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Welcome to 2nd Grade with Mrs. Applegate!
 
 
My name is Samantha Applegate. I grew up in central Indiana and graduated with my degree in Elementary Education from Ball State University in 2017. My husband and I relocated to the Chicagoland area in 2019 where I spent the first three years teaching Kindergarten. This will be my seventh year teaching and my fourth year teaching at St. Joe's. 
 
When I'm not teaching, you can find me spending time at the lake and watching college football. I also enjoy concerts, reading, and spending time with my friends and family. Some of my favorites include Diet Coke, Starbucks, and trips to Target.
 

Posts

Tuesday 03.17.26

Happy St. Patrick's Day! Your child's leprechaun trap will be coming home today.
 
Homework:
 
1. Read 20 minutes 
 
2. Phonics:
  • Practice words with oa, oe, ow
  • Practice trick words: Monday, Tuesday, cousin, lose, beautiful, tomorrow
 
3. Math: Measuring Capacity (Students can/should use their "Mr. Gallon Man" to help with this paper.)
  • Students were given 45 minutes to complete their gallon man in class. If your child's comes home unfinished, they were off task and not able to complete it. Please complete it as homework and return it to school.
 
4. Handwriting: cursive letter y practice page (we are almost done with all lower case letters! We will move onto uppercase letters soon.)

Monday 03.16.26

Reminders:
  • Please note that Tuesday is not a dress down.
    This was a school-wide decision.
    Thank you for understanding.
  • If your child is missing any days around Spring Break, please email me and Mrs. Lentino. (Thank you to those who have already reached out!) Any missed work can be made up upon their return.
Homework:
1. Read 20 minutes 
 
2. Phonics:
  • Practice words with oa, oe, ow
  • Practice last week's trick words: Monday, Tuesday, cousin
  • Practice new trick words: lose, tomorrow, beautiful
3. Math: Matching Measurement worksheet

Monday 3/16 Stay & Chat - Cancelled

Monday's Stay & Chat Event has been cancelled due to the weather forecast. Thank you for your understanding!

Week at a Glance 03.16.26-03.20.26

Reminders:
  • If your child is missing any days around Spring Break, please email me and Mrs. Lentino. (Thank you to those who have already reached out!) Any missed work can be made up upon their return. 🙂
  • No All School Mass on Tuesday
  • All School Mass is Thursday → Feast of St. Joseph
    • Students should wear their red polo shirts with their uniforms.
    • Students are encouraged to bring a red flower to school to leave by the statue of St. Joseph.
  • If your child has not yet brought in a shoe box (or box of similar size) for the leprechaun trap project, please send one in next week. Thanks! Any additional items from the list are appreciated (e.g., paper towel tubes, popsicle sticks, stickers, etc.).
 

Phonics

During phonics, students will continue to focus on reading and writing words that contain the long "o" sound represented by the letter combinations "oa," "oe," and "ow." Additionally, students will review suffix endings to enhance their understanding of word formation. Finally, they will learn and practice trick words: lose, tomorrow, and beautiful.

Reading/Writing

We wrapped up our learning about the American West. After spring break, we will begin our next module, which will focus on the Civil Rights Movement. We will take a short break from our regular lessons to enjoy some fun St. Patrick’s Day activities. On Monday, students will work together to design and build their own leprechaun traps, using creativity, teamwork, and problem-solving skills. This will be a fun way to celebrate the holiday while still practicing important thinking and collaboration skills.

Math

This week in math, students will explore weight, capacity, and temperature by using the appropriate measurement tools. They will also create a “Gallon Man” to help remember conversions for gallons, quarts, pints, and cups. Additionally, students will practice reading and interpreting bar graphs, pictographs, and line plots to build their understanding of data. Our next math chapter, which focuses on data, will officially begin after spring break.

Religion

As we continue learning about First Communion, our sessions will focus on gathering together and creating a quiet space in our minds and hearts for reflection. We will also learn about the story of Moses and the burning bush and how he listened to God.

Social Studies

In our next social studies lesson, students will explore the question, “How do leaders help their community?” They will participate in a class election, predict what community leaders can and cannot do, and conduct a mock demonstration. Additionally, students will identify a community problem and propose possible solutions to address it.

