In Room 122

In the first quarter students learned the Scientific Methods and Skills through classroom investigations and experiments. Students observed and studied the seasonal and weather changes through phenology walks and discussions. In addition to this, students were engaged in weekly outdoor investigations.

The focus of Quarter 2 was the states of matter: what matter is, how to classify different states of matter and how the states of matter change.

The focus of Quarter 3 was balance, motion and engineering. We used scientific inquiry methods to ask questions, test our ideas and make new plans.

In Quarter 4 we began investigations into plant life cycles through discovery and experimentation.  The students extended their knowledge through our field trip to the MN Landscape Arboretum.

The main areas of focus for quarter one were basic number sense, addition and subtraction strategies and understanding place value.

Quarter 2 we focused on basic addition and subtraction facts and relationships. The goal for second graders is to master their addition and subtraction math facts to 20 as well as all the tens combinations.  The first half of the year we learned strategies to do this. The second half of the year will focus on speed and accuracy.

The focus in Quarter 3 was Double-Digit Addition with regrouping. The goal for second graders is to master their addition and subtraction math facts to 20 as well as all the tens combinations.

In Quarter 4 we focused on Double-Digit Subtraction and Measurement.

Students were actively engaged in Daily 5 as part of our 2nd grade reading block which includes Shared Reading, Guided Reading, Phonics and Word Work using Words Their Way.

Students worked along side the teacher, with an on-level text, and were taught skills needed to really strengthen comprehension. Emphasis was put on asking questions about the text and learning to look back into a book for information.

Students became authors of their own stories during the Writing Workshop portion of the reading block. Students learned the skills needed to be independent writers and what qualities make up good writing.

The writing focus for Quarter 2 was writing longer pieces as they explore telling more. We worked on thinking before writing and rereading their stories to determine what else they might say.

The writing focus for Quarter 3 was non-fiction writing. Students learned how to write questions, make observations and finding important information. The final project will be to research polar animals and create a digital non-fiction book.

During Quarter 4 students focused on poetry as well as opinion/persuasive writing.

Quarter one focused on “Community” which was taught through our school wide Positive Behavior Intervention and Support (PBIS) curriculum and Responsive Classroom.  Students also learned what makes up a community and how to be a positive member within one.

The focus of Quarter 2 was learning about and creating Dakota and Ojibwe homes. Students also learned about communities they are apart of, which lead to our bigger communities of the country, our continent, and our world.  

The focus of Quarter 3 was map skills. Students learned about communities they are apart of, which lead to our bigger communities of the country, our continent, and our world. We also explored Native American artifacts and ways of life.

Quarter 4 exposed students to economics, government and business.