Grade 2

Click here to see an overview of the curriculum of this grade.
Click here to view the School Handbook (general policies for grades K through 8)
Click here to see photos from 2nd Grade
Click here to see the Classroom News of this grade

Parent Information

Welcome to Second Grade

We wish to extend to each and everyone a warm "Hello". After a wonderful summer, it's time to begin again. We hope your child is looking forward to the new school year that lies ahead. They will be going on an exciting adventure called "Second Grade." There are many new and exciting learning experiences they will be partaking in this year. We will try our best to make this adventure both exciting and enjoyable. You have many questions concerning activities that will be happening in the classroom this year. Many of these questions will be addressed on Curriculum Night which is scheduled for September 24th.

The children are doing a wonderful job adjusting to a school year with many changes. As we have mentioned to them, we will all be flexible in adjusting to situations. Our main concern is for the safety of our students.

BIRTHDAYS

Birthdays are one of the most important events in the life of a young child. You are more than welcome to send in a snack for your child's birthday celebration. On this day your child may be “out of uniform.” Food or treats should not have to be refrigerated. You may drop the treats off during the morning of their special day. You must however let us know in advance what you will bring in and the day your child will celebrate his/her birthday. Summer birthdays will be celebrated in June. It is always best to bring in an ingredients list from packaged or homemade foods.

SNACKS

There will be morning recess each day. In line with our Life Threatening Allergy Protocol, children will get their snacks and bring them to the cafeteria. We ask that you send in a healthy snack daily, as lunch is not served until 12:00. Recess is from 10:15 to 10:30 daily. Children are also encouraged to bring in water bottles for use during the day. Please fill with water only.

SCHOOL DAY

Students begin entering the building at 7:40 and head to the Hall. At 7:50 students are dismissed to classes. Teachers are in the classrooms at that time. During this morning time the children unpack, get ready for the day, and begin morning work. This morning work acts as a review for the students. All students should be in the classroom by 8:05 AM for prayer. Students not in the room by 8:05 will be marked absent. The student must report to the office first if tardy. The children are dismissed at 2:30 PM. They have been assigned to a bus, or maybe they are walkers, extended day or car riders. If there should be change in their normal schedule, please let us know by way of a note. If you need to dismiss your child early, please send along a note in the morning, and be sure to sign your child out at the office before coming down to the classroom.

HOME-SCHOOL JOURNAL

The Home-School Journal is a method of communication that has worked wonderfully over the past years. Either you or we have the opportunity to jot a note or a concern to each other in a form that is not easily lost. A more complete description of this concept was attached to the journal itself.

ASSESSMENTS

Second graders will be assessed this year in a variety of ways. There are more formal assessments in all content areas, especially in Reading. Informal assessments include teachers’ observations, daily work, writing samples, activities, experiments and projects. Both forms are combined to best assess your child. There may be occasion for work to be corrected or completed during the day. We work with the children to help them understand their mistakes. Our goal is for the child to apply the skills and knowledge they have learned. Portfolios will be kept by each child. These portfolios include writing samples, assessments and “best work”. At the end of each term the children have an opportunity to review their portfolios to see their growth.

HOMEWORK

Homework packets are assigned on Mondays of each week. All homework is to be passed in on Friday unless otherwise stated. Homework assignments will be handed out in written form and explained each week. Homework reinforces classroom lessons, prepares for upcoming lessons and develops independent study skills. Children are also expected to read each night and to record their books and times on a Reading Log.

CLASS RULES

At the beginning of each year the children discuss and decide which rules are necessary for our classroom. These rules are then posted and reviewed whenever necessary. Our guiding principle is that each person in the class has a right to learn. Rules are kept simple, and focus attention on the 4 D’s. Behavior is inappropriate if it is dangerous, disturbing, destructive, or disrespectful. With guidance and reinforcement, the children can better manage their behavior.

CLASSROOM WORK

Second grade is filled with activities that include whole class and small group instruction, cooperative groups, computer activities, group work, partnered work and individual work. Each class is made up of a diverse group of students with many different learning styles and needs. Children are encouraged to learn to take responsibility for their learning. We encourage each child to do work that is neat and to the best of their ability. Students are expected to complete their work in class. If a child does not complete an activity, they will be dealt with on an individual basis. Many of these procedures are a carry over from First Grade.

