Week of September 8 - 11, 2026
September Topics of Study:
The following are some of our current and upcoming topics:
Math:
Our focus in Math for the next couple of weeks will be on counting skills. The curriculum expectation for the Grade 2s is to learn to count to 200 in a variety of ways, including by 1s, 2s, 5s, 10s, 20s, 25s, and 50s, using a variety of strategies and tools (for example, whole and partial number lines, 100- and 200-charts). The curriculum expectation for the Grade 3s is to learn to count to 1000 in a variety of ways, including by 1s, 2s, 5s, 10s, 20s, 25s, 50s, 100s, and 200s, using a variety of strategies and tools ((for example, whole and partial number lines, hundreds charts)
See below for the Grade 2 and Grade 3 parent summary letters outlining some key ideas in Math for this week:
Grade 2 Counting Forward Parent Letter here
Grade 2 Counting Backward Parent Letter here
Language:
In Grade 2, we will review how to write a complete sentence, including correct uppercase letters at the beginning of each sentence, and punctuation at the end. The Grade 3s will begin to learn how to write a paragraph.
We will also begin our UFLI phonics lessons this week. We will begin with a review of some basic skills learned last year. Over the next couple of weeks, your child will bring home some phonics homework to help review skills. The program used by grades 2 and 3 is the UFLI Phonics program. Thank you in advance for supporting your child at home by helping them review their phonics skills when the home practice is sent home.
Our first phonics lessons will review long vowel sounds. We will begin by reviewing the long a vowel sound, as in ape. The long vowel sound is the same as the vowel's name, A.
The vowel a says its own name, A, when there is a silent E at the end of a word, like in the words made, tape, cake, and same. **Usually, when there is a silent E at the end of a word it makes vowels say their names, or long vowel sounds. The E does not make a sound so we say it is "silent" ("silent E" or "bossy E").
After our long a vowel sound, we will review the long i vowel sound as in the words ice, bike, side, ride, five, and kite. The long vowel sound is the same as the vowel's name, I. The vowel i says its own name, I, when there is a silent E at the end of a word. Reminder: The E does not make a sound so we say it is "silent" ("silent E" or "bossy E").
One part of our phonics lessons consists of a few weekly "heart words".
What Are "Heart" Words?
Many common words present challenges to children because they are irregular in some way. These words contain letters or letter combinations that do not follow the most common letter-sound correspondences, and those must be learned “by heart,” hence the term “heart” words. Some words are permanently irregular (the sounds of the letters are unique to that word or to a very small number of words) and others are temporarily irregular (words in which we have not yet learned the letter-sound correspondences in the word).
This week's Heart Words: who, by, my
Please also review the following "heart words" that your child would have learned with their previous teacher: the, I, a, said, to, do, of, see, he, be, me, from, you, what, have, look, book, are, was, your, want, go, no, so, goes, says, they, their, were, talk, walk, could, should, would, or, for, *who, *by, *my.
Homework:
The Grade 2s and 3s will bring home their first phonics homework next week.
Religion, Language, and Media Literacy:
This week, the Grade 2s and 3s will begin a unit called "Samaritans on a Digital Road", in which we will learn about how to be good digital citizens and how to be safe and respectful when using technology and the internet.
Health & Phys. Ed.:
We are learning the routines and safety rules for physical education. We will also work on our travelling and locomotion skills (e.g., hopping, galloping) and play a few simple cooperative games.
We are learning the routines and safety rules for physical education. We will also work on our travelling and locomotion skills (e.g., hopping, galloping) and play a few simple cooperative games.
Housekeeping Items:
If you haven't already done so, please consider sending indoor running shoes for your child.
In addition, we will use pencil crayons and coloured fine tip markers most often so it would be helpful for your child to have their own at school. It would also be very helpful for your child to have a pencil case (or two) to store pencil crayons, markers, etc. Some of the marker and pencil crayon packages (original packages from the store) are already starting to fall apart in your child's supply storage bin. Please label all of your child's belongings (lunch boxes/bags, containers, backpacks, shoes, rubber boots, winter boots, outdoor clothing, etc.) with their full name. This will help avoid confusion and lost items.
School Communication
In order to receive all school communication, please register at:
http://ocsb.ca/
Agendas
Student agendas are being sent home daily. Please check and initial the agenda every day and ensure that it is sent back to school in your child's mailbag (plastic ziplock bag). It is helpful if it is left open to the page that corresponds to the current week, so that students don't have to find the page each time.
Thank You
Thank you for all the supplies you sent in last week with your child.
IMPORTANT: CLASS BLOG
It is very important that you check this class blog every week as there will be important news items as well as information about our topics of study. There will occasionally also be links to suggested websites for your child to visit.
Dates to Remember:
Tuesday, Sept. 15 - Dot Day: Wear polka dots to school. We
will honour the day with fun dot activities.
Sept. 30 - Truth and Reconciliation (Orange Shirt) Day
