Dear Parents and Friends,
At this time, we would like to review our goals and expectations for the students in second grade. These expectations are to be achieved throughout the year in order to achieve and demonstrate mastery at the second grade level.
Social Skills
Each child will be able to tell and write his or her full name and address. The full address will include the mane of the street or road, the full house number, town, state, zip code, and phone number.
Social Attitudes will include:
Work Habits include:
English Language Arts
Each second grader will be given the Camden Central District English Language Arts Assessment. The children need to use their reading and writing skills to interpret questions pertaining to written passages on the test. Children scoring a 1 or 2 on the Fall ELA assessment will be given the Miscue Analysis Test in October.
The books your child will be reading this year are from the Guided Reading Program. These books are considered leveled readers and increase in difficulty as they move up into the next level. Skills necessary at the level of instruction are taught throughout the context of the text. Comprehension of the materials covered is assessed on a regular basis.
Second grade participates in the Accelerated Reading Program. Beginning in October each child will read pointed books and take a computerized test on the books to demonstrate mastery of the material read.
Students will be required to read a minimum of 25 books. They will keep a log of these books and record their reactions. Students will learn to use accountable talk when writing their reactions to literature; they will use quotes or references from the book to support their opinions.
Mathematics
In the area of Mathematic the children are learning to solve mathematical problems on a daily basis. The children need to write the steps they used to arrive at the solution to a given problem. It is no longer adequate to provide the answer alone. As problem solvers the children need to be able to demonstrate their ability to communicate their solutions.
The Math Facts to 20 addition and subtraction are covered at this level and should be at the automatic level when exiting second grade. During the first few months of school these facts are introduced, practiced and reviewed. The children are in constant need of using them.
Addition and subtraction of numbers in the hundreds, which involve regrouping, is a major component of the math curriculum.
Writer's Workshop
Writer's Workshop and story writing encompass a 45-minute block of time on a daily basis in our classrooms. Incorporated with our writing is our spelling. spelling words that we have covered are checked in the children's writing to encourage mastery. We also use the Zaner Blosser Spelling Program in our curriculum, too.
Attached you will find the scoring rubric for our story writing. Your child's writing is graded according to the the elements you see on the rubric. The pieces that are colleted for grading include persuasive writing, a compare and contrast piece, and a personal narrative. Poetry is also studied and your child will use techniques such as similes, onomatopoeia, stanza, metaphors, and analogies.
Science and Social Studies
Science and Social Studies are participation and hands-on activities that vary throughout the year.
As you can see, our program is quite full. Working together at home and at school will allow the lines of communication to be open.
We look forward to working with you and your child, and anticipate a very positive and rewarding year in our classrooms.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Lalonde and Mrs. Powell