Common questions parents ask me

1. How much time should my child be spending on homework each night?
2. Can you please assign my child harder homework?
3. How do I find out how my child is doing in class?
4. What other activities are there to sign up for to volunteer for?
5. When are the field trips?
6. Do kids have to turn in their I-Search books?
7. A to Z of Room 6

How much time should my child be spending on homework each night?

Your child should spend only about 30 minutes each night on his/her homework.
 If you find that he/she is spending a lot more, please let me know and we can
work together to find a solution.  Also, please have your child follow the
directions for each night so that they are not spending too much time on one
night and not enough on another night.

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Can you please assign my child harder homework?

No, I assign homework based on what we are studying each week.  The I-Searches
are designed to provide extra challenge if you feel your child needs that.

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How do I find out how my child is doing in class?

First of all, please look through all of the papers I send home on Fridays. 
Then talk to your child each day after school and ask him/her what he/she has
learned or enjoyed about today.  Next, please feel free to email me with
specific questions.  And then, coming in to volunteer is a good way to see
your child in action.

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What other activities are there to sign up for to volunteer for?

I will be notifying you periodically when I am having "special days".  The
first one is "Apple Day" which is Sept. 27th.  I could use about 4 volunteers.
 So, if you can't make it on a regular basis, that is a perfect time to come
in.  Then, when a field trip comes up, sign up for that.

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When are the field trips?

I will be announcing the field trips in the next few weeks.  We are gathering
the dates as we speak.

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Do kids have to turn in their I-Search books?

Here's the procedure:  The day they give their talk, they use their books to
look at and after their talk, they hand me their book.  I will then look over
their reports.  By the end of the day, I will return their books so that they
will have it to take home with them to prepare for next week's I-Search.

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A to Z of Room 6

Absences:  When you call to report your student�s absence, you may also
request a homework pick-up in the office.  The student has as many days to
make up the work, as he/she was absent, i.e., two days to make up work for two
days� absence.  Please notify the office and myself if you are planning on
taking your child out of school.

Book orders:  Book orders are entirely optional, but they are a fun and
inexpensive way to expand your child�s home library.  They are sent home about
once a month and you will have a few days to go over them with your child. 
Please write one check per book order form.  Generally, checks are made
payable to Scholastic.  Just look on the appropriate order form for your total
and the name of the book club.

Conferences:  We meet formally once a year, the week of November 3rd.   If you
know a certain day that you cannot meet during this week, please email me
ahead of time.  Changing conference times after sending home letters can be
very difficult.  I am always available to meet with you at a mutually
convenient time as concerns arise throughout the year.  After school is best
for me, as mornings are hectic! 

Discipline:  Argonaut has a discipline policy that is strictly enforced.  All
students are reminded of the rules of the school throughout the year.  We have
all been trained in the �Talk it out� problem solving method.  Should trouble
arise in the classroom, you will be notified.  Our classroom rules are:  BE
Respectful, BE Safe, BE Ready to learn!

Effort:  Everyone is expected to try his/her best on all work.  But remember:
 You learn from your mistakes, not from what you already know!

Field trips:  We are planning a trip to Acme Bakery, a trip to Filoli, a trip
to the Pumpkin Patch in Morgan Hill, a trip to see a play, an in-house trip
from the San Jose Quilt Museum, the San Jose Water District, and the Marine
Science Institute.

Grading:  All class work and homework is seen by me.  Most of the time there
will be stars, happy faces, stickers, and/or comments.  Second graders do not
receive letter grades.  The report cards are filled in according to the
progress your child has made from the beginning of the school year, not
compared to other students.  The students are not ranked.

