Second Grade
January Newsletter
Happy New Year!!!
We hope all of you had a happy and healthy holiday break. We are excited to start 2015 with your children. Many exciting days are planned full of fun and learning!!
During our first week back, we will talk a bit about New Year's Resolutions. The children will take time to reflect on their hopes and dreams from the beginning of the year and decide whether they want to make a change. The pictures below are just a glimpse of what lies ahead!
Math
Multiplication and Division
What is repeated addition? Multiplication!! In January, we will introduce multiplication to the children. We will start with 2, 3, 4 and 5 times tables by adding equal groups of items. Logically, division will be introduced as well by taking items and grouping them into equal groups. As with all units we will continue to use model drawing to solve word problems. In addition, we will continue to review skills previously taught, especially addition and subtraction, with regrouping, using the left to right method of operation.
Reading
Biographies and Autobiographies
As we continue to delve deeper into character traits we begin our biography and autobiography unit in reading. We will start by reading about Ruby Bridges. Second graders will learn about the elements of a biography, paying attention to the relationship between cause and effect in a person's life, and recognizing the words that tell the order of events over a period of time. This unit will continue into February when more skills will be taught.
Writing
Writing for Readers
In this unit the children begin to understand that writing is done for an audience of readers. By examining books by authors, the children will learn that authors use a variety of strategies to draw the readers in and to maintain their attention. The children's goal is to use such strategies in their own writing. For instance, by using interesting situations and problems that need to be resolved. This is very similar to the story elements we learned about in reading last month; characters, setting, problem and solution.
Social Studies
England
We started the year learning about the world, the continents, our country, state and home town. During our study of holidays and light, we started a unit on Europe. This month, we will continue to locate, label and learn about more countries in Europe. Eventually, we will focus mainly on England. As we zoom in on England, its unique location in relation to the rest of Europe, its culture and some of its history.