Sunday, March 25, 2018

Week 30



Welcome to the Grade 2 Newsletter

Important Dates

  • March 27 - Cairo Challenge Series - Long Jump
  • March 28 - Principal’s coffee (2 - 3pm) 
  • March 28 - Grades 2 & 3 Music Concert (5:30-6:30)
  • March 29 - February/March Birthday Lunch 
  • March 30 - April 9 - Spring break
  • April 10 - School resumes
  • April 10 - Annual ES Book Parade Assembly. 
  • April 19 - Egypt Festival
  • April 30 - Talent Show

Service Learning

Part of our mission is that  we want our students to positively contribute to their community. Having a positive purpose in life means understanding, believing in and serving something greater than yourself and deliberately engaging in activities for the benefits of others.

Thank you to our Grade 2 team and students for hosting Man Ahyaha on Tuesday for our first service learning activity. Watch the following video for a sneak peak of the experience. We can't wait for our next experience with Man Ahyaha!!!








Egypt Festival is coming………. on April 19!!!

More Information coming next blog

Talent Show Date revised to April 30

Due to a request to support our PTO gala our ES talent show date has been moved to 5:00 PM on April 30 and our rehearsal will be on Sunday 29, from 3:15 to 5:15 PM. More details to come.

After School Activities

Starting this week, grades 1-5 students will be going independently to their ASA classes. KG students wait in their classes to be picked up for their ASA teacher.

From the library

Mark your calendars! The annual ES Book Parade Assembly is on April 10, the day we get back from the April break. This year, the ES Library Council has declared the theme to be GRAPHIC NOVELS! Stay tuned for more details.

Cairo Challenge Series - Long Jump

Next Tuesday March 27 Grade 2 students will have the Long Jump for CCS during lunch time. Don't forget to remind your child.

Core Value Books

The core value for March is PERSEVERANCE. We will be sending home the core value book about perseverance: Emmanuel’s Dream. Please read it with your child, then return it to school for the next student to take home.

What is the definition of perseverance? The core value definition of perseverance is “never give up and work toward a goal.” What would your students add to this? What does this mean to them?

Discuss with your kids how perseverance...
  • Is used by adults in the workplace, 
  • Is used by students outside of school, 
  • Applies to school situations, 
  • Benefits when mastered, 
  • consequences of not possessing it. 

What’s Going on This Week in Grade 2

Readers’ Workshop

Grade 2 continues to work in our 5th unit Reading About Science Topics to Become Experts. In the first bend, we will focus on reading as scientists to build up a base of knowledge on a topic by reading deeply about the topic. Readers will choose what they want to learn about, read about it, and integrate ideas from the science unit forces and motion. Students will learn to analyze text in parts in relation to the whole by using non-fiction features. Readers of nonfiction texts will learn to use all the sentences on the page to think about what’s most important—the big, main idea of that section. We often say our main idea not just as a word but instead as a phrase and back up this idea with details.

The students will focus on the following essential questions:
  • How do readers read non-fiction differently from fiction? 
  • How can I read non-fiction books to become an expert on a topic? 
Some suggested discussions to do at home:
Discuss non-fiction features and how these features help us as readers understand even more about a topic. Also, determine the main idea and supporting details of any think non-fiction such as articles, pamphlets, and books.

Writers’ Workshop

We will be continuing our new unit titled, Lab Reports and Science Books. This week the students will start Bend III where they will plan and draft information books. Students will use non-fictions features to help them express their knowledge. They will use features such as table of contents, illustrations, captions, and labels. They will be teaching others about their chosen topic by authoring a non-fiction book. They will be using the write process to write, illustrate, and publish their expert books.

The students will focus on the following essential questions:

  • How do I find out information about a topic?
  • Why do I need to revise my writing?
  • How do I present my findings to the world?

Some suggested activities you can do at home:
Brainstorming topics your child knows a lot about would be most helpful. Help your child think about what information books could they write while incorporate what they have learned about force and motion. Topics that include how things move or work are most helpful. For example, the book I will model for students will be about cleaning and the most effective cleaning tools you can use. In the past students found it helpful to write books about cooking, riding a bike or horse and physical games they play.

