Mrs. Parks's Newsletter
The Second Grade Scoop
Welcome Back!
Reading
Theme:
How does an author build suspense in a mystery novel?
This Week:
Students will continue working on drafting a mystery story of their own to wrap up our mystery unit. Students will then edit, revise and publish their story.
New Reading Log:
Students are now completing a new reading menu each evening. Students are to choose 1 activity in each section (appetizer. main course and dessert) and complete 1 activity in each section. Since reading homework is 4 nights a week and there are only 3 activities to complete, students can choose which nights they want to complete the activities. Students should still read each evening and record the book read and time read on the log, but they only have to do activities 3 out of 4 nights. I will collect the reading log on Fridays. If you have questions about this new reading log, please let me know.
Homework:
Please have your child choose books to read on their independent guided reading level. (This information was given to you at conferences.) Please have your child read for at least 20 minutes.
Helpful hints:
When discussing a story with your child you not only want to ask for concrete material from the book, you want to promote critical and creative thinking as well as text to self connections, text to world connections, and visualization. We will be working on these higher-level skills in class as well!
Spelling
This week:
The skill is r-controlled vowel words. Some examples include: er (clerk), ir (skirt), ur (burst), or (work).
Homework:
Your child should choose homework from the spelling menu. Students are also encouraged to access spelling tiles from BCPSone. Students can access these tiles by logging on as themselves and then going to "language arts" and then "lessons".
Test:
The test will be given on Friday. It will consist of 5 words from the list, 2 words from last week's skill and the 3 high frequency words.
Social Studies
This week:
We will continue our unit about the United States. Students have learned about laws and rules, government leaders and democratic principals. This week students will learn about democratic ideas, making choices and maps.
Star Student!
Jet! You consistently put forth your best effort! Way to go, Wise Westy!
Miscellaneous Info.
We welcomed a new student, Andrew, to WTES! The class had been wishing for a new student and were so happy to have Andrew join us.
Our class got to say the Pledge on announcements recently!
Events!
- February Birthday Celebration - Thursday, February 4 at 3:00 (we will celebrate all student birthdays in the month of February at this time).
- Report Cards Distributed - ** Revised Date Due to Snow Days - Monday, February 8
- President's Day Break - No school - Monday, February 15
Box Tops
- Box Top collection is ongoing. Feel free to send yours in at any time. We have a container at school to keep them in until counting time.
Volunteer Training
Volunteer training is online again this year! You can go online and complete the training on your own time that matches your schedule. Once you have completed the online volunteer training, you need to print out and bring in the certificate and application to school to be checked and signed. Please allow at least 24 hours from the time the office receives the form for the form to be processed in the front office.
http://www.bcps.org/community/volunteer_info/
If you would like to contact me, here’s how:
Email: tparks2@bcps.org
Phone: 410-887-3869
Write me: Write a note and include it in your child's gold folder or assignment book.