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Welcome Back Second Grade Families!
I hope that you and your family had a beautiful Thanksgiving!  Isn't it a gift to celebrate all of the blessings God has so graciously given to us?  Being that there is only one more week of November, let's savor all that Autumn brings before we embrace the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season.  This week is going to be quite hectic due to it being the week that ACS is accredited.  Please continue reading this newsletter to discover all that will be taking place both inside our second grade classroom and right here at ACS.
Homework ~  Beginning this week, I would like to change how the second graders have been doing their nightly homework.  In the past few weeks, I have been gaining knowledge and insight into the overall effects of homework on primary students.  Research is indicating that the only homework that effectively allows students to academically grow is in the area of reading.  With this being said, let's have a trial period up until Christmas where all of the second graders simply read every night for 15 to 20 minutes and log their reading.  They will also need to prepare for their weekly spelling test that takes place on Friday's.  The student's reading logs will always be due on Fridays.  If a child does not return their homework completed on Friday, they will have to
"clip down" on our behavior chart and they will also have to give me four raffle tickets.  One ticket for every night they chose not to do their homework.  It is my intention to allow the students to have more time for their extracurricular activities and to also receive a full night's rest.  It also relieves parents of the stressful task of getting their kids to do their homework thoroughly.  I will check in with all of you prior to our Christmas vacation to gather insights and thoughts on how the second grade families as a collective group feel about this simple approach to homework.  Please feel free to follow the link below to read about this new approach to homework which is gaining steam in the U.S.A.

Psychology Today Article on No Homework!

Please know that I understand that this approach to homework is quite different than when we were all children.  However, less homework allows young children to spend their time being creative, enjoying time with their families, embrace hobbies, and to lead balanced lives.   I look forward to collaborating with all of you prior to Christmas to receive your honest feedback.  Thank you in advance for your support.

 ELA
ELA (Strong Communicators)
Spelling ~ Vowel Digraphs ai, ay
Grammar ~ Compound Sentences
Writing ~ Opinion Writing 
Target Skills ~ Text and Graphic Features, Fact and Opinion, Questions

Math (Resourceful Learners)
The students will begin working in unit 4 from our Go Math series!  This unit focuses on double digit addition and subtraction.  

  • Please know that your children have access to IXL and can practice their basic math facts on line at home to assist them in mastering their basic math facts.  Your child's IXL information is located inside the front cover of your child's agenda.   Every child received their IXL username and password on a bright yellow slip of paper and it was stapled to the front cover inside their planner.
Science
The students will be focusing on processes that shape the earth.
  • Volcanoes
  • Weather
  • Wind
  • Water

Religion (Active Christians)

The students will be learning from our "Jesus Our Life" textbook this week.  
The lessons that we will be focusing on are:

  • I Choose to Love God 
  • Preparing for Our Savior


 The students will attend our school wide "Community Prayer Service" on Wednesday, November 28th, at 8:10 am. 
The students will pray during a variety of times through out the day. 


The students will attend our all school Mass on Friday at 8:15am.

 Updates

Onsite Accreditation Team Visit ~ November 28th, 2018
Community Prayer ~ November 28th at 8:10 am

Chess Club ~ November 28th at 3:10 pm
Early dismissal - No aftercare ~ November 30th at 8:00am
  


Enrichment Ideas

Reading Idea ~ Try this link to have your child enjoy an online reading experience with Tumble Books!


Math Ideas ~ 
  • IXL
  • Download a child centered math app on an I-pad and let your child practice their basic math facts.  Here are some suggestions, Sushi Monster, Prodigy Math,  or 2nd Grade Math.
  • Mathplayground.com is a free math based website for kids to practice their facts on too!
Spelling Ideas ~ 
Have your child practice their spelling words using shaving cream!  When my kids were in the primary grades they loved practicing their spelling words on the shower wall while they were scrubbing up every Thursday night.  It is a fun way to practice their spelling the night before their weekly test!  Another idea, is to have your child use Scrabble tiles to spell out their words, or how about magnetic letters on a cookie sheet.

Homework

 All of the students will need to read for 15 to 20 minutes nightly and fill out their reading log.
The students will also need to study for their weekly Spelling test that will take place on Friday.

  


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