1. Welcome to Your Child’s 2nd Grade Classroom I believe that your child’s experience in school this year will be a very positive one. He/She will be even more successful when we can work together. Please do not hesitate to contact me. Send in a note with your child or even better email me at kmiller@rtnj.org. I check my emailkmiller@rtnj.org at least twice a day. If it is about a pick up, please cc Mrs. Russell.

2. 2 nd Grade Back to School Night Mrs. Kristen Miller Certified K-5 teacher, special education certified, and B.A. in Psychology Master’s Degree in Reading and Literacy This is my 20 th year at Center Grove teaching 2 nd and 3 rd grades. Happily married with 2 children- my son is 14 and my daughter is 9.

3. Back to School Hopefully your child did not look like this on the first day of school. I will do everything I can to ensure that your child has a great day at school every day!!!

4. Our Daily Schedule The students start arriving around 8:40. Language arts starts at about 9:00. (Differentiated work packet due on Friday or Monday) At 11:08 we go to recess, then lunch. After lunch we have math for about an hour. Then specials: Music, library, P.E., and art Next is science or social studies.

5. Language Arts Language Arts: Includes reading, writing, spelling, English, handwriting and speaking. Spelling: Program called Fundations. Strong phonics based program that we do daily. (More information in the parent packet) Spelling “check up” on Friday. Please sign the test so I know you have seen it. Most importantly, I look for carry over of the rules learned in the student’s daily writing.

6. Language Arts Reading: Program called Reader’s Workshop. Promotes independent reading at student’s own level. We work on phonics, fluency, vocabulary, exposure to a variety of genres, building comprehension, and thinking skills. Reading at home: Required reading at least 4 nights a week for 15-20 minutes. At home reading logs will go home on Friday each week and be due the following Friday. Book reports will also be assigned about every month and a half. I will send home easy to follow directions.

7. Language Arts Handwriting We use Zaner Bloser printing. We will introduce cursive in January.

8. Math The Program is called Every Day Mathematics. The program is based on a problem solving approach to every day experiences. The goal is for the children to have a real understanding of how to solve a problem and be able to explain it. Many hands on games and explorations are used to help the students learn and practice new concepts. I supplement the program where needed.

9. Math Concepts Establishing Routines Fact Strategies Related Fact Strategies Place Value and Measurement Addition and Subtraction Whole Number Operations and Number Stories Whole Number Operations and Measurement and Data Geometry and Arrays Equal Shares and Whole Number Operations

10. Math There will be math homework 3-4 nights a week. In the beginning of the unit I will send home the parent letter. The answers to the HomeLinks for that unit are in the parent letter. We will be doing the “mad minutes” each week. The goals for each marking period are: 1 st - practicing 2 nd - 10 + and - in one minute 3 rd - 15/20 + and - in one minute

11. Math In a few weeks, I will start sending home a weekly math problem solving packet. Word problems are challenging for second graders. I differentiate these. Might take some time to get it just right. (Maybe?) There is a website that has Everyday Math games on it that can be used for additional support and enrichment at home. It is emgames.com. You need a password to play the games. It should be the same as last year. I will be sending the information home soon.

12. Science Units of study are: *Pebbles, sand, and silt *Solids and liquids *Insects Science is hands on and interactive. The children often work in groups.

13. Social Studies Units of Study *Living Together: What Makes a Community Work? *Geography: Where Is Our Place In the World? *Randolph: How Has Our Past Influenced Who We Are Today? *Citizenship, Economics, *Government: How Does Our Community Work Together?

14. Computers Technology will be used in the class in the form of the SmartBoard daily. We will also be using the laptop computers to do research, create PowerPoint presentations, and to word process. Students will be using Rosetta Stone to learn Spanish.

15. Discipline Policy Center Grove uses Responsive Classroom. This approach fosters a safe, positive approach to teaching and learning. The children are taught many important social skills to help them get along with one another and build community in the classroom and the school. I use a behavior system that helps to easily communicate what behavior is expected. If a student does not follow the rules, he/she has to move his/her smiley face down to orange. Then, the next problem that arises, he/she has to move to yellow. Then red. If necessary, there will be a 5 min. time out, a 10 min. time out and then communication to the parent or sent to the principal.

16. Discipline Policy We review the rules often. The students can earn at least one “Thumbs Up” a week if they do not get any warnings. Thumbs Up certificates are given out on Friday. This also lets you know what kind of a week your child had.

17. Field Trips Our 2 nd grade field trips are: Foster Fields Farm Clinton Museum ?Play?

18. Miscellaneous We have a homework/agenda book that the students will write in each day. Please check it each night. School birthday policy is that students names will be announced on CG news in the morning. No birthday snacks. If your child is sick and you would like work sent home, let me know who to send it with. If you are going on vacation it is board policy not to send home work ahead of time.

19. More Miscellaneous We have snack sometime after 3:00 each day. Send in one healthy small snack. Star of the week- every child gets a chance to bring in pictures and share about themselves. Birthday invitations should only be given out in school to all of class or all boys or all girls.