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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

12-04-23

Tonight the children are bringing home a copy of the Act of Contrition prayer. Please have your child practice this once or twice through. 
Please also have your student do 2-5 minutes of basic math facts (flashcards are great).

Week at a Glance 12-04-23

 
Math: This week we will continue learning about 2D and 3D shapes. We will review vocabulary words- faces, edges, and vertices as applied to geometrical shapes. This week students will learn how to divide a shape into equal parts (halves, thirds and fourths). This chapter wraps up with finding the area of a 2D shape by counting unit squares. The Chapter 12 test will be next Tuesday 12/12. There will be a review guide in your child's folder.
 
Phonics: (Fundations) This week we will move on to open syllables and using /y/ as a vowel to create the long /i/ sound instead of the long /e/ sound as in cry. The will learn to add the suffixes -ly and -ty.
 
Reading: (Wit and Wisdom) This week's focus is on continuing to learn the impact American Indians and Early American settlers had on the prairie in our early history. The students will write informational paragraphs using a topic sentence, sentences with detailed evidence and a conclusion statement. Emphasis will be on using vocabulary terms from our literature to build this paragraph. For grammar practice, students will work on creating common irregular plural nouns. (children for example)
 
Religion: This week we begin our Advent season and begin our journey in preparing our hearts for the coming of Jesus. We will use an Advent wreath in the room and color the flame on our crafted Advent wreath each week. The class has a Nativity on display as well. Session 12 in the Finding God book is all about Reconciliation. In preparation for First Reconciliation we begin to focus on the prayers and processes to be ready for this special sacrament. The students will be introduced to the Act of Contrition, and begin practicing this prayer. We will also learn steps in how to make a good confession. When your student brings home the copy of the Act of Contrition prayer please use this to help them continue to practice at home so he/she is comfortable when they receive this special sacrament in February.
 
Science: Students will continue learning about erosion and methods to prohibit this. Our Wit and Wisdom book: The Buffalo are Back ties this concept together nicely for students by reading about the ways early settlers farmed the land to prevent erosion as well. They will explain why landslides happen and work together to form models to prevent erosion when that occurs. 
 
Reminders:

  • No tests this upcoming week

  • Math - Chapter 12 Test = Tuesday, 12/12

  • Please join us in praying for Mrs. Applegate and her family as they bring home their new bundle of joy, baby Jackson.

  • It is our expectation that students are doing 15-30 minutes of homework each night (Math pg. and 10-15 min. of reading/with a parent). Math facts flashcards are strongly encouraged for the rote memorization of these basics to ensure current and future success in Math.                                   

  • Please try to attend Mass over the weekend. We will start the liturgical season of Advent. We have talked a lot in class about making room in our hearts for Jesus during the Advent season, and attending Mass is a beautiful opportunity to do that.

    • Second grade CCF and school families are hosting the 9am Mass on Sunday. If you want to attend that Mass, you will probably see lots of school families!

  • No All School Mass on Tuesday

  • All School Mass → Please join us Friday, 12/8, at 8:30 am to celebrate the Immaculate Conception (a holy day of obligation)

  • Please check your child's Kiddos hot lunch orders to make sure your child has a lunch each day. We talked about making healthy choices about snacks to get them through their morning with good success. Please no chips or sweets for snack time! Thank you! 

  • Please send your child with a coat and proper outerwear for outdoor recess in the colder temperatures. If you send your child to school in boots, please send additional shoes for your child to wear during the day.

  • Food Pantry Collection = Thursday, December 14th → 2nd grade should bring cereal. Please be generous as we approach the Christmas holidays, and please keep those who visit the Food Pantry in your prayers.

 
Upcoming Tests:

Thursday, 11/30 notes

1. Read for 20 minutes
 
2. Math 12.5 homework pages-sides, edges and vertices with 3D shapes
 
3. Phonics- Practice reading and writing words with VCE syllables (one syllabel and multisyllabic words)
 
  • Unit 6 Assessment= Friday, 12/1
Reminders: 
  • Bring Library Books back in order to check out new books
  • Check your child's Kiddos lunch order each day
  • Please be sure your child has coats, hats, and glove/mittens
  • If your child comes to school in boots, please be sure to send a labeled bag with school shoes.

Monday 11.27.2023

1. Read 20 minutes
 
2. Math 12.1 homework page - We are taking a break from adding and subtracting and starting a chapter on Geometry.
 
3. Spelling/Phonics - Practice reading and writing words with VCE syllables (one syllable and multisyllabic words)
 

11.27.2023-12.01.2023 Week at a Glance

 

Religion

Students will:

  • Tell how God’s children are the light of the world
  • Describe Advent as a time to seek Jesus and make room for him in our lives
  • Explain that Jesus is the light that shines in the darkness to guide us to true happiness and peace

Math

Students will:

  • Identify 2D shapes
  • identify the number of sides and angles in 2D shapes
  • Identify 3D shapes
  • count faces, edges, and vertices on 3D shapes

Phonics

Students will:

  • Read two-syllable words with v-e syllables
  • Learn trick words right, place, and together
  • Practice v-e syllable exceptions
  • Practice reading fluently
  • Complete Unit 6 Test on Friday 12/1

Reading/Writing

Students will:

  • Ask and answer questions about a text
  • Contribute questions to a notice and wonder chart
  • Understand and retell main topics and key events described in a text
  • Understand and use topic-specific words and phrases in informational writing
  • Describe relationships between people, plants, and animals in a text
  • Identify words that are not topic-specific in a sentence and replace with topic-specific words
  • Sort words into categories 

Science

Students will:

  • Discuss the question “What is strong enough to make a canyon?”
  • make hypotheses and investigate the causes of canyon
  • create a model landform using cornmeal as a class

11.20.2023-11.21.2023 Week at a Glance

 

Religion

Students will:

  • Begin learning about the season of Advent

Math

Students will:

  • Take Chapter 3 test on 2-digit addition
  • Participate in different Thanksgiving activities

Phonics

Students will:

  • continue reading and spelling VCE words

Reading/Writing

Students will:

  • learn about the Wampanoag Native Americans and their influence on the Pilgrims
  • Complete different Thanksgiving activities

Thursday 11.16.2023

Homework:
1. Read 20 minutes
 
2. Phonics/Spelling:  Work on words with vowel-consonant-e (VCE) spelling patterns
 
3. Math 3.7 Homework Page - Chapter 3 Test is Monday 11/20. Review sheet went home earlier this week or it can be found here.

Wednesday 11.15.2023

Homework:
 
1. Read 20 minutes
 
2. Phonics/Spelling - Unit 6 home packet went home today. Please see for ideas on how to practice!
 
3. Math 3.6 homework page

11.13.2023-11.17.2023 Week at a Glance

 

Religion

Students will:

  • tell about how Jesus welcomed children.
  • identify Jesus as the Good Shepherd who cares for us.
  • explain the meaning of the parable of the lost sheep.
  • describe how Jesus cares for us through the leaders of the Church.
  • define deacon and psalm.

Math

Students will:

  • add 2 two-digit numbers with the standard algorithm
  • rewrite horizontal addition problems vertically to add.
  • add three and four two-digit numbers
  • make a model to solve problems
  • review 2-digit addition

Phonics

Students will:

  • spell multisyllabic words with closed syllables and glued sounds; spell multisyllabic words with suffixes
  • Spell words with VCE syllables (magic e or super e)
  • Read words with VCE syllables
  • Discriminate between VC and VCE words
  • Spell and read trick words only, house, move

Reading/Writing

Students will:

  • Revise an informative paragraph using a checklist
  • combine evidence from two texts in a verbal paragraph about how changes in fall impact people
  • Describe knowledge and skills gained from studying texts
  • Demonstrate understanding of unit 1 vocabulary by analyzing correct or incorrect use in context

Science

Students will:

  • explore the phenomenon of flash floods
  • create an explanation of why these severe weather events are more or less likely in different regions.
  • locate and explain a unique region in Texas known as Flash Flood Alley
  • develop a map to document how land and water interact across the state

Wednesday 11.08.2023

1. Read 20 minutes
 
2. Math - 3.3 Homework page (addition with regrouping)
 
3. Practice spelling words with suffixes and base words
 
4. Disguise a Turkey Locker Decorations - Thank you for your help at home. If your child has not yet turned it in, please send it in at your earliest convenience. If you need another turkey, please let me know!

Tuesday 11.07.2023

1. Read 20 minutes
 
2. Math - 3.2 Homework page
 
3. Practice spelling words with suffixes and base words
 
4. Disguise a Turkey Locker Decorations - Thank you for your help at home. If your child has not yet turned it in, please send it in at your earliest convenience. If you need another turkey, please let me know!
 
Additional Reminders:
  • Parent Meeting for First Communion is TONIGHT Tuesday, 11/7, at 6:00pm in the Koenig Center
  • Food Pantry - Thursday, 11/9 (2nd Grade - Chef Boyardee items)
  • No School Friday for students (Teacher professional development day)

Monday 11.06.2023

Homework:
 
1. Read 20 minutes
 
2. Math - Using expanded form and place value to add multi-digit numbers practice (This looks different than our normal homework pages, it says "use the break apart strategy to solve the equations." at the top.)
 
3. Practice spelling words with suffixes and base words
Assessment - Monday, 11/13

11.06.2023-11.09.2023 Week at a Glance

 

Religion

Students will:

  • Identify Peter as the Church’s first leader.
  • Describe how Jesus used parables to teach lessons about how to be closer to God. 
  • Define bishop, crosier, parable, and pope.

Math

Students will:

  • break apart numbers to add (using expanded form)
  • regroup ones for tens to add 2-digit numbers
  • add two- and one-digit numbers with the standard algorithm (and base-ten blocks)
  • add 2 two-digit numbers with the standard algorithm

Phonics

Students will:

  • Read and spell words with suffixes -full, -less, -ment, -ness, -ish, -en, -able
  • Learn trick words: always, often, once
  • Read decodable stories and answer comprehension questions
  • Create sentences using words the handful and kindness
  • Practice reading and writing trick words
  • Read words with different prefixes

Reading/Writing

Students will:

  • Determine the central message of a text
  • Plan and draft an informative paragraph
  • combine evidence from two texts in a verbal paragraph about how changes in fall impact people
  • Demonstrate understanding of vocabulary by analyzing correct or incorrect use in context

Science

Students will:

  • investigate the effects of rocks tumbling in a river
  • Answer the question “why is there sand at the beach?”
  • pretend to be a river and tear up pieces of construction paper to model what happens to rocks as they travel along the river