Mrs. Bortolan

Grade 2

Important Information    Happy New Year!Every child is actively engaged in reading, at their own independent reading level as well as in their second grade anthologies. We are focusing on fluency and comprehension, and understanding what the story is about. We are reading a wide variety of genres. Students should be able to distinguish between fiction and nonfiction. Please encourage your child to read nightly. In addition to reading, we are giving students the tools that they need to become better story writers as they learn the writing process. We are also working on writing paragraphs of information as well as independent narrative stories. Spelling continues to be a part of our Language Arts curriculum. A list of Spelling words is usually given weekly for students to study. A test of these words individually and dictated in sentences is usually given on Fridays. Students are also encouraged to use the sounds and words that they have learned in their daily work.  We are also working  at Literacy stations in groups on word work skills, writing, and reading. Students are working cooperatively as well as independently. In Math, we are currently working on fractions which in part of Chapter 7 - Geometry and Fractions. Students are having fun working with parts of a whole. Students can reinforce these skills by cutting apart a pizza into equal slices, or a pie. They can also estimate how much liquid is in a given container. In Social Studies, we are learning about communities today, specifically the Oakville-Watertown community in which we live. We are familiarizing ourselves with our community workers, types of transportation available to people in our town, as well as important businesses and buildings. We are finding that Watertown is a great place to live and work.   In Science - Health, we continue to work on Nutrition and how it is important to our body. We have identified the basic food pyramid groups and have learned what foods we need to give our body energy and help us grow into strong adults.We are learning that we should eat a well balanced diet daily.               Dates to Remember           January 4th - Back to school after the new year         January 18th - No School- Martin Luther King Jr. Day         January 19th - Winter Concert with Mr. Skelton - time   to be announced         January 27th - Shortened Day of School - Early Dismissal for students

Homework      A homework assignment sheet is given out weekly. It is your child's responsiblity to copy the daily assignment when it is given onto that sheet.  Homework is given as reinforcement of a skill taught. Homework is expected back the following day unless otherwise noted. It is not usually given on weekends. Students are encouraged to read for about 20 minutes nightly. Read with your child. It's fun and rewarding! Schedule of Specials      Monday - Physical Education - 11:20 -12:00  (sneakers are needed )      Tuesday - Library - 2:20 - 3:00      Wednesday - Computers 10:50 - 11:30                  Thursday - Art - 2:00 - 3:00 ( Bring in an old shirt to be used as an art smock)      Friday - Music - 10:50 - 11:30                   Contact Information Please feel free to contact me with your questions or concerns by writing a note, by email - bortolande@watertownps.org or by calling the school during school hours especially if your message requires an immediate response.