UNIFORMS

Please label your child’s uniforms. There are many times sweatshirts are unidentified because the children have taken them off during gym. Please use the Student Handbook as your guide for seasonal uniform changes.

SCHEDULES

Spanish - Monday
Spanish /Art – Tuesday
Music – Thursday
Computers / Library, Gym - Friday

If you or you child has a question or concern, do not hesitate to let us know. You may write to either of us at school. obrienp@stmarysparish.org or lukachd@stmarysparish.org

Mrs. O’Brien and Mrs. Lukach

Classroom News - March 2010 Reading The Second Graders have begun the second book of the reading series. Themes 4, 5 and 6 are: Dream Big, Better Together, and Seek and Find. Each theme is divided into four selections and a review week. Each week there is a fiction and nonfiction paired reading. This pairing enables the children to see that particular topics are not just one dimensional.

At the end of each week the children are assessed in comprehension, high frequency words, robust vocabulary, and a particular grammar skill. With each weekly assessment, the student is asked to respond in writing to a short question. This was very beneficial during the Terra Nova testing. The new testing required the students to respond in one or two complete sentences to a question.

The class continues to enjoy the routine of finding a good book to read. A good book is one that is challenging without being overwhelming. It is a book that may take several days to complete. Whatever the interest – fiction or nonfiction, mystery or poetry – your child is sure to find something that interests them. It may be as simple as going to the library children’s room, or even to the children’s section of a bookstore such as Borders. As we all have our individual tastes in books, so will your children. Check out a website by author James Patterson. This adult mystery writer is a strong advocate for children reading. The site Read Kiddo Read (http://www.readkiddoread.com) has children’s books that are sorted into age and interest categories.

Math

Money and time are the two topics which the second graders will develop. Money skills are not only counting on to find the total, but to be able to find a total cost, and then how much change will we get back. Time is being able to read an analog clock to the 5 minute interval as well as showing and telling elapsed time.

Social Studies/Science

The children can now discriminate between wants and needs, producers and consumers. They have followed the flow of products from farm to factory and finally to consumers. We look forward to learning the governmental processes of cities, states, and country.

In science the class will begin an extended unit on the forces of motion.

Physical Education with Mrs. MacDonough

The second graders are having a great term in Physical Education. We have played many of the favorites such as Doctor Dodgeball and Keep the Trash out of my Yard. When we are able to get outside we enjoy playing Capture the Flag, Kickball, and Stuck in the Mud! At the beginning of each class, we do a series of stretches and either situps or jogging depending on whether we are in the hall or outside. We continue to keep focused on the fact that competition, while fun, is not the main focus of our class and that we are all here to have fun and learn the rules and skills needed to play the games, as well as the all important concept of teamwork!

Classroom News - February (from last year)

What a busy month the Second Graders have had. The students continued writing letters for servicemen and women in Iraq. The week before school vacation included our Valentine party, and Winter Warm Up Day. The class enjoyed learning about the ways bullying can occur through a presentation by the Kaleidoscope Theater. Many books were purchased at the Scholastic Book Fair at the beginning of the month. As a First Communion group, we will bake bread and bring these loaves to the Mustard Seed on Saturday of this week.

As a class we have been practicing daily for the Terra Novas, which will begin on March 2nd. By practicing some of the way questions and answers are presented, it relaxes the children and lets them become aware of just what the questions may look like. We also present different strategies to use if they become stuck on a problem. These strategies may include eliminating some answers, as well as using spelling, grammar, and math skills used throughout the earlier part of the year. Even how they fill in the answers is important. The circles must be shaded in completely and no other marks may be made on the test. Listening for information and directions is one of the most important aspects of the test. This year the test will include a short response to the various subject areas. This should also not be a problem for the students as they have had numerous opportunities in math, science, social studies and reading to respond to a prompt.

Our math fact scores are rising. With at home practice, as well as the game of Around the World, the children are beginning to see the automaticity of addition and subtraction facts.

Please check with your child to see if they are well stocked at school with pencils, pens, and glue sticks. As a class, we could use more wipes. Thank you.

Mrs. O’Brien
Mrs. Lukach

Classroom News - January 2010

Reading

The children arrived back to school to greet the New Year with the study of the author Jan Brett. We began with the story of The Mitten, a retelling of a Ukrainian folktale. Animals native to the Ukraine were introduced, and the children compared this story to Jan Brett’s latest book The Umbrella. The children located on a world map the settings of Jan Brett’s stories, searched Ms Brett’s web site for information and activities, and learned of the difficult and time-consuming work it takes to be both an author and illustrator. We encourage the use of the Jan Brett web site at home for more in depth study of this author. In the recent past we have studied the works of author Tomie dePaola.

