Welcome back! As we transition back into the routines of school, the children will be reviewing the expectations and routines that were in place before the winter break. Now that the children have completed their first independent research project, resulting in the brochures, we move forward to learning about people who demonstrated heroic qualities. This week, we began this next portion of our research talking about a true hero of our nation, Martin Luther King Jr.
As a class, we brainstormed and created a list about what we felt we already know about this important hero.
What we think we already know about Martin Luther King, Jr.?
- · He was a very good person. Someone sadly shot him with a gun and he was buried on MLK Blvd.
- · He started the march on Washington.
- · His house got bombed.
- · His grave was made in 500 graveyards.
- · When he was doing the march to Washington, people were sent to help them (protect them).
- · He believed that dark skinned and white skinned people could be together.
- · He had a friend that was white and he was dark and his friend’s mom said they couldn’t be friends anymore because of their skin color.
- · MLK changed that black people could go to white people’s school.
- · He had 2 daughters and a wife.
- · He went to jail a bunch.
- · He changed the world.
- · He also helped change by helping black people to go to white people’s schools.
- · He was buried in a coffin.
- · He saved the black lives (the black people were slaves to white people).
- · His dad was named Martin Luther King.
- · He skipped grades in his school.
- · When he was buried in his coffin, everyone who helped him in the march-gathered in his memory.
Students applied the reading strategy “tuning into interesting vocabulary” and generated some new and interesting words to explore as they learn more about Civil Rights. We will continue to explore biographies and look specifically at their text features i.e. timelines, photographs, bold headings, fact boxes, etc.
Ask your child: "What interesting facts did you learn after reading a biography, with a partner, about Martin Luther King, Jr.?"
The children enjoyed renewing friendships and collaborating during Free Choice activities to end our shortened school week.
Homework
We have returned to our regular homework routine. Please note that we have increased the number of minutes of reading per night to 20.
Homework due: 1/8
- Math: pages 59-60 and Reading Log
Next Week'sHomework due 1/16 (Jan. 15th no school)
- Math pages 63-68
- Read for at least 20 minutes Monday through Friday and complete Reading Log
Homework Expectations
As we progress through the school year, expectations for students gradually increase. Now that second graders have had several months to practice their homework routine, we are encouraging students to turn in homework more completely, punctually and independently. To help students understand the importance of responsibility and accountability, I will continue to ask those who have not turned in homework on time or turned in incomplete work (including forgetting their name) to complete a “make-up assignment” during their weekly free choice time. Once they have completed their work they may join the rest of the class for the free choice time. If there is a circumstance that prevents your child from turning homework in on time, please send a note. Thank you for your support.
You can support your child at home by:
- Establishing a routine for when and where homework is completed – this includes making sure the homework folder “travels” home and back to school in the backpack
- Encouraging your child to try all homework assignments independently
- Sitting together and discussing the assignment (this is especially beneficial in building language to explain mathematical thinking)
- Checking together for completeness, neatness, and accuracy – Ask your child: Is this your personal best work?
- Offering your child specific praise for work
Weather
Please be sure your child comes to school with a heavy coat with a hood or a hat, and gloves. Children will be spending their 15-30 minutes of recess (three times per day!) in these temperatures and we want to be sure they are protected.
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