Lent: Growing Closer to God!

Here in the Episcopal church we are getting ready for the season of Lent. Today in my class we did a little preparation so the children are prepared for Ash Wednesday. During Lent, we do things to help us to know God better and the life of God's son, Jesus. Sometimes we spend extra time in prayer or in reading the Bible. Some people make the choice to give up something like television or chocolate. Years ago, people did not eat rich foods such as butter, eggs, or sugar during the Lent season. This brought about the tradition of Shrove Tuesday or Fat Tuesday as some call it, to eat all those things you wouldn't allow yourself to eat during this season.

The children and I also talked about the story of Jesus in the Wilderness from Matthew 4:1-11. See if your child remembers the 3 temptations of Christ.

All the children are coming home with a little pipe cleaner pretzel. If you would like to see the story and tradition they learned about, you can retell the story below to your child or have them tell it to you.

Angelo and the Pretzel

A long time ago, there was a monk in Italy named Angelo. Angelo worked in the monastery kitchen baking bread.

One morning, Angelo began to bake the day's bread. Since it was Lent, he didn't put any butter, eggs or sugar into the dough.

While the bread was in the oven, Angelo sat down to think and pray. The children in his parish didn't seem to be learning their prayers. He wished he could come up with a clever way to help them remember. As Angelo thought, he rolled a leftover piece of dough between his fingers.

In his day, the children were taught to fold their arms across their chest when they prayed. Angelo kept on thinking as he rolled that piece of leftover dough.

Suddenly, he had an idea! Angelo twisted the rolled piece of dough into the shape of praying arms.

He put the dough on a pan and baked it. Angelo got busy cleaning the kitchen and let the dough bake too long. But when he tasted it, he decided it was delicious.

"I will call this treat a 'pretiola' (preh-zi-o-la) which means 'little reward,'" he said. "My treat will be a reward for the children who learn their prayers."

That afternoon, Angelo baked an entire batch of pretiolas. When the children came to the bakery to visit him, he gave the pretiolas to those who knew their prayers.

Before long, all the children began to remember their prayers, and they ate batch after batch of pretiolas.

And that's the story of a monk named Angelo and the very first pretzel.

Welcome Mrs. Nelson! 

Second grade is thrilled to have you!

Donuts for Dads!

We are excited to have donuts and breakfast tacos with our dads this week!  This special time will be on Friday from 7:30-8:30.  We will eat breakfast and enjoy having our dads with us.
Thank you for your patience last week.  Our week did not go as planned!   I spent most of the week at home caring for my little girl, Lila.  She had a rough time with a stomach virus but is feeling much better now.

Last week, your child completed a final project on Mr. Popper's Penguins.  The projects are well done and are hanging on the Second Grade Stars board outside of Mrs. Jeter's office.   Please drop by and check them out!

 This week we will begin The Mouse and the Motorcycle.  I think the children will love it!



Tomorrow, we will take our spelling test that was planned for Friday.  Your child will also bring home a new spelling list.  The next test on Lesson 11 will be on Thursday January 31st.

For January 31st test:

1. lady
2. playful
3. always
4. very
5. empty
6. angry
7. any
8. anyway
9. maybe
10. carry
11. family
12. pretty
13. plenty
14. heavy
15. hungry


Bonus Words

1. holiday
2. sixty
3. country
4. easy
5. Monday

Happy New Year!

I hope you had a restful break with your family. 

I am looking forward to a wonderful semester in second grade at CCS.

This week:

• We will finish reading Mr. Popper's Penguins and begin working on the final book project.
• The children will discover more about Ancient Egypt and begin a hieroglyphics project.
• Report cards will go home.  Please sign and return.
• We will review cursive letters Aa-Ii and learn to write the cursive letter Jj. 

I have altered our class schedule to make more time for the Saxon Math Morning Meetings.  I recognize the importance of these meetings as a part of our math program.  Our previous schedule did not allocate enough time for us to complete the meetings on a regular basis. I will send a copy of our new schedule home this week.

I will see you on Monday!

Mrs. Smith

Second Grade Christmas Party--This Friday

We planned the party for 11:00, but since we  will release for the day at 11:45, we're going to start the party earlier.  

New time:  10:45-11:45

Here is what you are signed up to bring:

Drew: white frosting and sprinkles
Anthony: pizza
Ethan: fruit
Klaire: drinks and chips
Sophie: cookies  

Also, don't forget to bring wrapped books for our book exchange.  We drew names on Friday, please let me know if the card your child drew did not make it home so I can send you an e-mail. The children did not manage to keep the names a secret - I think they spent the afternoon investigating!   :)
  




Spelling words this week:

1. nativity
2. celebration
3. journey
4. family
5. stocking
6. tidings
7. vacation
8. announcement
9. Bethlehem
10. Jesus
11. shepherds
12. decorations
13. angel
14. Savior
15. Christmas

Spelling Homework:

Monday - write words in alphabetical order
Tuesday - write each word 2x and look up one or more in the dictionary - write definition
Wednesday - write 5 sentences using as many spelling words as possible
Thursday - take a practice spelling test at home and write missed words to practice
Friday - we will take spelling test in class

Thank you Drew for a wonderful presentation!  The Weapons of Ancient Egypt was a fascinating topic for the class to hear about.  You did an excellent job.

Advent:

Our second grade class is having a lovely time gathering around the CCS Advent Calendar each day.  It is exciting to talk about our great need for a Savior.  We can see how each story on the calendar points to a God that fulfills promises and provides for his children.  

We will begin Christmas activities and crafts this week!  

Spelling:

Spelling packets will go home tomorrow and we will have tests on Friday morning.

Vocabulary:

Keep up the good work on the vocabulary words!  The children love to memorize and recite the definitions and are quizzing each other during free time in class.  I love it!

Grammar:

We are discussing contractions this week.  It will reinforce your child's learning to look for contractions in everyday surroundings.  

Mr. Popper's Penguins:

We love this book!  Right now we are sequencing events from the first half of the book and next week we will begin discussing characterization.  We will have a final project over the book after Christmas.  

 

 

Anthony did a wonderful job teaching the class about The River Nile before our break.  Good job!   Each project has been unique and full of interesting facts.  The children are presenting with poise and confidence.

It will be Drew's turn to present on "Ancient Egyptian Hunting and Fishing" this Friday!  We are all excited to learn more about that.

I hope everyone had a restful break!  I am thankful for our wonderful school full of remarkable students and families. 

October and November have been busy and gone by in a flash!  This week I am hoping to have a slower week at school.  We will be working hard of course, but will not have extra events to prepare for.

Hagar and Ishmael is our Bible/History focus for the week.  We will continue in our grammar study of verbs and enjoy Mr. Popper's Penguins.