Week of Sept. 29-Oct 3

 Hello Second Grade Families,

Upcoming Events

Conferences: October 8-9 - Click this link to sign up for a time slot!

If the conference time slots I have listed do not work for you, please email me and we can set up a time to meet after school the following week. 

Healthy snacks: 

If you can spare a non-perishable healthy snack like a bag of pretzels or box of cereal or graham crackers for us to keep on hand for when students forget their snack, please send it in at your earliest convenience. I will keep these items on hand (especially for when I am on maternity leave and won't be buying a bag of pretzels every couple weeks for the students who don't have snack!)

Homework:

Math sheet (every week!)

Read about 10 minutes per night.

Check planners.

What are we learning?

Character Strong: RESPECT

Reading/ELA

Module 2: Look Around and Explore! (week 1)

HELLO, FAMILY!

Over the next three weeks, our class will be learning about examining the world around us and about making new discoveries. We will read books about different kinds of matter, explore things that are new and unusual, and even notice things about fine art! Children will also write a descriptive essay about a place they want to visit!

BRING IT HOME! Learning fun for the whole family!

Big Idea Words. Reinforce these important topic words when you are reading or talking with your child: examine, identify, record.

Try to incorporate questions like these into everyday conversations:

·        How could you examine that more closely?

·        What did you identify in that picture/story as being unusual or different?

·        How could you record your ideas about ______________?

Let’s Read Together. Make a special time and place to read with your child every day.

During this module about exploration and discoveries, try these activities during your reading time together:

·        Snap your fingers when a solid, a liquid, or a gas is mentioned in a text.

·        Raise your hand when a character makes a discovery or notices something new.

·        Switch readers when the setting changes.

Word Play. Play with words to help develop skills that are important for reading.

Week 1: Scavenger Hunt

Look for words with ck, ng, and ph in books, in magazines, or on signs outside.

Week 2: Beat the Clock

Together, make a list of all the words with two or more syllables you can think of in one minute that begin with blends, such as str– and spr–.

Week 3: It's a Contraction!

Search for contractions in a newspaper or online article. Write each contraction and the two words that form it. Say the words. For example, they'll/they will.

Math

Practice addition and subtraction with models and manipulatives

Relate addition to subtraction with math mountains and stories 

We will have our first quiz this week and start working more with math story problems in the coming days.

Science

(If we have time) We will begin working through a lesson about Habitat Diversity - how animals use their habitat to survive, and why animals might move from one spot to another.

Social Studies

More work with maps - drawing/creating

Scholastic news (2 issues to finish September!)

I am starting to plan our community visit field trip. We will HOPEFULLY be able to take this walking field trip into our community of Princeton before it cools down this fall. More info coming!

Mrs. Naparalla

Pictures from last week!

We even saw our monarch emerge from it's chrysalis on Monday!

Releasing our Monarch!

New hoola hoops and balls

YAY for new playground equipment!

Week of Sept 22-25

 Hello Second Grade Families,

Upcoming Events

THIS WEEK: Inservice/No School: Friday, Sept. 26

THIS WEEK: Special Event Wednesday 9/24 5:30-7:00 - Free Dinner at 5:30, magic show for kids, and special presenter for adults. Click here to register! 

Conferences: October 8-9 - Click this link to sign up for a time slot!

If the conference time slots I have listed do not work for you, please email me and we can set up a time to meet after school the following week. 

Healthy snacks: 

At open house, I sent home a note from the district about healthy snacks at school. On the back of the note were some ideas for healthy snacks from the different food groups (fruit, vegetable, protein, dairy, whole grain). Please help your child bring a healthy snack for our snack time each day. We cannot allow chips, cookies, cake (mini cakes too), cheetohs, donuts, candy, soda, items that would not be nutritious, into the classroom for snack. 

Homework:

Math sheet (every week!)

Read about 10 minutes per night.

Check planners.

What are we learning?

Character Strong: RESPECT

Reading/ELA

We have wrapped up district assessments. I will share the results for your child at Conferences. 

Module 1: Be a Super Citizen 

HELLO, FAMILY! (same Module/info as last week, but we are on week 3)

Over the next three weeks, our class will be learning about what it means to be a good citizen at home, at school, and in the community. We will read about characters and real people who are good citizens, and we will learn how our actions can make a difference to others. Children will also write a personal narrative about something they’ve done to make the world a better place.

Big Idea Words. Reinforce these important topic words when you are reading or talking with your child: citizen, difference, kind.

Try to incorporate questions like these into everyday conversations:

·        What can you do to show you are a good citizen?

·        How can you make a difference in our neighborhood?

·        What are some things we could do to be kind to others?

Let’s Read Together. Make a special time and place to read with your child for 10 minutes every day.

During this module about citizenship, try these activities during your reading time together:

·        Find examples of kindness in the texts.

·        Clap your hands when a character is giving rather than taking.

·        Talk about a character who has a hard time finding ways to belong and describe how other characters could help.

Word Play. Play with words to help develop skills that are important for reading.

Week 1: Syllable Search

Take turns pointing out things at home that have closed syllables (consonant-vowel-consonant), such as bed, hat, and dog.

Week 2: Scavenger Hunt (we are on week 2 this week!)

Look for words that use the Floss Rule (double consonant at the end of word), such as glass, stuff, and bell. See who can find the most words!

Week 3: Check!

Look for words that include ch, sh, wh, or th around your home and in books. When your child sees a word with one of these, make a big check mark motion and say "Check!"

Math

Practice addition and subtraction with models and manipulatives

Relate addition to subtraction with math mountains and stories 

We are finished with district Math Assessments! I will share results at conferences.

