Curriculum Information Basha Elementary School Mrs. Upshaw’s Second Grade Class

Language Arts

Language Arts Block Whole Group Instruction Comprehension Skills Fluency Vocabulary Grammar Listen to Reading Partner Reading Independent Reading

Writing Handwriting Thinking Maps Journal Journal Writing Narrative Writing Persuasive Writing Informative Writing Writing Assignments Thinking Maps The Writing Process Editing Final Copy

Reading and Centers Small Group Reading with the teacher Word Work/Phonics Think and Write Comprehension Skills Fluency Practice Vocabulary Practice/Context Clues Grammar Practice Individual Reading Conferences Read Naturally

Small Group Instruction and Centers Small Group Reading with the teacher 3 times per week Word Work (Phonics & Phonemic Awareness) Fluency (sight words, expression, pacing, phrasing) Vocabulary Development Leveled Readers Must Dos and Centers Journal Writing Grammar Practice Spelling Practice Writing Vocabulary Work Language Arts Games

Reading Assessments DIBELS Progress Monitoring Weekly Tests Comprehension Vocabulary Phonics Grammar Test Spelling Tests Challenge Tests ATI Galileo tests

Math

Go Math! Engage With Interactive Student Edition Explore Using Manipulatives Explain Talking/Writing about Math Elaborate Using Journals, Discussions, Student Editions, and Math on the Spot Tutorials Evaluate Using Formative Assessments

Math Materials Math manipulatives Base Ten Blocks Linker Cubes Plastic money Tens frames Pattern blocks Dice Smart Board Activities

Science

Curriculum Inquiry Process-Scientific Method Life Science/Life Cycles Body Systems Health Science Solids/Liquids/Gases Science Careers/Inventions Weather

Social Studies

Curriculum Maps Communities Native Americans The Thirteen Colonies Revolutionary War Westward Expansion Immigrants Asian Cultures Government Natural Resources

Behavior Expectations

Character Education Pride in the P.A.C.K. Positive Achieving Compassionate Kids These traits are tied into our daily behavior.

Clip It Up! Behavior Management System Room 17 Clip it Up! is a way for students to monitor their behavior in the classroom. Each student has a clothespin with their classroom number on it. They each begin the day in the middle of the chart on Ready to Learn. As we go through the day the students will have the opportunity to clip up or down on the Clip it Up! chart depending on their behavior. This is what the chart looks like: Super Student! Way to Go! Excellent Effort! Ready to Learn Make Better Choices Teacher Choice Parent Contact Students who Clip it Up all the way to Super Student at the end of the day will be able to Bling their clothespin. After 5 Blings, the student will receive a new clothespin and will be able to retire their Bling clothespin to the Wall of Fame! Students who Clip down will first receive a warning (Make Better Choices), then receive a consequence decided by the teacher and finally at the lowest level I will contact you personally about your child’s behavior. At the end of each day, students will bring home a behavior report in their Bobcat Binder. Please review this daily with your child and initial the box.

Positives! Students on Super Student at the end of the day will get to play Behavior Bingo! Marble Jar – The class works together showing good characterto earn marbles for a party of their choice!

Homework

Homework will include: Independent Reading Log Math Practice Spelling Homework Challenge words Grammar Practice Comprehension Homework will be assigned each day but not due until Friday. It will be kept in the Bobcat Binder. Please check your child’s work each day.

Bobcat Binder This is your child’s Bobcat Binder for the second grade school year. This binder will contain data that has been collected each week. The purpose of the Bobcat Binder is to provide you and your child information concerning their academic growth throughout each quarter. All of the papers in this binder must remain in the binder until I remove them and send them home to you at the end of the quarter. I would like you to look through the binder with your child the night it comes home and discuss the papers and data. The binders will need to be returned to school the next day. You will need to sign the paper located in the front of the binder every Monday saying that you looked at the binder and the data inside it. Please check the Clip it Up! section daily to view your child’s behavior for the day. Please initial everyday on the behavior report. The Homework Packet for the week will be in the front of the binder. Homework is assigned daily but you can work ahead.  

Clip It Up Chart Please sign our child’s Clip It Up! Chart daily. Your child will reflect daily on his/her behavior and color the square to show where his/her clip was on at the end of the day.

Odds and Ends

Daily Schedule TIME ACTIVITY 8:30-8:45 Bell work and Calendar Activities 9:00-10:25 Language Arts Block 10:25-10:40 Recess 10:40 Snack (Students provide their own snack – no nuts please.) 10:40-11:50 Math Block 11:50-12:10 Lunch Recess 12:10-12:30 Lunch/Bathroom Break 12:30-1:00 Math Block - Continue 1:05-1:35 RTI Intervention Block 1:40-2:10 Specials* 2:15-2:45 Science/Social Studies 3:00 Dismiss *Specials Day 1 – Music Day 2 – Technology – 9:35-10:15 Day 3 – P.E. Day 4 – Music Day 5 – Library Day 6 – P.E.

Student of the Week During the week that your child is Student of the Week please help your child prepare a poster describing your child. You can use pictures or drawings depicting events from your child’s life. Baby pictures, vacation photos, school pictures, special events, can all be included on the poster. Please send it to school before Friday. Posters will be returned on Friday after your child has shared the poster with the class. Optional but not required: Students can bring one item for show and tell on Friday. Students can also bring a treat to share with the class.  

Field Trip/Club Fees Field trip and club fees will be paid online through Infinite Campus. Second grade field fees for this year will be $30.00. We will be taking two field trips this year. More information to come! Volunteers will be selected to attend through a random drawing of those interested in attending.

Need to Reach Me? 480-883-4445 Upshaw.cynthia@cusd80.com I send my weekly newsletter by e-mail every Friday. You can also find it on my website located on the Basha Elementary School website.

Thank you!!!