ABC�s of Second Grade 2008-2009 The ABC�s of Second Grade are to familiarize you with our classroom procedures for this year. These ABC�s will ensure a well run classroom where learning can take place and where your child will benefit from the activities that have been planned. The ABCs of Second Grade By: Mrs. Wright Absences: If your child is sick or has an appointment, please send in a note the next day so I can mark the absence excused. Please remember that trips/vacations are not excused without prior approval from the administration. Absence notes are integral and must be handed in so that they absence can be coded correctly on the roll slip which is a legal document. Art: The students will have Art on Friday afternoons. I am asking for each student to send in $5 dollars to cover the cost of the art supplies (i.e. water color paints, markers, felt, etc) Thank you! Behavior Management: I feel it is important to have a consistent behavior plan in place for the classroom. In our classroom each child will be given a star on the board. If the child has good behavior and their star stays up all day they get a happy face in their homework book. If a child is not following the rules, their star comes down and they get a sad face in their homework book. If a child has a really tough day of listening and must be corrected repeatedly a note or a phone call will follow the sad face. For the students who keep their behavior stars up on the board I have a prize box and students can earn special privileges as a class such as a video or cupcakes etc. I encourage the positive as much as possible! I love catching the students being good!! Birthdays: Your child is welcome to bring a treat to share with the class. Because of our tight schedule, we cannot have a party. However, we will sing Happy Birthday and eat the treat at recess time. Please remember that to avoid hurt feelings, party invitations cannot be passed out at school unless the entire class is invited. For Treats-- There are 30 students in our class. Book Orders: I send home a Scholastic book order about once each month. This is a wonderful way to build your child�s� home library and help our class at the same time. Our class earns Bonus Points with each child�s order that I will use to buy more books and reading materials. Book Reports: Students will be completing a variety of Book Reports and formats this year. Students will be expected to read and share their reports with the class. Box Tops: An easy way to help our class and school is by collecting Box Tops for Education, found on many of the foods we all buy. At my house, we have a Ziploc bag hung on the fridge for collecting them. Classroom Climate: It is important for the students to understand that we work together to create a classroom experience that is warm and safe. The second grade should be filled with many learning experiences and students should not be afraid to be active participants in their learning. Class Mom or Dad: Each year I ask for one or two parents to volunteer to be the classroom parent(s). The classroom parent helps in various ways as their schedule permits. For example the Class parent may send in treats for the class on our Walk-A-Thon day or come in to help during my Christmas Craft Party. If you would be interested please let me know. Computers: We visit the computer lab each week to learn and practice new skills with our computer teacher Mr.Hoffman. Your child will be going to computer on Tuesday mornings. Communication Envelopes: The Communication Envelopes are sent home each Wednesday and contain important information regarding school events. These white envelopes are sent home with the oldest student in the family. Dress Down Days: Dress down days are held every few months and the money collected is used for various charities or school needs. Please remember to fill out the permisssion form and send in the money before the actual date of the dress down day. Discipline: The school policy was sent home in the school handbook. Please refer to the handbook for any questions. Email: I usually check my email at night, so it is a good way to get in touch with me. My email address lwright@olcphila.org. Fun Friday: Each Friday we will be engaged in Learning Center Activities to strengthen skills and concepts learned. The students will play games and complete activities that are fun and engaging, as well as worthwhile learning experiences. Field Trip: I would like to have a field trip this year. It is important for the students to know that a field trip is a privilege. I can not guarantee that the class will go on a trip during the year but it is my hope that we will. Flexible Groups: The flexible groups are small groups of students who work together to accomplish various learning goals. The groups work on guided reading activities, math problems, and projects during the year. Homework: In an effort to make homework time easier with everyone�s busy schedules, the spelling words will be given on Monday. Our class will have a weekly Spelling test on Fridays. Math homework will usually be given daily. Religion homework will also be given on a regular basis. Integrated Language Arts and Reading homework will also be given each week. Homework is a very important and integral part of your child�s learning process. All homework must be completed and turned in the next day. All homework and assignments must be neat and legible. Messy or sloppy work will not be accepted. All homework must be checked and signed by a parent. Literacy Block: Our class will be having a literacy block that is considered our Integrated Language Arts period. It includes spelling, vocabulary, phonics, comprehension, or other reading skills followed by small guided reading groups. This allows each child to receive instruction and practice at his/her reading pace. Lunch: We have lunch from 12:30-1:00. OLC