Science

No Science this week, though we will probably watch some animal habitat and food chain videos during snack!

Social Studies

Map skills: map keys, neighborhood maps, compass rose, directions

Mrs. Naparalla

Here we are making a word chain (rhymes with ball...) during phonics!

Week of September 15

Hello Second Grade Families,

Upcoming Events

Picture Day (if your child missed it at Open House): This week! Wednesday, Sept. 17 - AM

Inservice/No School: Friday, Sept. 26

Conferences: October 8-9 - Click this link to sign up for a time slot!

If the conference time slots I have listed do not work for you, please email me and we can set up a time to meet after school the following week. 

Homework this week:

One math sheet (1.2), back-to-back, due Friday, 9/19

Read 10 minutes every night (good fit books are best for this!)  Remember, our public library has a great selection of "Easy Readers". Also, some students have started bringing home black and white blend it books that can be an option. We will go to our school library to get a new book every Thursday.

Please check planners every evening and help your child remember to empty the take home folder. 

What are we learning?

Character Strong: RESPECT is our character trait to study for the next four weeks! Newsletter: here!

Reading/ELA

District assessments for Reading - last week and this week: STAR Reading, Aimsweb Plus Reading

Module 1: Be a Super Citizen (3-4 weeks) We are on Week 2! 

HELLO, FAMILY! (same Module/info as last week, but we are on week 2)

Over the next three weeks, our class will be learning about what it means to be a good citizen at home, at school, and in the community. We will read about characters and real people who are good citizens, and we will learn how our actions can make a difference to others. Children will also write a personal narrative about something they’ve done to make the world a better place.

Big Idea Words. Reinforce these important topic words when you are reading or talking with your child: citizen, difference, kind.

Try to incorporate questions like these into everyday conversations:

·        What can you do to show you are a good citizen?

·        How can you make a difference in our neighborhood?

·        What are some things we could do to be kind to others?

Let’s Read Together. Make a special time and place to read with your child for 10 minutes every day.

During this module about citizenship, try these activities during your reading time together:

·        Find examples of kindness in the texts.

·        Clap your hands when a character is giving rather than taking.

·        Talk about a character who has a hard time finding ways to belong and describe how other characters could help.

Word Play. Play with words to help develop skills that are important for reading.

Week 1: Syllable Search

Take turns pointing out things at home that have closed syllables (consonant-vowel-consonant), such as bed, hat, and dog.

Week 2: Scavenger Hunt (we are on week 2 this week!)

Look for words that use the Floss Rule (double consonant at the end of word), such as glass, stuff, and bell. See who can find the most words!

Week 3: Check!

Look for words that include ch, sh, wh, or th around your home and in books. When your child sees a word with one of these, make a big check mark motion and say "Check!"

Math

Practice addition and subtraction with models and manipulatives

Relate addition to subtraction with math mountains and stories 

Complete district Math Assessments (STAR Math was last week, IXL Math is this week)

Science

Animals - biodiversity, traits, animal groups, characteristics.

Sorry, no pictures this week, but more to come in the future!

Social Studies

Map skills: map keys, neighborhood maps, compass rose, directions

Mrs. Naparalla

Week of 9/8/2025

 Hello Second Grade Families,

Upcoming Events

September Birthdays: We have 4 September birthdays! Please feel welcome to send a treat or special snack with your child for his/her birthday. We will have it during snack time. Please avoid foods with artificial colors for birthday treats so we all can participate! 

Book Orders Due: September 12, 2025 (Link here) (Class code: GPC9L)

Conferences: October 8-9 - evening (link coming soon!)

What are we learning?

Character Strong Newsletter: Kindness (click here)

Homework this week:

One math sheet, back to back, due Friday, 9/12

Read 10 minutes every night (good fit books are best for this!) 

Reading/ELA

Module 1: Be a Super Citizen (3-4 weeks)

HELLO, FAMILY!

Over the next three weeks, our class will be learning about what it means to be a good citizen at home, at school, and in the community. We will read about characters and real people who are good citizens, and we will learn how our actions can make a difference to others. Children will also write a personal narrative about something they’ve done to make the world a better place.

Big Idea Words. Reinforce these important topic words when you are reading or talking with your child: citizen, difference, kind.

Try to incorporate questions like these into everyday conversations:

·        What can you do to show you are a good citizen?

·        How can you make a difference in our neighborhood?

·        What are some things we could do to be kind to others?

Let’s Read Together. Make a special time and place to read with your child for 10 minutes every day.

During this module about citizenship, try these activities during your reading time together:

·        Find examples of kindness in the texts.

·        Clap your hands when a character is giving rather than taking.

·        Talk about a character who has a hard time finding ways to belong and describe how other characters could help.

Word Play. Play with words to help develop skills that are important for reading.

Week 1: Syllable Search

Take turns pointing out things at home that have closed syllables (consonant-vowel-consonant), such as bed, hat, and dog.

Week 2: Scavenger Hunt

Look for words that use the Floss Rule (double consonant at the end of word), such as glass, stuff, and bell. See who can find the most words!

Week 3: Check!

Look for words that include ch, sh, wh, or th around your home and in books. When your child sees a word with one of these, make a big check mark motion and say "Check!"

Math

Practice addition and subtraction with models and manipulatives

Relate addition to subtraction with math mountains and stories

Science

Animals - biodiversity, traits, animal groups, characteristics.

Here they are on Friday, 9/5, trying out one of our independent work time rotations called Read to Someone. Students will read self-selected books to different classmates almost daily this year to build reading fluency and stamina! While they read, I can work with small groups of students to differentiate to individual needs.