Transcript Swinging Into Second Grade”

“Swinging Into Second Grade”
Miss McCurdy
2010-2011
Classroom Rules
1. Work quietly.
2. Follow directions.
3. Work and play safely.
4. Respect others’ property.
5. Keep to your own space.
6. Listen to others.
“Be A Good Apple”
In Miss McCurdy's classroom , we will be using the apple display for students to
recognize their positive behavior. Each student has a worm cut-out with their name
on it. The visual cues of the green, yellow, and red apples will remind the students
of classroom expectations and keep them accountable for their actions.
* Green Apple-- Great Job! Keep it up!
**** ALL STUDENTS START THEIR DAY ON THE GREEN APPLE
* Yellow Apple-- Warning! Slow down and think about your behavior and choices.
** The student who was given the warning will be asked to move their
worm to the yellow apple and they will be expected to change
their behavior.
* Red Apple-- Stop! Poor behavior or choices!
** If the student has not corrected their behavior after the first warning, they will be
asked to move their worm to the red apple. The student will be assigned
"Detention" for not correcting their behavior and a note will be sent home
for a parent to sign and return with the child the next day of school.
** Check your child's assignment sheet daily to see what color apple they finished the day
on!
Positive School –Wide Behavior
At Highlands, we have high expectations for our
students. Each day at Fawn, we expect the children
to listen and learn. While doing so, we must be sure
that all children are safe. So that all children are
able to learn in a safe environment, we focus on
four main expectations. The children are expected
to be R.A.M.S.:
Respectful
Accountable
Motivated
Safe
** The "Be A Top Apple" Behavior plan reinforces the Highlands
RAMS expectations
Positive School-Wide
Behavior
• Positive points are earned daily if ending the day with a “green
or yellow “ apple.
• Enough points earned by the end of each month qualify your
child to participate in the monthly Rams Reward.
• A loss of 3 points will result in a loss of the monthly Rams
Reward. (Unacceptable behavior and homework not returned).
• One extra point can be earned back if your child attends an
after school detention.
Homework Academy
• This takes place every morning from 8:15 – 8:45 in the
library.
• A teacher will be available at this time to assist students
with homework.
• This is to be used if homework is not completed due to a
lack of understanding the assignment.
• The teacher on duty will send a pass along with the student
to his/her homeroom indicating that the homework was
completed in Homework Academy, therefore, allowing the
student to be exempt from losing a positive point toward
the monthly reward.
The second graders will have the opportunity to complete different classroom jobs
throughout the year. The jobs will change each week.
* Attendance/Lunch Count Helper: The student will take the Attendance folder to the
office and Lunch Count sheet to the cafeteria each morning.
* Messenger: The student will take any necessary items(notes, etc.) to the necessary place
whether it be the office, cafeteria, another teachers room, etc.
* Line Leader:
The student will "lead" the class anytime we leave the classroom.
* Calendar Helper:
The student will "assist" the teacher with the calendar routine.
* Paper/Materials Passer: The student will be responsible for distributing any papers, math
manipulatives, rulers, calculators, etc. to their classmates.
* Lights:
The student will be responsible to "turn off" the lights when the class leaves
the classroom and "turn on" the lights when the class returns to the classroom.
* Board Eraser: The student will be responsible for erasing the chalkboard and
dry erase board(s) at the end of the day.
* Computer Helper: The student will be responsible for turning "on" the
computers in the morning and turning "off" the computers at the end of the day.
* Boy Bathroom Monitor: The student will be responsible for making sure only 2
boys from Miss McCurdy's room are in the bathroom at a time. Also, they will be
responsible for telling Miss McCurdy when all of the boys are out of the
bathroom.
* Girl Bathroom Monitor: The student will be responsible for making sure only
2 girls from Miss McCurdy's room are in the bathroom at a time. Also, they will
be responsible for telling Miss McCurdy when all of the girls are out of the
bathroom.
Second Grade Newsletter
• Be sure to look here so that you know what is happening in our
classroom and school.
• The newsletter also serves as a daily assignment sheet. Your child
will also be responsible for writing some of the assignments.
• Please sign this sheet after seeing your child’s folder for that day.
Return it daily in your child’s folder.