Math

We continue to reinforce the need for mastery of addition and subtraction facts. To master the facts eliminates the use of fingers or number lines. At home we ask your help in having your children continue to learn addition and especially subtraction facts through 18.

Our focus now is renaming of tens and ones for the subtraction of 2-digit numbers. In addition we regrouped ones into tens. In subtraction, we rename a set of tens into ones. An example we give to the class is that there are times you need a ten dollar bill, and times when you need ten one dollar bills. In addition we take all the ones we have and trade them into tens. In subtraction, we need more ones, so we trade a ten into ten ones instead.

We model activities as we go along so that the children understand the reasoning behind the concepts. As always the students will learn a variety of strategies such as drawing it out, counting up or down, or finding doubles to help them learn a few tricks.

Social Studies / Science

We have completed the study of America’s history. From America’s First People to Modern Times, the children created time line foldables to help them understand the concepts and time periods.

Our focus is Earth Science. We are combining skills and topics in both Science and Social Studies. From Science landforms and Earth features, we will add the essential question of “How Does Geography Help Me?”

Religion

One of the most important sacraments for the children to study this year is that of the Eucharist. In preparing for this sacrament the children will learn that the sacrament of Eucharist calls us to unity and peace. This sacrament is that of new life and of the presence of Jesus in our lives. As this special time draws nearer, the children will be more active participants in the Mass. They are coming to appreciate the parts of the Mass and how we respond to God and to others. We ask that during Sunday Mass your child actively participate in the responses, songs, and actions.

This month the children will celebrate the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation. As adults seek forgiveness for hurts we have caused friends and family, so too the children now come of age to seek forgiveness from God.

Classroom News - December 2009

Such a busy month of all of us here at St. Mary School. We began the month completing our Service Project of creating and selling handmade Christmas ornaments. The ornaments were sold at the Craft Fair with the help of many of the Second Graders. Proceeds went to the Worcester Telegram and Gazette Santa Fund. This year the students were able to donate a record $317 to this program.

The children also brought in donations to help the children of the Transitional Housing. Our class was able to not only match, but surpass the funds given to us. All your donations have been truly appreciated.

Once again the Christmas musical was a complete success. The children would often enter the classroom asking that the tape be played so that they could continue to practice as they worked. The second and third graders were obviously the stars of the show. The Second Grade met with their Sixth Grade Buddies today to exchange Christmas cards.

In math we have completed Chapter 11 – addition with regrouping. The class did a wonderful job with their presentations of their Family Shields. The shields are on display in the classroom.

In January our author study will be Jan Brett. If there are any copies of her books at home, please have the children bring them in so that we may share them during Book Bin Reading.

Thank you so much for sending in supplies to replenish the wipes, tissues, and hand gel. It is greatly appreciated.

Classroom News - November (from last year)

Language Arts

Second Graders delved into the lives of the Pilgrims and Native Americans. Sarah Morton’s Day and Samuel Eaton’s Day follow the everyday lives of children from the late 1620’s at Plimoth Plantation. We read Molly’s Pilgrim as our book for Literature Seminar. In Literature Seminar the class discusses unfamiliar vocabulary as a group, and helps each other with meanings. We discussed a variety of questions that were suggested by the students themselves. The students tried to find answers to these questions in the reading, and if not, suggested opinions. One important aspect of Literature Seminar is that no one’s question is insignificant. The other important facet of Literature Seminar is that all students are expected to come prepared and participate in discussion. Participation is a very important part of Literature Seminar. Each student had a packet which includes a place for parent signature, book, vocabulary, discussion question, and an activity.

Each week the children begin their spelling week with a Word Preview. After each word is corrected letter by letter, we as a class look at each word to see if it follows a particular spelling rule or pattern, or if it is a surprise word. During the week, we play with spelling patterns, word families, making generalizations about spelling rules, etc. Usually on Friday the children complete a three-part assessment. In the cloze portion, words are given in the context of a sentence. The second part, skills, asks students to show that they are learning or have mastered general spelling rules. The dictation determines whether the student can now use words of the week in everyday sentences. Not only are words of the week assessed, but also words are reviewed continuously throughout the year. This aspect determines whether the student has mastered the word.

