Mrs. Melanson

Second Grade Room 203

Email:KMelanson@icspotswood.com

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Text Box: I am a graduate of Kean University with a BA in Early Childhood and Elementary Education. From 1974 to 1995 I worked in the Metuchen School district as a teacher in grades K—3, and was then hired as a 5th grade teacher at Immaculate Conception School. After 2 years, I moved to grade 4 and taught that grade for 13 years. I now have the pleasure of teaching 2nd grade for a second year. I live in Metuchen with my husband and daughter, and have a wonderful grandson. Text Box: This will be an exciting year for the second graders, as they prepare for the sacraments of Reconciliation and First Communion. Text Box: What we are doing now: Religion: This year, the children will prepare themselves to receive the sacraments of Reconciliation and First Communion. They will learn related prayers, the formula for confession and many lovely songs for these ceremonies in Church. The text shows them how God is with them always and prepares them to receive the sacraments. We will also study the Liturgical Year, Church holydays, the Rosary, Commandments, and saints. New to our curriculum is a program to address the issue of Bullying. The children will learn how to make Good God Choices and understand that their actions and choices have consequences. Math: We are on our way to an exciting year in Math. The series begins with place value. However, Math is found all around us and in each subject. The children will graph in Social Studies, record temperatures in Science, and learn about money in Reading stories. “No Finger Facts” is our fun way to practice and learn the basic addition and subtraction facts in second grade. We are currently working with money. Children are “counting on” using coins up to the half dollar. They are thrilled to recognize the presidents on the coins. We will learn to write, add, and subtract money. When the children are home, please remember to stress neat columns and line up the decimal point. Reading: The reading series we use is one in which children of all learning types can succeed. It focuses on both phonics and sight words. We are currently reading a play, The Bremen Town Musicians. This play gives the children wonderful practice in reading dialogue. I am sure that once the class is finished with this play, they will all be eager to join Mr. Andrus in his school productions. Language Arts: The children will create many stories, poems, and writing prompts during the year. We try to write about things that the children experience, first hand. We concentrated on Earth Day and listened to many stories about ways in which to protect our environment. The children wrote Earth Day acrostics, which they then typed in Computer Lab. Social Studies: This year the children will study about the national symbols and landmarks in our country. We just completed our study of the Seal of the United States, the Bald Eagle, and Mount Rushmore. Next, we will return to Washington DC to learn about the Cherry Blossoms, the Capitol, and White House. The children created their own version of Mount Rushmore, by doing coin rubbings, with added details. We have bald eagles flying all around the classroom. Science: We are completing our study about matter, solids, liquids, and gasses. The children explored the properties of things and had many great opportunities to conduct classroom experiments and record their findings in their Science Lab Manuals. They enjoyed some great experiments on the Smart Board—changing solids to liquids and cooling the liquids, with the help of the magic Smart Board technology. We then conducted similar experiments in the classroom, ending one day with strawberry marshmallows dipped in the melted chocolate. We will next explore the wonders of Weather and Climate in preparation for our class trip to Monmouth Museum. Computer : Most of the children are remembering their passwords for Computer Lab. We are currently working on keyboarding skills, and using the icons on the tool bar. Please continue to have your child practice basic keyboarding at home. Text Box: Please join us for OPEN HOUSE on Wednesday, April 25th at 7 pm. Bring a friend. Let them see how wonderful our school is and all we have to offer the students. Text Box: Dates to Remember: May 11 Breakfast for the second graders Scapular Service at 11 am Dismissal at 12 noon May 12 First Communion Mass Arrival at 1 pm Room 8 Mass at 1:30 May 14 May Crowning May 29 Class Trip to Monmouth Museum