December 2015
Dear 2nd grade parents,
We genuinely enjoyed meeting and talking
with each of you at conferences. Thank you
for coming! Although this is our only formal
conference time, please don’t hesitate to
contact your child’s teacher to meet
whenever you have questions or concerns.
In reading, we will identify the characteristics of a folktale to determine if
it is a fairy tale (magic, once upon a time, good versus evil), a trickster story,
or a fable (a short story with animal characters and a lesson.) We will also
read multiple versions of several folktales to identify the story elements
that are unique to the culture in which it was retold as well as the
natural/human made features unique to a setting. During reading, students
will be engaged in answering who, what, where, when, why, and how questions
using evidence and details from the story. They will also retell key details
from the beginning middle, and end, to figure out the lesson (or moral) of
the story. Finally, we are working on context clues in all of our reading in
which the students use clues in the reading to make sense of unknown words.
In writing, students will use a selected folktale and alter story elements,
such as the setting and characters, to write a new story that includes a
description of the thoughts, actions or feelings of a character and structure
events logically. In order to clearly communicate the revised narrative,
students must use temporal words to order events in a folktale, produce
repeated simple and compound sentences, generalize spelling patterns to
write new words, and capitalize geographic names.
This month we will be working on addition and subtraction of two digit
numbers using a variety of strategies in math. We will be using models,
(hundreds, tens, and ones blocks), hundreds charts, number lines, drawing
(picture) models, and written method (either expanded form-breaking each
number into tens and ones or breaking apart the smaller number.) We will
also be reading word problems to determine when to add and when to
subtract. See attachment for detailed explanations of the strategies.
Please continue to practice addition and subtraction facts at home. We have
been focusing on doubles and near doubles this quarter as well as ways to
make ten in addition (7 + 5… 7 + 3 = 10 + 2 = 12) or lead to a ten in
subtraction (14 – 6 is 14 - 4 = 10 -2 = 8).
In social studies this month we will be comparing the cultures of the
Wampanoag people and the Pilgrims. We will be looking at their homes, food,
recreation, music and stories. We will also be learning about how both
cultures impacted the other culture.
In science we are identifying parts that make a whole. We are using the
thinking skill of Analysis to put parts together to create an object and
improve upon it. We will be involved with the STEM activity of STRIKE UP
THE BAND in which the students will make a stringed instrument with
recycled materials.
During the month of December, all Grade 2 students in Montgomery County
Public Schools were assessed using the InView to begin gathering
information about each student to help match students to appropriate
instructional placement for Grade 3 and for Gifted and Talented (GT)
identification. The InView is an assessment of cognitive abilities. It is
composed of 5 subtests. The students really put forth their best effort.
We are very proud of how hard they worked! Over the next few months we
will continue gathering information about each student from a variety of
sources, including parents.
As always, thank you for your continued support! Wishing you and your
families a very happy and healthy holiday season! We will see everyone in
the New Year when we return to school on January 4, 2016!
The Second Grade Team,
Mrs. DeHaas
Ms. Williams
Mrs. Titherington
Mrs. Podor
Mrs. Levy
Mrs. Oxman