Through the Vocabulary series, the children increase their word background and knowledge of parts of speech. Multiple meaning words are common, and match up with many skills in the Language and Spelling series. Multiple methods for learning spelling are an important part of spelling. Most important is the child becoming the teacher to find misspelled words. Word by word checking is reinforced also in our weekly Oral Language exercises in order to become more adept at editing.

Our book bin reading selections through Christmas are a variety of Christmas books as well as an author study of New Englander Tomie dePaola. With his rich Catholic background, he has written many books that are perfect for this time of year.

Mathematics

Having completed Units 1 and 2 (Number concepts, addition, subtraction, graphing, and numbers through 100), the children are now moving onto Unit 4 (Adding 2 digit numbers). Our use of pretests shows this as an area that many are unfamiliar with, whether in concept or in vocabulary. The regrouping of ones into tens and vice versa will be a skill we will work on. We continue to monitor the children’s immediate knowledge of number facts through 18 by the two minute drills once a month.

Social Studies

Beginning with the creation of our Family Shields, the next few weeks develop the theme of immigration of families and groups to the United States. We learn the reason the Pilgrims chose to settle in the New World, and the hardships they would have had to endure were it not for the Natives. From there we will learn why other groups chose to settle as well. We find where our roots originated through the Family Shield project. And finally through the book Molly’s Pilgrim we learn that immigration and pilgrims continue still.

Religion

As we begin the study of the sacrament of Reconciliation, the children will have many discussions. They will be able to find many examples in their own lives of the times that they have sought forgiveness as well as those times they have forgiven. This is an important sacrament that Second Graders will receive during the month of January. Miss Sue Landry will visit our class and together we will begin to practice the steps involved. The children will need to learn the Act of Contrition before they receive this sacrament.

Upcoming events

• Holly Fair – December 5 and 6. The children are creating ornaments to be sold. The proceeds will go to the Worcester Telegram and Gazette Santa.
• Advent Angel – month of December
• Christmas musical – Wednesday, December 10th

Classroom News - October 2009

Language Arts and Reading

Second grade is wrapping up the first theme of the Storytown literature series – Count On Me. This series allows for frequent comparisons between fiction and nonfiction related stories. Leveled readers offer multiple readers different levels but the same focus skill areas. Our class continues to formally write at least twice a week. Students are writing their second story entitled My Family. Through “Writer’s Companion” and the focus skills, students are learning to develop a main idea and multiple detail sentences

Spelling, phonics, and phonemic awareness are stressed through our daily group and partnered activities, such as tic-tac-toe, letter cards, sticky note words, and scattergories. We use word study groups, which add to the decoding skills of the children. Our vocabulary workbook has helped the children to use a variety of strategies that additionally help with their reading. Self-Selected Reading Block allows the children the opportunity to choose books of their own levels and interests.

Mathematics

Our first unit combined number concepts, addition, subtraction, and data analysis. The use of correct terminology is expected, with new vocabulary introduced in most lessons. The children are also beginning to develop explanations for how they were able to solve the problems, whether through drawing, number sentences, or logical interpretations.

We are learning about different types of graphs, not only reading graphs but constructing them from tables, tallies, and surveys. And what better time than Halloween to sort, count, and graph some of the treats we have received.

Social Studies/Science

Immigration and the study of our ancestors will begin with discussions about Christopher Columbus. From this starting point, we talk of the settlement of our country. Who are our ancestors? Why did they come to the United States? Where did they come from? What were some of the hardships they overcame in both their journey and their early life here? We will read Molly’s Pilgrim for Literature Seminar to learn that pilgrims are still a part of life today.

In Life Science, the class posed experiments to show the requirements of plants. The students are learning to use process skills such as giving hypotheses, classifying, and making observations.

Religion

Our main focus will be on two important sacraments: the celebration of the Mass and Eucharist, as well as that of Penance and Reconciliation. When we are welcomed into God’s family through Baptism, we become part of the community. Students learn that being a member of any community has its rights and responsibilities. We need to care for one another through not only our words but our actions as well.

Students are learning that they have choices in life, and through God’s grace we can make good choices. We are also learning that as we ask forgiveness, we also need to forgive others.

