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            As we celebrate the arrival of spring, second graders will embark on many new and exciting learning experiences. 

Our current theme in Reading is Family Time.  Students are reading a collection of stories about the things that families do together.  Students will focus on using the questioning strategy to help them monitor their understanding as they read.  Additionally, second graders focus on answering questions about the story. Some questions can be considered “Right There” because the answer can be found right there in the text.  Another type of question is “Think and Search” which requires students to make connections between more than one piece or text to answer the question. The final type is “On My Own”. This type asks students to go beyond the text and use their own knowledge to answer the question. Student comprehension skills continue to increase as a result of practicing these strategies when reading.

In writing, students recently investigated a large collection of poetry.  First, we read several different types of poetry and found that poets are very creative authors!  We noticed all of the different elements of author’s craft that poets use to make their writing interesting.  Next, students wrote poetry of their own and included many similes, vivid verbs, alliteration, and onomatopoeia to make our poems exciting to read.  Students will have an opportunity to use the computers to publish their poetry with magnificent illustrations. 

Second graders have worked very hard in math all year to find more than one way to solve problems.  As we work on learning how to regroup to add, and eventually subtract double-digit numbers, students will learn several ways to solve these problems.   Sometimes we use pictures of our skinnies and bits, other times we use tallies, but we also learn the “old-fashioned way” to solve double digit problems.  Ask your child to show you their favorite way!

In science, we are beginning our fun-filled plant and animal life cycles unit where we will grow bean and pea plants and enjoy watching our mealworms grow and change!  Students will demonstrate responsibility as they observe and care for these plants and animals.  We will experience the full life cycle of a plant:  from seed… to sprout… plant… fruit…. back to seed.  Similarly, we will recognize the stages of development in our mealworms: from larva…to pupa… adult… egg…back to larva. 

Second graders really mean business these days!!!  As a part of our economics unit, we have learned about wants, needs, goods and services.  We will apply our learning at a higher level as we develop our own business this spring.  Coming soon - look for our advertisements in a hall near you!!

Math Tip: 

Students will soon begin a unit on fractions.  We find fractions all around us at home and school.  Take this opportunity to point out and identify fractions like halves, thirds, and quarters. Try baking something using a recipe for starters—what a great way to incorporate learning into a fun family activity!

Webpages created by Bob Schultz
updated  3/26/08  by K.. Vogler