Ms. Polanski’s 2 nd Grade Class Welcome Parents!

Before We Begin  Sign up for a Fall conference  Sign up for volunteer opportunities-I use many classroom volunteers to individualize instruction  Take a look at our wish list  Look around the room  Write your child and tell them your hopes and dreams for them for this school year

Welcome to Room 21!  Introduction  University of MN (B.S., M.Ed.) Georgetown (TEFL and Education Courses) Hamline University Urban Learner Certificate  Over 12 years of elementary school teaching  3rd year in LCPS  Experience teaching Pre-K-6 and adults  Supervised student teachers and literacy coaches.  Worked for 3 years at Georgetown University on a Department of Education research based Literacy grant.

Routines  Morning Procedures  School starts at 7:50 so please make sure your child arrives on time.  If you know your child will be absent please call the absentee line ( ) or send a note or e- mail in advance.  Meals  Snack - Nut Free 9:15ish  Lunch 11:50-12:20 –Come and eat with your child!  Dismissal  Buses and most Daycare Vans start loading at 2:35. Car riders, CASA, Majest, and Second Load buses released at 2:40.  Please send a note or about any changes. Please do NOT send an if the change occurs after school starts just call the office and leave a message. ( )

Routines  Work that still needs to be completed goes in the red folder that is kept in their desks  Finished classroom work goes in the blue basket on the desk near the writing center.  Handing in Homework-homework is put in the green basket on the desk near the writing center.  Homework can be turned in anytime that it is finished it must be turned in by Friday  Writing stays in their writing folder for the whole quarter-it will go home at the end of each quarter  Work comes home after it has been corrected or reviewed again if needed

Classroom Opportunities  Students earn classroom dollars by asking good questions, doing extra homework or research, following directions, offering solutions to problems, repeating something important from the announcements, etc.  Students use their classroom dollars for many special things including creating a flip chart or PowerPoint for the class, running a center, checking out one of my books, stuffed animals or learning games overnight or for the weekend, teaching the class about a topic they researched, reading to a younger student, going on a mission to an upper grade etc.

Classroom Expectations  We will have a calm, open, warm and safe environment so our brains can do their best work.  Our student created classroom rules are:  Kind touching  Share in work and play  Healthy Environment  Use good manners  Students use the “scarf game” to resolve classroom and playground issues  We are working on walking quietly in the hallway

Consequences  Students are expected to follow the school and classroom rules  Gentle reminders are given when needed  If a student needs additional reminders they may be fined classroom dollars along with a follow-up discussion when needed  Persistent behaviors will be discussed with parents and school administration

Our Daily Schedule  Academic Blocks (Average Daily Time)  2-3 hours Language Arts  reading, writing, word study, read aloud, shared reading  1 hour Math  45 minutes for Science or Social Studies  Specials  PE ( Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.) - tennis shoes  Music (Monday., and Tuesday.)  Library (Monday)  Computer Lab (Monday afternoon)  Art (Thursday)  SEARCH and Guidance (EOW Thursday afternoon.)  Recess (daily for 15 minutes)

Curriculum  Virginia SOL’s (web site)  9 week plans (web site)  Language Arts  Balance Literacy Approach  Readers Workshop: shared reading (poems and readers theater), guided reading (flexible groups), independent reading and read alouds  Writers Workshop: generating ideas, develop independent and fluent writing, editing and revising skills, spring book fair to show off their best work  Word Study: understand patterns and spelling rules, recognize “oddballs”

Curriculum  Math  Math centers and manipulatives to improve and extend knowledge  Math To The Moon – math facts  SME – computer based program individualized based on student’s level  Problem Solving – math journals and math workbook  Socials Studies and Science  VA SOL’s drives instruction  9 week plans  Study guides are sent for tests

Enrichment  Each student will have the opportunity to pick a topic they want to research to become an expert. They will work on it over the year, create questions to write and ask an expert in the field of their interest, and create a PowerPoint that they will present to the class in the spring.  Students can sign up to run a math or reading center  We will hold a class book fair in the spring

Enrichment  Students read to administrative and specialist staff on Friday mornings during DEAR.  Students write a lot of letters –some we will send home in the mail. They will need to bring their complete home address to school.  We have many opportunities for leadership, we have a President and Vice President each week and many classroom jobs.

Student of the Week  Each student will have a special week to design a poster about their favorite books (provided by me) and bring in books to share with the class.  The poster will be sent home a week before it is due.

Grading Policy  Assignments are scored with a 4/E, 3/M, 2/P, 1/B.  4/E = exceeds standards, 3/M = meets standards, 2/P = making progress towards standard, 1/B = below standard  These letters are not the same as the traditional A-F report card  Effort is scored with O, S, N  O = Outstanding, S = Satisfactory, N = Needs Improvement

Grading Policy  Please keep in mind that information about a child’s achievement and development may be gathered in a number of ways. Some techniques are:  Observations  Rubrics  Discussions/conferences  Work samples  Class participation  Formative and Summative Assessments  County wide assessments (PALS an DRA)

Sample Rubric Standard: Math SOL 2.4 Learning Target: The student will count forward by 2s, 5s, and 10s to 100 and count backwards by 10s starting from 100, as well as identify even and odd numbers. 4The student will skip count forward and backwards using other multiples from various starting points, as well as explain how to identify even and odd numbers. 3The student will count forward by 2s, 5s, and 10s to 100 and count backwards by 10s starting from 100, as well as identify even and odd numbers. 2The student will count forward by 2s, 5s, and 10s to 100 starting at 2, 5, and 10. 1The student will count forward by 10s to 100.

Report Cards  Report cards are issued 4 times a year.  Conferences are held in the fall and by request.  LCPS uses a standard based report card  Students are assessed on their academic achievement and effort level.  Reading Level (above, on, or below)  Comment section will elaborate on student’s strengths and weaknesses

Homework  Look in agenda on Mondays.  Reading (15 minutes nightly)  Word Study (Fri. - Thurs.) spellingcity.com – please see the web site for directionsspellingcity.com  Math (2-3 times a week) may use ixl.comixl.com  Science or Social Studies (1-2 times a week)  Projects – as assigned  Sunshine Math – optional enrichment math which starts in October  Do you prefer the homework packet to come home on Friday or Monday

Communication  Folders  Take Home Folders (green) Spelling(blue)  Homework packet/spelling words for the week  Notes to and from school  Thursday Folders (black)  PTA and school information  Student work  Agendas  Homework - written instructions  Phone Calls  Please leave a message in the office. ( )  Updates-be sure that I have your current

Communication  - do NOT use for emergencies   Website  Upcoming Events  Nine Week Plans  Homework Assignments  Classroom Schedule  Grading Policy  State SOL’s  Curriculum Web Sites

Birthdays  Birthdays  LCPS does not allow any food or non-food items to celebrate birthdays.  Student’s name will be announced on the morning announcements.  Students cannot pass out invitations at school.  Parents are welcome to donate a book to the Arcola library to honor your child’s birthday

Medication  If your child requires medication, please give it directly to our school nurse. The children are not allowed to give it to the nurse.  Children are NOT allowed to have medication in class. This includes cough drops.

I’m looking forward to a great year!