Mrs. Crooks's Second Grade Scoop
2015-2016 Volume 8
Table Talk
Reading
Unit 2
Theme: Cycles in our Natural World
Essential Question: How do different plants and animals grow, develop, and survive in our natural world?
Last Week:
We read Sled Dogs. We described how the beginning introduces the story and the end concludes a story. We also described how characters respond to major events in a story. We identified what a blurb was and then listed the elements in a blurb. We ended Unit 1by writing a blurb for one of the stories that we have read.
This Week:
We will start Unit 2 - Cycles in our Natural World. We will introduce the unit by sorting and classifying pictures of living things. We will then learn how images and other text features (table of contents, captions, diagrams, etc.) help to clarify and add meaning to informational texts. We will create a text feature booklet and identify the main idea and key details in an informational text.
Spelling/Phonics
Last Week:
We learned about the short u sound spelled u and the long u sound spelled u consonant e.
This Week:
We will be learning about the soft c spelled ce (cent, rice) and the soft g spelled ge (huge, range).
Homework:
Choose one menu item each night or create your own activity and write what you did in your spelling notebook. On Thursday have your child/children practice their spelling words to prepare for the test. While preparing for the test have your child practice writing several of the words in a complete sentence.
Test:
The spelling test will consist of 5 words from the spelling list given, 2 words that the students will apply new and old skills, and 3 high frequency words from the list given. The words are graded for accuracy and capitalization. The students are also required to choose one word from the test and use it in a meaningful sentence. The sentence is graded for CAPSS (capitalization, appearance, punctuation, spelling, and sense).
Grammar/Writing
Last Week:
Writing: We continued to use the writing process when writing our personal narratives.
This Week:
Grammar: This week we learn the difference between common and proper nouns.
Writing: We will continue to use the writing process when writing our personal narratives.
Content
Last Week:
We completed our Health Unit on keeping ourselves safe and healthy.
This Week:
We will begin Unit 1 in Science - Space Odyessy. We will identify our galaxy and use maps to locate where we live. We will create a model of Earth. We will then learn about Earth's surface and complete an investigation to find out the property of rocks.
Volunteer Training
Star Student
Our Star Student for next week is:
Elias!
Congratulations, Elias! You are truly a WISE WESTY!
Birthday Celebration
Important Dates
- 10/30 - Schools Closed 3 hours early
- 11/13 - Schools Closed (Conference Day)
- 11/16-11/20 - American Education Week
- 11/26 and 11/27 - Schools Closed (Thanksgiving)
Contact Information
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions. Here is my contact information:
Lynn Crooks: lcrooks@bcps.org
West Towson Phone: 410-887-3869
Assignment Book/ Take Home Folder: write a note in either
**I will try to get back to you as soon as possible, but sometimes I am unable to, so please allow me 24 hours to respond.