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Welcome to 2nd Grade with Mrs. Applegate!
 
 
My name is Samantha Applegate and I am so excited to be joining the SJCS family! I grew up in central Indiana and graduated with my degree in Elementary Education from Ball State University in 2017. My husband and I relocated to the Chicagoland area in 2019 where I spent the first three years teaching Kindergarten. This will be my fifth year teaching and my second year teaching at St. Joseph. 
 
When I'm not teaching, you can find me spending time at the lake and watching college football. I also enjoy concerts, reading, and spending time with my friends and family. Some of my favorites include Diet Coke, Starbucks, and trips to Target. I look forward to an amazing 2022-2023 school year!
 

Posts

09.11.2023-09.15.2023 Week at a Glance

 

Religion

Students will:

  • discuss why and how Catholics pray the rosary
  • recite the Hail Mary, Glory Be, and Our Father prayers

Math

Students will:

  • skip count by 5s, 10s, and 100s
  • compare numbers to 1,000 using >, <, =
  • Review Chapter 5 place value for test on Thursday

Language Arts

Students will:

  • Spell words with “bonus letters” ff, ll, ss
  • Spell words with glued sounds all, am, an, ang, ing, ong, ung, ank, ink, onk, unk
  • Spell words with r-controlled vowels (/ar/ /or/)

Reading

Students will:

  • Discuss new knowledge they learn.
  • Discuss the purpose of topic statements, how they work, and how they help organize thoughts in an information paragraph.
  • Define the meaning of keywords about change and the season of fall.

Science

Students will:

  • learn to identify frogs by their unique calls and investigate which of two locations has a greater variety of frogs
  • create words that will remind them of the frog sounds, and then use those words to identify frog sounds in different environments
 

Tests and Quizzes:

  • Practice Phonics Assessment - Monday, 9/11
  • Chapter 5 Math Test - Thursday, 9/14
 

Additional Reminders:

  • Bears/Packers/Favorite Team dress down on Monday, 9/11
  • Food Pantry Collection is Thursday, 9/14 → 2nd Grade should bring chunky soups
  • Curriculum Night is Thursday, 9/14 → Please see the email from Mrs. Hein with more information about times. I look forward to seeing you!
  • Rosary Prayer Service is Friday, 9/15 at 7:45am → See the Knight Notes newsletter for more information.
  • Spirit Run is Friday, 9/15 Please see the flier (and email) that went home for information on how to help your child raise money for the SJSPA events that are held throughout the year.

Thursday 09.07.2023

 
Library books are due tomorrow!
 
Homework:
 
1. Read 20 minutes (or start building stamina toward 20 minutes)
 
2. Review spelling patterns - short vowels, words with /k/ sound, words with digraphs (sh, ch, th, wh, ck) and blends
 
3. Math 5.5 Homework page

Wednesday 09.06.2023

1. Read 20 minutes (or start building stamina toward 20 minutes)
 
2. Math - 5.4 Homework Page (Word Problems)
 
3. Review spelling patterns - short vowels, words with /k/ sound, words with digraphs (sh, ch, th, wh, ck) and blends
 
 
Reminders:
  • We have library on Fridays → Students should bring back library books on this day.
  • Picture Day is this Friday, 9/8
  • Food Pantry Collection is Thursday, 9/14 → 2nd Grade should bring chunky soups
  • Rosary Prayer Service Friday, 9/15 at 7:45am → See the Knight Notes newsletter for more information

Tuesday 09.05.2023

1. Read 20 minutes (or start building stamina toward 20 minutes)
 
2. Math - 5.3 Homework Page
 
3. Review spelling patterns - short vowels, words with /k/ sound, words with digraphs (sh, ch, th, wh, ck) and blends
 
 
Reminders:
  • We have library on Fridays → Students should bring back library books on this day.
  • Picture Day is this Friday, 9/8
  • Food Pantry Collection is Thursday, 9/14 → 2nd Grade should bring chunky soups
  • Rosary Prayer Service Friday, 9/15 at 7:45am → See the Knight Notes newsletter for more information

09.05.2023-09.09.08.2023 Week at a Glance

 

Religion

Students will:

  • Tell about the angels appearing to Mary and Joseph
  • Identify Jesus as God’s most precious gift and as our Savior, Emmanuel
  • Recognize that Jesus is present in the Blessed Sacrament
  • Define Blessed Sacrament, Consecration, Emmanuel, genuflect, Savior, and tabernacle

Math

Students will:

  • Continue working on place value
  • write numbers in expanded form to 1,000
  • use logical reasoning to solve problems
  • read and write numbers to 1,000

Language Arts

Students will:

  • Encode and decode /k/ sound
  • Use ck at the end of the words
  • Review rule for using ck, comes after a short vowel → thick, shack
  • Review closed syllables