• The colored apple indicates the “good choice” color your child
earned for the day.
Homework
• Homework is usually given daily. The amount of time it
should take your child to complete homework should be
approximately 20 minutes.
• If your child does not understand his/her homework,
he/she must make the effort to complete the tasks (even
if it is incorrect). The math family letter gives the
answers to the home links.
• Students are not graded on correct and incorrect answers.
They earn a completion grade for completing the
homework. This grade is part of their report card grade.
Please note that if homework is consistently not completed
it could effect their grade.
Graded Folder
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Each Friday, your child will bring home a green folder which will contain
your child’s graded papers from the past week.
Inside the folder will be a chart telling you how many assignments for
each subject will be in the folder. (Ex: Math +3/3). If your child is
missing a paper(s), the number will be less than the total for that week.
I will try to indicate what assignment, test, etc. they are missing on the
chart.
Please review the paper(s) with your child and sign the chart showing
that you saw the graded papers for that week. If the paper does not
have a “Sign and Return” sticker or stamp on it, you may keep the
graded papers and return the folder with the chart with your child to
school the following Monday.
If you have any questions or concerns, write them on the chart where it
says, ”Parent Comments” that is in the green folder and I will get back
to you as soon as I can.
** Graded Folders will be sent home starting Friday, September 10th!
Everyday Mathematics
The Highlands School District uses the Everyday Math curriculum
in the elementary schools. It emphasizes the application to real
world situations. Each lesson includes time for whole-group instruction
as well as small group, partner, or individual activities. The program
provides numerous methods for basic skills practice and review. These
include mental math routines, practice with fact triangles, daily math
boxes, homework, and math games.
The daily Home Links provide opportunities for family members to
be involved. There is a “Family Letter” sent home for each unit or
chapter to keep the parents informed about the concepts and
vocabulary being taught in the unit. It also contains the answers for
the Home Links. Please remember that in Everyday Math some skills
may be introduced and they are not expected to be proficient at it at
this grade level. Only the secure skills are tested.
Everyday Mathematics
Listed below are some of the topics that are covered in the second
grade curriculum. Some are secure and others are beginning or
developmental skills.
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Graphing
Patterns
Numeration
Number facts to 20
Missing Addends
Problem Solving
Place Value
Counting Money
Telling Time to 5 minutes
Adding and Subtracting 2-digit numbers
Fractions
Geometry
Measurement
Adding and subtracting 2- digit numbers with regrouping
Multiplication –0, I,2, 5,10
Math
Homework:
Homelinks (Review the skills taught that day)
Family Newsletters:
• Explanations of skills/concepts
• Answer key for “homelinks”
• Game ideas for skill practice
• Sent home at the beginning of each unit
Mad Minutes:
At the end of September, we will be doing “Mad Minutes” in basic
addition and subtraction facts.
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Grading:
Generally, only the secure skills will be graded.
New to Highlands!
** Storytown is new to Highlands this year! We are going to be having
many trainings throughout the course of the year as the staff and
students gets acquainted with the new series. Please bear with us as we
all make the adjustment to the new series!
StoryTown is our new PreK-6 reading /language arts program. With surprises
around every corner and adventure just down the street, you'll find StoryTown is
a great place to read.
StoryTown is filled with a variety of fiction and nonfiction literature. Fiction
offerings include narratives, poems, plays, and fantasy while nonfiction features
contemporary news articles, biographies, research material, and more. The
program authors have included a robust vocabulary that helps to create a rich
learning environment through carefully selected words.
Clearly marked routes allow children to easily traverse Student Edition pages,
while instructional planners help teachers navigate daily lessons and differentiate
instruction.
Spelling
• Words are tied in with the current
reading story and phonics skill.
• New lists will be announced on
Weekly Bulletin.
• Tests will be announced on Weekly
Bulletin.
• Challenge Words will be added in
up-coming stories.
Spelling Practice Ideas/Homework
See enclosed handout for detailed explanation of each activity.
* Spin and Spell(use the enclosed “spinner board”)
* Word Scramble
* Hang Man
* ABC Order
* Computer
* Letter Tiles
* Rhyming Words
Spelling Homework
Students will be given a “Spelling Tic-Tac-Toe” Sheet
for each story. They will be responsible to complete at
3 activities weekly and return the activities if any are
written and the tic-tac-toe sheet signed by the parent
on the designated day. This will help reinforce the
story’s spelling words.
