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 seventh year of teaching in this beautiful school community. I am also looking forward to my second year of coaching the Cross Country teams.
In my free time, I enjoy running, reading, singing, 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.
Week at a Glance
Week of April 28-May 3, 2025
Math: We will finish up our (short) chapter on Money. Students will skip count and count on to determine the value of different groups of coins. They will also solve word problems involving money and use different groups of coins to equal the amount of one dollar. This chapter is short, and students will take a test the week of May 5th.
Phonics (FUNdations): Students will continue spelling and reading words with the long /oo/ sound (ue, ew, oo, ou). They will spell trick words from this past week (January, February, July) and new trick words (enough, special, December). Students will continue using knowledge of word parts to determine the meaning of unknown words, and they will read decodable grade level passages with our current spelling patterns.
Reading and Writing (Wit & Wisdom): Students will continue learning about MLK Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech as they examine the point of view of a text and explore the deeper meaning of a text. We will define unknown words by using word parts and context clues to help us.
Science/Social Studies: We will finish up our Social Studies lesson from last week, as we have been dedicating more time to Religion and First Communion preparation. Our final Civics lesson about how communities share economic needs and wants and also how they have celebrations to share pride in their country and culture.
Religion: We are in the final week of preparation for First Communion. We will compare our faith to a journey with Jesus. We will read and discuss the story of the Road to Emmaus, where the disciples encounter the resurrected Jesus. We will also review responses for Mass and practice our procession and responses for First Communion. Please see below for reminders about upcoming First Communion-related events.
Tests and Quizzes:
Additional Reminders:
Important First Communion-Related Reminders:
(All of this information was sent out in an email from Mrs. Hein on September 11, 2024, but it is worth repeating.)
Upcoming Church Events:
Upcoming Church Events:
Upcoming Church Events:
Week at a Glance
Week of April 21-25, 2025
Math: We will start our chapter on money. Students will review skip counting by 5, 10, and 25. They will also practice identifying and counting groups of pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters.
Phonics (FUNdations): Students will continue practicing words with ou and ow, along with trick words: Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, bought, brought, piece. The assessment will be on Thursday, 4/24. Then we will move on to the new unit with long /oo/ sounds (oo, ue, ou, ew, u, u-e).
Reading and Writing (Wit & Wisdom): As we continue our module on Civil Rights heroes students will compare an audio version of a text to a written version as we listen to MLK Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech. Students will also identify the characteristics of a speech. Additionally we will examine the point of view of a text.
Science/Social Studies: In our final Civics lesson (that we may need to finish the week of 4/28) is about how communities share economic needs and wants and also how they have celebrations to share pride in their country and/or culture.
Religion: We are in the final countdown to First Communion (less than two weeks away), so we will spend extra time preparing for this special sacrament. We will practice for the Eucharist Prayer Service, Godparents’ Day, and First Communion. We will review Session 7 (which corresponds to Session 7 in your “Together” magazines) and is on the topic of Receiving. We will practice saying “Amen” in response to when the EOM says “The Body of Christ” and we will discuss how to reverently receive the Eucharist at Mass.
Tests and Quizzes:
Additional Reminders:
Upcoming Church Events:
Additional Reminders:
Upcoming Church Events:
Class Order Due Date: Thursday, April 17, 2025
Class Page: https://orders.scholastic.com/VY7QC
Class code = VY7QC
Additional Reminders:
Upcoming Church Events:
Week at a Glance
Week of April 14-18, 2025 - Holy Week
Math:
Phonics (FUNdations):
Reading and Writing (Wit & Wisdom):
Science/Social Studies:
Religion:
Tests and Quizzes: None
Additional Reminders:
Upcoming Church Events:
Upcoming Church Events:
Upcoming Church Events:
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