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It is imperative that your math student get much more practice with the basic facts of addition and subtraction prior to beginning 3rd grade. I am asking you sincerely to find ways and times that work best for your child and your family’s schedule to provide this practice.

It is typical that -if addition fact fluency is low- then subtraction fact fluency can be far lower. Please have your math student focus on both addition and subtraction facts 0-20. Once you feel that your child is at or near a 3-second per fact fluency you may have them begin with multiplication practice.

St. Peter will begin a basic math facts initiative K-8th in August, lasting the entire school year, in an effort to strengthen the basic calculating skills of our students. It will be in your student’s best interest to get a big head start towards this endeavor, beginning now.

Please also continue to fortify your student's skills in telling time (to 5 minutes), differentiating A.M. and P.M., and counting money!

Thank you for all the support you give to your child, the classroom, and to the teachers!

Welcome to the month of March and the approach of Spring! We are so happy & thankful to be finished with a rough winter in terms of illness and a lot of indoor recess! The kids are absolutely joyous to be back outside playing with their classmates.

Please continue to send jackets and other proper warmth to school with your children. We are still experiencing wind chills in the morning and during some recesses. 2nd graders who do not have proper warmth will be sent to read in the Resource Room.

Congratulations to your 2nd grader and your family on the occasion of his/her 1st Confession on February 25th! It’s always so lovely to witness this grace and the beautiful ways in which the children approach the sacrament.

Please note that your 2nd grader has been invited by Father Bernie to partake in the recessional following Holy Thursday’s Mass of the Lord’s Supper. Following the emptying of the Sanctuary each First Communion candidate will approach the altar to receive a flower or plant to carry; once Father has removed the Blessed Sacrament from the tabernacle the children will lead the Eucharistic processional from the church to the school cafeteria where Jesus will be in repose until the Easter Vigil. It’s a poignant Mass and concluding moments leading to Good Friday and a very special opportunity in which your child may participate.

On Saturday, April 7th, Father will conduct a mandatory First Communion practice beginning at 9:00 a.m. Attendance is mandatory, as per Father Bernie, with at least one parent and the First Communicant present. At this time we will practice, along with our PSR 2nd grade friends, the processional for the First Communion Mass, reception of the Eucharist, as well as hear Father’s thoughts on the blessed next day.

First Holy Communion will be on Sunday, April 8th @ 1:00 p.m.

Students must be in the school cafeteria by 12:30 p.m.

A note regarding First Communion clothing:

Boys typically wear a suit, dress shirt and tie. Dress shoes are required.
Girls will wear white dresses -please be judicious with the length. The bodice of the dress may be sleeveless, but in the instance of a thinner strap or “spaghetti strap,” a shrug or sweater should be worn. Veils are optional. Alternatives to veils might be bows, bands, or flowers. We also caution against “high” heels and backless shoes.

Information regarding photography, etc. will follow as the time approaches! LifeTouch will be available for individual pictures before the Mass (taken in order of arrival) and all First Communicants will pose for group photos immediately following the Mass.

2nd Grade Notes:

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Sunday, February 25th is the date for First Confessions! We will begin @ 5:30 p.m. Your family may depart when your 2nd grader has completed the Sacrament & penance. Attire should be similar to that worn to Mass. 
 
On Saturday, April 7th, Father will conduct a practice for First Holy Communion beginning at 9:00 a.m. (join us for 8:00 a.m. Mass!). Attendance is mandatory, as per Father Bernie, with at least one  parent and the First Communicant present. At this time we will practice, along with our PSR 2nd grade friends, the processional for the First Communion Mass, as well as hear Father’s thoughts on the blessed next day.

