Phonics

This week in phonics, students will focus on using different spelling options for the /k/ sound to improve their decoding skills. They will practice spelling and reading words that contain digraphs and blends, helping them recognize common letter patterns. Additionally, students will practice spelling the following trick words: you, your, was.

Reading/Writing

This week, we will begin Module 1 of our reading and writing program, Wit and Wisdom, focusing on changes in nature. We will explore the essential question: How does change impact people and nature? Students will review the components of good listening and make observations and ask questions about a weather-related painting and poem. We will read and discuss our first book of the unit, How Do You Know It’s Fall? Throughout the week, students will build vocabulary by defining unknown words, notice and wonder about new texts, and practice identifying important details and the main topic. They will also learn to identify topic sentences in informational paragraphs and compose clear topic statements.

Math

Students will continue exploring place value by reading and writing numbers up to 1,000. They will practice using counting patterns to understand number sequences better. Additionally, students will compare three-digit numbers using the symbols <, >, and = to develop their number sense and understanding of numerical relationships. Our first math assessment is scheduled for the week of September 8th, and we will send home a review sheet with concepts to practice during the upcoming week.

Religion

This week in religion, we will focus on understanding God as our Creator. Students will read the story of creation, learn the meanings of the words “creation” and “holy,” and reflect on the many ways God’s blessings are present in our lives.

Science

In the second lesson of our science unit on animal biodiversity, students will explore why a group of wild bighorn sheep might leave their desert home to visit a very different place—a local playground. Through the Habitat Scavenger Hunt activity, students will observe and record the variety of life and physical features found in both the desert and the playground. Using these observations, they will develop an understanding of how the living and nonliving elements of each habitat work together to support the animals that live there.

Phonics

This week in phonics, students will review important concepts from 1st grade to build a strong foundation for the year ahead. They will practice identifying and reading CVC (consonant-vowel-consonant) words like "cat" and "pen," work with blends such as "bl," "st," and "gr," and revisit digraphs like "ch," "sh," and "th."

Reading/Writing

During reading and writing this week, students will focus on building strong classroom routines and setting the stage for a successful year. They will begin by establishing reading routines, such as how to choose books, where to sit, and how to work independently. Students will also complete the first i-Ready diagnostic to help guide future instruction. 

Math

We will be starting our first math chapter, which focuses on place value. Students will learn how to relate hundreds, tens, and ones, and practice reading and writing numbers up to 999 in standard form. Students will also explore how to write numbers in expanded form up to 1,000, breaking them down to better understand their value. Throughout the week, they will use logical reasoning to solve problems, helping them apply their knowledge in meaningful ways.

Religion

This week in religion, students will practice their Mass responses and how to act respectfully in the church. They will also discuss why the church is considered God’s house and begin to understand its importance in our faith. In addition, students will learn to identify our parish priests and their special roles in leading our church community.

Science

Our first science unit focuses on biodiversity and classification. In this week’s lesson, students will explore how scientists organize animals into groups based on their characteristics. During the Animals Sorting Game activity, students will examine different animal traits and sort animal cards into categories such as mammals, birds, reptiles, and invertebrates. They will then be challenged to make decisions about animals that don’t fit neatly into any of these groups, encouraging deeper thinking and problem-solving.

T

Tues, 5/27

Thank You Notes

Write thank you notes to the staff and volunteers who make our school such a wonderful place to learn!

U

Wed, 5/28

Under the Desk

Complete certain class activities under your desk today.

V

Thurs, 5/29

Visiting Day

Visit the next year’s teachers. 🙂 

(1st→ 2nd and 2nd→ 3rd)

W

Fri, 5/30

Wall-to-Wall Cleanup

Clean out your desk and help clean up your classroom.

*Bonus W activity* → Enjoy a nice walk outside with your class if the weather is nice!

Phonics

This week in phonics, we’re working on our final unit, which focuses on the consonant-le syllable. This type of syllable always appears at the end of a multisyllabic word, like bubble or bicycle. Students will also practice spelling trick words such as couple, young, and trouble.

Reading/Writing

We’ve finished Wit & Wisdom for the year! During reading and writing time, students will continue to strengthen their literacy skills by reading a variety of fiction and nonfiction passages and answering comprehension questions. Some of the fun topics we’ll be exploring include the history of Crocs and how ice cream was invented!

Math

This week in math, students will review how to tell time to the nearest 5 minutes and practice identifying and labeling times correctly with AM or PM based on the time of day. We will wrap up Chapter 10 with a test on Thursday, May 22.

Science

This week in science, we’re exploring how different plants have different needs based on their habitats. Students will learn how plants grow best in a variety of environments, from dry deserts to tropical rainforests. In our activity, Puzzling Plants, students will conduct virtual experiments to figure out how much water and sunlight a group of mystery plants need to grow and stay healthy.