Hi Parents,
 
Happy Monday! I hope you all enjoyed Super Bowl weekend, and your week is off to a good start.
 
Below are a few reminders:
 

• Wednesday is an early dismal day for students (1:05).
• Tomorrow is the 100th day of school! To celebrate students may dress as though they were 100 years old and bring in a collection of 100 things (Cheerios, Pokémon cards, beads….) Both of these activities are completely optional.
• A week from Thursday is Valentine’s Day. We are going to have a little Valentine’s party in the classroom from 2:45-3:20. I am looking for a parent volunteer to organize a simple craft activity and a few parents to send in treats. Please let me know if you are interested.

 
Thank you and have a great week!
 
Laura Lenahan
 
2nd Grade Teacher
Burr District Elementary School

Hi Parents,

I hope you all had a relaxing long weekend. I want to give you a quick update on what is going on in room 9. 

Math:
Your child took the Winter Benchmark Math Assessment last week and the results were sent home via backpack express today. This is a cumulative assessment of units 1-3. Please take a look at the results and let me know if you have any questions. If there are areas in which your child did not make goal, I will continue to review these in class. We are currently in the middle of unit 4, Addition and Subtraction within 100. I’m sure your child would be proud to show you the different methods they are learning to add and subtract 2 digit numbers. Please continue to encourage basic fact practice!

Reading:
In reading, the children are thinking deeply about the characters in their books, and identifying (and marking with post-it notes), traits that they notice over and over again. They are learning to distinguish between passing feelings, and character traits.

Writing:
The children are continuing to write gripping realistic fictional stories that have a problem that is eventually solved. They have been working hard to elaborate their stories through a blend of action, description, dialogue, thoughts, and feelings.

Spelling (Fundations):
We just started unit 7 which introduces open syllables. A packet went home explaining this unit today. These packets are very helpful, especially if you know your child could use some added spelling practice.
​
Have a wonderful week!
Laura Lenahan

​Hi Parents,
Happy New Year! I hope you all enjoyed the holidays with your family.
 
We’ve wasted no time in getting back to work in second grade. We have started new units in all subject areas.

• In math, we are working on double digit addition and subtraction. I realize that we do things differently than when you were in second grade, so today I sent home a summary of this unit explaining the methods your children are using to add and subtract.

 

• In reading, we are studying the characters in fiction chapter books and determining character traits.

 

• In writing, the children are writing realistic fiction stories in which the main character has a problem and goes through various struggles until the problem is finally resolved. Today, every child in the class planned their story, and some began writing. They are all very excited about their stories. I’m sure your child would enjoy telling you all about their story, and ideas that they have for future stories.

 

• In spelling, we have just begun unit 6. The home practice packet was sent home today that  explains the spelling patterns and trick words your child is learning.

 
 

• In science, we will be exploring the effects of erosion on the Earth. Today, we looked at the continents and oceans on Google Earth.

 
Next week we will be starting up again with the homework log.
Thanks and have a great weekend!
 
Laura Lenahan

​Hi Parents,
We are in the home stretch before Christmas, and I know it is a very busy time for everyone!
Just a few quick reminders:

• Please keep your child’s report card, but sign and return the envelope.
• On Wednesday, we will be going to the high school for a holiday concert. (Thank you! I have all the permission slips J)
• Thursday is our class Secret Santa celebration. Please remember to have your child bring the gift for their Secret Santa (value of $5 or less).
• The school sing-a-long is on Friday at 9:30. All are welcome to attend. It is also an early dismissal day (1:05).

Happy Holidays!
Laura Lenahan

​Hello Parents,
 
I want to remind you that we are going to the Nutcracker Ballet this Friday the 7th. The bus will be leaving at 8:45, so please make sure your child gets to school on time. Thank you for getting the permission slips and money back to me so promptly!
 
I also want to remind you that our class Secret Santa Gift Exchange will be on Thursday, December 20th. If you have any questions, please email me. I was not planning on having a class holiday party with parents… however, I am open to suggestions. Christmas gets so crazy for everyone, I didn’t want to put one more thing on your schedule. I was planning on doing a holiday craft with the kids, exchanging Secret Santa gifts, and having a treat at the end of the day on the 20th.
 
Happy Holidays!
 
Laura Lenahan
 

​Hi Parents,
 
I hope you all enjoyed a fun-fill Thanksgiving break with your children. Now on to the next holiday!
 
Many of the students in my class are excited about doing a Secret Santa Gift Swap. As long as there are no objections, each child would like select another classmate’s name out of a hat and give them a gift with a value of no more than $5. We will probably have the gift exchange on the 20th of December. Please let me know if you would prefer we did not do this. There are plenty of other ways we can celebrate the holidays. Thanks!
 
As you may have heard, the entire 2nd grade will be going to a performance of the Nutcracker Ballet at the Garde Art Center in New London on Friday, December 7th.  Please take a look in your child’s backpack for the permission slip for this event that went home today. It must be filled out and returned for your child to attend. Thank you!!
 
Have a nice evening,
Laura Lenahan

Hi Parents,
​
I did not send home a homework log this week because of the Thanksgiving holiday. Of course, it is my hope that your child will read and practice math, but I wanted you to know they do not need to log their time.

Today I sent home a practice packet for our current spelling unit, as well as more information about our current math unit.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Laura Lenahan

Hi Parents,

Below is a brief update on what has been going on in the classroom:

Math: We just finished up our second math unit on place value and money. Please check your child’s backpack for the assessment results, as well as their most recent fact fluency. We began unit 3 today which focuses on properties of shapes and partitioning shapes into equal pieces.

Reading and Writing:  We are nearing the end of our nonfiction reading and writing units. In reading, your child has been learning about nonfiction text structure, and learning to use text features to better understand the topic. In writing, students have been working to incorporate the text features they are seeing in published books into their own expert books. After the Thanksgiving break, we will be starting new units in reading and writing.  In reading, we will go back to reading fiction with a focus on reading longer chapter books with increased fluency and comprehension. In writing, we will begin a poetry unit.

Science: Our current science unit (taught by Mrs. Johnson) is called “Form and Function”.  Students have been studying the form and function of flowers and their parts. Today in class each child was challenged to come up with a new invention based on the form and function of a flower. They had wonderfully creative ideas. You may want to ask your child about their invention.

As always, please contact me with any questions or concerns.
Have a wonderful weekend!
​
Laura Lenahan