First Holy Communion will be on Sunday, April 8th @ 1:00 p.m. 
A note regarding First Communion clothing:
Boys typically wear a suit, dress shirt and tie. Dress shoes are required.
Girls will wear white dresses -please be judicious with the length. The bodice of the dress may be sleeveless, but in the instance of a thinner strap or “spaghetti strap,” a shrug or sweater should be worn. Veils are optional. Alternatives to veils might be bows, bands, or flowers. We also caution against “high” heels and backless shoes.

Information regarding photography, etc. will follow as the time approaches! LifeTouch will be available for individual pictures before the Mass (taken in order of arrival) and all First Communicants will pose for group photos immediately following the Mass.

Welcome to 2018!

Now that we're well-rested it's time to begin the 2nd semester! We've got sooo much to accomplish with the time that remains in 2nd grade. Your students can probably tell you how often we've talked about the year going too fast!

Winter!

We will gladly accept donations of Lysol Dual Action Wipes that "kill 99.9% cold & flu viruses;" these particular wipes have a scrubbing side! The students seem to react better with the citrus scented wipes and spray.
If you're questioning whether your child is ill, please choose caution and do not send him/her to school.

Math ::: Please continue to reinforce basic addition and subtraction fact skills, whether it be through Xtra Math or another system of practice your family has put in place. Success with Common Core Math *demands* fact fluency! Students must have basic facts memorized in order to free attention to skills of greater degree of difficulty that we encounter. This must be a continued priority for your student!

We are continuing to work with 2-digit subtraction and discerning *when* to regroup (borrow) and then we'll hit the ground running with 3-digit addition w/regrouping ones, tens, and ones AND tens ... and we'll tackle problem solving w/3-digit subtraction and regrouping in subtraction to the HUNDREDS!

Please find time for routine (and fun!) math practice @ home, via games, word problems, and fluency speed!

Religion ::: We are in the season of Sacraments! Congratulations to the 2nd graders who will be making their First Confessions on Sunday, February 25th @ 5:30 p.m. Please ensure this date is on your calendars! Students must be able to recite the Act of Contrition and the Memorare (for the penance prayer); an email arrived last week asking you to please listen to your child recite these as practice @ home. Towards this endeavor we are steadfastly working on our examinations of conscience, via the Ten Commandments, and growing in our understanding of contrition and God's vast mercy.

Indoor recess ::: We welcome your donations of gently-used, complete games and activities for students to enjoy during indoor recess this winter! Please make sure your students have all the proper and necessary warmth for our walks to Mass and for the recesses we will be able to spend outdoors.

Stewardship ::: Do you regularly talk with your children regarding the ways in which your family celebrates stewardship? It's worthy to brainstorm among your family members what additional activities, kindnesses, and generosity you can incorporate in your day-to-day *giving back to God from the bounty of what He's given.*

Talking and Reading to Learn

Most second and third graders are able to read independently. The more they practice, the more fluent they become. At this stage, your child begins to focus in depth on the meaning of what she reads, and she uses reading as a way to help her learn many new vocabulary words and concepts. Second and third graders use writing and talking to help them further develop their understanding of the books and the concepts they are exploring at school and in the world. Although second and third graders can do much on their own, parents can still help them to develop as readers and writers simply by reading aloud, talking with them about the books they read, helping to set up a homework routine, and communicating with teachers.

Your second or third grader is becoming a more fluent, efficient, and skilled reader. With lots of practice reading, he recognizes more and more words instantly, and he begins to read with expression that approaches normal speech. As they become more proficient readers, second and third graders are able to think about the deeper meanings in stories, learn new vocabulary words through reading, and gather new information from books. As writing becomes easier for them, they begin to use it as a way to clarify and extend their understanding of what they read. Likewise, they use discussion to make meaning out of what they read.