Homework:  The Saratoga Union District Homework Policy states that second
graders should spend 20-30 minutes doing homework each night.  The second
grade teachers meet regularly to discuss and plan homework for the week.  The
purpose of homework is to:
�	Practice or review content previously studied
�	Motivate individual study of particular interests
�	Complete unfinished classroom work
�	Do research related to classroom studies
�	Ensure recreational reading time to increase the enjoyment of reading
�	Foster use of community resources, such as libraries and museums
�	Foster the student�s sense of responsibility
�	Encourage creative work � writing, composition, art, etc.
Twenty to thirty minutes should be spent doing the daily assignment.  Your
student may require more or less time depending on his/her abilities.  Please
notify me if the homework is taking too long.  The remaining ten minutes
should be spent either:  having your child read aloud to himself, to you, with
you, or by your reading a story to him/her.  (Independent reading is one of
the goals.  Being read to is a way that the child can hear modeled reading
with inflection and fluency, and of course, for pure enjoyment for both of you!)
	The weekly homework schedule (roughly�..):
Monday:  Spelling:  Write one sentence using at least one spelling word for up
to ten sentences.
Tuesday:  Math homework
Wednesday:  Homework Connections activity
Thursday:  Study again for spelling, �I Search� preparation (ongoing).
	All Homework is due Thursday.
Friday:  (and the week-end) read, read, read, and play��.
	If the homework is not returned on time, the student has one extra day to
turn it in.  If the homework is not returned after that, the student might be
asked to make it up during recess.
	Students also have a bi-weekly sharing assignment, their �I-Search�
(Information Search).  The I-Search is considered to be homework.  There are
guidelines pasted in the front of your student�s I-Search book.  If a student
is absent or forgets his/her sharing on the appointed day, Friday is make-up
day.  Each student has two full weeks to prepare.
	Be sure to provide a quiet time and place for your child to do homework. 
Schedules may vary, but allowing your child a snack and some play time before
homework is beneficial.  Encourage your student to think about what he/she is
doing.  If he/she asks a question, try asking a question in return to guide
his/her thinking � resist the urge to provide a quick answer.
	Ask your child to try his/her best on spelling.  Don�t expect every word to
be spelled correctly � but try to figure out with your child how to spell the
word, using a strategy or the dictionary.  Try to promote creativity in
thinking and artwork.  Praise any efforts.  Encourage him/her to do his/her
best work.  Is it neat?   Is there anything to change or add?  Is your child
proud of it?  Is it in his/her backpack by Thursday night?

I-Search:  It is most interesting for students in the �audience� to hear the
information as �told� by the student rather than by his/her reading it.  This
requires that your child be familiar enough with the topic to �tell� about it
and be able to answer a few questions  Practice makes perfect!  �Less is more�
if it makes sense to your child and to his/her classmates.  We love pictures,
drawn or cut out, or samples, brief, simple, experiments done in class!

Journals:  Students have many journals in which they are simultaneously
writing including  2nd Grade Writing Portfolio (includes work on various
topics in various states of composition) and a Math journal.

Knowledge:  Everyone has a special hobby, talent, or interest.  If you or your
child would like to come into the classroom to read a story about or
demonstrate any special interests or talents, please contact me.  We can set
up a time for you or your child to read, share, or teach us something!

Library:  We will be going to the school library every Friday morning as a
class.  Students may go independently during recess, any day of the week
except Wednesday.  Students will be expected to check out two books when we
visit the library, and should return them in time to check out two more books
the next week.  They must return books before checking out any new ones. 
Children are responsible for all books checked out.  If they lose any at home
or elsewhere, you will be asked to reimburse the library to replace that book.
 I do not allow students to check out joke or comic books of any kind.  The
books must have WORDS!  Also, I only allow one Pokemon book.  

Meetings:  School is dismissed every Wednesday at 2:10 p.m. for staff meetings
and once a month at 12:30 for Professional Development.  Please mark your
calendars and be on time, as the teachers need to be on time as well.  We
sometimes have to leave campus and need to be there on time.  There are other
meetings for me after school on different days, but I will always make time to
meet with you if we need to.

Notes:  Generally, if I send a note home, I will ask you to sign it and return
it.  This is so that I know you received the note and so I can keep it for
further reference.  Students are told to place any notes from you in the black
basket in the front of the class.  If you have sent a note and I did not
respond, I probably didn�t receive it.  Call the school (867-4773) to leave a
message for me or email me at delerath@saratogausd.org.  Email is the best way
to communicate other than just saying hello in the morning.  There is also a
comments section on the yellow homework assignment sheet.  I check each week
for parent signatures and any comments you may have made.

Overnight books:  If your child wishes to check out a book from our classroom
library, he/she may do so by using the overnight sign-out sheet.  Books should
be returned the next day.