Math

Module 7 presents an opportunity for students to practice addition and subtraction strategies within 100 and problem-solving skills as they learn to work with various types of units within the contexts of length, money, and data. Students represent categorical and measurement data using picture graphs, bar graphs, and line plots. They revisit measuring and estimating length from Module 2, though now using both metric and customary units. Students build upon this understanding by drawing both picture and bar graphs. First, they record category counts in a table, solving problems based on the information in the table. Next, they draw picture graphs in which each picture represents one object. Finally, they represent the same data set in the form of a bar graph where one axis names the categories and the other shows a single-unit count scale.
Some of the objectives are:
  • Choose the best unit (e.g., inch, foot, yard) to measure a given object.
  • Estimate the length of a given item by using a mental benchmark; then measure the item by using inches, feet, or yards.
  • Measure a line by using both centimeters and inches. Compare the measurements and relate the difference to the sizes of the length units.
  • Measure and compare two lengths and use addition or subtraction to determine the difference.
Key understandings of Module 7:
  • I can use place value understanding and properties of operations to add and subtract.
  • I can measure and estimate lengths in standard units.
  • I can relate addition and subtraction to length.
  • I can represent and interpret data.
*Don’t forget to check out Eureka Math.

*Tips for parents: Module 7Topic DTopic E and Topic F.

Science

This week we will explore Screws and Wedges and we will review all the simple machines, since after Spring break we will be starting our end of unit project. How does a screw help us to do a work easier? Check out our Grade 2 Science site for more information.



Essential Questions:
  • How do objects move?
  • How does force and motion help me understand the world around me?
Some suggested discussions you can have at home:
Discuss how simple machines help us in everyday living using unit vocabulary:
  • direction, slide, back/forth, pulley, movement, push/pull force, gravity simple machine - any of the basic mechanical devices for applying a force, such as an inclined plane, wedge, or lever, wheel and axle, pulley
  • Force - energy that moves something
  • Effort x distance = work
  • Discuss motion and forces.

Circles

Focus: displaying perseverance especially when working with others, in the classroom, at school, at home, and in the community.

Sunday, March 18, 2018

Week 29



Welcome to the Grade 2 Newsletter

Important Dates

  • March 18 - Session 3 ASA starts 
  • March 18, 19 and 20 - Talent show auditions during lunch time 
  • March 20 - Founder’s day, CAC 72nd birthday (Assembly at 2:30 in ES lawn) 
  • March 27 - Cairo Challenge Series - Long Jump
  • March 28 - Principal’s coffee (2 - 3pm) 
  • March 29 - February/March Birthday Lunch 
  • March 30 - April 9 - Spring break
  • April 10 - School resumes
  • April 10 - Annual ES Book Parade Assembly. 

Celebrate our 72 Founder’s Day by saying “thank you” to CAC

Dear parents we would like to invite you to write a thank you card to CAC. We will display them outside our ES cafeteria. We would also like to invite you to our Founder’s Day Assembly on March 20th at 2:30 in the ES lawn. You can find all the information about the Founder’s Day in this link.

From the library

Mark your calendars! The annual ES Book Parade Assembly is on April 10, the day we get back from the April break. This year, the ES Library Council has declared the theme to be GRAPHIC NOVELS! Stay tuned for more details.

Cairo Challenge Series - Long Jump

Next Tuesday March 27 Grade 2 students will have the Long Jump for CCS during lunch time. Don't forget to remind your child.

Core Value Books
The core value for March is PERSEVERANCE. We will be sending home the core value book about perseverance: Emmanuel’s Dream. Please read it with your child, then return it to school for the next student to take home.

What is the definition of perseverance? The core value definition of perseverance is “never give up and work toward a goal.” What would your students add to this? What does this mean to them?

Discuss with your kids how perseverance...
  • Is used by adults in the workplace, 
  • Is used by students outside of school, 
  • Applies to school situations, 
  • Benefits when mastered, 
  • consequences of not possessing it. 

ES Talent Show - CAC Theater (May 3rd, 2018)

It is time to prepare for our annual ES Talent show! If your child is interested in participating in this amazing performance of talent, please join me for a mandatory Parent Meeting, Wednesday, March 7th from 10:40 - 11 in the ES Drama Room. If you are unable to make this meeting, you are welcome to drop in during Parent-Teacher Conferences, March 13th and 14th. (Please find the Purpose of our ES Talent Show here.)