Even though second and third graders read and write independently, parents can still help them develop their abilities through regular, daily activities. You can extend the "school" experience at home by establishing good homework habits, helping with homework only when needed, and reading what your child has written. In addition, you can read and talk about books that are not part of homework assignments together and take trips to the library to find books your child likes to read. Learn more ways to help your child become a more fluent and independent reader and use writing as a way to understand what he reads and observes in the world around him.

http://www.pbs.org/parents/readinglanguage/second/main.html

November

Thank you for making conferences a great success! It's a pleasure to meet with you in the interest of your students. I'm so pleased with the 2nd graders' progress thus far! As I mentioned to many of you... please continue to work on your 2nd grader's math fact fluency in both addition and subtraction. The facts to and from 20, particularly, are going to become a greater "need" as we progress through Operations & Algebraic Thinking standards!

We are studying and preparing in earnest now for the Sacrament of Confession. Elements of learning include:

* The depth of God's mercy & forgiveness * Our need for His mercy & forgiveness * Humility * Examination of Conscience * The words of the sacrament * Penance * The Act of Contrition * The Memorare

Many of the 2nd graders are already able to confidently recite the Act of Contrition -which is, of course, the required prayer for the sacrament. Thank you SO much for your diligence in this preparation! We'll need to hear each child say this prayer independently before Christmas break. Please make the Act of Contrition a daily vocal prayer in your home! Students will also need to recite the Memorare (the prayer of penance preferred by Fr. Bernie).

Five Ways to Get Your Child Ready for First Confession

Adapted from http://www.aquinasandmore.com/catholic-articles/five-ways-to-get-your-child-ready-for-first-confession/article/382/sort/relevance/productsperpage/12/layout/grid/currentpage/1/keywords/confession,%20reconciliation,%20penance

The Sacrament of Reconciliation is integrally important in the spiritual development of your child. With thorough preparation, your child’s worries or anxieties about Confession can be eased. Here are 5 things parents can do to help in their child's formation for First Reconciliation:

5. Check That Conscience: One parish priest recommends that parents help their children with an age-appropriate examination of conscience as close to the celebration of the sacrament as possible. It is more beneficial to children to go through such an exercise several times prior to First Confession, so that they can begin to get a sense of examining their own consciences. The Catholic Prayer Book for Children features an examination of conscience that is designed specifically for children of this age.

4. Rehearse and Review: Learn and recite the Act of Contrition together. Also, just as a dress rehearsal helps actors prepare before a performance, practicing the steps of the sacrament will help your child feel ready.

3. Ask a Godparent: Your child’s godparents promised to help that child throughout his spiritual life. Involve godparents by asking them to help reassure a child who is nervous about this sacrament. Perhaps the godparents can share their own experiences or those of their children.

2. Know Your Priest: For some children, the biggest hurdle is speaking to a stranger. To help a child who feels intimidated about talking one-on-one with Father, reassure him that the sacrament is gentle and loving and will bring him closer to God. Remind him that he is confessing his sins to God, through the priest. And let your child greet Father after Mass as the sacrament approaches, so that he will not, indeed, be speaking with a stranger. Read Father Jude Winkler, OFM Conv.’s booklet, The Sacrament of Reconciliation, with your child to help him understand to review what will happen during the sacrament.

And the number-one way to prepare your child for First Confession: Lead by Example. If you don’t regularly receive this sacrament, your child will not understand why it is important. It’s never too late to renew your own commitment to the sacrament of Reconciliation. Parents and siblings will have the opportunity to celebrate the sacrament, following your 2nd grader, during your family's scheduled time in February!

To teach children prayers such as the Apostles Creed and the Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel, print lines and phrases from the prayers in large font. Glue these to pieces cardboard. Work together to solve each prayer puzzle.
You may also create a 'cloze' comprehension/vocabulary activity for prayers by typing the prayer in large font on your computer screen ::: but leave out key words! Your student may then attempt the prayer by reading it, saying it, and deciding what the missing words are. Printed prayers can be found in the student agenda book!
Great grade level Thanksgiving books to check out from the library or purchase:
http://www.agatebooks.com/children-books/thanksgiving-stories.html
http://www.primarygames.com/holidays/thanksgiving/games/tic_tac_toe/

Please be reminded of the discussion that I had with many of you regarding the importance of continued practice of basic math facts. Xtra Math is a good, timed online option for practice, along with any other mode of practice your student enjoys. It is very apparent who, among 2nd grade students, is staying true to the pledge for practice: their math confidence, speed, and accuracy are vastly improved.