Reading

Students will:

  • Examine the piece of visual art: Marc Chagall’s I and the Village
  • Describe how Marc Chagall uses color and shape to tell a story in I and the Village.
  • Generate questions and observations about the poem “Weather”
  • Identify what changes in the poem “Weather”
  • Demonstrate repeated fluency
  • Analyze how the author’s use of multiple-meaning word flick helps us tell the story of rain in “Weather”
  • Identify important knowledge about change and seasons, citing evidence from “Weather” and visual art
 

Tests and Quizzes:

  • Fundations (Spelling) “Practice Assessment” will be next Monday, 9/11 → We will work through this with additional assistance/guidance to get the students used to these periodic “check ups” on the skills they learn in class. We will not send home a list of specific words, but rather we will select words, sounds, and sentences from the unit objectives that we have been working on in class daily. The first unit is closed syllable words with blends and digraphs and words with the /k/ spelling patterns. We really want to see if students can apply the rules we are learning.
  • Our first math test is next Thursday, 9/14 → We will send home an information sheet with topics that will be covered this upcoming week.
 

Additional Reminders:

  • We have library on Fridays → Students should bring back library books on this day.
  • Picture Day is Friday, 9/8
  • Food Pantry Collection is Thursday, 9/14 → 2nd Grade should bring chunky soups

Thursday 08.31.2023

1. Start building reading stamina - The goal for 2nd grade is 20 minutes per night, but your child may have to start small with 5 or 10 minutes and build up to the 20 minutes.
 
2. Math 5.2 Homework page - The homework pages from the book serve as practice for your child but also serve as a way for you to know what we are working on in class. If you have other ways to practice this concept at home instead of this paper, please do so. That is why we call them "optional" in 2nd grade.
 
3. Practice short vowel words, words with digraphs (sh, th, ch, wh, ck) and blends (e.g., sled, stop, flop) like those suggested in the Fundations packet that went home yesterday.
 
Additional Reminders:
  • Friday (tomorrow) is Library Day - Bring back library books so you can renew or check out new ones!
  • Labor Day - Monday, 9/4 no school
  • Food Pantry Collection Thursday, 9/14 → 2nd Grade should bring chunky soups
  • Rosary Prayer Service Friday, 9/15 at 7:45am → See the Knight Notes newsletter for more information.

Wednesday 08.30.2023

Homework:
 
1. Start building reading stamina - The goal for 2nd grade is 20 minutes per night, but your child may have to start small with 5 or 10 minutes and build up to the 20 minutes.
 
2. Math 5.1 Homework page - The homework pages from the book serve as practice for your child but also serve as a way for you to know what we are working on in class. If you have other ways to practice this concept at home instead of this paper, please do so. That is why we call them "optional" in 2nd grade.
 
3. Practice short vowel words, words with digraphs (sh, th, ch, wh, ck) and blends (e.g., sled, stop, flop) like those suggested in the Fundations packet that went home yesterday.
 
Additional Reminders:
  • Friday is Library Day - Bring back library books so you can renew or check out new ones!
  • Labor Day - Monday, 9/4 no school
  • Food Pantry Collection Thursday, 9/14 → 2nd Grade should bring chunky soups
  • Rosary Prayer Service Friday, 9/15 at 7:45am → See the Knight Notes newsletter for more information.

08.28.2023-09.01.2023 Week at a Glance

 

Religion

Students will:

  • Begin Unit 1: God, Our Creator and Father
  • Discuss Unit Saint: Saint Isidore the Farmer
    • Read about the creation story and saints
    • Define the words, “creation” and “holy”

Math

Students will:

  • Review addition facts of 10 and other first grade math concepts.
  • Begin chapter 5 in math textbook about place value
  • relate hundreds, tens, and ones
  • read and write numbers to 999

Language Arts

Students will:

  • Discuss and answer the question “How does reading help us learn?”
  • Understand that reading a book multiple times for different purposes helps readers better understand and enjoy the story.
  • Understand that different readers enjoy different types of books.

Reading

Students will:

  • Decode and encode words with consonant digraphs
  • Decode and encode words with consonant blends
  • Decode and encode words with the /k/ sound
  • Decode and encode closed syllable words

Science

Students will:

  • examine how scientists organize animals into groups based on their characteristics.
  • study animal traits and use these traits to sort animal cards into mammals, birds, reptiles, and invertebrates
  • Be challenged to make decisions about animals that don’t fall neatly into any of the above categories.