Here is the timeline for this year’s Talent Show:
  • March 18, 19, 20 : Auditions during Lunch. 
  • Call-backs (only if necessary) during Lunch/Recess March 25 & 26. 
  • Acts posted March 29th on the Drama News Board. 
  • Sign-up to rehearse in the Drama Room during Lunch/Recess with Ms. Dolly last 2 weeks of April. 
  • All Acts Rehearsal in the Theater; Wednesday, May 2nd from 3:15-5. 
ES Talent Show program, May 3rd, 2018
  • 5:30pm - 6:15pm - Grades PreK - 2 Talent Show 
  • 6:15pm-6:45pm - Intermission 
  • 6:45pm-7:30pm - Grades 3-5 Talent Show 
  • 8pm: Show ends 

After School Activities

This week ASA activities are back!!! Schedules of confirmed activities were sent on Wednesday March 14. ASA Website.

The 2nd annual Egyptian schools Championship - March 22/23 (Montaza Gardens - Alexandria)

Calling all students, parents, teachers & staff.
Please register in this link.
Questions to Ms. Ereeny (egergess@cacegypt.org)

What’s Going on This Week in Grade 2

Readers’ Workshop

Grade 2 continues to work in our 5th unit Reading About Science Topics to Become Experts. In the first bend, we will focus on reading as scientists to build up a base of knowledge on a topic by reading deeply about the topic. Readers will choose what they want to learn about, read about it, and integrate ideas from the science unit forces and motion. Students will learn to analyze text in parts in relation to the whole by using non-fiction features. Readers of nonfiction texts will learn to use all the sentences on the page to think about what’s most important—the big, main idea of that section. We often say our main idea not just as a word but instead as a phrase and back up this idea with details.

The students will focus on the following essential questions:
  • How do readers read non-fiction differently from fiction? 
  • How can I read non-fiction books to become an expert on a topic? 
Some suggested discussions to do at home:
Discuss non-fiction features and how these features help us as readers understand even more about a topic. Also, determine the main idea and supporting details of any think non-fiction such as articles, pamphlets, and books.

Writers’ Workshop

This week students continue to learn about how to write lab reports. We will explore how to write conclusions using student mentor texts. Students will learn that a conclusion states whether their hypothesis is right or wrong and will have possible explanations using ideas from other experiments or resources, Students will be encouraged to use phrases such as, maybe because to help them expand on why their hypothesis was right or wrong. Finally students might come up with new investigations based on new questions they might have from their results. Check out the example below.
The students will focus on the following essential questions:
  • How do I find out information about a topic?
  • Why do I need to revise my writing?
  • How do I present my findings to the world?
Some suggested activities to do at home:
Explore other forms of procedural writing such as recipes. Point out how the list of ingredients are written in bullet form to make it easier for the reader to notice. Look at the steps and talk about what would happen if you did step 4 before step 3. Talk about the details needed to make each step clear for the reader. Maybe students can write their own recipes.

Math

Module 7 presents an opportunity for students to practice addition and subtraction strategies within 100 and problem-solving skills as they learn to work with various types of units within the contexts of length, money, and data. Students represent categorical and measurement data using picture graphs, bar graphs, and line plots. They revisit measuring and estimating length from Module 2, though now using both metric and customary units. Students build upon this understanding by drawing both picture and bar graphs. First, they record category counts in a table, solving problems based on the information in the table. Next, they draw picture graphs in which each picture represents one object. Finally, they represent the same data set in the form of a bar graph where one axis names the categories and the other shows a single-unit count scale.
Some of the objectives are:
  • Choose the best unit (e.g., inch, foot, yard) to measure a given object.
  • Estimate the length of a given item by using a mental benchmark; then measure the item by using inches, feet, or yards.
  • Measure a line by using both centimeters and inches. Compare the measurements and relate the difference to the sizes of the length units.
  • Measure and compare two lengths and use addition or subtraction to determine the difference.
Key understandings of Module 7:
  • I can use place value understanding and properties of operations to add and subtract.
  • I can measure and estimate lengths in standard units.
  • I can relate addition and subtraction to length.
  • I can represent and interpret data.
*Don’t forget to check out Eureka Math.

