Academics

 

Reading Key Program   

 

Dear Parents,

We will begin a new phonics and fluency program this week!  This program is called Reading Key.  We will combine 2nd grade phonics skills and recognition to learn new words.  Each day our class will learn a new phonics skill and practice reading new words.  I will send home a sheet with the current week’s words.  Look for it in your child’s agenda pocket.  Please have your child practice reading those words each night.  Parent, after your child has practiced the words with you please sign the sheet at the bottom of each day.  You can do Thursday and Friday together on Thursday evenings and sign both Thursday and Friday.  Please make sure your child returns the signed sheet on Fridays.  I told them to leave it in their agenda pocket all week so they don't forget to do it each night and so they don't forget to bring it in on Fridays.  I will have each child read the words to me on Mondays and then again on Fridays.  They are to read them as quickly as they can.  Their goal is to read them in less time on Friday then they did on Monday.  Please read the top of the word list/signature sheet for more information. 

Thanks,

 

Elaine Humes

Reading Key Program

 

 

Subjects Taught in Second Grade ( see below for grading procedures and classroom enrichment activites)

RELIGION – We will discuss the gifts given to us by God.  We will discuss what gifts we can give to others and ways to live our lives as good Christians.  We will learn the parts of the Catholic mass and their significance. We will prepare for and receive the Sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Communion.  We will learn several prayers and how to ‘make’ our own prayers. We will learn how service to others is part of God’s plan.  We will do several service projects this year in 2nd grade.

READING – We will read a variety of fiction and non-fiction books this year.  We will learn strategies to read and comprehend what we have read.  We will learn about comparing and contrasting, characters, main idea and details, summarizing, and other components of reading to better comprehend and generalize that information.  We read a new story each week and will have a test on that story on Fridays. 

ENGLISH – Among many other things we will learn to identify and use nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, pronouns, punctuation, and capitalization.  We will write in our own journals, and improve on our creative writing skills.  We will learn to research and write a factual report. 

SPELLING – We will get a new list every week and we will have a spelling test every Friday.

HANDWRITING – We will improve on our manuscript writing and will begin learning cursive writing in the late fall. 

MATH – We will be adding and subtracting up to 3 digits, with and without regrouping.  We will learn how to tell time to the minute, read a ruler and other measurement tools, and will learn how to count money and make change.  Please work on simple addition and subtraction facts with your child at home. 

SCIENCE – We will learn about animals and there habitats, dinosaurs, our earth and the solar system.  We will also learn about the life cycles of some animals and about plants. 

SOCIAL STUDIES – We will study how to read various maps.  We will learn about different land formations, American Indians, pioneers, roles in our government, and significant historic figures.  We will also discuss the roles we have as students and family members.  We will learn more about being a good citizen. 

 

Grading Policy for 2EH

 Our academic report card grades are the following: “G” - good (100%-90%), “S” -satisfactory (89%-80%), “N” – needs improvement (79%-70%), and “U” – unsatisfactory (69% and below). 

 

Your child’s work will be ‘graded’ 3 different ways depending on the assignment.  They will receive either a % grade, a J (for completion) with a comment, or a     mark system.  This is as follows:   

A “ check  +” means that your child has done well on the assignment.  There may be 1 mistake but the concept is understood.  

A  “check  “ means that your child is doing work on a normal second level.   They may have received one to three mistakes.  They are doing fine but a little practice would help maintain the skill. 

A “ check-“ means that your child needs to improve in this area.  They have not yet satisfactorily mastered the skill.  This means the child will work on the mistakes and make corrections at home and return that assignment back to school.  We will work on this at school also. 

I will inform you and keep you aware of your child’s progress.  All work completed will come home in the Weekly Folder.  I will mark areas of ‘conduct’, ‘following directions’, ‘class work’, and ‘homework’.  Any questions or concerns please sends a note or email me. 

***Please be aware if your child does not complete classwork in class they will need to finish it at home.  This must be completed the next day and turned in.  It will be marked 'late' and 10 points taken off.  Please be assured we have been working on this since school started and this has been an expectation even in first grade.  I have given many warnings and reminders up until now and am now putting the 'point removal' policy in to place.  Thanks so much for your cooperation. 

Report Card Behavior Grades

G – All G’s for the weekly conduct grade

S – At least 1 S and may have no more than 1 N during that grading period on the weekly conduct grade

N – 2 N’s on the weekly conduct grade

U – 3 or more N’s for weekly conduct grade