Frequently Asked Questions: This page contains answers to common questions of students and parents.
- What is the best way to contact the teacher?
- My child's binder is a mess! Should I help him clean it out?
- What do I do if my child is absent?
- What is your homework policy?
- How is my child doing?
- How does your conduct system work?
- What can my child bring for recess?
- My child wants a new binder, fancy pencils, and erasers. Are these allowed?
- What do we need to do with these Fact Family worksheets? Do we really need to?
- My child is having difficulty in reading. What can I do to help?
What is the best way to contact the teacher?
I like communicating by email. It tends to be the most convenient way for us
to communicate on these busy days. Unfortunately, we are unable to send or
receive email at school. So I usually return email in the evening, sometimes
after my children are asleep. I also return phone calls in the evening, when
necessary. I try to return urgent phone calls during the school day, if time
allows. "Old fashioned" hand written notes are a great way to update me on
changes to your child's dismissal routine. Questions regading academic
concerns or social concerns will be addressed as quickly as possible,
usually by the next day.
My child's binder is a mess! Should I help him clean it out?
We will be using a light weight, and hopefully durable binder this year. If
you would like to see the skills we are working on in class, look through
each section of the binder. Please do not take anything out of the binder.
We will clean out the binders at school. Just send me a note if your child's
binder is in disarray. I will help him clean it at the first available
recess.
What do I do if my child is absent?
First, call the school. At your request, we will place a note listing
lessons missed and worksheets.Second, always send a note when your child is
absent, checks out early, checks in late, or is tardy. Please refer to your
handbook for the school�s policy concerning this matter.
What is your homework policy?
Homework is expected to be completed by the following day. Forgetting or not
knowing what to do will not be acceptable excuses. I understand that
emergencies do come up. Please send me a note if this should occur. Also,
please let me know if your child is having trouble with their assignments. I
will be glad to work with you on this situation.
How is my child doing?
Test papers and conduct will be sent home on Wednesday. Please help your
child make corrections, sign, and return them to school the next day. Weekly
conduct grade will also be posted in the test folder. Occasionally
circumstances may dictate that folders will go home on a different day.
How does your conduct system work?
I have a pocket chart with each child�s name on it. Each week your child
will start with a green card in their pocket, meaning �I�m doing well.� If
there is a behavior problem, I�ll ask the student to please change his or
her behavior and I flip a card to the yellow �warning� card. If the behavior
issue continues, the next card is and orange �think about it� card followed
by a red �note or phone call home� card. The orange �think about it� card is
accompanied by a simple worksheet that the student fills out explaining what
the inappropriate behavior is. Each child will start on green each week, as
I believe in �new beginnings.�
What can my child bring for recess?
Students are allowed to bring small toys that fit in their school bag to
play with at the noon recess. No electronic or battery opperated toys are
allowed. Footballs must be foam type. There should not be a hole for adding
air, as these type of footballs can cause serious injury. Jump ropes, hula
hoops, jacks, coloring books, and notebooks to draw in are also popular.
Toys with small parts, sharp parts, or expensive toys should be discouraged.
My child wants a new binder, fancy pencils, and erasers. Are these allowed?
Your child has been provided with all of the necessary materials and tools
for academic success. Extra special pencils, pens, markers, colors, erasers,
and any other little special thing they may want, will not be tolerated in
the classroom. �Extras� tend to cause distractions. If a binder breaks, the
child should show it to the teacher. I will replace it if I can.
What do we need to do with these Fact Family worksheets? Do we really need to?
Mastering Fact Families is a wonderful program! By now your child should
understand the basic concepts of addition and subtraction. It's time to
Master the facts. Mastery means being able to recall facts instantly. This
skill is an essential building block from which all future math skills
extend. It is also a daily living skill. This program has a different way of
breaking down the facts into small managable families. Daily practice is the
key. If you stick to it everyday, your child should be able to complete the
worksheet in less than 5 minutes.The program builds on itself so if you skip
some practice, it will become more difficult. Make the commitment now! It
could make a big difference in your child's future success in Math.
My child is having difficulty in reading. What can I do to help?
The first area to address is phonics. We address phonics every week in
our "word lines" and our decodable books. Many second graders are still
struggling with fluency. Encourage your child to read (something fun) to
you while you are cooking or doing laundry. I also tell them to "help Mom"
with the little ones by reading to the baby while Momm does the dinner. It
doesn't matter what they read. They can read the same thing every day. They
just need to read out loud every day. If comprehension is a problem, try
asking simple questions after your child reads.