Welcome to Room 19’s Back to School Night! Thank you for coming! While you are waiting, please download a QR Code reader app. Your child will be using QR codes throughout the year. You can also make a bookmark for your child!

Introduction  Fun Facts About Me  Education-UCI for credentials, Masters in Teaching.  I believe in creating an environment that is positive, nurturing, and where children know and feel that it is a safe place to learn, as well as take risks. I believe that children learn best when actively engaged and that learning should be FUN!

Combo Class: The Hidden Gem  “Students of more than one grade level assigned to the same class and teacher.”  ses.pdf ses.pdf  “Strong students are purposely placed in these classes. “We take great care when we do make a combination class that we select the students carefully. We seek students who are independent learners, can work in small groups and can work independently. We have found that the best thing is to make sure you reduce the number of behavior- challenged children. You’re looking for students at or above grade level,” Lauren Sipelis says. There are certain teaching strategies, too. Teachers look for overlap in the two grades’ curriculum and often have students work in small groups. One group will work independently while the teacher focuses on the other group, says Sipelis. “That’s a pro, because you’ll have a lot of reduced-class-size instruction,” she says.

– Carefully selected – Independent learners – Above grade level benchmarks-high academics – Hidden gem of combo: small class size (22 second graders, 10 first graders); first pick with scheduling – Lesson extensions-webquests, research, higher level thinking  Fantastic support teacher-credentialed teacher  Commonalities in Curriculum-overlaps taught whole class with differentiated product  1st = blue  2nd = green Combo Class: The Hidden Gem

Communication  Daily Take Home Folder-Please check each day and return any papers.  Weekly updates and reminders  Available for conferences after school (if requested)  Classroom Websites:  2 nd Grade Resources-math facts, sight words, spelling lists; Whole Class Resources: book orders, birthdays, book orders.  Classroom Updates-pictures and posts of our weekly activities  1 st Grade Resources-Homework, what we are learning each week

Classroom Management  PBIS Coach: Teach and reinforce positive behavior in areas  LEAD/Values-Cooperation  Team Points  Popcorn Jar  Star Bucks-Class store, auction  Earn Star Bucks from class jobs  Class Dojo-please have your child check his/her points weekly. Positive and negative points for specific behavior and area.  Parents will be notified if a child has difficulty following rules on a regular basis, and we will meet to discuss options.

Homework 2 nd Grade Homework Policy  30 minutes  Math pages, sight words-Fry’s Sight Words App, math facts  Spelling Words  Homework Contract – Purpose: independence, responsibility, reinforcement, time management  Book Reports-2 per month – Download book report forms online under Book Reports tab  Ticket to Read  VMath 1st Grade Homework Policy  Starts September 2 nd  20 minutes  Math pages, math facts, high frequency words-flashcards on 1 st grade website under “Parent Resources”  Spelling Words/Dictation Sentence  Homework Contract –Purpose: independence, responsibility, reinforcement  Ticket to Read  VMath *Keep math book in safe place-can download pages online and print if needed.

Homework Contract August 12, 2013

Math Facts-use flashcards from 1 st grade or download from website; download and use a flashcard app; 1 st Grade Parents will receive flashcards at conference. Further directions will be given at conferences for 1 st grade parents.

2 nd Grade: Sight Word Soldiers-download from website and/or use app; every 100 sight words=1 dog tag; Students tested until last unit of fluency. This will begin the week of August 19 th. 1 st Grade: Welcome to study the sight words and will be tested-they will start earning the dog tags next year in second grade.

Curriculum  Language Arts  RTI- 4 days a week (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday)  1 st Grade: I will go over RtI in depth at conferences.  Methods of Instruction: Whole class, RtI groups, novel study (books TBA; 2 nd grade: annotate using depth & complexity icons, 1 st Grade: Model Read-fluency, comprehension), home reading, oral reading and presentations, book reports, current events through use of Time for Kids 2. Common Assessments 3. FLEXIBLE!!! (Based on each child’s strengths and needs)

Curriculum  Time for Kids:  Exposure to nonfiction text  Response to literature  Common Core Standards  Examples: Debates about the penny, bringing back extinct animals, standardized testing on computers  Writing an opinion piece-using evidence from text to support opinion  Research current events

Writing Process 2 nd Grade:  Daily writing activities – Thinking Maps in Writing Journal – Organizing a paragraph: Topic sentence Details Concluding sentence Indent Correct punctuation  Steps for successful writing  Grammar: proper nouns, verbs, parts of speech 1 st Grade: Daily writing activities Thinking Maps (in Writing Journal) Complete Sentences with correct punctuation Descriptive words Editing writing Steps for successful writing Exposure to writing a paragraph

Spelling 1. Houghton Mifflin – Program is based on reading series 2. Spelling tests on Friday 3. All words on Spelling City for practice. I will send home the lists with the HW contract or you can download it off our website.

