Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Parents, Family and Community



Here are four sample letters I have sent home with 2nd grade students during the school year.  I believe in keeping parents involved in their child's education as much as possible.  Many 2nd grade parents have spent time in the classroom.  For example, one parent came in and demonstrated how to make a specific cake (a family tradition).  She also brought in a sample so the students could taste it.  

November 20, 2012

Dear Family:
          Our second graders are learning about our families in class.  In addition to the family letters Debbie is working on in Language Arts, we will be exploring family traditions that take place during the winter or Christmas season as part of our Social Studies unit.  
          During the next three weeks, we will be studying traditions in different cultures.  This can include holiday traditions such as Christmas, Solstice, or winter celebrations, different types of traditional foods or unusual family traditions within your own family.
          If you have something you would like to share please send it in with your child or talk to me before or after school.  Perhaps you have a special recipe (you could send samples in for the class), a decoration that is special to your family, or tell us about a tradition or celebration you or your relatives enjoy.
          We would like to incorporate some of your traditions as well as customs from around the world. 

Thank you,

Lenore Swanson



Dear 2nd grade families:              

Student Name _______________________

We are studying mapping and “Where We Live” in Social Studies.  We have identified where we live as follows:
Plane: Earth
Continent:  North America
Country:  United States of America
State:  Alaska
City:  Homer
House address____________________________ (physical address)
For homework this week, please help your child write (above) and memorize their address and return it to school.  Please use a physical address and not a P.O. Box number.

Thank you,

Lenore Swanson



 Dear Parents,
We are beginning a small unit on families and family history in Social Studies. It will be very exciting and fun. Your child will be learning more about his/her own family history and making a family tree. We will be focusing on the immediate family, family trees, family names, and traditions. We will be discussing traditional and non-traditional families, families that include step-parents, brothers, sisters, adoption and foster care. There are a few things each child will need to bring from home so that they can focus on their own family. I would greatly appreciate your support in helping with these items. Each child needs to bring...

1. Family names of student, parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents.
If your child has more than one set of parents, you may want to send names for both sets of parents and grandparents.  I am including a family graph you can use to fill out family names.

2. Pictures of your family
I would also like to invite you to come in at any time to see what your child is working on, or to help out with any of our activities. Please call if you have any questions.  Thank you so much for all of your support!
 
Sincerely,

      Mrs. Swanson


Hello:

Our Social Studies class is learning about different types of careers that make up a community.  This past Monday we discussed veterinarians.  This coming Monday I am planning to discuss Firefighters (smoke-jumpers etc.).  Since you have experience in this area, I would like to invite you to come and share with our class on Monday, February 13 at 1:30. 

It would be fun if you could bring in some of your gear, photos etc. and talk about what a firefighter does on the job.  What do you think?  You can email me at the school about questions, and let me know if it will work out.

Thanks,

Lenore Swanson





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