Additional Reminders:

  • Phonics: I will send home a small packet of information with the phonics concepts we will cover in our first unit, as well as *optional* homework pages to help your child practice the spelling patterns.*
  • If your child has not brought in headphones or a binder, please send those in next week. Thank you!
  • Gym class will be Mondays and Tuesdays → Students should wear their Gym uniforms on those days.
  • Fire Drill practice Wednesday, 8/30 → Please remind your child that it is very important to walk and to be silent during the drill. Thanks for your help!
  • Labor Day, Monday, 9/4 → no school
  • Food Pantry Collection,Thursday, 9/14 → 2nd Grade should bring chunky soups

05.30.2023-06.02.2023 Week at a Glance

Reminders:
  • ABC Countdown continues next week:
    • Tuesday, S - Superkids → Students may come dressed as their favorite Superkids character. Here is a picture of the characters for reference (see final page).
    • Wednesday, T - Thank you → We will write thank you notes in class to people who help make our school the wonderful place it is!
    • Thursday,  U - Under → Students will participate in some of their classroom activities under their desk (*if they want to do so*).
    • Friday, V - Visit Day → We will visit both third grade classrooms to see what to expect next year! First grade classes will also visit our room.
  • No all school Mass Tuesday
  • All School Mass + 8th Grade Farewell and awards is Wednesday, May 31st at 9:30am in the church
  • ALL ITEMS from the Media Center were due on Friday, 5/26. If your child did not return his/her books, please turn them in as soon as possible.
  • Field Day - Wednesday, June 7th → Cross your fingers for beautiful weather!
  • Last day of school - Thursday, June 8th → early dismissal
  • Our last spelling test is Thursday, June 1st
 

Religion

Students will:

  • Review parts of the Mass
  • Review the different topics we’ve learned about in religion this year.

Math

Students will:

  • Tell time to the nearest half hour
  • Tell time to the nearest quarter hour
  • Tell time to the nearest 5 minutes

Language Arts

Students will:

  • Continue to work on 2nd grade memory books

Reading

Students will:

  • Encode homophones to complete sentences
  • Encode and decode /or/ words with or, ore, ar, oar, our, and oor
  • Practice reading with expression

Science

Students will:

  • Discuss how new materials are invented

05.22.23-05.26.23 Week at a Glance

Reminders:

  • All School Mass - Tuesday, May 23rd at 8:30am
    • All are welcome to attend!
    • Bishop Grob will be a visiting presider
  • Thursday, May 25th - Food Pantry
    • 2nd Grade should bring in “chunky soups”
  • Library books - ALL ITEMS from the Media Center are due on Friday, 5/26.
    • Please also start checking at home for classroom library items.
    • Those will be due in the coming days.
  • Monday, May 29th - Memorial Day → No School
  • Many students have talked about different sporting events and extracurricular activities they are involved in. Please send me a few dates (Summer dates included :)) and times because I would love to come and support your kiddos! Thank you.
Tests & Quizzes
  • Measurement quiz Wednesday, 5/24
  • Spelling Test Thursday, 5/25
  • Reading Progress Assessment Thursday, 5/25
 
ABC Countdown:

Monday - Name Day → choose a different name for the day

Tuesday - Outdoor Reading → bring a towel & book to enjoy reading outdoors

Wednesday - Picnic Day → bring a towel to enjoy lunch outside

Thursday - Quiet → enjoy extra quiet time

Friday - Rotations → Spend time working on themed activities in other classrooms on our floor

 

Religion

Students will:

  • Tell how we must forgive one another and let Christ’s peace rule in our hearts
  • Explain why God the Father wants us to choose to follow him
  • Explain that the Holy Spirit helps us make moral choices
  • Identify basic steps for making good choices
  • Define conscience and moral choice

Math

Students will:

  • Related addition and subtraction to length
  • Review measurement for chapter test
  • Tell and write time to the nearest hour

Language Arts

Students will:

  • Work on end of the year memory book writing prompts

Reading

Students will:

  • Practice decoding and encoding /ar/ words with air, ear, erry, and ary
  • Encode the correct homophone to complete sentences
  • Understand and use homophones
  • Practice reading with expression
  • Practice decoding and encoding /or/ words with or, ore, ar, oar, our, and oor
  • Practice reading at an appropriate rate

Science

Students will:

  • Describe properties
  • Investigate the question “why do we wear clothes?”
  • Construct a hat that will successfully block the sun

 

 

 

Next Week's Math & Spelling Test

The study guide went home today for the upcoming measurement test on Wednesday. It is linked here as well.
 
The next spelling test will be on Thursday, May 26th. I know the list says the 22nd, sorry for the confusion!
 
