What's Buzzing in Mrs. Leech's Class

Math

Unit 1 Fluently Add and Subtract within 20

Last week I sent home our first math test. If you have any question about it, please reach out.

Unit 2 Work with equal Groups

Today we took the test on equal groups. I will get them graded and give them back on Thursday.

Unit 3 Add within 100 using strategies

Topic 3 focuses on addition within 100 using strategies that employ a hundred chart, a number line, breaking numbers apart, and compensation. There is more than one way to solve an addition problem.

If you would like to know more of how we will be using the different strategies her the the link https://media.pk12ls.com/curriculum/math/family_engage/g02_t03_overview_en.html

Now that we are moving into harder math concepts homework might be sent home to the entire class or to individuals that I feel that might need more practice.

Phonics and Spelling Word Lists

During phonics students will focus on the "Sound" all week long and learn how to recognize, read, and spell words with common spelling patterns. Through engaging phonics routines, word building, dictation, and reading practice, students will strengthen their decoding and encoding (spelling) skills while building reading fluency and confidence.

Students will learn to:

Identify words with the sound.
Blend, read, and spell words with spelling patterns.
Apply phonics skills to decode unfamiliar words in connected text.
Read and write high-frequency words
Build fluency and automaticity through daily practice with word reading, spelling, and sentence reading.

By strengthening these foundational skills, students will become more confident readers and writers who can apply their phonics knowledge to both reading and everyday writing.

September 21st

Identify words with long i.
Blend and spell words with long i.
Spelling words: good, many, near, off, people, right, that, two, under, very, pie, tie, child, kind, sky, dry, high, lime, light, bright.

September 28th

Identify words with long u.
Blend and spell words with long u.
Spelling words: again, below, carry, does, eight, find, house, laugh, mother, school, music, menu, January, few, rescue, cue, use, cute, huge, cube.

Writing

SRSD and narrative writing

What Students Practiced

Analyzing the Prompt: Breaking down what the prompt is asking so they stay focused on how an octopus protects itself.
Brainstorming & Planning: Gathering facts (like camouflage, releasing ink, and squeezing into tight spaces) and organizing key details before writing.
Using Graphic Organizers: Structuring their main ideas, supporting details, and topic sentences so their thoughts flow logically.

Why Pre-Writing Matters Planning ahead helps 2nd graders organize their ideas, build confidence, and prepare to write strong, structured, informative paragraphs!

This will be our last week writing personal narratives at least for now.

Reading

Benchmark unit 2 Characters learn and grow

Unit 2, titled "Characters Learn and Grow," students explore how characters face challenges, make choices, and develop throughout a story. Through engaging fiction and folktales—such as Yeh-Shen, The Baker’s Dilemma, and Angel Fish—students learn to analyze character traits, describe settings and plot elements, and practice retelling key story events. Throughout the unit, children build reading comprehension by creating mental images, using context clues to understand new vocabulary and idioms, comparing characters across different versions of tales, and exploring elements of poetry such as rhyme and repetition.

Social Studies

How communities changed over time

We have finished habitats for now. We will come back to them when we move into our research writing.

For now we will work on how communities changes over time. We will mainly be learning about Parker and how it has changed over time. Long ago, our neighborhood was mostly farmland with a few quiet streets. Over time, as new families moved in from different parts of the world, the neighborhood began to change:

In the Past: Many years ago, there was only one small general store and a single schoolhouse. Most people spoke one language and shared similar daily routines.
Cultural Arrival: As families from diverse cultures moved into the neighborhood, they opened new local businesses, like ethnic grocery stores, bakery shops, and unique restaurants.
Present Day: Today, walking down the main street shows murals painted on public walls, signs written in multiple languages, and annual cultural street festivals where neighbors gather to share food, music, and traditions.

Through these contributions, the neighborhood grew into a rich, welcoming community shaped by the unique cultures of all the people who have lived there over time.

Special Announcement

Parent Teacher Conferences

Parent -Teacher Conference sign-up will be sent out soon. Please make sure to sign up!

A Peek at What's Ahead

Run for Funds Our Class needs $300

All Donations due: Thursday, September 24, 2026

All donations are due today. Most donations will be made online. If you receive any cash or checks (made out to Iron Horse PTO), please drop them at the front desk.

Online donations will reflect online in real time.

Prize Day: Wednesday, September 30, 2026

We will celebrate our successful fundraiser!

Classroom Prizes:

Send 30 emails per class by 9/16 = Pencil Charms for the class

$65 / Student = Silent Disco

$75 / Student = Photo Bot

School Prizes:

$5,000 by 9/16 = Popsicles on Run Day

$10,000 by 9/16 = Foam Party on Run Day

$15,000 = Slide

$20,000 = Obstacle Course

$25,000 = Dippin Dots

$27,500 = Slime the Principals

Individual Prizes:

$50 = Prize Trolley Fun Buck

Every $50 earns an additional Prize Trolley Fun Buck
$100 = Hamster Ball @ School

$300 = Money Machine

$500 = Inflatable Gift Card ($175 value)

Star Jar: As your student reaches the milestones on the Star Jar Coupon sheet, they will drop them in the Star Jar in the office. We will pull turned in coupons for prizes several times during our fundraiser

Candy Drive

Come feed the Candy Monster in the lobby! Each bag of candy will be used for our SLT team in the Legend Homecoming Parade and split amongst the cars at the Trunk or Treat at the Fall Festival. Please donate between September 7-25th.

Save the Date Fall festival October 23 from 5 to 7 here at Iron Horse.

Specials Calendar

Classroom Website

Where to find things

Meet the teacher
Daily Schedule
Newsletters
Birthday Celebrations
Wish list
Learning Resources

What's Buzzing in Mrs. Leech's Class What's Buzzing in Mrs. Leech's Class

Math Math