*Tips for parents: Module 7, Topic D, Topic E and Topic F.

Science

This week we will explore Wheel and Axles. How does a wheel help us to do a work easier? Check out this BrainPOP movie (username: cacegypt, password: cacegypt) to learn more about wheels and axles.

Essential Questions:
  • How do objects move?
  • How does force and motion help me understand the world around me?
Some suggested discussions you can have at home:
Discuss how simple machines help us in everyday living using unit vocabulary:
Students exploring simple machines





  • direction, slide, back/forth, pulley, movement, push/pull force, gravity simple machine - any of the basic mechanical devices for applying a force, such as an inclined plane, wedge, or lever, wheel and axle, pulley
  • Force - energy that moves something
  • Effort x distance = work
  • Discuss motion and forces.

Circles

Focus: displaying perseverance especially when working with others, in the classroom, at school, at home, and in the community.

Sunday, March 11, 2018

Week 28



Welcome to the Grade 2 Newsletter

Important Dates
  • March 12 - Shelter in Place Drill
  • March 13 - ES Fundraising House Event (more info in this link)
  • March 13/14 - Parent/Teacher Conferences
  • March 15 - Movie Night 3:10- 4:15 (find here all the information)
  • March 18 - May 17 - ASA Session 3
  • March 30 - April 9 - Spring break

Field Trip

Students exploring simple machines in farming to irrigate fields

Last week we had a great field trip!!! The Grade 2 team wanted to thank:

  • All our chaperones from our 3 classrooms.
  • Mr. Tharwat and Ms. Basma for a great and well organized trip.
  • All the students in Grade 2 for showing the core values wherever they go.
  • All the parents for their support and having all the kids ready for our trip.


Core Value Books

The core value for March is PERSEVERANCE. We will be sending home the core value book about perseverance: Emmanuel’s Dream. Please read it with your child, then return it to school for the next student to take home.
What is the definition of perseverance? The core value definition of perseverance is “never give up and work toward a goal.” What would your students add to this? What does this mean to them?

Discuss with your kids how perseverance...
  • Is used by adults in the workplace, 
  • Is used by students outside of school, 
  • Applies to school situations, 
  • Benefits when mastered, 
  • consequences of not possessing it.

Shelter Drill

We will be having a drill on March 12 to practice shelter procedures. Teachers will discuss this as “shelter practice” with students in age-appropriate ways, but you may also want to also talk to your child about the subject. Last year, we shared this article with helpful suggestions for talking to children about safety procedures and practices. One of the things addressed is the impact of the terminology we use. Staff members will be going over this in advance, as we work together to ensure that students feel safe, protected, and aware of what to do in different situations. Read this article to find out how to talk to your kid in these kind of situations.

The drill will be held at 12:00 pm, so if you are on campus, we ask that you follow instructions when asked to go to a safe place. Everyone who is outside will be moved to the ES Hall.

ES Talent Show - CAC Theater (May 3rd, 2018)

It is time to prepare for our annual ES Talent show! If your child is interested in participating in this amazing performance of talent, please join me for a mandatory Parent Meeting, Wednesday, March 7th from 10:40 - 11 in the ES Drama Room. If you are unable to make this meeting, you are welcome to drop in during Parent-Teacher Conferences, March 13th and 14th. (Please find the Purpose of our ES Talent Show here.)

Here is the timeline for this year’s Talent Show:
  • March 18, 19, 20 : Auditions during Lunch.
  • Call-backs (only if necessary) during Lunch/Recess March 25 & 26.
  • Acts posted March 29th on the Drama News Board.
  • Sign-up to rehearse in the Drama Room during Lunch/Recess with Ms. Dolly last 2 weeks of April. 
  • All Acts Rehearsal in the Theater; Wednesday, May 2nd from 3:15-5. 
ES Talent Show program, May 3rd, 2018
  • 5:30pm - 6:15pm - Grades PreK - 2 Talent Show
  • 6:15pm-6:45pm - Intermission
  • 6:45pm-7:30pm - Grades 3-5 Talent Show
  • 8pm: Show ends

After School Activities

This week, there are no after school activities. The sign up for the new activities begins on Sunday March 4 at 4 pm. List of activities and Sign up form will be posted on the ASA Website. The sign up will be open for 1 week until March 10.

