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Welcome to 2nd Grade with Mrs. Macdonald!

 

I am a Florida native and received my BA in Psychology with a minor in Spanish from the University of South Florida. After graduation, I pursued my Masters of Education through the University of Notre Dame’s ACE Service through Teaching Program and have been an educator for the last fourteen years. Additionally, I earned my English as a New Language endorsement through the University of Notre Dame in 2012. I taught at a Catholic school in Kansas City, Kansas for two years, and I then moved to Chicago in 2010 where I spent eight years teaching second grade at a Catholic school in Pilsen. I am excited to be back for my eighth year of teaching in this beautiful school community. I am also looking forward to my third year of coaching the Cross Country teams.

In my free time, I enjoy running, reading, baking, watching Broadway musicals, traveling, and spending quality time with my family and friends. I could not imagine teaching anywhere else but a Catholic school, where I can share my faith with my students and watch them grow in their own relationships with God. I am especially looking forward to preparing my students for the sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Communion.

 

Posts

Wednesday, 12/3/25, Notes

Homework:
 
1. Read 20 minutes (or more!)
 
2. Math 6.7 Homework page
 
3. Phonics
  • Practice trick words: large, change, eight
  • Practice open syllable words
  • Compare long vowels and short vowels
Additional Reminders:
  • If your child wears boots to school, s/he must bring an extra pair of school shoes to wear during the day. Thank you for keeping our classroom clean and safe!
  • Library books = due Friday
  • If you have not yet sent back the brown report card envelope, please do so at your earliest convenience. We will reuse the envelopes in Trimesters 2 and 3. Thanks for your help!
  • Grinch permission slips = due Monday, December 8th --> Thank you if you already sent it back! :)

Monday, 12/1/25, Notes

Good morning and happy Monday! Welcome back to a new week.
 
Homework:
 
1. Reading - Please keep building reading stamina - aim for 20 minutes
*This is perfect weather for getting cozy with a book and a blanket (after playing in the snow, of course)!
*We started our new learning module - The American West - today.
 
2. Phonics -
*Please see the informational packet that went home last week.
*We started learning open syllable words (e.g., acorn, he, hi, go, pupil, baby, etc.)
*Please practice trick words: eight, large, change
 
3. Math - Chapter 6, Lesson 5 homework page - Addition with regrouping
*Keep practicing addition and subtraction fact fluency to 20.
 
Additional Reminders:
  • If your child wears boots to school, s/he must bring an extra pair of school shoes to wear during the day. Thank you for keeping our classroom clean and safe!
  • Mass = Tuesday
  • Library books = due Friday
  • If you want to check out our class wish list during the Cyber Monday specials on Amazon, please visit this link - thanks in advance for your generosity!
  • If you have not yet sent back the brown report card envelope, please do so at your earliest convenience. We will reuse the envelopes in Trimesters 2 and 3. Thanks for your help!
 
*Grinch Movie permission slips are due by Monday, December 8th. Please see your child's Home Folder for this paper. Please email me with any questions. 

Thanksgiving Week - Homework Note :)

Happy Monday!
 
There is no official homework this week.
  • We do hope that your children continue to cultivate the habit of daily reading with a goal of 20 minutes (or more) per day.
  • The new phonics information packet is coming home today. This unit will begin after Thanksgiving break as we start working with open syllables and continue our work with long vowels.
  • There is no Math homework this week. The students did a FANTASTIC job on their most assessment last week!
Additional Reminders:
  • Report Cards --> Please keep the report card and send back the brown envelopes so we can use them for Trimesters 2 and 3.
  • All School Mass = Tuesday, 11/25
  • Thanksgiving Week = early dismissal on Tuesday; no school on Wednesday, Thursday (Happy Thanksgiving!), or Friday.
    • If your child is going to miss any days of school surrounding the holiday break, be safe and have fun, but also please email me and Mrs. Lentino to alert us of his/her absence. 🙂 (Thank you if you have already done so!)
  • If you want to check out our class wish list during the Black Friday specials on Amazon, please visit this link - thanks in advance for your generosity!
Be sure to check out Seesaw for some fun photos and videos from today!