Reading
Homework will include:
• Reading the current story.
• Answering comprehension questions. (students
are
expected to write answers to questions in complete sentences)
• Refer to the reading study guides sent home at the
start of each new story listing high frequency words
and robust vocabulary.
• Review meanings of robust vocabulary and encourage
the use of these words in daily conversation.
Reading Practice Ideas
For High Frequency Words & Vocabulary:
(see enclosed handout for detailed explanation of
activity)
• Play “I Spy A Word”, giving clues for each word.(high
frequency words)
• Say a sentence leaving out the word; your child identifies the
missing word.(high frequency words and vocabulary)
• Try to create sentences using more than one of the
words.(high frequency words and vocabulary)
• Put words in ABC order.(high frequency words)
• Identify familiar parts, sounds, etc. (high frequency words)
• Refer to study guide sent home at the beginning of each
story for “robust” vocabulary words and their definitions.
Encourage your child to use their “new” vocabulary in
conversation during the week.
More Reading Practice
• Echo Read (You read, then your child
“echoes” what you just read)
• Choral Read (Reading together at the
same time)
• Leave out key words for your child to
supply as your read.
• Identify words pertaining to skill being
taught.
Grammar/Daily
Proofreading
• As a part of second grade’s morning work, students
will be proofreading daily sentences. Upon
completion of the given set of sentences, the work
will be sent home for review and the following day
the same set of sentences will be completed again as
a test.
• Please be sure to check the Second Grade
Newsletter for test dates.
Student of the Week
• A note will be sent home sometime in October indicating
when your child is scheduled to be Student of the Week.
• A week prior to the scheduled date, a “Tell Us About You”
form will be sent home. This will need to be completed and
returned at the beginning of your child’s scheduled week.
• The students will be encourage to bring along some favorite
snapshots that can be proudly displayed in the Student of
the Week corner.
• Letters written to your child from the rest of the class will
be compiled into a book for your child take home for
reading enjoyment!
Focus Groups
• Beginning end of September/beginning of October
• Entire second grade involved
• Focus: to improve different components of reading(phonics,
fluency, comprehension, etc.)
• Tested every two weeks to determine group needing to be
placed
• Daily for approximately 30 minutes
• Several staff members leading groups
Report Cards
Subject Graded:
• Reading
• Spelling
• Grammar
• Math
Graded Scale:
100%-90% A
89%-80%B
79%-70%C
69%-60%D
59% & Below—failing
Misc:
• Evaluated every 9 weeks
• Class participation and effort are considered when grading.
• Homework is small portion of the grade.
Miss McCurdy’s Webpage
As a communication tool between you and I, I have made a
webpage which I change frequently to show what we are
learning in Second Grade. Follow the following steps to
access Miss McCurdy’s Webpage.
1. Type in www.goldenrams.com into the address bar
2. On the Highlands website to the right will be the Highlands
“H”. Click on the circle that has the picture of Fawn
Elementary.
3. When Fawn’s webpage comes up, click on the tab which says
“teachers”.
4. Click on “MCCURDY, MELISSA”
5. On the left hand side of our webpage is an index for you to
use.
ENJOY! HAPPY SURFING!
Misc.
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Water bottles are permitted. They can be kept on the shelf and
used when needed. Please remind your child to take home each
night for washing and refilling. **If it becomes a toy or
distraction, they will be asked to not bring it back to school.
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Scholastic Book Club order forms will be sent home periodically.
Be sure to send a check(Made out to Scholastic Book Club) or
money order if ordering. NO CASH please.
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If you are going to send home “Birthday” Invitations through the
school, only send them in if everyone in the class is invited.(School
Policy)
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“Silly Bands”—The students are permitted to wear
them to school. Students will be asked to remove
them if they become a toy and are “distracted” them
from learning.
Closing
• Questions?
• Thank You for attending! I am
looking forward to a great
year with you and your child!
• Feel free to contact me by
phone or e-mail:
Phone: (724) 224-4844, ext. 3
E-mail:
mmcurdy@ goldenrams.com