The 2nd annual Egyptian schools Championship - March 22/23 (Montaza Gardens - Alexandria)
Calling all students, parents, teachers & staff.

Please register in this link.
Questions to Ms. Ereeny (egergess@cacegypt.org)

What’s Going on This Week in Grade 2

Readers’ Workshop

Grade 2 continues to work in our 5th unit Reading About Science Topics to Become Experts. In the first bend, we will focus on reading as scientists to build up a base of knowledge on a topic by reading deeply about the topic. Readers will choose what they want to learn about, read about it, and integrate ideas from the science unit forces and motion. Students will learn to analyze text in parts in relation to the whole by using non-fiction features. Readers of nonfiction texts will learn to use all the sentences on the page to think about what’s most important—the big, main idea of that section. We often say our main idea not just as a word but instead as a phrase and back up this idea with details.

The students will focus on the following essential questions:
  • How do readers read non-fiction differently from fiction?
  • How can I read non-fiction books to become an expert on a topic?
Some suggested discussions to do at home:
Discuss non-fiction features and how these features help us as readers understand even more about a topic. Also, determine the main idea and supporting details of any think non-fiction such as articles, pamphlets, and books.

Writers’ Workshop

This unit is integrated with our science unit forces and motion. students will learn to write lab reports and science books. In the first bend, we will learn to write as scientists do. When scientists conduct experiments to learn about the world, they have a certain way they usually write - they use a lab report format. They record what they expect to happen in an experiment, and they record what they actually do in the experiment, then they record how things go and what they learn. Students enjoy this unit as it is hands on and they become scientists as they explore simple machines and forces and motion. We are building catapults this week and writing lab reports about, sketching, trying, wondering and writing hypothesis will be only the beginning. Students will build a catapult, they will write accurate descriptions of the process and unexpected issues they find. Finally they will write their results and draw conclusions, ending with wonders that may lead them to new lab reports.

The students will focus on the following essential questions:
  • How do I find out information about a topic?
  • Why do I need to revise my writing?
  • How do I present my findings to the world?

Math - Module 5: Addition and Subtraction Within 1,000 with Word Problems up to 100

This week we will end our Module 5 and the students will be assessed. Next week they will take their assessments home after review with a reflection. Please, have a conversation with your child about their learning progress in this unit, strengths, areas of confidence and challenges.

In Module 5, students build upon their mastery of renaming place value units and extend their work with conceptual understanding of the addition and subtraction algorithms to numbers within 1,000, always with the option of modeling with materials or drawings. Throughout the module, students continue to focus on strengthening and deepening conceptual understanding and fluency. This week we will do the Mid-module assessment and go over it to complete our two stars and a wish.

Some of the objectives are:
  • Use math drawings to represent additions with up to two compositions and relate drawings to the addition algorithm. 
  • Choose and explain solution strategies and record with a written addition method. 
Essential Questions
  • How can strategies help me to quickly add and subtract?
  • How do I explain my mathematical thinking and why is that important?
Key understandings of Module 5:
  • I can add and subtract numbers from 0 to 1000 using different strategies based on place value and regrouping.
  • I can mentally add or subtract 10 and 100 from any number from 100 to 900
  • I can explain why various addition or subtraction strategies work using numbers, drawings, or objects.
*Don’t forget to check out Eureka Math.

*Tips for parents: Module 5, Lessons 19-20

Science

This week we will explore pulleys. How does a pulley help us to do a work easier? Check out this BrainPOP movie (username: cacegypt, password: cacegypt) to learn more about pulleys.

Essential Questions:
  • How do objects move?
  • How does force and motion help me understand the world around me?
Some suggested discussions you can have at home: Discuss how simple machines help us in everyday living using unit vocabulary:
  • direction, slide, back/forth, pulley, movement, push/pull force, gravity simple machine - any of the basic mechanical devices for applying a force, such as an inclined plane, wedge, or lever, wheel and axle, pulley
  • Force - energy that moves something
  • Effort x distance = work
  • Discuss motion and forces.

