Mrs. Bain’s Second Grade Class Mt. Bethel Open House Mrs. Bain’s Second Grade Class

Welcome Please complete and LEAVE all of the papers on the LEFT. Please keep all of the papers on the right (you can take home the yellow folder). Your child wrote you a letter. Please write them a letter on the back and leave it on the left side of the desk for them to read in the morning.

Mrs. Bain Grew up in East Cobb. I married my husband, Matt, 16 years ago! We have been blessed with three children: J.J. (9th grader) and twins Lauren and Luke (3rd graders). We live in East Cobb with our dogs: Brooks and Snickers

Education & Experience Taught at The Lovett School & Jackson Elem. I began working at Mt. Bethel Elementary way back in 2003! I completed my degree in Religious Studies and Theology from Agnes Scott College in 2000. Theta Alpha Kappa – National Honor Society I completed my teaching certificate in 2001 and then my Masters in Teaching from Oglethorpe University in 2004. Oglethorpe University Outstanding Teacher Award. 2006 Cobb County Green School Teacher of the Year 2009 PTA Outstanding Educator Award 2018 Mt. Bethel Teacher of the Year

Schedule (as of 8/2018) 7:15 Arrival and Snack 7:45 Announcements & Morning Meeting 8:00 Read Aloud 8:15 Writer’s Workshop 9:15 Reader’s Workshop 10:15 Math Number Talk 10:33 Lunch, restrooms and recess 11:30 Math 12:30 OG / Language Arts 1:10 SPECIALS 2:05 Dismissal Begins

Writer’s Workshop Quarter 1: Narrative Writing Students will begin with a mini-lesson / skill. Students will then apply the writing skill in a daily activity. Students will also be called to meet with the teacher to set individual / differentiated writing goals in a conference. Students will also have the opportunity to publish written work on the computer as well as practice typing skills. Quarter 1: Narrative Writing Quarter 2: Informational Writing Quarter 3: Persuasive Writing Quarter 4: POETRY +Review All Please note that the report card reflects END of year standards for writing from Quarter 1 to Quarter 4.

Reader’s Workshop: Balanced Literacy Approach Start with a mini-lesson for the whole class. One new READING STRATEGY each day. Opportunities to apply skill: group, partner, and/or individual. Guided Reading: small group instruction, books are on your child’s reading level. Strategy groups: groups to work on reading strategies (the targets vary but often include accuracy, fluency and comprehension). When not with the teacher, your child will be reading “just right” books. Students will have a book box that they fill with “just right” books, a STAR book, and a STRETCH book. Students will have a “Book Shopping” day each week to put new books in their boxes. This will be their library time as well as any morning before announcements.

Mathematics Curriculum Students will participate in Math Workshop – mini-lesson ticket to centers or interactive notebook activity M.A.T.H. Centers wrap up Differentiated centers with student choice while teacher works with small groups. Students will take informative & summative assessments. Assessments may determine small groups for skills. I will communicate with you after summative assessments.

Math Fact Fluency Keep practice FUN! A sheet will be sent home with fun practice ideas. *Focus on PERSONAL BEST and GROWTH MINDSET! *This year 2nd grade is changing the way we have assessed math facts by assessing fewer problems and having a focus on the time to complete. More details to come soon!

Orton-Gillingham: A Methodology for Teaching Reading & Spelling to ALL Students! Assessment through dictation and application of phonics rule/pattern. (ex. –ck rule) These words do not need to be memorized. Trick words: words that do not follow a rule or pattern. MUST BE MEMORIZED for reading and spelling. 3 Trick words will be introduced at a time and will be memorized for spelling and reading. (ex: said) Whole class & small group lessons Differentiation in reading and spelling based on student ability No “spelling tests.” As we teach a phonics rule or pattern, students will read & spell words with that rule or pattern. Your donations at work.

Thematic Units Thematic Units – integrating into Reading, Writing and Math when possible. Themes are based on our Science, Social Studies and Health standards. Social Studies Themes include: Native Americans - Sequoyah, Tomochichi, Mary Muscgrove Famous Georgians - Oglethorpe, Martin Luther King, Jr., Jimmy Carter, Jackie Robinson, Juliette Gordon Low Geography of Georgia - Rivers and Regions Economics Government Science Themes include: Matter - Solids, Liquids and Gasses Energy & Forces Space - Sun, Moon, Stars Seasonal Changes in trees and sky Life Cycles (We will hatch chicks in the spring)

B.E.E. Folder: Daily Folder Clear pouch for Money and Notes Specials Calendar added monthly for you Students record behavior daily Look at papers on left side every day. Most papers are yours to keep. Please return papers on the LEFT side.