 

Wednesday 03.11.26

Reminders:
  • Please return your child's report card envelope to school. The report card is yours to keep!
  • Please have your child bring in a shoebox or similar sized box to build a leprechaun trap next week. Thank you! Any extra materials from the list are much appreciated too! :)
  • If your child is going to miss any days before or after spring break, please email me and Mrs. Lentino. Thank you!
Homework:
 
1. Read 20 minutes
 
2. Phonics: Practice words with oa, oe, ow (long o syllables) and trick words: Monday, Tuesday, cousin
 
3. Math: "Check for Understanding" (4 measurement word problems)
  • Assessment is Friday 3/13
4. Handwriting: cursive letter m practice

Dear Parents, I hope you will consider coming to the Stay & Chat on Monday morning to learn more about what's in store for our school with the new St. Joseph Parish Center. This new school space will impact every St. Joe's student, and I'm excited for what's in store for your children. 
 
Thank you!

Tuesday 03.10.26

Reminders:
  • Please return your child's report card envelope to school. The report card is yours to keep!
  • Please have your child bring in a shoebox or similar sized box to build a leprechaun trap next week. Thank you!
Homework:
1. Read 20 minutes
 
2. Phonics: Practice words with oa, oe, ow (long o syllables) and trick words: Monday, Tuesday, cousin
 
3. Math: broken ruler worksheet
 
4. Handwriting: cursive letter n practice page

Week at a Glance 03.09.26-03.13.26

Important Reminders:
  • Report cards are in your child's home folder.
    • Please keep the report card and return the envelope to school.
  • First Reconciliation is Saturday → Please see the email from Mrs. Hein with final details.
    • If for some reason your child misses this special sacrament, you will need to email Fr. Emanuel and coordinate a time with him for your child to receive First Reconciliation before First Communion.
  • Measurement Assessment is Friday, 3/13 → Please see your child’s home folder for a review sheet with ideas for the types of problems to practice.
 

Phonics

In phonics this week, we will begin Unit 13, which focuses on the long o sound. They will practice reading and writing words that use the vowel teams oa, oe, and ow. Students will also practice adding prefixes and suffixes to base words to help them build and understand new words. Throughout the week, they will read on-level decodable texts to strengthen their fluency and apply the phonics patterns they are learning. In addition, students will practice reading and writing this week’s trick words: Monday, Tuesday, and cousin.

Reading/Writing

We will be wrapping up our module about the American West. Students will review and complete a vocabulary assessment based on the words we have learned throughout the module. They will also write an opinion paragraph about their favorite book from the unit, explaining their choice and supporting their opinion with reasons from the text. This will give students a chance to reflect on what they have learned while practicing their writing skills.

Math

We will finish up our measurement chapter this week. Students will practice determining the length of an item on a broken ruler and solving word problems involving length. They will also work on estimating, measuring, and comparing the lengths of different objects using appropriate tools. Our measurement assessment will be on Friday, March 13th.

Religion

We will begin preparing for First Communion this week. Each week, we will work through two sessions from our textbook and support our learning with picture books, videos, and a review of the different parts of the Mass. Our first two sessions, “Belonging” and “Gathering,” will focus on what it means to belong to different groups and to our parish family, as well as the importance of gathering together to celebrate special events and worship God. Any additional review and preparation you can do at home is very helpful, especially attending Sunday or Saturday evening Mass and encouraging your child to participate in the responses. Thank you for continuing to support your child as their primary catechists.

Social Studies

We will continue to explore the question: How can one person make a difference? We will identify problems and solutions in various communities, and we will also look at how specific individuals have made valuable contributions to society.

Thursday 03.05.26

Homework:
 
1. Read 20 minutes
 
2. Phonics: Unit 12 Assessment - tomorrow, Friday 3/6
  • words with oi, oy
  • trick words: early, ocean, favorite
3. Math: Measuring Tools practice page
  • Students will decide if it is better to use a measuring tape or a ruler and write a short explanation for why on each item. (No actual measuring is involved.)
  • Measurement Quiz - next Friday, 3/13 
    • Please see your child's home folder for ways to practice for the quiz.
4. Handwriting: cursive letter q practice page
 
5. Religion: First Reconciliation is Saturday!
  • Continue to practice the Act of Contrition.
  • Continue to reflect on sins to be ready to tell the priest (examination of conscience).
  • Please be on time for Mass and please maintain a respectful environment of quiet reflection during the individual reconciliation times.
  • Family members may receive Reconciliation after all of the students have the opportunity to go.
  • Please dress nicely (Sunday best) for this special sacrament. Please do not wear jeans or sweat pants. :)
  • Please see the email from Mrs. Hein when it goes out on Friday with more specifics.
Reminders:
  • Library books are due tomorrow, Friday!
  • Field Trip: Monday, 3/9 - Please wear gym uniforms and bring appropriate outerwear. We will eat lunch when we return.

