Stellar Second Graders
Mrs. Boyajian, Mrs. Coffey, Mrs. Mayo and Ms. Zerbel
Math Workshop:
Reading Workshop:
We continue to work through Unit 1: Community. Some of our focuses have been retelling a story, exploring how details in illustrations help us to better understand the mood of the story, making text to self connections, and our reactions to author's words. Author's may write something to make us react by a gasp, sigh, chuckle, or whimper.
Language Workshop:
Homework Expectations
Here are the homework expectations for second grade:
1. Study spelling words: Your child should spend a few minutes studying his/her weekly spelling words each night. This can be done however you would like. Every Monday your child takes a new picture of his/her new weekly words. These are uploaded to their Google Classroom.
2. Reading: Your child's goal is to read 15 minutes per night. Starting next week your child will be bringing home a monthly calendar to keep track of days he/she reaches this goal. Logs will be turned in at the end of each month. This is a requirement for all students, however, this also counts towards the "Book It" program so your child will also receive a coupon for a free personal pan pizza if they reach their monthly goal!
3. Dreambox: Your child should be doing a total of 60 minutes of Dreambox at home per week. This could be broken down into smaller sessions. (Example: four 15 minute sessions, two 30 minute session, etc.) Lessons typically take anywhere from 5-15 minutes each. On the backside of your reading log you will find a spot to track Dreambox use each week.
Thank you for your support from home!
Second Step:
We are currently finishing our first unit. Our lessons have included being respectful, attentive listening, focusing attention, using positive self-talk and how to be assertive. Students have done a fantastic job discussing these topics. They even learned a catchy song to help them remember what they have learned. Check out the song from this unit below!
Missing Family Photos:
Headphones:
Word Study:
We differentiate spelling in grade two to give your child the most optimal learning experience at his or her level. Your child will be pre- and post-assessed each trimester. If your child has mastered the spelling skill, (s)he will continue on. If (s)he needs more practice at a skill, repeated practice will be necessary. For this reason, your child’s group may change around the trimester.
Ways to Determine Your Child’s Group
We want to preserve the privacy of every child, so we will not send out a list of where every child is in their spelling learning progress. Also, it would be very time consuming to send out an email to each individual family. So then, how do parents know their child’s level? Great question! Your child will receive a note in their homework folder indicating their spelling level and spelling group. We can discuss this more in depth at parent teacher conferences. If ever in doubt in the future, here are some other ways to figure out your child's spelling level:
Ask your child. (S)he should know what group (s)he is assigned to for that week. It is posted in the classroom for children to refer to. All sorts are color coordinated. So you could even ask what color their words are. (Grapes = purple paper; Blueberries = blue paper; Kiwis = green paper; Lemon = yellow paper; Peach = orange paper; Cherry = pink paper)
Look on Google Classroom. Each child takes home his or her iPad home daily. There is a photo on there of the words under the Initial Sort tab.
If in doubt, feel free to email your homeroom teacher.
Weekly Activities In Class
Students practice their spelling words for 10-15 minutes daily in the classroom. Here is the breakdown of activities.
Monday - Initial Sort
On Monday, students will receive their words for the week. This is their weekly list. Students take the words and sort them into categories. Photos are taken of the initial sort and uploaded into Google Classroom under Word Study→ Initial Sort.
Tuesday - Speed Sort
On Tuesday, students complete a speed sort. It is like a race against yourself! Students use the timer on their iPad to see how fast they can sort their words. They sort the words several times trying to “beat their time.”
Wednesday - Look, Say, Cover, Write, Check
On Wednesday, students practice writing their words with a dry erase marker on a laminated file folder. Students look at the word. Say it. Cover it. Write it. Uncover and check that it is correct. They repeat this three times for each word. Photos are taken of the activity and uploaded to Google Classroom under Word Study → LSCWC.
Thursday - Blind Sort
On Thursday, they do a blind sort with a buddy. This is like a practice spelling test. Students arrange the headings on the top of their desk. Then, they switch words with their partner. Students take turns asking each other how to spell words and identifying which category they fit into.
Friday - Spelling Test
On Friday, students are asked 10 of the words that they have been working on that week plus one bonus word that they haven’t studied.
Scoring
Your child will be scored out of 10 words. (For example, 8/10.)
8, 9, 10, or 11 = 3
6, 7 = 2
5 & below = 1
Home Possibilities
You know your child best! Depending on your child, (s)he may need more practice outside of school. Some children learn the pattern in the hour of activities throughout the week while others would benefit from more practice outside of the classroom. Here are some home options:
Complete or repeat any of the school sorts.
Syllable Sort - write your words into syllable categories (1-syllable, 2-syllable, 3-syllable, etc)
ABC Order - write the words in ABC order
Handwriting Hero - write the words in the neatest handwriting
Tracing Team - write your child’s words in highlighter and have them trace it
Font Fun - have your child type each word in a different font
Sentence Smarties - write the words in sentences
Word Search - create a word search for your child to find the spelling words
Rainbow Words - write the words in rainbow colors
Upload the words into Spelling City for practice on the iPad.
Thank you for your support from home!
Cathy Boyajian cboyajia@waukesha.k12.wi.us
Kelly Coffey kcoffey@waukesha.k12.wi.us
Diana Mayo dmayo@waukesha.k12.wi.us
Marissa Zerbel mzerbel@waukesha.k12.wi.us