Grade 2 Requirements

For Rising 2nd Graders

Required Entries (You must complete each of these)

Remember: all entries should include the date the entry was written. (It is okay if a student does multiple entries on the same date.) Don't forget to use complete sentences, correct capitalization, punctuation and spelling.

1. Create a cover for your journal.

2. Read our grade 2 community read:

The required book for rising second graders is That's Not My Name by Anoosha Syed.

Read or listen to someone read this book. As you read, pay attention to the story. Look through the book again and pay close attention to the pictures.

Write the name of the book and the author in your journal. Select two of these questions and write a sentence to answer each question. Draw a picture to go with your answer.

1. Look at the cover of the book. What do you see? Why do you think that the names are in speech bubbles? Why do you think that there are scribbles and x's on all the names?
2. Why do you think that Mirha didn't speak up when her classmates and teachers said her name incorrectly? What advice would you give Mirha to solve this problem?
3. Who are the people that helped Mirha with her problem at school? Who are the people that help you when you have a problem at school.
4. How did Mirha solve her problem? Has anyone every mispronounced or misspelled your name? What did you do? Would you do something different next time this happens?

Draw your name in Bubble Letters : We all have many names that we go by in different settings. Illustrate the name you want to be called at school. Watch this video to learn how to draw bubble letters.

This book is available at the Alexandria Public Library, Old Town Books and elsewhere.

3. Just Right Books (3 or more)

Read: At least three books at your "just right" level. Then enter the following information in the journal for each book:

Title of the Book
Author's Name
Draw a picture of a favorite character or part of the book.

4. Book of Your Choice (1 or more)

Read: One book of your choice. Please select a book that you have not read before.
Select a book of interest to you. It can be any book-- fiction, nonfiction, biography, graphic novel, any book at any level, with your parents approval.

Write: The title of the book and the name of the author
Draw: A picture from your favorite scene.

Looking for ideas? Here are some great sources for book recommendations.

Optional Entries (Complete as many as you would like)

Students are encouraged to try some of these journal prompts, ideas from the Summer Ideas Blog, or to use the rest of the journal to pursue other projects of interest. Be sure to click on the hyperlink in each task to see the specific reflection questions to inspire your answers. The reflection questions are a guide to help format your answers-- you may address other questions that interest you instead or as well.