Second Grade--Celebrating Growth for your kids!

Hi, second grade parents. As the school year wraps up, I gathered with the second-grade teaching team to reflect on the growth and achievements of your children over the past year. Each teacher shared their unique insights and experiences, highlighting the diverse strengths and needs of our students.

PCA's 2nd Grade Team (L to R): Melanie Shutt, Julie Harris, Alcia DiTommaso

We started with Mrs. Melanie Shutt, who has been with PCA for two years. She emphasized the success of the immigration project and the importance of differentiation to meet all learners' needs. Mrs. Shutt introduced "Happy Numbers," a math program that allowed students to work at their own pace and grow, which was particularly effective in fostering individual progress.

Mrs. Alicia DiTommaso, known as Mrs. D, has been teaching for 34 years and brings a background in basketball coaching to her classroom management style. She spoke about the challenges of teaching phonics to second graders, especially those new to PCA. Mrs. D shared various strategies, such as color-coded word parts and phonics choice boards, to help students master spelling and phonics.

Mrs. Julie Harris, with eight years at PCA, highlighted the use of hands-on science activities to spark curiosity and problem-solving skills among students. She mentioned a recent project where students designed and tested clay boats, emphasizing the importance of learning through trial and error.

The teachers also discussed the spiritual growth of their students. Mrs. DiTommaso shared how they integrate faith into daily lessons, encouraging students to listen and obey God's word. They noticed significant growth in students' willingness to pray and support their classmates throughout the year.

Looking ahead, the teachers expressed excitement for the students' continued growth in third grade. They shared favorite activities, such as the immigration project, hands-on science experiments, and a marketplace unit where students create and run their own businesses. These activities not only enhance academic skills but also foster creativity, teamwork, and real-world problem-solving abilities.

As we conclude this school year, we are proud of the progress your children have made. We hope you have seen their growth and are excited for the next steps in their educational journey. Thank you for your support, and we look forward to seeing you and your children on campus next fall. Have a wonderful summer!