January 2020

Week of 1/27/2020

Report cards went home last week. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to me at hayley_hassinger@elanco.org. You can also reach out to your child’s ELA and Math teachers if you have any questions, concerns, or would like to meet with them regarding your child’s report card.

Upcoming Dates:

2/3/20 PTO Meeting @ 7PM in the NHES Cafeteria

2/13/20 Early Dismissal @ 12:30

2/14/20 No School for Learners

2/17/20 No School

2/21/20 Family Game Night 6:00-7:00

In content, we discussed the water cycle. We will begin a history unit where learners will be tasked to choose a person from our history that they think is important and should be remembered. They will then research this person and create a museum exhibit about this person.

In math, we have begun a new unit. We are currently talking about money. We will be talking about the values of different coins and also how to determine the value of a collection of coins. We will then move into word problems and more about measurement.

In reading, we are learning about opinion writing. We have discussed the components of a great opinion piece and we have begun brainstorming and planning our opinion papers about: Which animal do you think is the best pet to own? We will be talking about how reasons and examples are important when trying to persuade your audience.

Week of 1/20/2020

Report cards will be coming home this week. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to me at hayley_hassinger@elanco.org. You can also reach out to your child’s ELA and Math teachers if you have any questions, concerns, or would like to meet with them regarding your child’s report card.

Upcoming Dates:

1/24/20 Report Cards Sent Home

1/30/20 Early Dismissal

2/21/20 Family Game Night 6:00-7:00

In content, learners began a new science unit on the properties of water. Learners began asking the questions: “Why does it rain? How does it rain? What happens if it does not rain? How can we adapt if there is no rain?” and many more questions. We conducted a rain experiment in the classroom so that we could see the process of evaporation. We also saw how clouds can form on a very small scale. We will continue our discussions about these questions. We will then move into a history unit where we will be talking about important people, and events in our history.

In math, we are talking about measurement. We took our end of unit assessment on time and measurement. Next week, we will begin another unit where we talk about measurement in more depth. We will also begin to talk about graphs.

In reading, we are talking about main idea and key details in informational text. Next week, we will begin to talk about opinion writing and how we can support our ideas with reasons and evidence.

Week of 1/13/2020

Friday of this week is the end of Quarter 2. I cannot believe that we are halfway through the school year! Keep an eye out for your child’s report card as they will be coming home at the end of next week. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to me at hayley_hassinger@elanco.org. You can also reach out to your child’s ELA and Math teachers if you have any questions, concerns, or would like to meet with them regarding your child’s report card.

Also, a BIG CONGRATULATIONS to all of our second grade learners that participated in the spelling bee this week! It is not easy to get up in front of a crowd. Everyone did a wonderful job!

Please remember that Monday, January 20th is a No School Day.

Upcoming Dates:

1/20/20 No School for Learners

1/24/20 Report Cards Sent Home

1/30/20 Early Dismissal

This week, we were able to enjoy our first chorus rehearsal. I can already tell that our learners will do a wonderful job at our concert in May! We will have our second rehearsal on Tuesday.

In content, learners designed and created products that they felt fixed a problem in second grade. I encourage you to ask your child to tell you what they made and shared with the class. Next week, we will be switching our mindset and begin a new unit in science based on the properties of water.

In math, we are talking about measurement. We will discuss length, weight, and capacity over the next few weeks before we begin to talk about counting money.

In reading, we are talking about comparing and contrasting fictional stories. This week, we read several versions of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Learners were tasked to compare and contrast the different versions with their reading partner.

Week of 1/6/2020

It was a wonderful full week of school. I hope everyone enjoyed our two hour delay and stayed safe. Friday of next week will be the end of Quarter 2. I cannot believe that we are almost halfway through the school year! Also, next week we are excited to begin our chorus rehearsals as we prepare for our Spring Concert. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to me at hayley_hassinger@elanco.org.

Upcoming Dates:

1/14/20 January PTO Meeting

1/15/20 Spelling Bee 6:30-8:00

1/20/20 No School for Learners

1/24/20 Report Cards Sent Home

1/30/20 Early Dismissal

This week, we focused on informational texts in reading. Learners were working on identifying text features, answering questions about non-fiction texts, and the author’s view. We also talked about author’s purpose. We identified three main purposes that authors write: Persuade, Inform, or Entertain. We also call this”PIE”. As you read at home with your children, you can ask them what the author’s purpose is for the story and why they think that.

In math, we began a new unit on Time and Measurement. Our focus this week has been on time. We talked about analog vs. digital time, the parts of the clock, and how to tell time to the hour and half hour. As we move into next week, we will begin talking about how to tell time in 5 minute increments. We will then begin discussing length.

In content, we continued talking about economics. This week, we discussed supply and demand. We also began to think like inventors. Learners were posed with the question: What is a product that you could produce that would help fix a problem you have in 2nd grade? Learners began brainstorming product ideas in groups and listed materials that they would need to produce this product. In class next week, learners will begin to design and make their products. At the end of the week, they will share their product with the class. We will also share out about everything we learned in this unit. Learners will compare what they thought about economics before our unit, to the knowledge they have gained.

Week of 1/2/2020

Happy New Year!

I hope 2020 is treating everyone well so far. We are looking forward to an exciting year in second grade! We are all continuing to grow as learners and individuals! If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to me at hayley_hassinger@elanco.org.

Upcoming Dates:

1/14/20 January PTO Meeting

1/15/20 Spelling Bee 6:30-8:00

1/20/20 No School for Learners

1/24/20 Report Cards Sent Home

1/30/20 Early Dismissal

We had an exciting beginning to the New Year in second grade! We created resolutions that we want to work on this year both in school and out of school. We also reviewed routines following our long break. Next week, we will be ready to jump right in to our new math unit on time and measurement. We will also continue reading books on our reading levels and recall the character, setting, and plot of our stories.