Here are the new spelling words:
fair 
stair 
fairy 
dairy 
tear 
wear 
stare 
share 
merry 
ferry 
library 
dictionary 

05.15.2023-05.19.2023 Week at a Glance

 

Religion

Students will:

  • Explain the story of the Good Samaritan
  • Give examples of ways to reach out to others
  • Define “beatitudes”

Math

Students will:

  • estimate the length of an object in inches and feet
  • compare lengths of objects (e.g., how much longer is one object)
  •  

Reading

Students will:

  • Read and write words with suffix -able
  • Use typographical clues to aid fluency
  • Encode pattern words with long /oo/
  • Answer questions about literary text
  • Discuss nonfiction texts (super magazine)
  • Read Pattern Words with /ār/ spelled air, airy, ear, are, erry, and ary

Science

Students will:

  • generate observations and questions about the phenomenon of foundries and create an initial conceptual model to explain the phenomenon
  • gather clues during and after each lesson in this unit to help them improve their explanations

Monday 05.08.2023 Homework

1. Read 20 minutes
 
2. Math - "Will It Fit?" paper (ruler to measure is included at the bottom of the paper)
*homework pages for this chapter will look different from the usual book pages.*
 
3. Capital M & H cursive practice

05.08.2023-05.12.2023 Week at a Glance

Reminders:
  • Spirit Week →
    • Monday - Country vs. Country Club
    • Tuesday - SJCS Spirit Wear
    • Wednesday - Wacky Wednesday
    • Thursday - Pajama Day
    • Friday - Color Wars: Second Grade should wear tie dye!
  • Field Trip  Monday, 5/15
    • Students should pack a lunch and a reusable water bottle on this day (nut-free is preferred) → Please do not order hot lunch on this day.
  • ABC Countdown to the end of the school year continues next week. Please see the list that went home last week. You can also view it here.
    • Monday, 5/8  D - Dance Day → We will have dance breaks/parties throughout the day, and we will also have a dance party in the hallway before school on this day.
    • Tuesday, 5/9  E - Exercise Day → we will take exercise breaks throughout the day.
    • Wednesday, 5/10 F - Favorite Stuffed Animal Day → Students should bring one stuffed animal to keep with them during the day. Please note the stuffed animal should be able to fit on their desks while allowing space to work.
    • Thursday, 5/11 G - Games → Students should bring a favorite board game or card game to play with the class.
    • Friday, 5/12  H - Hats → Students may wear a hat to school.
Tests & Quizzes -
  • Spelling Test - Wednesday, 5/10
  • i-Ready Reading Assessment Wednesday, 5/10 and Thursday, 5/11
    • There is no preparation needed for this assessment, but students should get a good night's sleep and eat breakfast before coming to school.
 

Religion
  • We will spend our Religion time reflecting and discussing our First Communion experiences.

Math

Students will:

  • Start measurement unit
  • Measure objects to the nearest inch
  • Identify measurement in inches, feet, and yards
  • Measure objects to the nearest centimeter
  • Compare lengths of inches and centimeters

Language Arts

Students will:

  • Revise and edit an opinion speech
  • Prepare opinion speeches
  • Discuss making a magazine
  • Generate ideas for a magazine story
  • Write a plan for a magazine story

Reading

Students will:

  • Add -ness to words ending in y
  • Practice encoding long words with oa and silent e
  • Practice observing punctuation while reading
  • Read and discuss grade-level texts
  • Review decoding and encoding oo, ew, ou, ui, u__e vowel sounds
  • Practice reading with natural phrasing

Science
  • In our next lesson in Science, students will think about what plants need and how habitats change over time.

05.01.2023-05.05.2023 Week at a Glance


Reminders:

  • Spelling Test - Wednesday 5/3
  • ABC Countdown to the end of the school year starts Wednesday, 5/3.
    • Wednesday, 5/3  Art → We will complete an art activity in class.
    • Thursday, 5/4  Books → Students bring their favorite book to show the class. (They can keep it here for Friday’s activity.)
    • Friday, 5/5 Camp Read-a-Lot → Students should bring a towel and book to spend extra time reading throughout the morning. They can also bring a small pillow and a flashlight.
  • Godparents Day  Friday, May 5th - See the email that went out earlier this week for details. *Please remember to bring the letter to your child from his/her godparent.*
  • First Communion  Saturday, May 6th
  • Field Trip Monday, May 15th
    • Please send back Field Trip Forms and the fee at the earliest convenience.
    • Checks can be made out to St. Joseph Catholic School.
 

Religion

Students will:

  • Prepare for First Communion
  • Practice receiving communion
  • Practice Mass responses

Math

Students will:

  • make line plots
  • analyze line plots
  • Review types of graphs
  • Collect data to create different types of graphs

Language Arts

Students will:

  • Draft beginning, middle, and end of an opinion speech
  • Revise and edit an opinion speech

Reading

Students will:

  • Identify irregular comparative and superlative adjectives
  • Decode and encode words with long /i/
  • Read and answer questions about grade-level texts
  • Decode and encode words with long /o/

Science

Students will:

  • discuss the following question: Why do trees grow so tall?
  • learn about plant adaptations focusing on light, leaves, and competition.