Dear Second Grade Families,
Happy Tuesday! Thank you for all your help in putting together our wonderful Kingdom of Halloween festival. A magical night was had by all!
Last week, we wrapped up our first math block of the year. We reviewed our four math processes, addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, bringing these to life with stories of our math gnomes and their adventures. We then leaned into times table learning using movement. We charted our times tables using large circles with 12 points, and walked through them together several times. Memorizing basic math facts for the tables 1-12 (for example, 2x1=2, 2x2=4, 2x3=6), is paramount for mathematics success. Knowledge of these basic math facts supports higher level math the same as instant recognition of sight words (“of”, “the”, you”) supports reading. Students who have mastered memorization of both math facts and sight words are able to focus on solving equations or sounding out longer words. Please practice at home! Practice should be fun and lessons can be reinforced through bingo, memory/matching, dice, and/or card games.
This week, we have begun our second language arts block. During this block, we will return to hearing stories about golden legends, featuring noble people and grand deeds they have done. We will continue our work with phonics, spelling patterns, consonant blends, long vowels, and diphthongs. We will also continue applying reading skills for guided reading in a reader.
Please join us for our Lantern Walk on Wednesday, November 9th at 6:30 pm. The lantern walk is a contemplative walk. In the darkness of November, the first to third-grade will slowly process through the candle-lit forest, singing lantern songs and holding their shining lanterns while the fourth and fifth grades play music for them. The lanterns are a reminder that each of us can be a light for others and share our gifts. Take your time to talk about the contemplative nature of the lantern walk before you arrive at the school, and practice singing at home. All the lantern songs are posted on the messenger for you so we can enjoy this festival singing together. Additionally, as part of our school's efforts to help others, we will be collecting gently used coats both at the lantern walk and at drop-off and pick-up that week. The coats will be donated to One Warm Coat, an organization that provides coats for those who need them during the coming cold.
Reminders:
-Nov. 8: NO school, teacher in-service day, Kindy Lantern Walk–Fifth grade plays ukulele
-Nov. 9: Grades 1-3 Lantern Walk (5th grade siblings will play ukulele with 4th grade)
-Nov. 7-11: Coat drive for One Warm Coat
-Nov. 14-18: Non Perishable food drive for Never Alone food pantry
-Nov. 18: Half Day dismissal (12:15-30) - Thanksgiving Luncheon
-Nov. 21-25 Thanksgiving Break (No School)
Warm Regards,
Hayley