Behavior Expectations & Lifeskills Believe in a BALANCED approach in the classroom. I call this the GOLDILOCKS ZONE (not too quiet, not too loud). Silent times are limited to reading block and assessments. ACTIVE LISTENING at 3 times: Mini-Lesson Directions Intercom Emphasis on LIFESKILLS & GROWTH MINDSET Ron Clark’s 55 Essential Things Growth Mindset

Clip Chart, Class Store, Managers Students will earn money through the clip chart. Money can be used to purchase prizes of their choice in the CLASS STORE. Parent can sign up to send in some prizes/treats or volunteer to help with the class store. Students also earn money each month by helping out as a MANAGER. I will gladly take donations for class store anytime. Usually items from Dollar Tree, Party City, dollar bins in front at Target, leftover party favors, candy, etc.

Working Out Problems Will help solve any problem if they have tried at least 1 strategy. Will work out problems at recess before we line up. Can fill out a Counselor’s Slip. Can sign up on the agenda for our Class Meeting. Problems in SPECIALS are handled by the SPECIALS teacher. If you need, please email them directly.

Homework Guidelines Second Grade homework should take no more than 20 minutes per night. Please have your child practice his/her math facts for 10 minutes each night. This can be using flash cards, the computer or an app. KEEP IT FUN! Please make sure that your child reads for 20 minutes each night. Be sure to mix up reading time with students reading on their own, reading aloud (to you, a sibling or pet) and you reading aloud to your student. There will not be a reading log, so please be consistent with reading each night.

Birthday Celebrations & Snack We love to celebrate birthdays here at school. You may send in a treat to be enjoyed during our lunch at 11:33 (this may be a good day to come in and be a visitor at lunch). If you choose to send/bring in a birthday treat please make sure that the treat is easy to share / pre-cut. It would be helpful if the treats were also all the same (ie – having 1 flavor of donut is much better than assorted).  Students will have snack in the morning during arrival. Please send in one-to-two small snack items. Please only send in water - no juice. Juice attracts bugs and can stain our carpet. RE-usable water bottles (with name) are highly encouraged. I also kindly ask that you not send in high-sugar snacks/deserts. Students will not be allowed to share or trade snack (due to germs and allergies).

Dismissal If your child is being dismissed differently from how you filled out your CRITICAL STUDENT INFORMATION sheet you will need to send in a change in dismissal form in the morning. Under NO circumstances should you email me a change in dismissal. Please contact the front office instead. In case of emergency your child will be dismissed according to how your completed the CRITICAL STUDENT INFORMATION sheet. Please be sure you have a copy of this as in a true emergency we would likely not be able to contact parents individually. Early student pick-up must be done before 1:45 when the front office closes to focus on dismissal. If you check your child out after 11:15 they will be counted as having attended a full day of school. The office will either buzz me to say your child has been signed out or give you a green STUDENT RELEASE slip.

Visiting and Absences We LOVE visitors, but please contact me in ADVANCE to let me know you are coming. Scheduled visitors must sign in at the office before coming to the classroom. Students may NOT bring a friend to the visitors table at lunch (parent only). If your child is absent I will collect all missed work in an Absence Envelope and send it home the day your child returns. For every day your child is out they have a day to return the packet. Example: If your child is out for 3 days they can return the packet 3 days later. If you need more time to complete the work just send me an email, I am flexible. We just want to prioritize any work that may be on an upcoming assessment. If your child has missed multiple days of school you may be contacted by the teacher, administrator or school social worker.

Clinic / Allergies / Medicine We have a gluten intolerance but no nut allergies this year. Any medication for your child must be brought directly to the clinic by you. Our nurse will have you sign a permission form. The medication will either stay in the clinic or in your child’s backpack. Complete a permission slip (from the nurse) if your child needs to keep cough drops in his/her backpack.

Volunteering Friday, August 10th 9:30am Monday, Aug. 20st 10am Room Representatives will contact you with opportunities to help out in the classroom. Opportunities include: Mystery Reader, Class Store, Field Trip Chaperone, class parties, special snacks, etc. If you wish to help out as a Trained Parent Volunteer please attend one of the trainings ( you must be re- trained each year). I promise to make it as easy on you as possible.  Friday, August 10th 9:30am Monday, Aug. 20st 10am

Contact Information Email is the best and fastest way to communicate with me! I do my best to get back to you no later by the end of the following school day. My specials is at 1:10 so I will often not get to email until this time (I will have occasional meetings at this time too). Please contact me again if I do not respond within 24 hours (excluding weekends) – your email may be caught in SPAM. Be sure to sign up on the BLOG for an email each time the blog is updated. I do not send group emails. Also sign up to receive texts through the REMIND app. If you care to receive reminder texts please sign up: Please see the next slide for directions on how to sign up! Teachers must use OFFICIAL means of communication. Please do not use personal contact information if it is in regards to your child / the classroom. Thank you!

Remind Sign Up

Thank you!!!