This past week Second grade finished up our block of Saints and Heroes, hearing stories about Rumi, Hiawatha and the Buddah. We drew pictures from the stories, working together step-by-step to create our pictures. The students always enjoy this process and we all enjoy seeing how, even when we are drawing the exact same picture together, our unique qualities shine through. We also copied summaries which focused on the use of quotation marks to identify speaking words in the passage. Finally, we practiced daily syllabication lessons, this week focusing on the V-C-V (vowel-consonant-vowel) patterns we can use to figure out how to pronounce words. Using this pattern with words such as "open" or "tulip", we identify the pattern, decide where to divide the word, practice sounding it out using either open (long) or closed (short) vowel sounds, and finally out the word. It was a busy, fun week!

This week we move into our final math block for the year which will focus on multiplication (and consequently division too). Through a story about a jester, Multiplicando, we will review, learn and record our multiplication tables through 12. The students aren't expected to memorize them (yet!), it is a fun introduction to the concepts and patterns. At home, please continue practicing addition and subtraction facts through 12 (i.e. 2+0=2 through 2+12=14, 2-0=2 through 12-2=10).

As a class, we have talked about the Coronavirus and proper handwashing procedures. The children have embraced this and are spending more time soaping their hands while making it a fun process. Allergies are also beginning to present themselves, so the timing works out to review this now. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me.

The wet weather continues! As it gets steadily warmer, many of the students enjoy muddy play or will get muddy even if they didn't intend to. Please send your child prepared with extra clothes, a bag for their wet, muddy clothes, and extra shoes (and socks!) if needed.

With gratitude,

Melissa