SECOND GRADE CAZETTE
Dear Parents,
April has been a very busy month. We began the Native American unit, and will continue the many literary selections, and related activities. Our field trip to the Native American Museum was very informative and enhanced our unit.
We became “mother hens” to eight chicks. Our embryology unit was a great example of life cycles. For 21 days we watched and waited. Candling the eggs brought lots of oohs and ahhs. They could actually see the movement of life in an eggshell.
Our reading groups have been reading The Mouse and the Motorcycle, and Chocolate Touch, with accompanying novel ties. The children are enjoying the trilogy of My Father’s Dragon, by Ruth Stiles Gannett written 1948. This is a great classic.
Our cursive writing practice continues. We have learned the lower case letters, and have recently begun the upper case.
In math we are doing double duty. We have begun the unit on money and time, while continuing 3-digit regrouping in addition and subtraction. The class has done so very well with the 2-digit addition and subtraction, that I felt this was a natural progression, and that they could easily see the pattern of regrouping base 10 numbers. Multiplication facts have been introduced and we are practicing the 0 through 5 facts. This is only for fun but it does give them a headstart since this is an important benchmark in 3rd grade.
Teacher Appreciation Week was very pleasant. I thank you and your children for all the lovely gifts, a scrumptious luncheon, and tasty breakfast, and my favorite – their wonderful notes. I love reading them.
I do want to mention the auction. It was great fun in such a lovely setting. The framed poster was beautiful and I congratulate the Rossi family. What a work of art it is!
Grandparents and Special Friends Day is fast approaching. We will be doing Native American activities and games. It will be nice meeting all of these special people.
Also, during the last week of school we will have a “Biographer’s Breakfast.” Be thinking of some choices for your child. This should be someone who has made a
positive contribution to society. Each child will dress as that person and present an oral presentation. Hopefully, the legends have been started and everyone is practicing, practicing, and more practicing.
Our next unit will be the tropical rain forests of Brazil. The Great Kapok Tree, Red –Eyed Tree Frog, Tropical Rain Forest, Wonders of the Rain Forest, Rain Forest Secrets, and Brazil will be some of our class literature.
If you would like to conference with me, my door is always open. Just contact me and we’ll find a mutually agreeable time.
Sincerely,
Rita Hawkins
P.S. The zoo trip, related to the rainforest, will be May 19th. Let me know if you’d like to join us.
