Update, 2/23

Dates

Fri., March 4 Heroes All Musical in the MUR 1:00-2:30

Week of March 7: Parent Conferences & Minimum Days

Sat., March 12: PTA Spring Gala

Mon. and Tues., March 14-15: Kindergarten and New Student Visitation

Sun., March 20: Second Grade Picnic

Mon., March 21: Science Fair Projects due (optional, but encouraged)

Thurs., March 24: Open House

Week of April 4: Spring Break

Wed., April 13: Field trip to Urban Corps Recycling Center

Hello Fantastic Families,

In our work studying the genre of biography, we have also been learning about important people. Our young writers are currently crafting a multiple paragraph piece about three inspirational figures of the Civil-rights era. They are taking the fledgling confidence they grew while creating their first true essay about economics and applying it with much more confidence. Today we spoke about how as you begin to feel comfortable with something you are able to confront more challenge. Currently in both writers’  conferences and whole group situations I am witnessing the emergence of a new willingness to create expository pieces in more sophisticated ways. Writers are using varying types of topic sentences and more cohesive transitions from detail to explanatory sentences. They are taking the known information from the biographies we have read and organizing them in ways that are both structurally sound and personally chosen. By the end of this week we should have some proud writers on our hands- and certainly a proud teacher. 

During this week we continue to study biography by exploring the lives and works of some seminal artists. We speak about creativity and challenge, effort, reward, and personal vision. There are strangely apt parallels between the dreams and almost obsessive pursuit of goals of great artists and the determined perseverance of the heroes of the civil rights movement. Though we won’t go into much depth about that concept, it is notable that some of the kids have already noticed and wanted to discuss this point. While we read about the artists, we are also creating works inspired by their techniques or subject matter. Today we began work on Van Gogh’s Sunflowers while tomorrow or Thursday we will visit with Henri Matisse. 

Next week our students will select a person that they would like to research through exploration of biography. I have plenty of resources available but please feel free to allow students to bring in their own books or articles if desired. A presentation and poster will be created once research is completed. 

Biography studies have aligned with our practice for the performance of “Heroes All” on March 4th. Some students wondered if they might bring an item or wear a hat or wig to imitate a famous hero for the performance. This is fine. Please allow your student to bring something to dress up for the show. It must be a small item- think hat, wig, or other worn item. Please have these totally optional items in as soon as is reasonable.

If you are looking for some additional ways to get your child excited about reading, you may like to take a field trip to the San Diego Central Library. Recently, I took my family to explore the fascinating architectural work and all the great resources that reside therein. Another option is using audiobooks in the car with the Audible app or checking out audiobooks from the library. Your student also has access at home to Rosetta Stone, Typing Club, Raz Kids, Dreambox, and all of the website links on our second grade website.

Attached is the Science Fair information. If you would like to participate in the Science Fair, you are more than welcome. Simply turn in your child’s proposal to me when you can to receive a poster board, and then bring the completed project to the MUR by 8:00 on March 21^st.

This Week’s Highlights

2/22-26

Phonics and word study focus

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Reading focus

Comprehension focus: Non-Fiction Texts: biography

Close reading: Artist biographies

Book club individualized strategy lessons: Lessons created for specific skill outcomes based on individual and group needs

Focus books: Artist Biographies

Writing focus

Conventions- Spacing, Feeling ending of sentences, Periods and Capitals, Commas in a series

Writing skill- transitions and topic sentences in expository writing

Topical writing- multiple paragraph essay, Civil Rights Heroes

Math focus

Full Math workshop

Math journal problem solving through visual models

Individualized challenges

Word Problem solving, larger numbers in addition and subtraction

Begin Measurement

Social Studies focus

Biographies

Science focus

Mrs. Minarik’s Science Lab

Homework

Daily reading, homework packet, and optional online work (razkids, rosetta stone, dreambox, typing club)