2. I have come to a frightening conclusion. I am the decisive element in the classroom. It is my personal approach that creates the climate. It is my daily mood that makes the weather. As a teacher I possess tremendous power to make a child’s life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration. I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal. In all situations it is my response that decides whether a crisis will be escalated or deescalated, and a child humanized or dehumanized. Haim Ginott

3. I have a right to be treated with compassion in this room: This means that no one will laugh at me or hurt my feelings. I have a right to be myself in this room: That means that no one will treat me unfairly because I am black or white, fat or thin, tall or short, boy or girl. I have a right to be safe in the room: This means that no one will hit me, kick me, push me, pinch me, or hurt me. I have a right to hear and be heard in this room: This means that no one will yell, scream, shout, or make loud noises. I have a right to learn about myself in this room: This means that I will be free to express my feelings and opinions without being interrupted or punished.

4. Our Go Math program is designed to enable children in elementary grades to learn more mathematical content and become life-long mathematical thinkers. Multiple methods and strategies for problem solving are integrated throughout the program. Students are given a “toolbox” of manipulatives to explore and use during daily routines. This hands- on approach makes mathematics meaningful to children through real world problems and applications.

5. In an effort to make your child more accountable for his/her academic and social behavior, I have implemented a token economy within my classroom. Students receive 50 tokens per day (in theory) for displaying positive classroom and school wide behaviors. I keep a weekly record of token totals. Through the use of this system, students will practice mathematical and economic skills by making a purchase from my classroom store. They will have the opportunity to make monetary decisions, utilize their purchasing power, or save for a more expensive item. This incorporates pertinent concepts that are addressed in our math, social studies, and family life (character education) programs.

6. My policy is to assign homework on Monday – Thursday. It is checked on a daily basis. Homework is posted on the Internet on a daily basis. You can check assignments by going to www.edgewaterschools.org. Choose GW School. Sign in to our new website, click ‘Classroom Teachers’, and then click on my name.www.edgewaterschools.org All projects and reports are assigned well in advance. Due dates are posted on my Homework Board. Rubrics are provided in advance for most projects.

7. We have a very challenging second grade curriculum that is designed to help all students reach their fullest potential. The goal of our Language Arts Literacy Initiative is to help students grow into independent, proficient readers and writers. It is our belief that strong readers and writers will excel in all subject areas. Our approach to writing parallels much of what the National Writing Project proposes (http://www.nwp.org/) and our approach to reading matches what Lucy Calkins from the Reading and Writing Project at Teachers College, Columbia University (http://tc.readingandwritingproject.com/) articulates.http://www.nwp.org/http://tc.readingandwritingproject.com/

8. GW’s philosophy is to integrate differentiated learning into the classroom. The concept of differentiated learning is to focus on the needs of individual learning styles by providing instruction and assessment through different modalities. This concept is enhanced by our math series. This type of skills-based learning is also highlighted in our Reading Program.

9. Classroom parties are permitted during the school year, (Halloween, before holiday break in December, etc.) but we must keep in mind that some students have food allergies and remember that both EVG and GW Schools are “peanut and tree nut free” school. Please let me know if your child has any food allergy or any other allergy. Birthday parties are also welcome in our classroom if you follow the healthy food policy. (A copy of this letter is in your Parent Handbook.) All food items must be approved by our school nurse. Please check in with the main office and they will put you in touch with our nurse. Invitations to out-of-school birthday parties cannot be distributed from my classroom Additional Information: I am only allowed to give out class lists with first names only. Birthday favor party bags should not include gum or candy. I am not allowed to forward a letter to another parent from another parent.

13. As partners in your child’s education, it is important that we keep our lines of communication open. It would be very useful if you could provide me with your e-mail address. Please feel free to e-mail or call me with any questions or concerns. Together we can make your child’s second grade experience positive and rewarding. pmoraitis@edgewaterschools.org