Dear Parents, September 4, 2018 Welcome to a new school year! I hope your child is as excited as I am about the upcoming year. The children were busy the first few days being introduced to new classmates, class routines, and curriculum. They did well despite the heat last week. Some of the programs we use in second grade will be familiar to the children. We use the Lucy Calkins Reading and Writing Program, which was introduced last year! We use the Reader’s Workshop format, which is similar to what your child used in first grade. The children are expected to read for 15 minutes each night as part of their homework. We are using Fundations for our phonics/spelling program this year. Students will work on their phonics skills in class and take a test at the end of each unit. Sight words will be sent home at the beginning of each unit. Our math program is Go Math! The program includes a homework component given Monday – Thursday that reinforces the concepts we work on during the week. Homework will be sent home starting Monday, 9/10/18. I will be sending home a letter which will include a Reflex Math login and password for your child to practice their math facts. The special schedulefor this year is as follows:Monday– LibraryTuesday– Physical Education & Computer Bi-WeeklyWednesday– Chorus & Physical EducationThursday– Music Friday– Art Lunch– 11:15-11:40Recess– 11:40-12:00 Each month I will post a newsletter on my website which will outline the material and topics that we are studying during the month. If you have any questions or concerns, please send a note, email, or call me @ 508-541-5475 ext. 2033. Please check my class web page to find out more information about homework, book club orders, birthday celebrations, and useful links children can use to reinforce skills learned in the classroom. The web address is http://hods.norfolk.k12.ma.us. Look under Grade 2 and click on my name, Kate Aucella, to get to my web page. I am looking forward to a great year! Sincerely, Mrs. Aucella |
Grade2 > Aucella, Kate >
Class Newsletters
March Newsletter
Curriculum Updates Math - We began Unit 6 this week. The focus is on 3-digit addition and subtraction strategies and the children have started off great with this unit! The next unit will be on money and time. Keep having your child practice their math facts! Independent Reading – The kids will be wrapping up their series book clubs soon. They have learned how to think more deeply about the text they were reading by having group discussions, how to pay attention to figurative language, what the author is trying to say and all about character traits. Writer's Workshop – The class is in the middle of their Opinion writing unit. The children have been working very hard to convince readers to read their favorite books and the paragraphs are great! Science – A scientist from Hi Touch Hi Tech came to visit our class on 3/18 to teach the children about Matter. The students got to be scientists by participating in a few science experiments. We will continue our unit on Matter for a few weeks. Social Studies – We continue to learn about Continents and oceans. The children will continue to study Black History and Immigration. Upcoming Events This Friday will be the last session of Club GLO. The children have enjoyed this special time! 3/22- Report Cards will be sent home - please send the envelopes back if you haven’t yet. 3/26– 1/2 day - Evening Conferences 3/28 – 1/2 day – Afternoon Conferences Recommended Links http://www.magickeys.com/books/
Thank you to the TPA for sponsoring Hi Touch High Tech, this is an exciting, hands-on program! |
February Newsletter
Curriculum Highlights Math - We are halfway through unit 5 which focuses on double digit subtraction with regrouping. The children have been working hard to master regrouping and are making great progress. Please have your child continue to practice their math facts at home! Reader's Workshop – The students were just placed in book clubs this week. They will be reading many books in a series and have discussions about the characters in their books. Writer's Workshop – We started our unit on opinion writing which involves the children writing persuasive letters and opinion pieces on their favorite books and characters in the book. Social Studies - The class will be learning about presidents and other famous people from history. Science – We began our unit on Matter (solids, liquids, & gases) which includes many fun experiments which will last a few months. Upcoming Events 2/14 – Field trip to Mechanics Hall in Worcester to see Henry & Mudge - 9:00 - 12:00 - Mrs. Donegan will be our chaperone. Thank you to everyone who volunteered! **Please bring your own lunch today. We will be eating in our room when we get back from the play.