Week at a Glance 11/24/25-11/28/25

Week at a Glance

Week of Thanksgiving - November 25-29, 2024

This upcoming week we have two days of classes. During these two days we will review some of the spelling patterns we have learned in Phonics this year, read about the man who invented the first Macy’s Day Parade balloons, review various concepts in Math, and discuss the upcoming liturgical season of Advent.

Tests and Quizzes: None

Additional Reminders:

  • Friday Folder Note:
    • Report Cards → Please keep the report card, send back the brown envelope
  • Please try to take your children to Mass over the weekend.
  • All School Mass = Tuesday, 11/25
  • Thanksgiving Week = regular school day on Monday and early dismissal on Tuesday; no school on Wednesday, Thursday (Happy Thanksgiving!), or Friday.
    • If your child is going to miss any days of school surrounding the holiday break, be safe and have fun, but also please email me and Mrs. Lentino to alert us of his/her absence. 🙂 Thanks!
  • If you want to check out our class wish list during the Black Friday specials on Amazon, please visit this link - thanks in advance for your generosity!

Thursday, 11/20/25, Notes

Homework:
 
1.Reading - Read 20 minutes (or more)
 
2. Math --> 6.4 Homework page --> Regroup ones for tens (using the traditional algorithm)
 
3. Phonics --> Assessment = Friday
 
Additional Reminders:
  • Scholastic Book Orders = optional
  • Friday = Library class → Please send back library books on this day.
  • Next week -->
    • Monday = full day of school
    • Tuesday = early dismissal --> Please email me and Mrs. Lentino if your child is missing any days surrounding the Thanksgiving holiday. Thank you! :)

Thursday, 11/21/25, Notes

Homework:
 
1.Reading - Read 20 minutes (or more)
 
2. Math --> 6.4 Homework page --> Regroup ones for tens (using the traditional algorithm)
 
3. Phonics --> Assessment = Friday
 
Additional Reminders:
  • Scholastic Book Orders = optional
  • Friday = Library class → Please send back library books on this day.
  • Next week -->
    • Monday = full day of school
    • Tuesday = early dismissal --> Please email me and Mrs. Lentino if your child is missing any days surrounding the Thanksgiving holiday. Thank you! :)

Wednesday, 11/19/25, Notes

Be sure to ask your child about our Field Trip!
 
Homework:
 
1.Reading - Read 20 minutes (or more)
 
2. Math --> We did not do a new lesson today, so there is no Math homework. (Cheers!)
 
3. Phonics --> Assessment = Friday
  • Practice reading single syllable and multisyllabic words with VCE spelling patterns
  • Practice adding the suffix -s to base words with VCE patterns (e.g., shake = shakes, throne = thrones, etc.)
  • Practice comparing long vowels vs. short vowels (e.g., like vs. lick)
  • Practice trick words: together, place, right
Additional Reminders:
  • Scholastic Book Orders = optional
  • Friday = Library class → Please send back library books on this day.
  • Next week -->
    • Monday = full day of school
    • Tuesday = early dismissal --> Please email me and Mrs. Lentino if your child is missing any days surrounding the Thanksgiving holiday. Thank you! :)

Tuesday, 11/18/25, Notes

Homework:
 
1.Reading - Read 20 minutes (or more)
 
2. Math - 6.3 Homework page - Mentally Add 10 or 100
  • We have seen these skills on our weekly 5-a-day problems since early in the school year, so today will serve more like a review than new material.
  • Students can certainly line up the numbers by place value and add that way, but we will also spend time practicing ways to solve these in our heads. :)
 
3. Phonics --> Assessment = Friday
  • Practice reading single syllable and multisyllabic words with VCE spelling patterns
  • Practice comparing long vowels vs. short vowels (e.g., like vs. lick)
  • Practice trick words: together, place, right
Additional Reminders:
  • Scholastic Book Orders = optional
  • Wednesday = Field Trip!
    • Students should be in their regular school uniforms.
    • Students should eat breakfast before coming to school (as we may not have the opportunity to eat snack since we have STEAM right before we leave on the bus).
    • Please send your child to school with lunch and a water bottle. We will eat in our classroom when we return to school from the show.
  • Friday = Library class → Please send back library books on this day.
  • Next week -->
    • Monday = full day of school
    • Tuesday = early dismissal --> Please email me and Mrs. Lentino if your child is missing any days surrounding the Thanksgiving holiday. Thank you!