Circles

Focus: displaying perseverance especially when working with others, in the classroom, at school, at home, and in the community.

Counseling Corner

Dear CAC Parents,
In guidance we are discussing strong emotions, how they make our bodies feel and calming down strategies. It is important for kids to understand that everyone gets upset but that we are still responsible for our behaviors.

We discussed the concept of “flipping our lids” and how to calm down when our emotions take over our thinking. We are sharing calming down strategies and practicing different ways to calm ourselves down when upset. Grade 2 students will make a calm down jar that they can use as another strategy for calming down strong emotions.
Please share with your children strategies that you use when you have a strong emotion.

Best Wishes,
Ms. Purpura

Sunday, March 4, 2018

Week 27



Welcome to the Grade 2 Newsletter

Important Dates

  • March 4 - ASA Session 3 Sign up begins
  • March 6 - ES Assembly - 2S (7:55 am - 8:25 am, ES Hall)
  • March 7 - Early Release Day (All Students Dismissed at 11:30 am)
  • March 7 - ES Trimester 2 Report Cards Issued
  • March 8 - CAC Holiday
  • March 12 - Shelter in Place Drill
  • March 13 - ES Fundraising House Event (more info in this link)
  • March 15 - Movie Night 3:10- 4:15
  • March 18 - May 17 - ASA Session 3 

Math Challenge

Every week we have a rich Math task that challenges students’ thinking and helps them transfer their learning of concepts to different real-life situations. We encourage students to have a growth mindset and give it a try. Students are expected to work independently throughout the week. If they have any questions, they should consult with their teacher before the end of the week. Teachers will review the problem with the students on Wednesday (since Thursday is a holiday). To find the rich task, click on the Home Learning tab on the top left-hand and then click on the “Math Challenge of the Week”. Also you can click here for fast access.

Core Value Books

The core value for March is PERSEVERANCE. We will be sending home the core value book about perseverance: Emmanuel’s Dream. Please read it with your child, then return it to school for the next student to take home. 

What is the definition of perseverance? The core value definition of perseverance is “never give up and work towards a goal”. What would your kid add to this? What does this mean to them?

Discuss with your kid how perseverance...
  • Is used by adults in the workplace, 
  • Is used by students outside of school, 
  • Applies to school situations, 
  • Benefits when mastered, 
  • Consequences of not possessing it.

Shelter Drill

We will be having a drill on March 12 to practice shelter procedures. Teachers will discuss this as “shelter practice” with students in age-appropriate ways, but you may also want to also talk to your child about the subject. Last year, we shared this article with helpful suggestions for talking to children about safety procedures and practices. One of the things addressed is the impact of the terminology we use. Staff members will be going over this in advance, as we work together to ensure that students feel safe, protected, and aware of what to do in different situations.

Read this article to find out how to talk to your kid in these kind of situations.

The drill will be held at 12:00 pm, so if you are on campus, we ask that you follow instructions when asked to go to a safe place.
Everyone who is outside will be moved to the ES Hall.

After School Activities

This week, there are no after school activities. The sign up for the new activities begins on Sunday March 4 at 4 pm. List of activities and Sign up form will be posted on the ASA Website. The sign up will be open for 1 week until March 10.

The 2nd annual Egyptian schools Championship - March 22/23, Montaza Gardens,Alexandria

Calling all students, parents, teachers & staff.
Please register in this link.
Questions to Ms. Ereeny (egergess@cacegypt.org)

What’s Going on This Week in Grade 2

Readers’ Workshop

Grade 2 continues to work in our 5th unit Reading About Science Topics to Become Experts. In the first bend, we will focus on reading as scientists to build up a base of knowledge on a topic by reading deeply about the topic. Readers will choose what they want to learn about, read about it, and integrate ideas from the science unit forces and motion. Students will learn to analyze text in parts in relation to the whole by using non-fiction features. Readers of nonfiction texts will learn to use all the sentences on the page to think about what’s most important—the big, main idea of that section. We often say our main idea not just as a word but instead as a phrase and back up this idea with details.

The students will focus on the following essential questions:
  • How do readers read non-fiction differently from fiction?
  • How can I read non-fiction books to become an expert on a topic?
Suggested discussions at home: discuss non-fiction features and how these features help us as readers understand even more about a topic. Also, determine the main idea and supporting details of any think non-fiction such as articles, pamphlets, and books.