Music with Mrs. Johnson

The Primary Grades of Kindergarten, Grade One and Two have been busy in music learning songs of the season. “Good-Bye Summer”, one popular song with the children, was also choreographed to ensure all youngsters were able to do a basic step-touch dance step. Children are presently learning their Halloween songs for the October 31st Parade and Song Fest and we hope that you will be on hand to hear their singing and see their “moves.” In addition, grade one and two children have learned basic musical notation and have been practicing reading, writing, and performing their rhythmic measures.

Physical Education with Mrs. MacDonough

The second, third, and fourth grade have continued where they left off last June in physical education. Although they have not lost their love of Capture the Flag and Doctor Dodgeball, they have enjoyed different activities involving teamwork and cooperation. We are hoping for a mild autumn and will begin to learn and utilize some of the foundations of basketball and will continue to work on fitness through our exercise stations.

Classroom News - September 2009

The second graders continue to adjust to the routines and activities of the classroom. Mornings are filled with spelling and vocabulary, playing partnered games with letter and word cards, making as many words as they can with a given set of letters. In their guided reading the children predict using word and picture clues. Predictions change depending upon new clues as the story unfolds. We practice reading with multiple partners, increasing their fluency and developing their expressive voice.

The students each write in their individual writing notebooks, going through a process which expands their thoughts into clear, yet greater detailed sentences. We are learning to find and write the main idea for each paragraph, as well as the details which expand and clarify the sentences. These finished stories will be saved for each student, and at the end of the year, everyone will bring home a collection of stories. This collection allows the children to see very plainly the progress they have made over the course of a school year.

Math for the most part has been a review of before and after, greater than, less than, as well as simple math facts. New areas such as doubles, doubles plus one, estimating to the nearest ten are concepts from our program that introduces the children to different strategies they may use. The series also includes the development of key vocabulary which enables students to think more as mathematicians.

In Social Studies, the students completed the unit on Communities. Using the text, activity book, leveled readers, as well as “foldables”, the children are able to explain the types of communities, rules for living in communities, and how these can also apply to our own lives in school and at home. Key concepts such as friendship, cooperation, compassion are explored as the children brainstorm ways they exhibit these traits as well as how these traits are shown through the actions of others. What a wonderful way to explore “Love Thy Neighbor As Thyself”.

We look forward to meeting you at Parent’s Night on Thursday, September 24th at 6:30.

Mrs. O’Brien and Mrs. Lukach

Classroom News - May (from last year)

Physical Education with Mrs. MacDonough

With just a few exceptions, the weather has continued to cooperate for outdoor physical education classes as we move into the heart of the spring. Many of the classes have caught spring fever and are always excited to be outside running around.

The second, third, and fourth graders continue to mature in their understanding of the games and are great at working and playing together as a class. Many of the students have learned and accepted the rules and importance of sportsmanship and implement them every week. They are hoping for good weather for the last few weeks and we are anticipating an exciting Field Day as well.

Classroom News - April (from last year) With the end of April vacation, the year is slowly coming to an end. There are still so many different topics, ideas, and activities to do. Of immediate importance is the schedule of activities for the month of May. Friday, May 1st is our celebration of Mary through the Rosary and the Crowning of Mary. This will take place beginning at 9:15. The children are asked to bring in a pair of rosary beads so that they will be better able to follow along.

On May 16th at 10:00AM the second graders of St. Mary’s parish will receive Holy Communion for the first time. We held a retreat several weeks ago and Father Mike recreated the Passover feast for the children. We joined with bread and grape juice. Finally the children were able to taste the wafer to prepare them for the sacrament. Rehearsals for the May 16th group will be held on Tuesday and Thursday, May 12th and 14th from 4:30 – 6PM. We will need approximately 6 parents to help during the celebration: two parents to lead the procession and to chaperone the children downstairs before Mass, two to help prepare the altar, and three to help organize the children for Offertory. If you are able to help, please let us know.

Our field trip is scheduled for May 27th to Dinosaur State Park in Rocky Hill, Ct. At this time we are asking for volunteers as chaperones. We will bring 5 chaperones with us. Our program begins at 9:30AM so we will be leaving the school promptly at 8:15 that Wednesday. Following an hour and a half program, we will have lunch and use several of the walking paths. We should return to school by 1:30PM. Anyone who would like to volunteer must have their name in by this Friday, May 1st. At that time we will be choosing names.