Next, we wrote letters to thank a veteran for serving our country. Students learned the correct way to format a letter and writing conventions such as capitalization rules and writing dates.
We listened to a medley of songs for the armed forces and reviewed the branches of the military. We discussed that all types of people can be veterans. They can be a friend, neighbor, or family member. Students shared the some of the people they know who are U.S. Military veterans. Talk with your child about people you know who are veterans and the branch in which they served.
First graders are learning to add three numbers in math. They are learning to use make a ten and then add the third number. For example, “Maria made 1 snowball. Tony made 5, and their father made 9. How many snowballs did they make in all?” 1 + 5 + 9 = (9 + 1) + 5 = 10 + 5 = 15. Since we can add in any order, we can pair the 1 with the 9 to make a ten first. Students have learned how to add a number to ten to make a ten and some ones. For example, 10, 3 is 13 (one ten and three ones).
Second grade students are building fluency in two-digit addition and subtraction within 100 and applying that fluency to one and two-step word problems. Grade two students need to apply what they know about addition and subtraction to a variety of problem types and explain their thinking using mathematical language.
In addition, students are working with place value strategies to fluently add and subtract within 100. Students are learning different strategies to mentally add and subtract within 100. By the end of the module, students will use this knowledge to solve problems. For example, students might count on by ones and tens, e.g., 39 + ☐ = 62, so 40, 50, 60, 61, 62. They might use compensation, adding the same amount to the subtrahend as to the minuend to make a multiple of ten, e.g., 62 – 39 = 63 – 40. They might add or subtract a multiple of 10 and adjust the solution as necessary, e.g., 62 – 39 is 4 tens less than 62 but… one more. Students must be able to explain why these strategies work using place value language, properties of addition and subtraction, and models, such as the number line.