2nd Grade Blog

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

It is our utmost pleasure to welcome our second grade families back to school. It is our hope that your summer was filled with wonderful adventures.

As we begin this new school year, we would like to share some important information regarding second grade:
· Chicago Public Schools (CPS) uniform grading scale A = 93 – 100%, B = 85 – 92%,
C = 75 – 84%, D = 74 – 65%, F = 64% and below
· Homework: Monday through Friday, 30 minutes of assignments and 30 minutes of reading. Students are expected to complete missed assignments because of absence within two days.
· Accelerated Reader (AR): Second grade students are required to take AR beginning in January.
· Murray Language Academy follows the CPS Code of Conduct. Please read and discuss with your child the behavioral expectations in school.
· Families are expected to view our 2nd Grade Murray Blog at http://2ndgrade.murrayblogs.com/ at the beginning of each week. Families without access to the internet can visit Murray’s library. Also, a copy of the blog is always displayed outside of rooms 103 and 106 for your convenience.

Language Arts: Students will participate in the following practices from the Balanced Literacy Framework (By Fountas and Pinnell for Reading Workshop and Lucy Calkins for Writing Workshop):
· Modeled reading and writing
· Guided reading and writing
· Paired reading and writing
· Interactive reading and writing
· Independent reading and writing
· Reading and writing conferences
· Literature circles

STATE GOAL 1: Read with understanding and fluency.
Standard 1A. Apply word analysis and vocabulary skills to comprehend selections.
Standard 1B. Apply reading strategies to improve understanding and fluency.
Standard 1C. Comprehend a broad range of reading materials.
STATE GOAL 2: Read and understand literature representative of various societies, eras and ideas.
Standard 2A. Understand how literary elements and techniques are used to convey meaning.
Standard 2B. Read and interpret a variety of literary works.
STATE GOAL 3: Write to communicate for a variety of purposes.
Standard 3A. Use correct grammar, spelling, punctuation, capitalization and structure.
Standard 3B. Compose well-organized and coherent writing for specific purposes and audiences.
Standard 3C. Communicate ideas in writing to accomplish a variety of purposes.
STATE GOAL 4: Listen and speak effectively in a variety of situations.
Standard 4A. Listen effectively in formal and informal situations.
Standard 4B. Speak effectively using language appropriate to the situation and audience.
STATE GOAL 5: Use the language arts to acquire, assess and communicate information.
Standard 5A. Locate, organize, and use information from various sources to answer questions, solve problems and communicate ideas.
Standard 5B. Analyze and evaluate information acquired from various sources.
Standard 5C. Apply acquired information, concepts and ideas to communicate in a variety of formats.

Mathematics: We will continue to utilize The University of Chicago Everyday Mathematics program which develops the students’ mathematical thinking and problem solving. Please work with your child on a daily basis by applying these concepts to real-life situations. Please note the proficiency level required for each skill:
· Find values of coin and bill combinations (Developing)
· Making change (Developing)
· Show penny (P), nickel (N), dime (D) and quarter (Q) for a given amount (Secure)
· Estimate approximate costs and sums (Developing)
· Know addition facts sums to 20 (Secure)
· Know “harder” subtraction and addition facts (Secure)
· Construct fact families for addition and subtraction (Secure)
· Devise and use strategies for finding sums and differences of two digit numbers (Developing)
· Subtract multiples of ten (Secure)
· Solve simple addition number stories (Secure)
· Complete number sequences and use number patterns to solve problems (Developing)
· Make tallies and give the total (Secure)
· Count by 2s, 5s and 10s (Secure)
· Complete simple frames-and-arrows diagrams (Secure)
· Identify place value for 1s, 10s and 100s (Secure)
· Find equivalent names for numbers (Secure)
· Read degrees Fahrenheit on a thermometer (Developing)
· Extended math response (Developing)