Writers’ Workshop

This unit is integrated with our science unit forces and motion. students will learn to write lab reports and science books. In the first bend, we will learn to write as scientists do. When scientists conduct experiments to learn about the world, they have a certain way they usually write - they use a lab report format. They record what they expect to happen in an experiment, and they record what they actually do in the experiment, then they record how things go and what they learn. Students enjoy this unit as it is hands on and they become scientists as they explore simple machines and forces and motion.

The students will focus on the following essential questions:
  • How do I find out information about a topic?
  • Why do I need to revise my writing?
  • How do I present my findings to the world?

Math - Addition and Subtraction Within 1,000 with Word Problems up to 100

In Module 5, students build upon their mastery of renaming place value units and extend their work with conceptual understanding of the addition and subtraction algorithms to numbers within 1,000, always with the option of modeling with materials or drawings. Throughout the module, students continue to focus on strengthening and deepening conceptual understanding and fluency. This week we will do the Mid-module assessment and go over it to complete our two stars and a wish.
Some of the objectives are:
Use math drawings to represent additions with up to two compositions and relate drawings to the addition algorithm.
Choose and explain solution strategies and record with a written addition method.

Essential QuestionsHow can strategies help me to quickly add and subtract?
How do I explain my mathematical thinking and why is that important?

Key understandings of Module 5:
I can add and subtract numbers from 0 to 1000 using different strategies based on place value and regrouping.
I can mentally add or subtract 10 and 100 from any number from 100 to 900
I can explain why various addition or subtraction strategies work using numbers, drawings, or objects.

*Don’t forget to check out Eureka Math.
*Tips for parents: Module 5, Lessons 13-18

Science 

This week we will explore levers. How does an inclined plane make work easier? Check out this BrainPOP movie (username: cacegypt, password: cacegypt) to learn more about levers.

Essential Questions:
How do objects move?
How does force and motion help me understand the world around me?

Some suggested discussions you can have at home:
  • Discuss how simple machines help us in everyday living using unit vocabulary: direction, slide, back/forth, pulley, movement, push/pull force, gravity simple machine - any of the basic mechanical devices for applying a force, such as an inclined plane, wedge, or lever, wheel and axle, pulley
  • Force - energy that moves something
  • Effort x distance = work
  • Discuss motion and forces.

Circles

Focus: displaying perseverance especially when working with others, in the classroom, at school, at home, and in the community.

Counseling Corner

Dear CAC Parents,

In guidance we are discussing strong emotions, how they make our bodies feel and calming down strategies. It is important for kids to understand that everyone gets upset but that we are still responsible for our behaviors.

We discussed the concept of “flipping our lids” and how to calm down when our emotions take over our thinking. We are sharing calming down strategies and practicing different ways to calm ourselves down when upset. Grade 2 students will make a calm down jar that they can use as another strategy for calming down strong emotions.

Please share with your children strategies that you use when you have a strong emotion.
Best Wishes,
Ms. Purpura

Thursday, March 1, 2018

Week 26


                                                

Grade 2 Newsletter

Important Dates

  • February 25 - ES Trimester 3 Begins 
  • March 4 - ASA Session 3 Sign up begins 
  • March 6 - ES Assembly - 2S (7:55 am - 8:25 am, ES Hall) 
  • March 7 - Early Release Day (All Students Dismissed at 11:30 am) 
  • March 7 - ES Trimester 2 Report Cards Issued 
  • March 8 - CAC Holiday 
  • March 12 - Shelter in Place Drill 
  • March 18 - May 17 - ASA Session 3

Student work going home

This week most students will be taking home the mid-module 5 assessment and a writing samples. Please review with your kids their strengths and areas to work on. Don’t forget to sign and return to school.

Math Challenge

Due to the long and challenging problem that our students were facing last week. The whole grade 2 will work one more week in the same problem. We will do it all together, in a guided way were teachers and students will preview the 2 parts to work on every day. The next day we will review this 2 parts and preview the next 2. Students will learn to work in on challenge during the whole week. We encourage students to work on this problem and bring it back to school with questions and successes.

