Mrs. Allison's Grade 2 Class

Dear Parents,

            Welcome to the grade 2 class. This letter has been written to give you an overview of what your child will be studying this term. We will cover many new and challenging activities. I will go through the topics for this term so you will have a general idea of the expectations being covered.

            In our writing program, we will begin with:

-some review of grammar skills so that we can write more descriptive sentences which will lead to descriptive paragraphs

-organize ideas in a logical sequence (e.g. beginning, middle and ending)

-produce recounts (which tell what happened)

-write autobiographies, personal journals and advertisements (this will be completed in our science unit entitled Understanding Life Systems.

-use the 5 W’s (who, what, when, where and why)

-revise and edit writing (e.g. spelling, use of punctuation, capitals and grammar)

-referring to: dictionaries, class charts, thesaurus, rhyming books, personal dictionaries and our word wall to aid in correcting spelling

-produce procedure writing (tell how to do something)

-fire safety rules, classroom rules, game board rules, recipes

            In reading, we will:

-read recounts and procedurals and study their purpose which will be integrated into our writing program

-read to communicate the meaning through discussion

-express clear responses to written materials, relating the ideas in them (thoughts, feelings and experiences) to our own knowledge and experiences

-choose books appropriate to our learning abilities by a variety of authors according to your child’s DRA level

-Use titles, illustrations, author autobiographies and punctuation to help understand what we have read

            A Home Reading Program will be sent home in a ziplock bag with an additional letter to explain this program.

            During oral communication lessons, we will:

-use the 5W’s to retell and restate main facts and simple information from texts in sequence

-use speaking skills and share thoughts to audiences

-understand our strengths as a good listener and speaker

            In Media Literacy, we will:

-use the appropriate media text to create a poster to advertise, which also coincides with our science unit: Understanding Life Systems.

-use appropriate media text to perform a puppet play in Language Arts

-create a board game to show the plot of a fiction story we are reading

-role play an interview between a reporter and a fictional character or the author using facts from our stories.

            Mathematics activities will include counting in our personal counting book up until December. For approximately ten to fifteen minutes a day at our own pace, we will:

-count by 1’s, 2’s, 5’s, 10’s and 25’s to 200

-count backwards from 50 to 1

-count backwards by 10’s from 100 to 10

-count using ordinal numbers from 1^st to 31^st

-read and print numbers from zero to twenty

-count using the cent sign from 1c to 100c

            In term one math, we will also:

-study growing and shrinking patterns using pictures, actions, colours, sounds, numbers letters and bar graphs

-collect and organize data

-interpret data using tally charts, pictographs and simple bar graphs

            In Science, first we will:

-learn about animals and their distinct characteristics

-how humans need to protect animals and their habitats

-how animals have an impact on our environment

-some lessons will be covered in other subjects as well

            In Science near the end of the term, we will begin to:

-discover how simple machines and mechanisms impact society

-investigate how mechanisms that include simple machines move

-understand how simple machines help objects move

            In Social Studies, we will:

-study Canada and its many cultures

-communicate information about different family traditions and celebrations

-explain how various cultures contribute to the local community

Since we have two Social Studies Strands some of the topics above will be completed in term two.

            In Visual Arts, we will:

-learn about the elements of art (colour, line, shape, form. space and texture)

-produce two- and three-dimensional works of art (this will be covered in other subjects as well)

-connect art pieces to their own knowledge and experience

-use proper vocabulary for this grade level (e.g. horizontal, vertical, diagonal lines, rough, smooth, ridged, symmetrical, sharp, jagged lines etc.)

            Drama and Music will be covered in other areas of study this term but will also be taught in terms two and three consecutively.  

            As you can see we will be actively participating in many areas of study this term and throughout the school year. If you have expertise in any of the areas mentioned, or know someone who is interested in sharing their knowledge please contact me at the school and leave a message or write a short note in your child’s planner and I will contact you as soon as possible.

            Your contributions are always greatly appreciated. If you have any questions or concerns feel free to write or call the school. The number is: 519-692-3908. I would like to take this time to thank you for taking the time to read this outline of our studies. I hope we can all work together and enjoy sharing in your child’s education.

Yours in education,

Mrs. C. Allison.