9.14

Thanks for checking out our blog this week!  Sorry I was MIA last week on this... short week and Curriculum Night took up more of my time than I thought.

Thank you for all the parents who came to Curriculum Night.  It meant a lot to me and your child that you were able to take time out of your busy schedules to learn all about Second Grade.  If you weren't able to make it, your child should have brought home all the information in a Ziploc bag.  Please let me know if you have any questions about anything they may have brought home.  Also- I have contacted many of you by email to set up a parent teacher conference for November if you weren't able to sign up on Curriculum Night.

I have updated all the pages to the right with homework, spelling words and our weekly schedule.  Don't forget that picture day is on Wednesday!

Here's what we are up to this week:

• Reading- Our Essential Question is "How can a pet be an important friend?" We will be discussing and reading texts about how pets can be good friends to us.  We will also be focusing on asking/answering questions while we read as well as identifying the characters, setting and events of a story.
• Math- We are finishing up Topic 2 this week and will have our test on Thursday.  The students are doing a great job incorporating the strategies they learn in class to their other work.  I'm very proud of them!
• Science- We are still learning about Dinosaurs and fossils this week.  The kids are excited to learn more about these creatures that lived so many years ago!

As always... have a great week and let me know if you have any questions or concerns!

:) Ms. Petrucci

8-31

Good Afternoon Second Grade Families!

We are going to have a great week in Second Grade.  We just started our first Unit in our new Reading Series which is all about how friends and family can get along and help each other.  Your child brought home a blue sheet of paper with all their assignments on it for the week.  On the back, you will find the skills we are covering for this week in our reading series, including our spelling words.  Currently there aren't any bonus words, but I will incorporate those into our lists when we've had some time to get adjusted to the new format of the series.  They did a great job today discussing how friends can depend on one another.  We read the story, "Little Flap Learns to Fly" and saw ways where little bird friends helped their friend Little Flap get over his fear of flying.  The students were able to make a lot of connections to their own experiences of being afraid to try something new because they were afraid of getting hurt.  We will continue talking about this topic across a few more texts during the week.

In Math, we are wrapping up Topic 1 and will have a test on Thursday.  Today we discussed related addition and subtraction sentences (fact families) and tomorrow we will focus on problem solving strategies.  Wednesday will be a review day and students will bring home a study guide to help them prepare for the test on Thursday.  Please make sure they complete all sides of this page before turning it in on Thursday.

The worms have officially arrived!  Although the kids don't know that yet because we don't have Science until tomorrow so keep it on the DL until I can tell them tomorrow.  I can't wait to have them explore the world of worms and soil by doing some experiments and observations.  Pictures to follow after we have done some of these activities.

Check out the left side of the blog for some new additions.  Spelling words are now located on the blog along with a fun activity to help make practicing spelling words a little more fun!  The activities will change weekly, but if your child likes to do a few of the same ones each week, that's fine.  As long as they're practicing their words at home, I am a happy gal!  I've also updated the homework and the weekly schedule.

As always, feel free to follow our classroom on social media!  Once I get all the handbook forms in (due this FRIDAY), I can start posting pictures of the kiddos and I in the classroom.  I can't wait!  If you wish to follow our crazy classroom, click on the Instagram and/or Twitter links on the right hand side of the blog.

Have a great week!
:) Ms. Petrucci

Happy First Full Week!

Happy Monday!

We are off to a great start in our first full week of second grade.  We are getting into our routines and doing a great job remembering all the different responsibilities that come with being a second grader.

We started our first official math lesson today.  Our first unit is on Understanding Addition and Subtraction.  This unit consists of 6 lessons.  We will have a test some time next week.  I will send home a study guide with a note attached so that you all know when the test will be and your child can make sure he or she is prepared for it.  You can also check the right side of the page under Weekly Schedule to see when tests are scheduled.  The students did a great job with the lesson today and I loved seeing how confident and independent they were with completing their work!

We have started a new reading series this year and are working on the review lessons which are called "Start Smart".  The students are learning about what makes something special.  We have read the fable "The Lion and the Mouse" and read an expository (informational) text called "Meet the Artists".  At the end of the week, we will compare both texts and see how they both discussed the theme of "We Are Special".  Next week, we will officially begin Unit 1 of our series and the students will bring home a newsletter highlighting all the skills we are focusing on for the week, including spelling and vocabulary words.

In Science we will begin our unit on Worms and Plants as soon as the worms arrive.  This is a great way for the students to get "hands-on" with their learning!  This will also introduce them to the scientific method, so we can be real scientists!  They are going to have a blast!

Overall we have been having a great time in the 4 days we've been in second grade.  I am already SO proud of the progress they have made AND their behavior.  We have been getting many compliments on our behavior from all the specials teachers we've visited so far.

I hope you all have a great week!  Don't forget to follow me on Twitter and Instagram for fun updates throughout the week!  Links are on the right!

Welcome!

Welcome to our classroom blog!  As the school year progresses you will find more information, pictures, our schedule, assignments and more on this blog.

If you follow this blog you will receive updates when there is a new post.

I'll also be posting on Twitter and Instagram.  Follow me so you can always have a connection to our classroom!

Twitter: @MsPetrucci7
Instagram: ms.petrucci

I'm SO excited for an AMAZING school year!

:) Ms. Petrucci