Welcome to Back to School Night! Ms. Rizzi Second Grade

My Philosophy Children should be engaged in fun and meaningful learning activities. A classroom should be a nurturing and structured environment with high expectations for behavior and achievement. Parents and the teacher should work together to develop and support the educational experience of the child.

How Parents Can Help Read with your child for 15-20 minutes each night. Review all papers that come home and provide praise and constructive criticism. Correct mistakes together. Provide opportunities for writing and real-world application of skills learned in school. Work to memorize math facts. Be sure to encourage responsibility, good listening behaviors, independence and organization.

Behavioral Incentives Procedures Lunch and Snack Travel Folders Homework Behavioral Incentives Birthday Parties Communication

Lunch and Snack If your child buys lunch, please send money in an envelope labeled with their first and last name, and class. If your child packs their lunch, please pack it separately from their snack. Each bag should be labeled with their first and last name. A healthy snack should be sent with your child each day. A list of approved snacks can be found on the school website.

H.W./Travel Folders There are many important papers that are sent home. Please check your child’s folder each day and clean it out. Make sure that the folder is returned to school each day

Homework Homework will be given Monday – Thursday as a reinforcement of what we are learning in class. The homework will be written in your child’s assignment pad, so please check it daily. As a second reference, the homework will also be listed on the class website. Please complete and return all homework to school the day after it was assigned.

Word Study Homework Monday Night: ABC Order Tuesday Night: Making Connections Wednesday Night: Writing Choice Thursday Night: Buddy Check Friday: Spelling Test Please see my homework page for more information on Word Study HW.

Writing Homework First plan out the story by drawing a small sketch Write the story- Remember to use details! Call the C.O.P.S to check Capitalization Organization Punctuation Spelling Do a Writer’s Check List. Bring back to school by Friday.

Behavior and Incentives Students who do not make good choices will bring home a “Think Sheet”. Please discuss this behavior with your child at home, sign the paper, and return. Rewards will be given in the form of paper certificates and also from the classroom treasure chest.

Expectations for Behavior Classroom Rules and Expectations Behavior Management Clip Chart They are accountable for their own behavior Marble Jar This is a whole class reward “Think Sheet” Student & Parent Conferences

Birthdays Sending food is not necessary. If you wish to send food, it must be an item from the approved healthy snack list. Goodie bags are not necessary, but if you wish to send goodie bags, please fill them with educational items, no food please. If you wish to send birthday invitations, there must be an invitation for every child in the classroom. This is a school policy. We have 22 students in our classroom!

Communication I can be reached by: sending a note in your child’s travel folder, calling the school, or sending an e-mail. My e-mail address is: erizzi@edgewaterschools.org . Changes in dismissal must be sent in writing. Check our website everyday at www.edgewaterschools.org .

Curriculum Reading Workshop Writing Workshop Go Math Science/STEAM Social Studies Spanish Family Life

Schedule We have Reading Workshop, Writing Workshop, Math, Science, Social Studies, Family Life, and Handwriting. Our Special Subjects are Music, Media, Gym, & Art. Children must wear or bring sneakers Mondays and Tuesday for Gym.

Specials Schedule Library Gym Music Art MONDAY TUESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY Library Gym Music Art

Reading Workshop Reading workshop is a structure for teaching reading. The purpose of the reading workshop is to teach students useful strategies to use as they read, and then give them practice applying those strategies during independent reading time. The workshop typically includes a brief mini-lesson (teacher modeling and guided practice), followed by time for students to read independently and perhaps do some brief writing about what they read. While students are reading independently, the teacher confers with them individually and/or in small groups. Share time wraps up the workshop. It is when students talk about what they read with a partner. Reading workshop is a vital component of literacy instruction! Children learn to read by reading, and the reading workshop provides them with important time for practice.

Writing Workshop During Writing Workshop children learn to write by writing. Students are often allowed to self-select topics and work at their own pace. Young writers are encouraged to write about topics that are important to them. The curriculum supports the idea that children do not need to be proficient readers before they can write. Primary students tend to be at varying stages in their literacy development, but given support, all of them are capable of crafting their own stories, poems, and texts. Narrative, persuasive, and opinion writing are addressed throughout the year (each unit focuses on a particular genre). Students will learn to write personal narratives, fictional stories, poetry, opinion papers, persuasive letters, and nonfiction.

Go Math Go Math aligns every lesson to the Common Core Standards. Students write in the book to record their strategies, explanations, solutions, practice, and test prep answers. The Standards Practice Book helps students achieve fluency, speed, and confidence with grade level concepts. In this exciting, colorful mathematics program, there are hands on activities to do and real world problems to solve. In Go Math, writing and drawing on the pages helps students think deeply about what they are learning so they will really understand math.

Word Study Our program is called “Words Their Way” Children learn new words by studying patterns rather than memorizing words.

Science Students will learn about matter in Physical Science. Students will learn about plants and animals in Life Science. Students will learn about Earth’s materials in Earth Science. We incorporate “STEAM” activities into our science curriculum and have many hands on science experiments through out the year to reinforce content.

Social Studies This year we are launching our new Social Studies curriculum; Kids Discover Neighborhoods and Community, by HMH. The units of study are: Leaders and Government, Location, North America, Communities and Resources, & Family Histories.

Family Life Students will learn how families play an important role in their lives, and that each family is different. Students will discuss healthy food options and the importance of good exercise choices. The goal for the children is to learn about respect and responsibility.

Remember: Check and empty your child’s folder daily. Read the classroom news and check the school website and my classroom webpage. Complete the reading log each day and keep it in the folder. Send a note, call or email me with questions, information or concerns.

THANK YOU!