Monday, 11/17/25, Notes

Happy Monday!
 
Homework:
 
1.Reading - Read 20 minutes (or more)
 
2. Math - 6.2 Homework page - Add hundreds with mental math
  • Today's lesson is a "warmup" for the chapter. Students should be able to add fluently within 20, and they will use this knowledge to help them add numbers in the hundreds mentally.
 
3. Phonics
  • Practice reading single syllable and multisyllabic words with VCE spelling patterns
  • Practice comparing long vowels vs. short vowels (e.g., like vs. lick)
  • Practice new trick words: together, place, right
Additional Reminders:
  • Scholastic Book Orders = optional
  • Tuesday = Mass
  • Wednesday = Field Trip
    • Students should be in their regular school uniforms.
    • Students should eat breakfast before coming to school (as we may not have the opportunity to eat snack since we have STEAM right before we leave on the bus).
    • Please send your child to school with lunch and a water bottle. We will eat in our classroom when we return to school from the show.
  • Friday = Library class → Please send back library books on this day.

Scholastic Book Order Opportunity

Please see the Scholastic Book flyer in your child's Friday folder. If you check out the website, there will be even more books available.
 
Books make great Christmas gifts...and if you want to keep books you order a secret from your child, please email me and I can get them to you without letting your child know. :)
 

Class Order Due Date: Friday, November 21, 2025

Shop Our Class Page: https://orders.scholastic.com/VY7QC

Class code = VY7QC

 

Please note this is completely optional! Happy reading!

Week at a Glance November 17-21, 2025

Week at a Glance

Week of November 17-21, 2025

Math: We will continue our chapter on 3-digit addition as we add numbers in the hundreds. More specifically, we will use mental math to add +10 and +100 to 2- and 3-digit numbers. We will also review regrouping ones for tens and work on regrouping tens for hundreds.

Phonics (FUNdations): As we continue working on spelling and reading words with VCE syllables, we will explore multisyllabic words with these patterns, and we will also work on adding suffixes to base words with VCE syllables. New trick words include: right, place, and together.

Reading and Writing (Wit & Wisdom): To continue improving our writing skills, we will experiment with a variety of sentence lengths and employ the use of conjunctions (joining words). We will be able to sequence events in a text and determine a text’s central message. We will also spend time reviewing key vocabulary terms from our first module. We will move on to our next module of learning (The American West) after Thanksgiving.

Science/Social Studies: We will continue along with our unit on erosion and weathering. We will more specifically examine where flash floods happen and why they occur. We will use maps and clues to determine where “Flash Flood Alley” is in Texas.

Religion: This upcoming week we will review the session called “Jesus Calls Us to Love.” We will discuss the roles of church leaders (priests, bishops, cardinals, and the pope), and we will also see how the role of the pope can be traced all the way back to St. Peter and the first apostles.

Tests and Quizzes: Phonics Unit 6 Assessment = Friday, 11/21

Additional Reminders:

  • Please take your child to Mass over the weekend.
  • Please check your child’s Friday folders for the following:
    • Returned Math assessment
    • Phonics extra practice for home
    • Handwriting extra practice
    • Miscellaneous items to be returned 🙂
  • Wednesday = Field Trip
    • Students should be in their regular school uniforms.
    • Students should eat breakfast before coming to school (as we may not have the opportunity to eat snack since we have STEAM right before we leave on the bus).
    • Please send your child to school with lunch and a water bottle. We will eat in our classroom when we return to school from the show.
  • Friday = Library class → Please send back library books on this day.