Parties:  We will have two parties this year:  Halloween and Valentine�s Day.
 In addition, we usually have a luncheon celebrating the end of the year.  If
you wish to celebrate your child�s birthday in class with a treat, just let me
know.  Try to keep it healthy!

Questions:  If you should have any questions for me, write me a note (see
Notes), call the school (867-4773) to leave a message, or email me at
delerath@saratogausd.org.  (I will try to check it each day by 3:00)  I will
get back to you within a day or two.  You can also look up your question in
the A to Z!

Recess:  We have recess from 10:15 � 10:30.  Students are encouraged to use
the restroom, wash their hands, eat a snack, and then play.  It is an l-o-n-g
time between breakfast and lunch.  Please make sure your child has a healthy
breakfast and PLEASE provide a simple snack of fruit, crackers, a granola bar,
etc. for your child, every day, whether he/she brings a lunch or buys one.

Subjects:
	Language Arts:  Our language arts program is by Houghton-Mifflin.  This
program blends reading, vocabulary, phonics, spelling, art, and writing
together.  We also have three CORE literature selections.
	Science:  Second grade studies Plants, magnets, simple machines, force and
motion, rocks and dinosaurs.  We have gardening projects and study animals and
insects throughout the year.  The students will also be integrating reading,
vocabulary, spelling, art, and writing in their science studies by taking
data, making graphs and charts, keeping journals, and creating ways to present
their projects.  We are starting a new curriculum this year, FOSS.
	Social Studies:  We study the heritage and culture of our families, beginning
in November and culminating in February.  We have a new Scott Foresman series
that we are using this year.  Each lesson is printed on newsprint and will be
sent home after we have done the lesson in class.
	GATE:  Our Gifted and Talented program is celebrating its 22nd year.  The 2nd
grade enjoys many GATE lessons with goals of critical thinking, creative
thinking, problem solving and cooperative learning.
	Mathematics:  We are using Mathematics by Houghton Mifflin.  It uses
manipulatives to teach concepts and encourages students to learn processes and
applications of various skills.  I also have math centers once a week.
	In addition, our second graders receive P.E. for one-half hour weekly as well
as one-half hour weekly of music instruction.  In the spring, we will receive
one-half hour of computer lab.

Tests:  All students will take a spelling test every Friday.  There will be
periodic tests during math, science, and reading units to assist me in
assessment and understanding of what each student needs.  We also take the
STAR and SAT9 tests near the end of the school year.  The results will be sent
to you in the mail in the late summer.

Unique:  Each child has a special interest or talent.  Encourage your student
to excel in what he/she likes to do by reading books about his/her favorite
subject, doing experiments with multiple materials, immersing him/her in the
arts, etc.  Let me know how I can help to develop those special skills or
interests.
Volunteers:  Volunteers are appreciated!!  There are Art Docents, copying,
collating, field-trip-driving, centers, library time, and partying.  There are
certain things you can even work on at home.  Come weekly, monthly or just
once this year.  Remember that this is the only time your child will get to
experience second grade.  Even if you work full time, take the time to do
something with your child at school.  He/She will thank you for it later! 
Watch the newsletter for special volunteering occasions.  Sign-up sheets
available at Back-to-School Night.

Work:  Some of the student�s work is kept in the classroom through the year
for continual use, long-term projects, or in his/her file for use at
conferences.  Activity book pages, math papers, etc. are sent home weekly in
the �Finished Work� envelopes.  Please review these pages with your child,
praise him/her for effort and then feel free to recycle the work or keep for
posterity��PLEASE have your child return the �Finished Work� envelope the next
school day.

eXtra fun:  Learning can be fun � and we have a lot of that here in Room 6!

Yeah!  This year will be a learning experience for all of us.  Please keep in
mind that every child learns at different rates.  Your child will need your
guidance throughout the year.  Please help read directions, ask question, and
engage your student in the assigned homework � but don�t do it for him/her! 
It isn�t expected to be perfect!  Young people are easily discouraged so
please be very supportive.  Often, if they see you or an older sibling doing
something, they can�t understand why they can�t do it.  Encouraging words,
signals, and hugs are great motivators!

Zowie!  It�s going to be a great year!

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