Week at a Glance

Week of September 1-5, 2025

Math: This coming week we will continue our chapter on place value in Math. We will review writing numbers to 1,000. We will also practice skip counting by 5s, 10s, and 100s. Finally we will compare numbers using the symbols < (less than), > (greater than), and =. Our first Math assessment will be the week of September 8th, and we will send home a review sheet with concepts you can practice this coming week.

Phonics (FUNdations): We will continue reading and writing words with closed syllables, including words with blends and digraphs. We will also devote some time to the /k/ sound and when to use c, k, or ck. We will review some common trick words from first grade, including they, one, and said. Please note that the unit packets do not need to be returned to school. They are simply to help provide ideas for ways to practice at home and to communicate to you what your child is learning.

Reading and Writing (Wit & Wisdom): We will jump into our first learning module from our reading and writing series (“Wit and Wisdom”) as we learn all about changes in nature. We will discuss our essential question for the module: How does change impact people and nature? We will review the components of good listening. We will also make observations and ask questions about a painting and a poem, which are both weather-related. We will also read and discuss our first book of the unit: How Do You Know It’s Fall? Finally we will be able to identify topic sentences in informational paragraphs for future use in our own writing.

Science/Social Studies: In next week’s lesson about habitat diversity, we will set out to answer the question: “Why would a wild animal visit a playground?” Students will explore the mystery of why bighorn sheep would leave their desert habitat to visit a local playground.

Religion: This week our focus will be on identifying God as our creator. We will read the story of creation, define the words “creation” and “holy”, and try to recognize God’s blessings in our lives.

Tests and Quizzes: 

• i-Ready diagnostic testing will resume next week. There is nothing to study or practice for these tests, but please help make sure your child gets a good night’s sleep each day.
• Phonics Unit 1 Assessment = week of September 8th
• Math Chapter 5 Assessment = week of September 8th

Additional Reminders:

• Please try to take your children to Mass over the weekend. It is the best preparation for First Communion, which will take place in May. 🙂
• As the weather turns colder in the coming months, please remember to put your child’s name on his/her sweaters so they can be more easily returned if they get lost.
• Monday, 9/1/25 = No School - I hope you have a relaxing Labor Day weekend.
• Thursday, 9/18 = Curriculum Night (more details to come)
• Friday, 9/19 = Spirit Run (stay tuned for more information)

• Friday folders → Please keep the items in the folders and send back the folder on Tuesday. Thanks! The following items should be in there:
• Graded homework (checked for completion)
• Optional handwriting practice → Please note I do not expect this to be completed over the weekend. Weekend time = family time. 🙂It’s just better to send it home in the Friday folder so it doesn’t get lost in the shuffle.
• Thank you note from your child. (If your child does not bring one home, it probably means s/he is finishing it up next week!)

Thank you for placing your trust in our school daily. We are always striving to keep your kids safe and help them learn to the best of their abilities. Please keep the Annunciation Catholic School and Church community in your prayers.

 

• CVC = Closed syllables with short vowels, e.g., cat, rip, pug, etc.
• Digraphs = 2 letters, 1 sound = sh, th, wh, ch, ck
• Blends = 2 letters blended together but still 2 sounds, i.e., sl, fr, nd, etc.

• Friday = Library --> Students should return books on this day so they are able to check out new ones.
• Monday = Labor Day = No School
• Throughout the year, if you know of absences in advance, please email me and Mrs. Lentino to let us know what days s/he will miss. Thank you for helping us out with this. It is the school's policy that any missed work should be made up after your child returns to school.

• CVC = Closed syllables with short vowels, e.g., cat, rip, pug, etc.
• Digraphs = 2 letters, 1 sound = sh, th, wh, ch, ck
• Blends = 2 letters blended together but still 2 sounds, i.e., sl, fr, nd, etc.

• Friday = Library --> Students should return books on this day so they are able to check out new ones.
• Monday = Labor Day = No School

• CVC = Closed syllables with short vowels, e.g., cat, rip, pug, etc.
• Digraphs = 2 letters, 1 sound = sh, th, wh, ch, ck
• Blends = 2 letters blended together but still 2 sounds, i.e., sl, fr, nd, etc.

• Please send your child with a water bottle, healthy snack, and lunch each day.
• Please write your child's name in his/her sweatshirts in case the items get lost.
• Friday = Library --> Students should return books on this day so they are able to check out new ones.

Good morning and welcome back to a full week!

 

We will review homework expectations at Curriculum Night in a couple of weeks, but essentially we are building habits for third grade and beyond.

 

 

1. Read --> Start to build reading stamina - We want to work up to 20+ minutes of reading per night, but start small with 5-10 minutes and work up from there. The nightly reading can be any books of their choice and can include the students reading to themselves, reading to a parent, listening to reading, etc.

 

2. Phonics --> Just like in 1st grade we will have assessments at the end of each unit of study. Today your child brought home a packet with our first unit, which focuses on words with closed syllables and also reviews blends and digraphs. S/he does not need to return the packet. It just provides examples of words and activities you could try at home to practice. Feel free to "go off script" and practice in other ways too.

 

3. Math --> Chapter 5 Lesson 1 homework page --> This should look like the homework from last year. This particular lesson focuses on relating ones and tens and hundreds as we build a solid foundation of place value.

 

 

Happy Thursday!

 

There is no homework tonight (or tomorrow). If you have not yet joined our class on Seesaw, please do so with the invitation that went home with your child on Wednesday. (If you need a second copy, please email me. I could send a new paper copy or send it via email.)

 

Thank you for your continued patience with the dismissal process. Things should speed up once we get in a groove. :)

There is no homework today.

 

Please look at your child's Home folder to join our class on Seesaw (where I will post pictures and sometimes in-class assignments throughout the year). Please also send the folder back with your child tomorrow.

 

We had a great first day! We walked all over the school on our scavenger hunt for Pigeon and talked about reasons why we go to school. Then we read First Day Jitters and discussed our own first day feelings. Finally we read a book about respecting people's names, and we decorated nametags for our lockers.

 

Thursday is a full day. Please send your child in his/her uniform and with a water bottle, lunch, and healthy snack.

I don't know about you, but this year has felt both long and very short at the same time! I cannot believe my time with your children is coming to a close.

 

Second Grade Families,

 

We look forward to a fun field day. Thanks to all parents who are volunteering by helping at the different stations.

 

Please also chat with your child about how this is supposed to be a fun day. We spoke today and remembered that this is not a tournament for sports or the Olympics. ;) The goal = have fun and enjoy our last full day as a class.

 

Many thanks to Mr. Gilbert who will be helping our class out throughout the day too!

 

1. Read 20 minutes

 

2. Phonics - Assessment = Friday

3. Math - none - We worked on rounding to the nearest ten and estimating sums and differences today. They caught on very quickly! :)