2/14 - Valentine’s Day Class Party – Party in a Box **This will be your child's snack for the day. 2/15 - Ice Skating at Norfolk Arena - 9:10-11:00 2/18 – 2/22 – Mid-Winter Break – Enjoy! Recommended Links http://www.aplusmath.com/Flashcards/addition.html http://www.aplusmath.com/Flashcards/subtraction.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/typing/levels/level1.shtml
Happy Valentine’s Day! |
January Newsletter
Curriculum Math - We finished our chapter on addition. The children learned many new strategies for adding multi digit numbers. We began our subtraction unit last week which focuses on many new strategies for subtraction. Please have you child continue to practice their math facts at home! Reader's Workshop – We just finished our unit on Non-Fiction in Reading. The kids learned all about Non-Fiction books and what kinds of features are in them. Writer's Workshop – The class is finishing up their expert books and beginning to work on their tri-folds. They are looking forward to presenting both at the Learning Expo February 1st & 4th. Our next unit is on Persuasive Writing. The kids will be writing Opinion pieces. Social Studies - The class will be learned about Martin Luther King Jr., timelines, and will begin out unit on Continents and Oceans next month. Science – We are finished our unit on Pebbles, Sand, and Silt and We will be starting our Matter Unit next month. The kids love the hands on investigations. Events 1/21 – No School - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day 1/22 – No School – Professional Development 1/25 - Family Bingo Night – HOD Links Kid Friendly Search Engines
http://www.safekids.com/child-safe-search/ Enchanted Learning https://www.enchantedlearning.com/ |
December Newsletter
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November Newsletter
Curriculum Highlights It was so nice to catch up with all of you at conferences and share your child's progress. Math - We are working on Unit 3 in Go Math! This unit teaches the students Basic facts and Relationships. The kids will be taking the test later this week. Our next unit focuses on Addition Strategies using two digit numbers. Reading – The unit being taught is Non-Fiction. Students are becoming experts on Non-Fiction books. They are reading a variety of texts and learning the components that differentiate Non-Fiction from Fiction. Writing – The class is writing Non-Fiction Expert books. They are incorporating all the parts of a Non-Fiction book in their own books. The topics the kids have come up with are great! Social Studies - The class has begun to learn about Landforms. Science – We continue to study Pebbles, Sand, & Silt. The class has sorted and observed the properties of sand. Coming up, the kids will be exploring clay, studying the uses of rocks, and making sand sculptures. 11/6 – Noon Dismissal – Afternoon Conferences 11/8 – Noon dismissal – Evening Conferences 11/12 – No School – Veteran’s Day 11/21 – Noon Dismissal 11/22 & 11/23 – No School
Recommended Links http://www.kidrex.org/
http://www.aplusmath.com Happy Thanksgiving! |
October Newsletter
Curriculum Highlights Math – The children took the test for Unit 1 last week and began unit 2 in Math this week. Unit 2 focuses on Number Sense and Place Value with numbers 1-1000. Please continue to encourage your child to study their facts using Reflex along with math games and/or flash cards. Reading - We have been learning how to choose “just right“ books and about the Decoding Strategies good readers use, in order to become better readers. The children have also learning about author’s intentions for writing a book. Please remember to have your child read for 10/15 minutes each night and fill in their reading log. Book bags will being to go home this month. This gives your child a choice of books from the classroom to read. Writing - The children are have been learning about writing Small Moments (stories from their lives). They have been working hard on sentence structure, editing and revising their stories. Each child will be publishing one of their favorite pieces this month. Our next unit will be Non-Fiction writing. Science - We will begin a unit on Pebbles, Sand, & Silt next week. The class will be investigating the properties of different rocks and doing many experiments with sand & silt. The kids love the hands on experiments! Social Studies – The class continues to learn about Communities and Economics. These units focus on what makes a community and Producers, Consumers, Wants and Needs. Upcoming Events National Smile Day 10/5 - Wear Yellow to kick off our school Hi's and Eye's program Conference sign up link to be emailed out - 10/5 - Watch your emails to sign up for a conference. Columbus day - 10/8 - No school Teacher's Professional Development - 10/9 - No school Halloween Parade and Party - 10/31 - 1:45 Teacher Tip *Links
Second Grade Math Practice Fun Brain |
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