2nd grade

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2nd grade
By MM

Last year was my first year of teaching and it was in 2nd grade. I felt just like you. Now I don't know what I would do if I ever had to give up second grade. I love them! They are young enough to love school, to learn,
and you! Yet they are old enough to help each other, handle jobs, follow simple written directions, and have responsibility for their actions and self-control. You will be amazed at their reading progress. Most of my kids came in reading short picture books and doing fairly well. Many left reading lengthy chapter books. Something that worked really well for me....a weekly secret

pal (not each week but maybe twice a month). Each Monday of a secret pal week, each child would pull a name of a classmate out of a hat. They would be a detective to observe this child all week and look for the things their secret pal was really great at (math facts, helping a friend, sharing supplies, playing soccer, including others at recess, etc.). On Friday, the kids would write a letter to their pals sharing some of the great things they noticed about them during the week. I stuck them in their mailboxes on Friday afternoons and the kids would literally be crawling out of their skins to pack up and read the great things someone wrote about them. Not only did it help with self-esteem and encouraging new friendships (particularly toward teh end of the year when the kids were getting a little clique-y), but it sure helped their letter writing skills. I would also tie it into whatever writing mini-lesson I was focusing on for the week. Plus, the parents loved them! Good luck! You'll be great!