Our class:

Isaac

Cecilia

Hazel

Myles

Diego

Brady

Millena

Jackson

Callen

Miguel

Madi

Daisy

Amelie

Upcoming:

Wednesday, September 24th–Picture Day

Friday, September 26– ‘Fall is Here’ fun run!

News:

Greetings 2D,

Wow, what a great and busy week! Thank you all who were able to make it to Open House, it was great to see you and meet some of you for the first time! Next week we have picture day on Wednesday. Forms went home in the folder yesterday. Please send them back as soon as they are filled out or if you ordered online, it helps to have the blank form when we go to the camera. We will also have our first Fun Run on Friday, with our first community meeting of the year to follow, parents are welcome to join both!

This week in the classroom we kicked off our narrative writing unit. A personal narrative is the first genre we are jumping into. To ask your student: what genre did we start in writing and what are the three parts? (Personal narrative has a beginning, middle, and end).

In math we are reviewing first grade prerequisite skills such as friends of ten (8+2, 6+4, etc.). This week we used those facts to help us add numbers with two digit sums with the “make ten strategy.” Such as 78+6. You would break apart the 6 addend to 2 and 4. You add 2 to the 78 making 80. You then add what’s left, so 80+4=84. This is meant to make adding easier and more efficient, but it is definitely hard right now and we will keep persevering! To help at home, you can practice the friends of ten as well as addition and subtraction facts with sums and differences below 20. I recommend getting some flashcards, I have some in the classroom if you would like some, just reply here.

In reading we began our first unit on Citizenship. You can ask your student what it takes to be a super citizen. Our first pattern we learned about is the closed syllable such as ‘cat’ or ‘pop.’ We also explored some exceptions to the rule such as words ending in -ild, ost, -ind. 

With all of our Hopes and Dreams established, we can focus on rule creation next week. Eventually we will start classroom jobs once rules are created and our routines are well established. We discussed taking a break this week. The way it works is: students are first given a verbal reminder to stop the behavior, if the behavior persists they will be asked to take a break and return on their own. If they are spoken to again after they return, they are sent back to take another break but this time they will have to be invited back by the teacher. If a student refuses to take a break, they will be sent to the office. Students are also able to go take a break on their own if they need a calm down space. 

Reminders:

Monday is library book return day and the first day of fall!

Wednesday is Picture Day

Friday is Fun Run and Community Meeting

I hope you all have a great and energizing weekend,

~Summer

sdesouza@mvyps.org

508-627-3316 ext 136

*2D Families 2024-25, please take a moment to fill this questionnaire out before the start of school: 

~2D Parent Questionnaire~

pencil box 
box of crayons
box of colored pencils

2 glue sticks

2 boxes of pencils
erasers
small pencil sharpener (not mechanical)
scissors
water bottle with fresh water daily

headphones to stay in school all year

At home: 

a nice, well-lit, quiet space to read

books to read

plenty of pencils for homework

Share Schedule

Monday:

Tuesday:

Wednesday:

Thursday:

Friday:

Hi! Welcome! I am your 2nd grade teacher, Mrs. DeSouza. I was born and raised on Martha’s Vineyard and care deeply about this island and our community. I love the beach, hikes in nature, teaching and learning. I have two amazing daughters, a wonderful husband, and a pup named Rusty.  I can’t wait to meet you all and get to know you. ❤️