Books. In science, Doug answered “why do fireflies glow?” We continued our science unit “Investigating Forces at Work.” Luckily, with our school science fair, we saw a lot of projects that mirrored what we have been learning about in our unit! In science, we began our Black History Month unit by learning about Rose Parks. 

Reminders for next week:
2/7: K-2 Mass

Dear Parents and Guardians, 

We got a lot done this week in second grade! In math this week, we continued with the money portion of our unit. This week, we moved on from coins and moved onto bills! We learned about the $1, $5, $10, $20, $50, and the $100 bills. We began by identifying the different types of bills, and learned how to add them together, and write them using the dollar sign and a decimal point- as in $10.00. From there, we learned how to add dollars and coins together. Lastly, we learned how to find a total, and to learn how much change we would receive back after paying for something a specific way. In writing, students worked on finishing any individual minibooks in their writers notebooks. This included finishing any rough drafts, final copies, author’s pages, or glossaries. Next, students chose what animal they would like to complete their animal research project on, and began research on that animal for it. Lastly, we wrote all about our week in our January Nothing Books. In reading this week, students learned how to compare important points on similar, but different topics. We modeled this with a nocturnal bird, an owl, and a nocturnal animal, the bat. We then identified the important points, and answered comprehension questions about a flightless birds, the penguin and the ostrich. We then had a catch up day that allowed students to catch up on any unfinished Superkids Phonics pages as well as any reading comprehension worksheets. Lastly, we read and answered comprehension questions on the nonfiction text called Toad Trouble. In spelling, we got out brand new spelling words, and began practicing them with our spelling activities. In religion, Mr. Tome, our youth minister, came in and played a game that modeled to share and be more open with oneself. Students also learned how to become better persons from our second grade religion books and from the biblical stories we have been reading in class. In science, Mystery Doug answered “Why are some people left-handed?” In science, we discussed what force, gravity, and friction are in our Investigating Forces and Work unit!

Reminders for next week:
1/27: Winter Ball
1/29: Catholic Schools Week Mass/ Open House
1/30: Pajama Day in support of CCMC
1/31: All School Mass- Dress to Impress
2/1: Red, White, and Blue in support for First Responders 
2/2: Throwback Thursday- Dress like a Decade 60’s. 70’s, 80’s, 90’s 2000’s
2/3: Sports Day/ School Spirit 

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We had another successful week here in second grade! In math this week, we began the money portion of our math unit! Students reviewed the different types of coins as well as their values. Then, given an amount, students began counting the total value of each set of coins presented. In writing, we are working on trying to finish our final copies of our nonfiction minibooks. This is because next week, students will begin an in-school research project on an animal they have chosen, and after conducting their research, will write a nonfiction minibook all about that animal. Students also learned that specific topics can be grouped together to make chapters, like in their independent reading books. Students will practice this again, next week, when conducting their animal research projects. Lastly, we wrote all about our week in our January Nothing Books. In our Superkids Word Work Books we learned about conjunctions. The conjunctions students learned about were “and, but, and or.” In reading, students learned about a fast fish and a fast mammal. After reading the two articles, students completed a venn diagram which compared and contrasted them. Next, students learned about how to identify important points in two books about the same topic. We learned last week how we can grow knowledge from reading two books about the same topic. This week we are taking it to the next level, and writing down the information across those texts. Lastly, we read a text about The Life of a Butterfly, and answered comprehension questions about the text. In spelling, we continued practicing our spelling words using our spelling activities. Then, students took their spelling test. In religion, students continued to learn about the biblical story of Ruth. In addition, we read a text about St. Joseph, and wrote down his feast day, important facts we learned, and drew our own illustration of him. Lastly, our school counselor, Mrs. Keating came in and introduced us to the new Kimochis she added to her collection. She also had students make “Mean Soup” which is things we do to ourselves, or to other people. We wrote them down individually and crumbled them up, showing that we will no longer do those things anymore. After that, we made “Kind Soup” which are things we should be doing to others as well as ourselves. In science, Mystery Doug answered “Why do cats purr?” In addition, we began our brand new unit in science which is Investigating Forces at Work! 

Reminders for next week:
1/24: ½ Day of School- Dismissal at 12:30 (No Aftercare)
1/27: Winter Ball

Dear Parents and Guardians, 

I want to begin by saying thank you for all of your kind emails wishing for a speedy recovery! For those that have not heard, I tore ligaments in my ankle and am in a walking boot. Your students have been SO helpful and I am so grateful for them! In math this week, we continued with our practice unit of 2-digit addition and subtraction strategies by solving one a two-step word problems. Again, our curriculum implements this portion into our workbook because it prepares them for when they need to add and subtract with money amounts and time, which is our next unit that we will begin on Tuesday. This week, we also looked in depth at different equations, and learned how to identify them as being true or false. If they were false, we looked at what would make them true. In writing this week, students learned what a glossary was, and how to create one for their own individual minibooks that they have written thus far. In addition, students learned what an author's page is, and then also added that into the individual minibooks that they have written thus far. Lastly, we wrote all about our week in our January Nothing Books. In our Superkids Word Work Books we answered questions about a Superkids story we read. We also learned about different ways long a could be represented in a word. In reading, students continued learning how they can use what they read to add information. Next, students learned how to rethink how the information they are reading in nonfiction texts are connected to other texts about the same nonfiction topic. Then, students learned how to find, think, and talk with their peers about the information they learned from nonfiction texts about the same topic. Lastly, students read and completed a comprehension worksheet on the Honey Bee. In religion, our youth minister Mr. Tome came in and taught us a lesson on St. Sebastian. In addition, students learned about the biblical stories: Samson’s Riddle, Samson and Delilah, and Ruth. In science, Mystery Doug answered “How do ice skates work?” In social studies, we learned about who Martin Luther King Jr. is, what he did, and why we have a national holiday in his honor.

Reminders for next week:
1/14-16: MLK Basketball Tournament
1/16: No School