Thursday, March 14, 2013

Newsletter



Second Grade News: March 14, 2013
Things to Note:
·         Second grade Parent Teacher Conferences will be held early this quarter due to Mrs. Raynor’s leave.  Conferences will be held   Friday, March 22, 2013.
·         Mary Ann Tormey will begin in the second grade classroom on March 25.  She will spend a week with Mrs. Raynor getting to know the classroom and students more before Mrs. Raynor leaves.  Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns about this transition.
What we have been up to:
Writing
Students have been learning about the difference between facts and opinions.  We have defined a fact as something that is true and can be proved.  We have defined an opinion as a personal believe about something that cannot be proved.  Second graders have been writing opinion pieces where they are asked to state their opinion on a given topic and then give three supporting reasons why they think that way.  We have begun to discuss how persuasion can be used to help others believe their opinion! 
Reading
We have been studying fables during readers’ workshop.  Students have listened to a variety of fables read aloud to them including: the boy who cried wolf, the lion and the mouse, the sky is falling, etc.  Students have been analyzing the moral presented in these stories and have been discussing if that moral or lesson applies to our own lives.  The students have enjoyed hearing these classic tales and often state that they are familiar with these tales! 
Math
Students have been studying fractions.  We have looked at 1/2, 1/4, 1/3, and 1/8.  We have really been focused on how all parts of a fraction must be equal.  Students have also begun to use their knowledge of fractions when measuring objects.  Students have discovered that often it easier to divide a square or rectangle into equal pieces than it is a circle.  One challenge the students were given was to divide a circle into equal thirds then to divide a rectangle into equal thirds.  They said the rectangle was much easier!
Have a great week! – Mrs. Raynor

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