STATE GOAL 6: Demonstrate and apply a knowledge and sense of numbers, including numeration and operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division), patterns, ratios and proportions.
Standard 6A. Demonstrate knowledge and use of numbers and their representations in a broad range of theoretical and practical settings.
Standard 6B. Investigate, represent and solve problems using number facts, operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division) and their properties, algorithms and relationships.
Standard 6C. Compute and estimate using mental mathematics, paper-and-pencil methods, calculators and computers.
Standard 6D. Solve problems using comparison of quantities, ratios, proportions and percents.
STATE GOAL 7: Estimate, make and use measurements of objects, quantities and relationships and determine acceptable levels of accuracy.
Standard 7A. Measure and compare quantities using appropriate units, instruments and methods.
Standard 7B. Estimate measurements and determine acceptable levels of accuracy.
Standard 7C. Select and use appropriate technology, instruments and formulas to solve problems, interpret results and communicate findings.
STATE GOAL 8: Use algebraic and analytical methods to identify and describe patterns and relationships in data, solve problems and predict results.
Standard 8A. Describe numerical relationships using variables and patterns.
Standard 8B. Interpret and describe numerical relationships using tables, graphs and symbols.
Standard 8C. Solve problems using systems of numbers and their properties.
Standard 8D. Use algebraic concepts and procedures to represent and solve problems.
STATE GOAL 9: Use geometric methods to analyze, categorize and draw conclusions about points, lines, planes and space.
Standard 9A. Demonstrate and apply geometric concepts involving points, lines, planes and space.
Standard 9B. Identify, describe, classify and compare relationships using points, lines, planes and solids.
Standard 9C. Construct convincing arguments and proofs to solve problems.
Standard 9D. Use trigonometric ratios and circular functions to solve problems.
STATE GOAL 10: Collect, organize and analyze data using statistical methods; predict results; and interpret uncertainty using concepts of probability.
Standard 10A. Organize, describe and make predictions from existing data.
Standard 10B. Formulate questions, design data collection methods, gather and analyze data and communicate findings.
Standard 10C. Determine, describe and apply the probabilities of events.

Science: We are excited to implement our science program with the highly respected curriculum from the Full Option Science System (FOSS) program. FOSS offers a variety of hands-on explorations that encourages scientific thinking. In addition, we will utilize a program entitled Harcourt School Publishers Illinois Science as a supplement. For the first quarter, we will be investigating air and weather. FOSS expects students to:

· Develop an interest in air and weather.
· Experience air as a material that takes up space and can be compressed into a smaller space.
· Observe the force of air pressure pushing on objects and materials.
· Observe and compare how moving air interacts with objects.
· Observe and describe changes that occur in weather over time.
· Become familiar with instruments used by meteorologists to monitor air and weather conditions.
· Compare monthly and seasonal weather conditions using bar graphs.
· Observe the location of the sun and the moon in the sky over a day and the change in the appearance of the moon over a month.
· Organize and communicate observations through drawing and writing.
· Acquire vocabulary associated with properties of air and weather conditions.

STATE GOAL 11: Understand the processes of scientific inquiry and technological design to investigate questions, conduct experiments and solve problems.
Standard 11A. Know and apply the concepts, principles and processes of scientific inquiry.
Standard 11B. Know and apply the concepts, principles and processes of technological design.
STATE GOAL 12: Understand the fundamental concepts, principles and interconnections of the life, physical and earth/space sciences.
Standard 12A. Know and apply concepts that explain how living things function, adapt and change.
Standard 12B. Know and apply concepts that describe how living things interact with each other and with their environment.
Standard 12C. Know and apply concepts that describe properties of matter and energy and the interactions between them.
Standard 12D. Know and apply concepts that describe force and motion and the principles that explain them.
Standard 12E. Know and apply concepts that describe the features and processes of the Earth and its resources.
Standard 12F. Know and apply concepts that explain the composition and structure of the universe and Earth’s place in it.
STATE GOAL 13: Understand the relationships among science, technology and society in historical and contemporary contexts.
Standard 13A. Know and apply the accepted practices of science.
Standard 13B. Know and apply concepts that describe the interaction between science, technology and society.

Social Science:
STATE GOAL 14: Understand political systems, with an emphasis on the United States.
Standard 14C. Understand election processes and responsibilities of citizens.
Standard 14F. Understand the development of United States political ideas and traditions.
STATE GOAL 15: Understand economic systems, with an emphasis on the United States.
Standard 15A. Understand how different economic systems operate in the exchange, production, distribution and consumption of goods and services.
STATE GOAL 17: Understand world geography and the effects of geography on society, with an emphasis on the United States.
Standard 17B. Analyze and explain characteristics and interactions of the Earth’s physical systems.

Sincerely,
Anh Tuan Hoang, LuAnn Lawson and Ms. Henderson