Thursday, 11/13/25, Notes

Homework:
 
1. Read 20 minutes
 
2. Math - 3-digit expanded form addition page
 
3. Phonics
- Practice words with VCE syllables
- Practice trick words: only, house, move
 
***OPTIONAL***
Sock Hop Coloring Sheet --> These are due Friday, 11/14
Please be sure to write your child's name and grade on the paper.
 
Additional Reminders:
  • Library books - Please bring these back on Friday.
  • Please send your child with appropriate outerwear for outdoor recess. We will hopefully get outside most days!
  • Please label all sweatshirts, hats, etc. with your child's name so that items do not get lost.
 
Uniform Reminders:
 
As we near the end of the first trimester, please revisit the school handbook for the uniform policies. Please keep the following in mind:
  • Please send extra shoes if your child wears boots to school.
  • Please do not have fake/acrylic nails.
  • Please wear Gym uniforms on Mondays and Tuesdays and the regular dress uniforms on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.
  • If your child wants to wear a sweatshirt in the classroom, please be sure it is a St. Joe's sweatshirt.
Thank you for your help and cooperation with this. :)

Uniform Reminders

As we near the end of the first trimester, please revisit the school handbook for the uniform policies. Please keep the following in mind:
  • Please send extra shoes if your child wears boots to school.
  • Please do not have fake/acrylic nails.
  • Please wear Gym uniforms on Mondays and Tuesdays and the regular dress uniforms on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.
  • If your child wants to wear a sweatshirt in the classroom, please be sure it is a St. Joe's sweatshirt.
Thank you for your help and cooperation with this. :)

Wednesday, 11/12/25, Notes

Homework:
 
1. Read 20 minutes
 
2. No Math homework - we took our Chapter 4 Assessment today
 
3. Phonics
- Practice words with VCE syllables
- Practice trick words: only, house, move
 
Additional Reminders:
  • Library books - Please bring these back on Friday.
  • Please send your child with appropriate outerwear for outdoor recess. We will hopefully get outside most days!
  • Please label all sweatshirts, hats, etc. with your child's name so that items do not get lost.
  • Thank you for your donations to the Food Pantry! I know the volunteers and the people who come through the Food Pantry all appreciate the generosity of the school.
  • Thank you for all you do!

Tuesday, 11/11/25, Notes

Happy Veterans Day! Thank you to all those who have bravely served or are still serving our country. We appreciate all of the sacrifices you make daily.
 
Homework:
 
1. Reading - Keep building stamina - try to work up to 20+ minutes (it can be in smaller chunks of time too, if needed)
 
2. Phonics -
Practice words with VCE syllables
  • A-E --> shape, fame, make, etc.
  • E-E --> Pete, complete
  • I-E --> pine, ripe, grime, etc.
  • O-E --> home, pope, robe, etc.
  • U-E --> rule, mule, rude, cute, etc.
Practice new trick words: move, house, only
 
3. Math --> Chapter 4 Assessment = Wednesday
*No written homework - Please finish the Chapter Review that went home Monday.
*Practice subtraction facts within 20
*Practice words problems - when to add vs. subtract :)
 
Additional Reminders:
  • Food Pantry = Wednesday -->
    • Please be generous, as this is our last Food Pantry collection before Thanksgiving! Thank you so much!
    • 2nd Grade should bring bags or boxes of rice/rice sides.
  • Boots --> If your child wears boots to school, please make sure s/he brings an extra pair of school shoes.
  • Library Books = due Friday --> Please send these back with your child so s/he can pick out new books.
  • Please be sure to label sweatshirts, gloves, hats, etc. - Many items look alike and often get mixed up during the day (especially after recess).
 
Final Note: We have had some instances of students saying unkind words to each other, so I thought it valuable to take time today to read a book and complete an activity about the impact of words on others. I had kids in my own class growing up who were not very nice to me, and it bothered me for quite some time, so I understand why they feel sad if someone says something mean to them. Please help reinforce at home that words have power, and we should be using our words to build others up instead of tear them down. Thank you so much for your teamwork with this.