offers a hot lunch program.Hot Lunch envelopes are sent home in the Communication Folder each week. If you pack your child�s lunch, please remember no glass bottles or containers are allowed. Morning Meeting: The Morning Meeting will be held during our ILA Block each day. This is a time for the children to practice their listening and speaking skills while participating in cross curricular activities. The students will do Calendar, Daily Edit, learn songs and poems, and practice various learning and social skills. Money: Should your child have any money being sent in for school supplies, stationary, pretzel etc., please use an envelope or Ziploc bag with your child�s name on it. Newsletter: I will send home a newsletter usually every two weeks to keep you up-to-date. You can find it in your child�s TAKE HOME folder. Information will also be posted on our classroom websiteunder the NewsFlash! button. Nightly Reading: The students are expected to do 10 minutes of independent reading each night and record the reading and number of pages on their Reading Log which will be kept in their Take Home Folder. Each week students will gather in small groups to discuss their reading and complete an activity. Paint Shirts: Please send in an old t-shirt or a smock for your child to wear over their uniform on Art days when we paint or will be using messy materials. Please make sure the shirt is CLEARLY labeled with your childs' name. PE: Our class has P.E. each Thursday with Mr. Hoffman. Please make sure your child wears his/her gym uniform on this day! Questions or concerns? Please send a note, call me, or email me! School: (215)624-0505. email: lwright@olcphila.org Recess; The second grade takes recess around 10:00 a.m. each day. School Supplies: I can not stress the importance of your child's school supplies enough! It is vitally important that students have all their supplies--copybooks, folders, pencils, crayons, glue stick, etc at all times so that they may fully participate in the learning that happens. So please check your child's supplies each week and make sure they are complete. Slate: Slate is an interactive tool that can be accessed on the Second Grade website. I will post many activities that the children may complete at home or they will work on them during center time. I hope that this new tool will make an impact ont the children's learning this year. Snack: Your child may bring a healthy midmorning snack to eat at recess. No Candy or soda. Star Student: Each week a student who has shown exceptional behavior or hard work will be chosen as the Star Student in our class. The student will bring in 5 pictures that they can talk about to the class. I will hang the pictures on a Star Student board. The student may also bring in a book they can read to the class. The Star Student will also receive a hat and a treat! Story Tapes: The children will be recording stories onto cassette tapes to track their reading progress through the year. The tapes will be sent home at the end of the year so that you can hear how your child has progressed and grown through the year! I ask that each student send in $1 for a tape. Special Projects: Each month I try to have a special project for the students to work on that encompasses all areas of the curriculum. These are theme units based on various topics from Apples to Dinosaurs. The students love these projects! It is another way to use their budding talents and skills! Look for the upcoming projects on the second grade website! Take Home Folder: Your child is required to have one folder designated as the Take Home Folder for second grade. This folder will be used to convey important information about what is happening in second grade and to return papers and other vital communications. Traveling Ted: One child each week will be chosen to bring our classroom teddy bear home for the weekend. Your child will take Ted on all their weekend adventures and write about it in the Traveling Ted Adventure Journal. Pictures of Ted and your child may also be included in the journal. On Mondays we will have Traveling Ted Tales to hear all about the weekend adventures! (Just a note�I take Ted home every week and give him and his clothes a bath!) Transportation: If there is a change in the way your child will go home, please send a note or call the school to let me know. Toys: Please be aware that if your child brings a toy to school and has it out during lessons--It will be put in the June Box and returned on the last day of school. I, nor the school, can not be held accountable for lost or damaged toys and games. Toys or games that are needed for after school activities or programs are to be kept inside the school bag during the school day. Unique: Each child is unique and has special gifts and talents. I am excited to get to know the children in second grade this year. Volunteers: There are many opportunities for volunteering in our classroom. Please let me know if and when you can help. Website: Please visit the school�s web site at the following address: http://www.olcphila.org/ Website for the Second Grade: You can access the second grade web page from the school website or you can go to www.teacherweb.com and look it up. I always post important information and goings-on at the web page, as well as spelling lists and homework. So remember to check in frequently! It also has an RSS feed so you can link it directly to your Yahoo or other home page on the computer for easy access. Writers Workshop: Our class will participate in different types of writing throughout the school year. We will write stories, poems, and even class books! Be on the look out for your child�s published work! Zzzz: Please make sure your child gets enough sleep. Well-rested, alert children are more successful in school! Thanks for your support! I am looking forward to a wonderful year with the students!