Math 2 nd Grade:  Math Expressions to meet state standards (place value up to 1,000, fractions, geometry, subtraction and addition with regrouping)  Manipulatives- hands-on experience  Problem Solving- **discussing and explaining how a problem is solved (higher level thinking skills!)  Creating videos on iPad to teach concepts  Math Facts tested each week. Please practice at home as knowing math facts fluently helps with confidence and automaticity during lessons. 1 st Grade: Houghton Mifflin- core book to meet state standards Problem Solving with manipulatives Math Talk/”Proving” answers with whiteboards  Creating videos on iPad to teach concepts

Science 2 nd Grade:  Pebbles, Sand, & Silt  Balance & Motion  Insects & Plants  Investigation, experiments, recording data in Science Journal  Note taking skills  HANDS ON! 1 st Grade: 1. Air and Weather 2. Solids and Liquids 3. Plants and Animals  Will receive instruction with other first grade classes  Investigation, experiments, recording data  HANDS ON!

Social Studies 2 nd Grade:  Scott Foresman  Booklets (no textbook)  Trip Around the World to the 7 continents-incorporates standards, create artifacts  Interactive Social Studies Journal 1 st Grade: 6 Themes: Citizenship, People and Places, Our Country, Changes Over Time, Celebrate Cultures (culture doll), and Goods and Service Trip Around the World to the 7 continents-incorporates standards, create artifacts (will create different artifacts)

Physical Education 2 days a week/City Fitness starting in September; Monday and Thursdays Wear tennis shoes (no sandals or open-toed shoes) and appropriate clothes each day to school!

Music/Computer Lab Formal music instruction every other Thursday Computer Lab once a week-PowerPoints, websites, Edmodo, newsletters, typing skills Technology in class: iPad, Linoit, Microsoft Office

Performances 1 st Grade: Thanksgiving Play 2 nd Grade: Patriotic Program (November) Wonders of the Earth (end of the year)

Conference Week  August 26 th -August 30 th  No School on Monday, August 26 th  Minimum Days Tuesday-Friday (Aug. 27 th -30 th )  Sign-ups online – Please let me know if you did not receive the so you can sign-up. Thank you!  A time to set goals for the year-Please complete the Google Form PRIOR to our conference. We will use this to guide our conference. Thanks for the support!

Parent Volunteers  Schedule already sent out. I will also send out a monthly schedule.  Training: Thursday, August 15 th at 2:30PM in second grade pod  Still in need of clerical help-Please me if interested. Thank you, in advance, for all your help!

A few more things…  Birthdays: non-food items  Star of the Week  Book Orders (Code: HZ4MW)  Snack/Lunch: Nut-free  Lunch is $3.25. You may go to vices/index.html vices/index.html

How Can I Help My Child Succeed in School?  Read TO and WITH your child every night!  Help your child with his/her homework every night.  Only talk positively about your child’s teachers and school.  Make sure your child is getting plenty of sleep and is ready for school each day. For example, have your child set a study area for independent homework time. Encourage them to pack their backpacks the night before. The morning can be so busy and rushed to begin with.  Teach your child to be responsible for their actions and their school work.  Stay involved and feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns.  Ask your child about school everyday and encourage them to discuss the day.

Support our children, by supporting the PTA!  100% of the funds raised will be used by the PTA to support Woodbury students through programs like art, music, assemblies, lunchtime activities, as well as weekly physical activities led by City Fitness!  The PTA supports the Woodbury staff with various school supplies such as student planners, conduit/daily folders, classroom books, as well as the new computers for the pod! The PTA has also helped pay for instructional aides for each classroom and the health clerk.  Please feel free to donate ANY amount to the PTA during the Pledge Drive and the Jog- A-Thon. Our class goal is to have 100% participation for both events!  Your contributions will be the foundation on which your child will build his/her elementary experience. Thank you again for your philanthropy!!

Ending Comments…  PLEASE feel free to /phone me with ANY concerns!  Communication is key  Contact information-business card I am EXTREMELY happy to be your child’s teacher! This is an amazing group of children.

Thank you! Please take your puzzle, brochure, and popcorn. Leave the bookmark for your child to use while enjoying a book! I am looking forward to a successful year!