Mrs. Smith’s Second Grade Cottonwood Elementary Units of Study Class Schedule Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 8:00:8:10 Morning Message 8:10-8:40 Shared Reading 8:40-9:45 Guided Reading 9:45-10:00 Recess 10:00-10:30 Science/Social Studies 10:30-11:00 WIN 11:00-11:40 Writing 11:40-12:25 Lunch & Recess 12:25-2:05 Math 2:05-2:55 Specials Wednesday 8:00-8:10 Morning Message 8:10-8:40 Shared Reading 8:40-10:15 Guided Reading 10:15-11:15 Math 11:15-11:40 Writing 11:40 – 11:55 Lunch 11:55 – 12:25 Recess 12:25 – 12:40 Science/Social Studies 12:40-1:20 Specials 1:20-2:00 Community Building Specials is on a two week Rotation Week 1: Monday- Computer, Tuesday – PE, Wednesday – Music/Art, Thursday – PE and Library (8:15-8:55), Friday – PE Week 2: Monday – Music/Art, Tuesday – PE, Wednesday – PE and Library (10:15- 10:55), Thursday – Music/Art, Friday - PE Super Student of the week: When your child is chosen for Super Student of the week, we will display his/her Super Student poster in our room all week. I will send the poster home on Thursday and then it is due back the following Thursday. That way they can share about themselves and we can display it in our classroom. If they choose they can also bring in a special item to show and tell that day. Readers Workshop I provide whole group instruction on Comprehension (strategies to improve understanding), Accuracy (phonics and decoding), Fluency, and Expanding vocabulary. Students will then apply these skills during our Daily five rotations that include: read to self, spelling/word work, work on writing, listen to read and read to someone. Students and I will set goals together that we will work on. It is during the daily five time students will meet with me or another teacher to be in a small group based on their needs. Each student will be pushed in his/her own way. Writers Workshop The purpose of Writer’s Workshop is to construct creative, systematic writers. The same sequence is followed everyday. The teacher models a specific skill, students then practice or conference with the teacher and share with several students. Math This year students will gain a deeper understanding of math concepts based on the Bridges math program. We will also use rocket math to enforce quick computation of basic math facts. We will practice everyday in class, but students should also practice at home. Students are expected by the end of the year to solve 60 addition and subtraction math problems in 3 minutes with 90%accuracy. Science/Social Studies Our theme in science is that there are cause and effect relationships are found throughout nature. Topics include: weather, forces and motion, and plants and animals. Our theme for socials studies this year is Choices and decision making. We’ll learn about conflict resolution, interaction, decision making and we will focus on how to read and interact with maps and globes.

More Info. Meet the Teacher Seesaw program This year we are going to try and make an online portfolio for each student. We will be using a program called SeeSaw. After we get comfortable with it in school I will send a note home in the students Eagle (Thursday) folders telling you how you can access it and see the great things your child is doing in class. Bathroom and Drinks I highly encourage students to use the restroom and get drinks during recess time; however I do give students a couple minutes after recess and lunch to get a drink and use the bathroom. Students may also use the bathroom during class time if needed. I do encourage students to bring a water bottle to school, but please only fill it with water. Birthdays Birthdays are happily celebrated in our classroom. Birthdays will take place on the day of the students birthday at 1:45pm unless other arrangements have been made. Summer birthdays will be celebrated in May. We have students with severe food allergies so please make sure your treats do not contain peanuts. Snacks: Although we do not have a formal snack time, students are allowed to bring a healthy, non-messy snack to eat during recess. If your child brings a snack I ask that they sit and eat it outside before playing on the playground. Hi! My name is Jennifer Smith and I am so excited to be your child’s teacher this year. This will be my ninth year teaching at Cottonwood and thirteenth year teaching. I have taught twelve years in third grade and am very excited to begin my first year in second. When I am not at school I enjoy spending time with my family. My husband, Kevin, and I have two energetic boys named Mason and Collin. Mason is five and starting kindergarten here at CES and Collin is 3 years old. We also have two dogs, Dakota and Kirby. We enjoy doing activities outside, watching movies, traveling and exploring Colorado. I graduated from Adams State University with a degree in Elementary Education and I have a master’s degree from Mesa State University in ESOL. I absolutely love working with kids and watching them learn and grow as learners. Ways to contact me: 1) ex ) 3)Write a note and send it with your child Places to get information Newsletter – you will get one big detailed newsletter each month –looking at the month at a glance; each week with the homework packet you will get updates on upcoming activities * Class Webpage: 03&pageId= Eagle Folders: On Thursday students will bring home an Eagle folder. This is where you will be able to find some of their completed assignments and important notes from school. They should return the Eagle Folder on Friday. Homework: In second grade we try to emphasize responsibility and the home-school connection through homework. Please make homework time an important part of every evening! We also respect that families are busy so we try not to send busy work home. Students WILL need an adult to help with and check work. A homework log will come home on Monday in their homework folder. It is due the following Monday (This way families have the option to catch up on the weekend). The log will include these items: 10 spelling words: (5 high frequency and 5 word study words based on a pattern) Math facts (5 min. a day until proficient), 20 minutes of daily reading (100 minutes a week) other necessary math practice and special projects may also come home occasionally.