Traditionally, second graders do a saint report and dress as their saint for All Saints Day. Following is information about choosing and researching a saint, as well as links to websites for research:

Saint Project Directions: Explanation of Saint Project

Good websites for saint research:

Catholic Saints

Saints and Angels

Roman Catholic Saints

As you know, we are getting ready to receive the Sacraments of Reconciliation and FirstHoly Communion.

Especially in second grade, we expect students to participate fully at Mass. They should pay attention, respond enthusiastically, and be respectful. You can help your child learn appropriate behavior at Mass

by having the same expectations when you take them to Mass each Sunday.

Are you taking your child to Mass each Sunday?

In the Third Commandment, God instructs us to go to Mass every Sunday (or Saturday evening).

I like this article that I found at catholicmom.com: Taking Your Children to Church

Remember that you, as parents, are the primary teachers of your children as you promised the day of their baptism. This means that you should lead by example and actively participate in their Catholic formation. You should see that they learn and follow the fundamental beliefs of the Catholic faith as expressed in our Profession of Faith Creed.

It is also important to pray at home with your children.

"Too busy to pray? Then you are probably too busy NOT to pray."

Try watching a video while you are praying the rosary together as a family at home.

You might like this one from Youtube: http://youtu.be/D8vSUkXS2Sk

If your child was not baptized at St. Agnes, we will need a copy of the baptismal certificate before he/she can receive the sacraments. If your child is not baptized and desires to do so, please contact Fr. Jerry at the rectory as soon as possible. There is a $20.00 First Communion fee; this includes photographs of your child receiving the sacrament and a group photograph.

Examination of Conscience for Children Using the Lord's Prayer

Examination of Conscience for Children Using the Ten Commandments

Act of Contrition

Practicing for Confession

Top 10 Catholic Parenting Tips Found in the Ten Commandments

Spelling

We have a spelling pretest on Monday, and a spelling test every Friday.

Some fun ways to study spelling words at home

More Spelling Activities

Text Box:

Students should practice their basic math facts for at least 5 minutes every night. Second graders need to master addition and subtraction facts through 12. The best thing you can do to help your child with math is to stay on top of the required skills from the very beginning. Math is progressive, one concept builds on top of another. Students who are not fluent in math will struggle as new concepts are introduced, such as measurement, fractions,

patterns & rules, 2- and 3-digit equations, multiplication, etc. We are using a program called "Track Math".

We expect you to practice with your child every night. It only takes 5 minutes!

Letter Explaining How to use TRACK MATH at Home

You can also use flash cards, and there are a multitude of websites that can provide practice. Flash cards can be purchased inexpensively at one of the "dollar" stores, or you can make them. Learning all the facts is a lot of work, but future success in math is dependent upon knowing facts so well that the answers come automatically

without much thinking.

You can also help your child by pointing out that we use math every day...cooking, measuring, shopping, keeping a checkbook, exercising, using a clock or calendar, etc. Pick up a newspaper and notice math on every page...charts, graphs, averages, sports scores, weather reports, shopping advertisements, movie times, games like Sudoku, etc. Talk to your child about how you use math at your job. If you are excited about math, your child will be too!

Click on this link to work on math skills in our 2nd grade math textbook. E-labs are great for chaper review.

www.macmillanmh.com

Fun ideas to do at home: Math in the Home

Reading

We will read a new story in our reading textbooks each week. We will also work on a "focus skill" in language arts.

Our reading textbook publisher has a great website for reading and language arts skills.

Go to www.harcourtschool.com

Click on the Learning Site, and then select Reading. Click on the Trophies icon. If you are asked for a password, type in the word Beck (one of the authors in our series). When pictures of the reading books appear, click on the book with the red cover and a tiger on the front. There are lots of great activities to try!

I recommend that your child read at least 10 minutes every night.

We are very excited about our new motivational reading program called "Traveling America".

Traveling America Reading Program

This program is intended to last until the end of the school year.

You might have to adjust the amount of time that your child spends reading each night.

For example, if your child typically reads 30 minutes each night,

each space in the Traveling America booklet should be completed for every 30 minutes he/she reads,

rather than the 10 minutes required.

Students who read every day can look forward to greater success academically and in life!

13 Ways to Raise a Nonreader

Why Can't I Skip My Twenty Minutes of Reading Tonight?

My hope is that the time spent reading at home with a family member is a special time

that the whole family looks forward to every day.

I also wish for every child to have a lifelong love for reading.

HOME ENRICHMENT IDEAS

Some of the students this year have asked to do book reports.

Click here to find a list of reading genres, and about 40 ideas for book reports: Book Report

Book reports are not required. They must be completed at home, and it doesn't replace daily homework.

Homework must be turned-in every day.

I've also put together a packet for students who are interested in researching a state

and completing a report: State Report

If you are interested in challenging your child's spelling and vocabulary skills at home, a good place to start are with the following: Frequently Misspelled Words and 1000 of the Most Common Words