​As part of our focus growing as readers, second graders have been focused on building our stamina for independent reading. To that end, we are excited to report on the results of our first ever Reading Marathon this Thursday!  Although we have been training for this moment since the beginning of the year by choosing just-right books, finding just right places to read in the room, and giving ourselves the opportunity to really think about our books, we were excited to put all of our hard work into motion in this challenge. Just like a marathon runner needs to train to sustain running for 26.2 miles, we felt ready to read for 26.2 minutes of uninterrupted time. With the motivation of numbers affixed to our shirts and Gatorade and water to keep us hydrated, we set our classroom timers, and we were off! This time allowed us to delve so completely into our books that some our classmates didn’t want to stop at the finish line! We are especially proud of ourselves for meeting this challenge and reaching some of our own personal best times! 

Second grade writers are busy planning and drafting small moment stories.  These stories, which are also called personal narratives, are pieces that are true, about the child, and happened in the past over a short period of time. Second graders are learning that opportunities for small moment stories surround them in their everyday lives, and that writers live on the lookout for these moments by keeping a list of seed ideas in their writing journals.  Writers are learning various ways to plan each story, including telling the story on their fingers, touching each page and talking out the story, planning on post-its, or using graphic organizers.  Children are learning to incorporate specific small moment craft techniques, such as dialogue, onomatopoeia, and small actions.  The children are also studying mentor texts, such as Jane Yolen’s Owl Moon or Marla Frazee’s Roller Coaster, to see the craft moves real writers try.  This elevates the level of their own personal narrative writing.  In the coming weeks, second graders will choose one of their small moments to revise, edit, and publish to proudly share with you at our first Writing Celebration.   ​

2N students took to the Primary School stage to share their adaptation of the picture book Interrupting Chicken by David Ezra Stein. Characters emerged from a life-sized story book to remind the two, young interrupting chickens in the story that listening is always appreciated and interrupting can make others upset. Students were very excited meet the goals of the play performance and convince the audience that they were the characters they were portraying on stage. They also demonstrated strong teamwork and confidence in learning new songs, dances, and stage movements all while remembering to speak slowly and clearly so that audience members could understand their story. To culminate the play process students reflected on what they enjoyed most in preparing for a stage performance. Many thanks to all the teachers and parents who helped us prepare for this special day.

The second grade has begun to consider how we can act as kind citizens while working and playing at school and how they can show caring and kindness within the greater Montclair community. This Thursday, 2B walked from our campus to Toni’s Kitchen, a community gathering place that serves neighbors who are in need.  2N visited Toni’s Kitchen on Friday, and 2M will be taking the trip next week. Second graders toured the kitchen area, where meals are prepared by dedicated volunteers; the food pantry, where donated foods are stored; and saw a giant salad bowl that serves 50 people or more! Students then helped pack backpacks with non-perishable food supplies for children in Montclair. Students started to realize how important a role Toni’s Kitchen plays in their local community. We were proud to help, and appreciate Toni’s Kitchen commitment to making Montclair a more inclusive and caring place for all of our neighbors.

Second grade readers are beginning to grow like the beanstalk in a fairy tale.  They have begun to choose and read Just Right books, explore various genres and the multitude of books in their classroom libraries, and push themselves to develop stamina by reading more and more. They are learning how to take a sneak peek at a book by reading the cover, looking at the blurb on the back, and looking at a few pages inside the book to help get their brains warmed up before they read.  In addition, children are learning how to choose Just Right books by using the "5 Finger Rule."  Children received a special bookmark to remind them of this strategy and are learning how to apply it as they explore books in their classroom libraries.  Children are learning that readers are independent problem solvers who try to solve tricky words, read in longer scoops or phrases, and try to retell what they have read.  Teachers continue to take time to read individually with each child and to give beginning-of-year reading assessments that will help them get to know each child as a reader.  As we begin our second month of school, second grade readers are growing strong!