Important Dates

• November 2 & 3: Student Holidays 
• November 7: Report Cards available

Reminders

If you are interested in a parent conference, contact your child’s teacher!

Language Arts

What are we learning?

• Our 2^nd grade readers continue developing ideas about characters, and they are learning to support their ideas with evidence from the text. They are also learning to change their expression while reading to match how the character feels and make dialogue sound like the character who is talking.

• Students will be learning how writers elaborate to add more to their stories. Students will be learning how to add dialogue as well as the character’s thoughts, feelings, and actions to make their characters come alive in their stories!

Home/School Connection

Supporting Your Child with Selecting Books

In order to progress as readers, students need multiple opportunities to read books at their independent reading level (“just right” books).  Experts have discovered that even very young students can read for extended periods of time when they are matched with books that they can read with 95% or higher word accuracy rate, and they are more successful when reading books that interest them.

Here is some criteria to help your child determine if a book is “just right”.

1. I  like this book.
2. I can read most of the words.
3. I understand it. I could tell someone about it.

Also, to help your child recognize when a text is too difficult, ask:

1. Are there five or more words on a page that I don’t know?
2. Is this book hard to understand?
3. When I read it does it sound choppy and slow?

One great resource for just right books is the Pioneer Valley Books Digital Reader! Your child can easily access this from the Terraset Student Links page. Students have their own bookshelf with books at their independent (just right) level.

In addition, there is a book bag which includes books students have read during guided reading instruction. These books are at their instructional reading level.

Math

What are we learning?

• We are learning to use place value and understanding to make multiple representations of two digit numbers (with and without models).
• We are learning to identify, describe, and extend patterns.
• We will continue to learn and practice showing our work and explaining our thinking.

Home/School Connection

Look for patterns in nature!

Science

What are we learning?

• We will complete our unit on animal habitats. Animal habitats provide the animal’s basic life needs, including food, air, water, shelter, and space. If any of the basic elements are absent, the animal’s survival is threatened. The animal may adapt or leave the area. 
• We continue to learn that habitats may change due to natural influences, for example, plants and animals respond to seasonal changes, such as, temperature and length of daylight.
• We will learn that habitats may change due to human influences. This may have an animal leave an area if basic needs are not met, when humans develop or build in an area.

Home/School Connection

• Create a diorama, mobile, pop-up or picture of an animal habitat including all 5 of the basic needs. 
• Take a picture of your habitat and send it to your classroom teacher.
• Write a summary of the facts you learned about your animal.

Social Studies

What are we learning?

• We will learn about and compare the lives and contributions of three American Indian cultures of the past and present with an emphasis on the Powhatan of the Eastern Woodlands.
  • We will talk about the geography, climate, environment and culture of the Powhatan of the Eastern Woodland
• We will learn about natural, human, and capital resources specifically related to the Powhatan of the Eastern Woodlands                                                       
• We will learn the meaning behind the celebration on Veteran’s Day and Thanksgiving

Home/School Connection

• We live in the area that the Powhatan of the Eastern Woodlands lived, discuss how things in this area have changed and how American Indian cultures have contributed to our world today
• Discuss with students about the natural, human and capital resources that they see and use in their daily lives
• Do you have any connections to Veterans, open up that conversation with your students. Talk  about why Veterans are so important to us and why we celebrate them
• Talk about your traditions for Thanksgiving and how they might have started

Positivity Project

What are we learning?

• November 1st - 7th: Perspective
• November 8th - 14th: Bravery

Home/School Connection

Check out P2 for Families website: https://posproject.org/p2-for-families/

• Students often have disagreements with siblings, friends, cousins, etc. help them take a moment to shift their perspective on the situation.
• Reading a great book at home? Have a conversation with students about taking on the perspective of the character or characters. How are they feeling? How are they handling their problems or conflicts?
• Bravery comes in different shapes and sizes; discuss with students how bravery doesn’t have to be this big act, but it can be something small as well.

Class Compliments

• Dore: Ms. Dore’s class keeps showing what our rules should look like, sound like, and feel like! You are working hard to take care of yourselves, each other, and our tools! It is especially exciting to see how respectful you are when sharing tools like our interactive slides and how you support each other by sharing helpful tech tips.
• Edwards: Ms. Edwards’ class worked so hard this first quarter! I am so proud of all my students who are participating and adding to our wonderful 2nd grade community. I love how we have our morning greeting routine down and we get to share a “hello” with everyone.
• Gregston: Mrs. Gregston’s class has rocked this first quarter! We all should be proud of ourselves as well as our class community that we have developed together! I love to see the Positivity Traits that you all have learned and are using each day; Creativity, Curiosity, Open-Mindedness, Being Present, and Teamwork! Keep up the great work!
• Serrano: Ms. Serrano’s class worked so hard this first quarter! I am so proud of all of my friends who have started to open up and participate more in discussions - it has made learning so much more fun! I hope everyone continues to feel comfortable during class discussions so that everyone’s voice can be heard!!