Grade 2 Spotlight
Here’s what’s happening in Grade 2 in Ms. Desvoyaux, Mrs. Patrone, Mrs. Burke, and Ms. Fallon’s classes…
Reading: Using our curriculum Being a Reader, we have focused on applying our strategies for what ‘good readers do’ while reading nonfiction texts. We read biographies about individuals who impacted their communities and inspired change. Using these stories, along with independent reading books, we focused on making different types of connections such as text-to-self, text-to-text, and text-to-world. We then moved on to wondering about nonfiction texts as we learned about animal habitats such as coral reefs and rainforests. Students asked questions about nonfiction texts and then read to find answers to their questions.
Students in Ms. Desvoyaux’s class read independently to make connections to their lives or other books.
Writing: Second graders have explored different genres of writing such as fiction, nonfiction, and letter writing in our Being a Writer curriculum. During our fiction unit, students explored fiction writing and how to draft, revise, and publish their own stories. They learned that interesting things happen to characters and that they can use dialogue and descriptive language to tell more in their stories. In our nonfiction unit, students explored and wrote various nonfiction pieces. They learned that authors write about subjects that interest them, and that they ask and answer questions and make careful observations. Students learned many interesting facts about the polar lands, animals, and people during our nonfiction unit and were able to write their own nonfiction stories using information they read about. We are currently wrapping up our letter writing unit. Students read, discussed, and wrote friendly letters, including letters to their teacher, one another, first-graders, family members, and friends. Next, we will move on to Opinion writing. Be careful… we may have quite a few second graders trying to persuade their family to get a pet!
In Mrs. Burke’s class, students peer edited their polar paragraphs before publishing them into a book.
Mrs. Patrone’s class has enjoyed writing letters to one another. They look forward to receiving mail first thing in the morning!
Students in Ms. Desvoyaux’s class worked with a partner to write a letter to Ms. D. about ideas and changes they have for the classroom (a class pet was a popular suggestion)!
Math: In second grade, we have been working on addition strategies and learning to use place value understanding to add two-digit numbers. Students also discussed strategies for solving addition problems that have more than two addends, such as 24+12+6. Students continued their work on measurement using different units of measure such as meters, yards, inches and centimeters.
Here are some ideas to support math at home:
Practice making multiples of 10: “What do you need to add to 33 to get to 50?” or “What do you need to subtract from 70 to get to 62?” Then, have your child explain their thinking.
Ask your child to estimate lengths or distances in your home in yards or meters and inches or centimeters and then check the estimates with a measuring tool.
Have your child compare two objects’ lengths. Ask which object is longer and have your child use a measuring tool to find the difference between the lengths.
Students in Ms. Desvoyaux’s class play different math games introduced throughout the year to strengthen their math skills.
Miss Olivia from Attleboro High School has been helping students in Mrs. Patrone’s class with their ST Math and other learning. Room 14 is so lucky to be working with her!
Social Studies / Science: We have been very busy in Social Studies and Science in second grade! In Social Studies, we have learned to locate the seven continents and five oceans. We learned to identify and describe landforms and bodies of water. During the month of March, we are working on a Science unit about erosion to learn how wind and water can change the shape of land. Students have been engaged in Mystery Science lessons to answer questions such as, “If you floated down a river where would you end up?” and “Why is there sand at the beach?”
As part of a Mystery Science lesson, students in Mrs. Burke’s Class created hilly landscapes to demonstrate what happens to rivers when they start on a mountain.
Special Program: The YMCA hosted a swim program for all second graders across the district. During this 6-week program, students learned about pool safety, how to float, dive and increased stamina to swim longer distances. It was amazing to see the growth and skill development during this program!
Read Across America: The National Education Association started Read Across America in 1998, promoting the benefits of reading for children and teens. The program takes place on March 2, the late Dr. Seuss's birthday, to commemorate his national impact on reading. Studley staff members signed up to be a mystery guest reader to celebrate Read Across America.
Mrs. Patrone’s class guest reader was Mrs. Lamonica! She read Rick’s Story - The Story of Rick Hoyt. Rick Hoyt, who was born with cerebral palsy and spastic quadriplegia, went on to graduate from Boston University. He famously competed in more than 1,000 races over 40 years, pushed in a wheelchair by his tireless father, Dick Hoyt. The children were amazed by his accomplishments!
March Madness Fun: As part of our 3-week March Madness challenge, second-graders had an opportunity to collaborate with others while working in ST Math!
Students in Ms. Fallon’s class partnered up with 3rd and 4th grade students once a week. These students worked on ST Math together, participated in buddy reading, and enjoyed playing games together.