Wednesday 03.04.26

Homework:
 
1. Read 20 minutes
 
2. Phonics:
  • Sounds to practice: oi (like "coin") and oy (like "boy")
  • Trick words to practice: favorite, early, ocean
  • Assessment - Friday
3. Math: No homework - Hope to see you at the Art Showcase tonight! :)
 
 
Additional Reminders:
  • Art Showcase is TONIGHT! Please come and support Mrs. Medina and see some amazing glow-in-the-dark art if you are able.

Tuesday 03.03.26

Homework:
 
1. Read 20 minutes
 
2. Phonics:
  • New sounds to practice: oi (like "coin") and oy (like "boy")
  • New trick words to practice: favorite, early, ocean
3. Math: Comparing Inches & Centimeters worksheet
  • Please send your child back with their ruler tomorrow! Thank you.
4. Handwriting: cursive letter c practice page
 
5. Keep practicing the Act of Contrition prayer for Saturday!

Monday 03.02.26

Homework:
 
1. Read 20 minutes
 
2. Phonics: see your child's home folder for the Unit 12 information packet
  • New sounds to practice: oi (like "coin") and oy (like "boy")
  • New trick words to practice: favorite, early, ocean
3. Math: Centimeter Practice worksheet
 
4. Handwriting: cursive letter o practice page
 
5. Keep practicing the Act of Contrition prayer for Saturday!

Week at a Glance 03.02.26-03.06.26

Reminders:
  • Unit 12 Phonics Assessment - Friday 3/6
 

Phonics

We will start Unit 12 this week. Students will focus on reading and spelling words with the diphthongs oi and oy. We will learn to recognize spelling patterns, noticing that oi is typically found at the beginning or middle of syllables, while oy is most often found at the end. Students will also be introduced to new trick words: favorite, early, and ocean. In addition, we will continue reviewing the vowel teams we have practiced over the past few weeks to strengthen our reading and spelling skills. Please note that this is a one-week unit, and students will have an assessment on Friday 3/6.

Reading/Writing

This week in Wit & Wisdom, students will compare two different versions of The Legend of John Henry. We will discuss how the stories are alike and different, then write a paragraph explaining the similarities and differences between the two texts. Students will work on including topic-specific vocabulary in their writing to strengthen their explanations. We will also focus on understanding and writing words that use the prefix un-, learning how it changes a word’s meaning to mean “not.”

Math

This week in math, students will focus on measuring length using a variety of tools and units. They will practice measuring objects in centimeters using a ruler and learn to compare measurements in inches and centimeters. Students will also explore larger units of measurement by comparing meters, feet, and yards. Throughout the week, they will work on choosing the most appropriate tool and unit to accurately measure the length of different objects.

Religion

We will continue preparing for First Reconciliation on Saturday, March 7th. We will spend time practicing the Act of Contrition together and reviewing the steps of Confession so students feel confident and prepared. Through discussion and reflection, students will deepen their understanding of forgiveness and God’s love as they get ready for this special sacrament.

Social Studies

Students will explore the essential question, How can one person make a difference? They will learn to identify problems that exist in different communities and discuss possible solutions people can create to help others. Students will also study the contributions of important individuals in U.S. history and culture, discovering how one person’s actions can positively impact a community and inspire change.

Thursday 02.26.26

Homework:
 
1. Read 20 minutes
 
2. Phonics: Unit 11 Assessment - tomorrow, Friday 2/27
  • Practice long e syllable words: e-e, e, y, ea, ee, ey
  • Practice trick words: whose, son, won, breakfast, ready, head
3. Math: "choosing the correct tool" practice page
 
4. Handwriting: cursive letter g practice page
 
5. Keep practicing the Act of Contrition Prayer
 
Library books are due tomorrow!

Wednesday 02.25.26

*Please have your child bring their ruler back to school if they have not already.*
 
Homework:
 
1. Read 20 minutes
 
2. Phonics: Unit 11 Assessment - Friday 2/27
  • Practice new trick words: head, ready, breakfast
  • Keep practicing long e syllables
 
3. Math: Inches or Feet? Practice Page
 
4. Handwriting: cursive letter d practice page
 
5. Keep practicing the Act of Contrition Prayer for First Reconciliation