To find the rich task, click on the Home Learning tab on the top left-hand, click on “Math Challenge of the Week”.

Core Value Books

The core value for February  is CREATIVITY. We will be sending home the core value book with the theme of creativity: The Almost Terrible Playdate. Please read it with your child, then return it to school for the next student to take home.

Exercises for Boosting Creativity

When facing a problem, define the issue clearly and then practice divergent thinking (ex: developing multiple solutions/outcomes rather than just one solution). Set time aside each day for creative thinking or creative activities (such as: writing poems or using an everyday household object in a new way).

What’s Going on This Week in Grade 2

Readers’ Workshop

Grade 2 is moving along and we are moving into our 5th unit Reading About Science Topics to Become Experts. In the first bend, we will focus on reading as scientists to build up a base of knowledge on a topic by reading deeply about the topic. Readers will choose what they want to learn about, read about it, and integrate ideas from the science unit forces and motion. Students will learn to analyze text in parts in relation to the whole by using non-fiction features. Readers of nonfiction texts will learn to use all the sentences on the page to think about what’s most important—the big, main idea of that section. We often say our main idea not just as a word but instead as a phrase and back up this idea with details.

The students will focus on the following essential questions:
  • How do readers read non-fiction differently from fiction? 
  • How can I read non-fiction books to become an expert on a topic? 
Some suggested discussions to do at home:
Discuss non-fiction features and how these features help us as readers understand even more about a topic. Also, determine the main idea and supporting details of any think non-fiction such as articles, pamphlets, and books.

Writers’ Workshop

This unit is integrated with our science unit forces and motion. students will learn to write lab reports and science books. In the first bend, we will learn to write as scientists do. When scientists conduct experiments to learn about the world, they have a certain way they usually write - they use a lab report format. They record what they expect to happen in an experiment, and they record what they actually do in the experiment, then they record how things go and what they learn. Students enjoy this unit as it is hands on and they become scientists as they explore simple machines and forces and motion.

The students will focus on the following essential questions:
  • How do I find out information about a topic? 
  • Why do I need to revise my writing? 
  • How do I present my findings to the world?

Math - Addition and Subtraction Within 1,000 with Word Problems up to 100

After the mid-module 5 assessment, we continue to work in the module. students build upon their mastery of renaming place value units and extend their work with conceptual understanding of the addition and subtraction algorithms to numbers within 1,000, always with the option of modeling with materials or drawings. Throughout the module, students continue to focus on strengthening and deepening conceptual understanding and fluency. This week we will do the Mid-module assessment and go over it to complete our two stars and a wish.

Some of the objectives are:
  • Use math drawings to represent additions with up to two compositions and relate drawings to the addition algorithm. 
  • Choose and explain solution strategies and record with a written addition method. 
Essential Questions
  • How can strategies help me to quickly add and subtract? 
  • How do I explain my mathematical thinking and why is that important? 
Key understandings of Module 5:
  1. I can add and subtract numbers from 0 to 1000 using different strategies based on place value and regrouping. 
  2. I can mentally add or subtract 10 and 100 from any number from 100 to 900 
  3. I can explain why various addition or subtraction strategies work using numbers, drawings, or objects.
*Don’t forget to check out Eureka Math at https://greatminds.org/
*Module 5: Topic A, Lesson 13-18 Parent Tips Letter 

Science
This week we will explore inclined planes. How does an inclined plane make work easier? Check out this BrainPOP movie (username: cacegypt, password: cacegypt) to learn more about inclined planes.

Essential Questions:
  • How do objects move?
  • How do force and motion help me understand the world around me?

Some suggested discussions you can have at home:
  • Discuss how simple machines help us in everyday living using unit vocabulary:
    • direction, slide, back/forth, pulley, movement, push/pull force, gravity simple machine - any of the basic mechanical devices for applying a force, such as an inclined plane, wedge, or lever, wheel and axle, pulley
    • Force - energy that moves something
    • Effort x distance = work
  • Discuss motion and forces.
    Vocabulary: simple machines, lever, fulcrum, effort, load, screw, wedge, pulley, wheel and axle, inclined plane, force, work, motion, friction, gravity.

Circles
Focus: Displaying creativity especially when working with others, in the classroom, at school, at home, and in the community.