January 2012 - Second Grade News

Dates to Know:
*Tuesday, January 3rd - No school/Staff Development
*Wednesday, January 4th - First day back to school
*Monday, January 16th - No School - Martin Luther King Jr. Day
*Wednesday, February 1st - Second Grade Science Fair - 2:00-3:30 (Letter went home on Friday, January 6th)
*Wednesday, January 25th - Early Release Day - Dismissal is at 1:15/Staff Development
*Wednesday, February 1st - Reading minutes are due
*Friday, February 10th - Reading minutes party during lunch
*Tuesday, February 14th - Valentine's Day Party - 2:30-3:30
*February 15-16 - Parent/Teacher Conferences - More info. to follow
*Friday, February 17th - No school/Staff Development Day
*Monday, February 20th - No school - Presidents' Day
*Wednesday, February 29th - Early Release Day - Dismissal is at 1:15/Staff Development

Reminders:
*Due to the dry climate, be sure your child is bringing his/her water bottle on a daily basis.
*Fill out January reading minutes and written response.
*Return Friday folder on Monday, if possible.
*Please turn in science fair project choice no later than Friday, January 20th.
*Parent volunteers will be needed during the 2nd Grade Science Fair on Wednesday, February 1st from 2:00-3:30. Please let your child's teacher know if you are able to help out.

Literacy
Reading
As our children are engaged in independent reading activities, we are working with small groups or having one on one reading conferences to meet individual reading goals. The following strategies are our focus for this month:
Comprehension Strategies-
*Determine importance
*Compare & contrast two texts on the same topic
*Determine author's purpose
*Form opinions about authors, illustrators, and texts
Fluency
*Rate/expression
*Vocal inflections
Vocabulary
*Distinguish shades of meaning between related verbs
*Recognize that adding prefixes changes the meaning of root/base words

Reading assessments will also be given during the month of January.

Fundations:
We are beginning Unit #8 in Fundations. The unit concepts include:
*R-controlled syllable type
*Sounds of ar and or
*Combining r-controlled syllables with other syllable types
Trick Words: world, answer, eye, carry, something, different

Writing
We have transitioned from the personal recount genre to the instruction genre (How to...) in writing. The instruction genre gives precise, step by step guidelines for completing a task. Some topics we may be writing about are:
*How to brush your teeth
*How to make a bookmark
*How to clean your room
*How to make breakfast
Our focus will be on conventions, subject modifiers, transitional words/expressions, present tense, second person perspective, and adverbs.
During the month of January we will also work on writing persuasive pieces.

Math
We have completed Unit #5 and have just begun Unit #6. In this unit we will be covering the following skills:
*Adding three or more numbers
*Describe and solve comparison number stories
*Use data in a tally chart to draw and interpret a bar graph
*Solve 2-digit addition and subtraction problems with number stories
*Use and explain strategies for solving 2-digit by 2-digit subtraction problems
*Make arrays to represent equal groups
*Create complements of $1.00 using nickels, dimes, and quarters
*Create multiplication number stories using rectangular arrays
*Solve division number stories using concrete objects

Science/Social Studies
During the month of January we will be studying the history of Littleton and Leawood Elementary by connecting the past to the present. If you have lived in this area for a long time and feel that you could share some of the changes in our community, please contact your child's teacher. We would love to have a few guest speakers to broaden our understanding of our past. Economics, Choices, and Decision Making will be our next unit of study.

Thank you to all of those parents who came through for us during our holiday parties! The children were busy playing games, making crafts, and eating delicious treats. We appreciate you!