Welcome to Second Grade!

Mrs. Buck

Second GradeTypical Class Schedule

ChapelMrs. Rioni (reading specialist)Language Arts- Imagine It!

Recess PE Math Lunch Math Spanish/Music Recess Science/Social Studies Reading Workshop Dismissal

Specialty Classes Art- Ms. Sommerdorf Library/Computers-Mr. Buzzard and

Ms. Rowland Spanish-Mrs. Kearns Music- Mrs. Shelton PE & Religion/Mr. Buzzard Science- Ms. Graffis

Reading~ Imagine It!

Reading Program

The Five Key Areas of Reading Instruction

Phonemic Awareness Systematic, Explicit Phonics Fluency Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics Spelling Vocabulary Comprehension

Reading Instruction continued… Imagine It! is a phonetically based reading program. Students

participate in reading authentic, high quality literature in student anthologies. The student anthologies contain time-honored and contemporary literature including fiction and non-fiction, poetry, folk tales, fables and fantasies. These selections encourage students to think and raise questions.

Reading and vocabulary tests are given after the completion of these stories.

Units of study: Kindness Let’s Explore Around the Town Look Again Courage America’s People

Concepts Taught: Recognize and use knowledge of

spelling patterns Apply knowledge of basic

syllabication rules when reading Decode two-syllable nonsense words

and regular multi-syllable words Recognize common abbreviations Identify and correctly use regular

plurals

Continued… Read aloud fluently and accurately and with

appropriate intonation and expression Understand and explain common antonyms and

synonyms Know the meaning of simple prefixes and

suffixes Identify simple multiple meaning words Use titles, table of contents, and chapter

headings to locate information in expository text State the purpose in reading

Continued… Ask clarifying questions about

essential textual elements of exposition (why, what if, how)

Restate facts and details in the text Recognize cause-and-effect

relationships Interpret information from diagrams,

charts, and graphs

Continued… Compare and contrast different

stories, plots, settings, and characters Identify the use of rhyme, rhythm,

and alliteration in poetry Revise original drafts Write brief narratives Describe setting, characters and plot

Continued.. Write a friendly letter Distinguish between complete and incomplete

sentences Identify and correctly use parts of speech: nouns,

verbs, pronouns, adjectives, adverbs Use commas and quotation marks effectively Spell frequently used and irregular words correctly Spell basic short-vowel, long-vowel, r-controlled, and

consonant blend words correctly

Spelling Spelling words for each week

correlate with the words in our second grade spelling book. Spelling words are introduced on Mondays and tests are on Fridays. The weekly spelling list is included in the homework folder on Mondays. Challenge lists are given to students who receive a 100% or miss one on the spelling pretest given on Mondays.

Writing Write Away Handbook is the writing program we are

using this year. Students will learn the process of writing, forms of writing and the tools of learning.

Writer’s Workshop Students will take select pieces of writing through the

complete writing process to a final published form. Writer’s Workshop places the teacher as the facilitator with the students conferencing to edit and revise their work. The teacher conferences with each child and then checks the final draft. Published work will either be made into books, displayed in the classroom or sent home in a “class book.”

Handwriting Without Tears

Students have their own handwriting books. Focus will be on continued learning of proper handwriting habits and to apply those habits naturally and automatically to all writing experiences.

Life Books

Students write in their “Life Books” about memories in their lives. The students focus on writing about one event in vivid detail. Questions like Who? What? Where? When? Why? and How? are explored. The children have the opportunity to share their journal entries with the class if they wish. The children will take certain Life Book entries through the writing process and publish these pieces into small books. The class will have “writing celebrations” to proudly share their published work with parents and friends.

Mathematics

Our math program is Envision Math. This is a new math program that St. Michael’s has adopted this year in grades K-5 grades. Envision math aligns itself with the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) which will be in place in all California public schools in 2015. The CCSS focuses on a more focused and coherent math curriculum. Thus, Envision math provides in depth instruction on a limited number of important categories of mathematics content.

MathematicsTopics of Study

Understanding Addition and Subtraction Addition strategies Subtraction strategies Working with equal groups Place value to 100 Mental addition Mental subtraction Adding two-digit numbers Subtracting two-digit numbers Place value to 1,000 Three digit addition and subtraction

Continued:

Counting Money Money Measuring Length Time, graphs, Data Geometry

ScienceEnergy and Motion

Students begin the school year with Energy and Motion. In the unit students will learn about different forms of energy such as light, motion, sound and heat. We will be doing a lot of hands on experiments as a class.

Science Earth’s Materials

Students will observe and investigate characteristics of solid materials from the earth’s rocks and minerals. The focus is on taking materials apart to find what they are made of and putting materials together to better understand their properties.

ScienceInsects

Students will end the year with a hands-on study of Insects (life science).

The life cycle of mealworms and butterflies will be examined.

Social Studies The social studies program is based on the Mc Graw

Hill book People Together. Geography skills, thinking skills, study skills and citizenship skills are all addressed in this comprehensive curriculum. The six units of study are:

Family Ties Earth, Our Home A Working World We the People Discovering Our Past People, Places and Holidays Students will read literature, watch videos, listen to

audiocassettes and complete class projects all related to the unit of study. In addition, a test will be given after the completion of each unit.

Homework

Daily homework will be given out Monday-Thursday nights.

Vocabulary cards come home on Tuesday nights. Tests are every Friday.

Reading books come home Wednesday nights. Please have your child read the story of the week to you and parents sign the back of the book. Reading tests are every Friday.

Spelling tests are every Friday.

Class Rules

We always raise a quiet handWe always walkWe always wait patientlyWe always take care of

classroom materialsWe are always kind

Consequences for not following rules

Verbal warning, proximity, eye contact Green card pulled- no Buck’s Buck for

the day Yellow card pulled- student talks to

teacher at recess and a note is sent home

Red card pulled- student sees Mrs. Heise

Incentives (:

Buck’s Buck Group points Store Praise treats

Parent Communication Daily behavior cards Wednesday folders Notes homes/phone call if needed School e-mail: juliebuck@smeds.net November conferencing Website- blog Monthly Newsletter and Calendar