Harris Creek Elementary School 3829 Forestville Road, Raleigh, NC 27616
Phone: (919) 217-5100 E-mail: mcarr3@wcpss.net
Classroom Weebly Site: http://msmarycarr.weebly.com
Specials for the Week of December 7-11:
Day A (Mon.): Music Day B (Tues.): Spanish Day C (Wed.): Art
Day D (Thurs.): Computer Day E (Fri.): STEM
Daily specials time: 11:10-11:55 (Monday/Wednesday-Friday); 2:55-3:40 (Tuesday ONLY)
Weekly/Upcoming Events and Announcements:
Tuesday, December 8th: Track 2 field trip to the Mordecai House. Parent(s), please ensure that your child
is present in the classroom prior to the 9:15 tardy bell so that s/he has time to eat snack and use the
restroom before boarding the field trip bus. The field trip bus will leave promptly @ 9:30 a.m. Weather
permitting, we will eat a picnic (sack) lunch on the grounds of the Mordecai House. In the case of
inclement weather, the bus will bring us back to school and we will eat our sack lunches in the classroom.
Parents who agreed to serve as chaperones on this field trip are: Mrs. Sasha Smith, Mrs. Petersen, and
Mrs. Sigaran. Each chaperone will be assigned a group of students to monitor for the duration of the field
trip, so please plan to meet in the classroom (Room 2310) prior to 9:30 where you will receive your list of
students. Thank you. 
Thursday, December 10th: Picture retakes. If you are dissatisfied with your child’s picture, you may return
the proofs (package) and your child’s picture will be retaken. (Proofs/packages will be distributed to ALL
students on Monday, December 7th.)
Ms. Carr’s Second Grade Classroom Newsletter
Reading and Writing This Week:
In reading this week, we will resume our study of informational texts by reviewing various text features that
aid and enrich the reader’s understanding of a text. In writing, we will begin gathering information on an
animal of study (bats) by using resource books. We will then use the information we have gathered to
write a 2-paragraph research report.
Math This Week:
In math this week, we will resume our unit on 2-digit addition and subtraction by reviewing the quick
sketch, number line, expanded notation, and show-all-totals methods of solving 2-digit addition problems.
We will then turn our focus to 2-digit subtraction as we practice using a quick sketch drawing to show
how we decompose a ten (what we as adults term, “borrowing”), to solve subtraction problems.
Science/Social Studies This Week:
In science this week, we will resume our unit on sound by conducting experiments to vary the pitch (tone)
of simple objects such as rubber bands and plastic rulers.
Homework Assignments:
Monday: Fluency passage (for students with one sheet, answer “Day 1” question; for students with two sheets,
answer first question on both sheets) + Letterland spelling, “Day 1” (PARENT MUST SIGN LETTERLAND SPELLING LIST IN
ORDER FOR STUDENT TO RECEIVE HW CREDIT)
Tuesday: Fluency passage (for students with one sheet, answer “Day 2” question; for students with two sheets, answer
second question on both sheets)
Wednesday: Fluency passage (for students with one sheet, answer “Day 3” question; for students with two sheets,
answer third question on both sheets)
Thursday: Fluency passage (for students with one sheet, answer “Day 4” question; for students with two sheets,
answer final question(s) on both sheets) + Letterland practice spelling test (IF USING “SPELLING CITY,” PARENT MUST
INDICATE IN STUDENT AGENDA HOW MANY WORDS WERE SPELLED CORRECTLY AND INITIAL.)
Friday: None
Dear Parents,
We are reviewing 2-digit addition strategies and will soon begin the subtraction portion of our unit. The
information below will serve as an overview of the unit as you work to support your child at home. If you have any
questions, please feel free to contact me. I appreciate your on-going support.
Sincerely,
Ms. Carr
Unit Name:
Addition & Subtraction (Quarter 2)
Common Core State Standards:
2.OA.1 Use addition and subtraction within 100 to solve one-and two-step word problems involving
situations of adding to, taking from, putting together, taking apart, and comparing, with unknowns in all
positions, e.g., by using drawings and equations with a symbol for the unknown number to represent the
problem.
2.NBT.5 Fluently add and subtract within 100 using strategies based on place value, properties of
operations, and/or the relationship between addition and subtraction.
2.NBT.9 Explain why addition and subtraction strategies work, using place value and the properties of
operations.
Essential Vocabulary:










add
subtract
sum
difference
more
less
equal
equation
putting together
taking from









taking apart
addend
fluent
compose
decompose
place value
digit
addition
subtraction
Unit Overview:
This Addition & Subtraction unit is different from the one earlier in the year, because now
students will be adding and subtracting using 2-digit numbers. The strategies learned in this unit
will utilize their knowledge of place value. In this unit students will also be expected to represent and
solve one and two-step word problems of all three types (Result Unknown, Change Unknown, Start
Unknown).
There are various strategies that Second Grade students understand and use when adding and subtracting
within 100 (such as those listed in standard 2.NBT.5). The standard algorithm of carrying or borrowing is
neither an expectation nor a focus in Second Grade. Students use multiple strategies for addition and
subtraction in Grades K-3. By the end of Third Grade students use a range of algorithms based on place
value, properties of operations, and/or the relationship between addition and subtraction to fluently add
and subtract within 1000. Students are expected to fluently add and subtract multi-digit whole numbers
using the standard algorithm by the end of Grade 4.
Second graders explain why addition or subtraction strategies work as they apply their knowledge of
place value and the properties of operations in their explanation. They may use drawings or objects to
support their explanation. Once students have had an opportunity to solve a problem, the teacher
provides time for students to discuss their strategies and why they did or didn’t work.
Strategies/Skills:










Place value strategy for 2-digit addition
Decomposing a number to make a ten for 2–digit addition
2-digit addition using a number line
2-digit addition using a hundreds board
Expanded method for 2-digit addition (horizontal)
Show all totals method for 2-digit addition (vertical)
Place value strategy for 2-digit subtraction
2-digit subtraction using a number line
2-digit subtraction using a hundreds board
Expanded method for 2-digit subtraction
Video Support:
Video support can be found on The WCPSS Academics YouTube Channel.
 http://tinyurl.com/WCPSSAcademicsYouTube
o ES 2 Math Place value strategy for 2-digit addition
o ES 2 Math Decomposing a number to make a ten for 2–digit addition
o ES 2 Math 2-digit addition using a number line
o ES 2 Math 2-digit addition using a hundreds board
o ES 2 Math Expanded method for 2-digit addition
o ES 2 Math Show all totals method for 2-digit addition
o ES 2 Math Place value strategy for 2-digit subtraction
o ES 2 Math 2-digit subtraction using a number line
o ES 2 Math 2-digit subtraction using a hundreds board
o ES 2 Math Expanded method for 2-digit subtraction
Additional Resources:
If you have limited/no internet access, please contact your child’s teacher for hard copies of the resources
listed in this document.
 NCDPI Unpacking Document: 2nd Grade Unpacking Document
 Please visit the Kahn Academy website at www.khanacademy.org for additional videos and
activities. Look under the Early Math tab.
 Please visit the Learn Zillion website at www.learnzillion.com to find 2nd Grade math lessons
and videos that align with Common Core Standards.