You can be as creative as you like with the ways you approach this! Create facts games, do them aloud in the car (no flash cards necessary), have your child turn addition facts into correlating subtraction facts, etc.

Following are some activities/links that you/your student might find enjoyable!

https://xtramath.org/#/home/index

http://www.abcya.com/math_facts_game.htm Math Facts Basketball!

https://www.mathplayground.com/grade_2_games.html

When children choose their own books to read for pleasure, they enjoy reading more and spend more time doing it. The more your child reads, the better they will do in school and in life.

Scholastic Book Clubs flyers are made for you and your child to shop for books your child will love to read. Each month, the flyers are filled with trusted, excellent quality, age-appropriate books chosen by Scholastic for prices as low as one dollar. Plus you will be helping our class when you order: Scholastic matches each order you place with FREE BOOKS for our classroom to share.

You can order online (there are thousands of titles for toddlers to teens to browse) using class code DXZJ3 at any time ... or I will place your order when you return the catalog order forms and payment. :-)

https://orders.scholastic.com/DXZJ3

We're off to a smooth, wonderful start in 2nd grade! Thank you for making sure your child is well-rested and for assisting in their understanding that school is a priority and commitment within your family. It's a pleasure to watch as the academic year unfolds and to share in the many exciting adventures and accomplishments your children will encounter in 2nd grade.

It is critical that your student complete and return assigned homework the following day. Missing papers and late work will affect their averages on Power School and thwart their progress towards meeting standards!

If we begin to notice regularity w/missing assignments there will be a clip pull in order to help your student establish a solid homework completion/return routine. We will be making use of "Lunch Bunch" for times when unfinished homework may need to be completed during the school day. Lunch Bunch is a *working lunch* during which job #1 is to eat a full, nutritious lunch, but it is also extra time to finish work that is past due.

Reminders:

Please check your student's agenda each evening + initial.
Students may share Mass with you or another family member one time each week, as per the school-wide regulation.
Please begin -or continue- to ensure that your 2nd grader knows The Act of Contrition.

Help your 2nd grader reinforce spelling skills with these fun games:

http://www.coolmath-games.com/1-reading-spelling-games-01.html

http://gotkidsgames.com/spFrog/

Math Challenges:
http://www.ixl.com/math/

http://www.ixl.com/math/grade-2/skip-counting-puzzles

http://www.ixl.com/math/grade-2/add-and-subtract-numbers-up-to-20

http://www.ixl.com/math/grade-2/place-value-models-tens-and-ones

Math Review:

http://www.ixl.com/math/grade-2/subtract-1-digit-number-from-2-digit-number-up-to-18

http://www.ixl.com/math/grade-2/properties-fact-families

http://www.ixl.com/math/grade-2/identify-names-and-values-of-common-coins-bills

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Scholastic Book Orders may be placed online @ the following link:

https://orders.scholastic.com/DXZJ3

Class code: DXZJ3

Back To School Hand Lettering Card Stock Vector

Welcome to the 2017-18 school year in 2nd grade!

I'm looking forward to greeting you @ Open House on Sunday evening and I very much look forward to our first day of school on Wednesday the 16th!

I am pleased to be teaching Religion and Math for both 2nd grade classes this year.

If you'd like your child to get a jumpstart in Religion, please begin the memorization process for The Act of Contrition and the Memorare.

As for math I am pleading with you -along with every math teacher on the planet!- to please have your child practice with (and memorize) the basic addition and subtraction facts. I cannot impress upon you enough just how much fact fluency aids ALL mathematics problems and procedures.