Together we learn, together we succeed, and together we will
make a positive difference!
Second Grade News​
​
Friday November 20, 2015
No School - Thanksgiving Break:
Wednesday, November 25th - Friday, November 27th
Reading Workshop
This week’s focus was on comparing and contrasting different versions of the same story. Students enjoyed listening to three different
versions of Stone Soup from Portugal, China and France. We discussed specific story elements such as the setting, characters, plot, theme and
the lesson/moral of each version and we determined their similarities and differences. Students synergized to discuss the story elements of
Marcia Brown’s version on Thursday and finished up the week by choosing two versions of Stone Soup to independently complete a venn diagram.
Remember, Reading Logs will be due on Tuesday, November 25th so students are able to get new logs before Thanksgiving break!
Writing Workshop
Students moved into the Thanksgiving spirit by writing about “How to Make a Turkey.” The students began the writing process by sequencing
the steps they felt you need to do in order to make a ​
delicious ​
turkey! They used sequencing words, such as, first, next, then and finally. We
also used an editing checklist to make sure our first drafts were perfect and ready to complete a final draft. The students enjoyed publishing
their steps on a turkey craft. We hope you will enjoy these festive decorations at your Thanksgiving but ​
please note the students’ steps on
“How to Make a Turkey” are not kitchen tested!
Math
Math has been quite a challenge the past couple of weeks. The students have been learning about both double digit addition and subtraction. We
spent this entire week going back and reviewing these concepts. We reviewed both addition and subtraction and then completed this on friday
with our Unit Test. We will be moving into data collection and graphing when we return from Thanksgiving break.
Word Study
Second graders practiced their spelling words this week with various activities. These activities included: Graph a Word, 5-Box Practice, Word
Search, and Look, Say, Cover, Check. Today, students also completed their spelling test. Students not only had to spell their 12 spelling words
correctly but they also had to write a sentence dictation. Students were graded on correct spelling of the spelling word, correct capitalization,
correct spaces, and correct punctuation. ​
We have also added 3 bonus words that go along with the spelling patterns students have been
learning about for students to spell. We want to make sure students are not only memorizing their spelling words but also applying what
we learn about these words into their everyday writing!
Social Studies
Students began a new unit this week titled “Long Ago and Today.” We read a Scholastic News titled “Growing Up in the 1620’s” and discussed
what life was like when the Pilgrims came to America in the 1620’s. We learned how transportation has changed over time by ordering
transportation pictures on a sentence strip. Students also chose a current transportation and then invented improvements to add to it to make
it better. For example, adding seatbelts to school buses. Second graders enjoyed reading a letter from a girl named Amanda from 1901 and
learned how many things have changed from then and to now. We ended the week by completing a “Past, Present, and Feature” color-coding
worksheet.
Specials:
Monday: Music
Tuesday: Art
We, the students of Thomas Elementary, proudly practice the 7 Habits of Happy Kids. 1. Be Proactive
4.​
Think Win WIn ​
7.​
Synergize 2. Begin with the End in Mind ​
5.​
Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood 3. Put First Things First ​
6.​
Synergize