St. Veronica Elementary School
December 2013
The Grade 2 Times
Welcome to
Mrs. DeSouza’s
and Mrs. Ruta’s
Grade 2 Class!
Information Items
Volunteers
If you are interested in volunteering for trips and excursions, please ensure
that you have an updated Criminal Reference Check (CRC) on file in the
office. Your assistance is greatly appreciated! We need volunteers!
Advent Mass
The Advent Mass is on Monday December 9, 2013 at 1:00pm in the gym.
Our classes are organizing this Mass. We hope that you can attend!
Christmas Concert and Ugly Christmas Sweater/Tie Day
The Primary Christmas Concert is on Tuesday December 17, from 6:307:30pm and “ugly” Christmas sweater/tie day, is on Thursday December 19,
2013.
Agenda
Please continue to sign and return your child’s agenda each day and also
the “You’ve Got Mail” folder.
School Newsletter
Please continue to view both the classroom Newsletter and also the
school’s Newsletter for information items regarding school events.
Warm Clothing and Indoor Shoes
With the colder weather upon us, please ensure that your child comes
dressed for the weather. Students also need indoor shoes to keep at
school. Running shoes are best and can be worn for gym.
Scholastic Book Orders
Scholastic book orders are due on December 6, 2013. Please make cheques
payable to Scholastic Canada. No cash or late orders please.
At Home Reading and Writing
Please continue regular reading and writing activities at home with your
child. Letter writing, lists and cards are great! Please return reading logs
upon completion for a prize from the Treasure Chest.
Christmas and New Year’s Wishes!
We would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a Blessed
Christmas season and a happy and healthy New Year in 2014!
Mathematics
Students will be learning to:
.Geometry and Spatial Sense
- identify two-dimensional shapes and three-dimensional figures and sort and
classify them by their geometric properties
- compose and decompose two-dimensional shapes and three-dimensional figures
- describe and represent the relative locations of objects, and represent objects on
a map.
Next Unit…
Data Management and Probability
-organizing objects into categories using two attributes; collecting and organizing
categorical and discrete data; reading and displaying data using line plots and
simple bar graphs; describing probability, in simple games and experiments, as the
likelihood that an event will occur.
Please note – students and teachers have been engaged in a numeracy inquiry in
order to explore strengths/needs of students and then differentiate instruction
accordingly. The “inquiry” has focused on how students feel about Math and how
they use Math in everyday life. By modelling the use of Math language and using
anchor charts, students will better understand these terms and feel successful in
their Math journey.
Visit www.nelson.com for interactive activities related to each grade 2 unit of
study. Also, www.coolmath.com is a good website.
Language Arts
 Guided, Independent and Shared Reading
 Word Study/ Working with Words
Analyzing Texts
- identify words or phrases that indicate whether an oral text is
fact or opinion, initially with support and direction (e.g., phrases
such as I think…I feel…indicate an opinion rather than strictly
factual information)
-students will be learning to generate ideas about a potential
topic, using a variety of strategies and resources.
- identify the main idea and some additional elements of texts
(e.g., narrative: characters, setting, problem, solution,
events/episodes, resolution; procedure: goal, materials, method)
Letter Writing
-write short texts using several simple forms (e.g., a friendly
letter; a recipe describing the procedure for cooking a favourite
food; directions for playing a game; a paragraph describing the
physical characteristics of an animal; an original story or an
extension of a familiar story, modelled on stories read; their own
variation on a patterned poem; an advertisement for a toy)
Visit www.starfall.com for interactive Language activities
2. Using Knowledge of Form and
Style in Writing
Social Studies
1. Developing
andChanging
Organizing
Heritage and Identity:
Family and Community
Traditions
Content
OVERALL EXPECTATIONS
Students will be learning to:
By the end of Grade 2, students will:
 Compare some significant traditions and celebrations among
1. generate,
gather,
and
ideas
and
information
diverse
groups
andorganize
at different
times,
and
identify sometoof the
write for an
intended
purpose
reasons
for changes
in these traditions/celebrations.
and audience;
 Use the social studies inquiry process to investigate some of
2. draft and
revise
writing,
using
variety of within their
the past
andtheir
present
traditions
andacelebrations
informational,
literary,
andcommunities
graphic forms
own family
and the
to which they belong.
and stylistic elements appropriate for the purpose and
 Describe some of the major groups in their community,
audience;including different types of families, and some of the ways in
3. use editing,
proofreading,
and publishing
skills
andgroups.
which traditions
and heritage
are passed on
by such

strategies,
and knowledge of language
This
month, the focus
is on Christmas
traditions,
both pastand
and present,
conventions,
to correct
errors, refine
expression,
present
traditions
within
various communities such as our school, parish and city.
their work
effectively;
Students will also have opportunities to share their special family
4. reflecttraditions.
on and identify their strengths as writers, areas for
Christmas
improvement, and the strategies
they found most helpful at different stages in the writing
process.
Education
SPECIFICVirtue
EXPECTATIONS
57
This
G Month’s
R A DVirtue
E 2is Hope
WRITING
investigation; a recipe describing the
God
helps us for
to work
for aamore
peaceful
world even when we feel
procedure
cooking
favourite
food;
discouraged.
directions for playing a game; a paragraph
describing the physical characteristics
of an animal; an original story or an
extension of a familiar story, modelled
on stories read; their own variation on a
patterned poem; an advertisement for a toy)