2. - Nurture children’s identities as life-long learners - Build independence and problem- solving skills - Create happy memories - Maintain strong home/school partnership

3. Traffic Light System  Green: Regularly following class rules  Yellow: A warning was given, and negative behavior continued  Red: Negative behavior continued further. Note home. Green Achievers  Rewards students for good choices  Every Friday

4. Reader’s Workshop- Each student reads books at their independent reading level (Just Right books)  Our goal for students is not just reading the words;  Making meaning  Slowing down to become thoughtful, active readers.  Growing a love of reading  Preparing students for future academic life of interacting with many different texts.  Independent Reading, Partner Reading, Book Clubs, Guided Reading, Read Alouds

5. The National Reading Panel found that “the single most important activity for building the background knowledge required for success in reading is reading aloud to children.” This applies at home and at school. (Jim Trelease, The Read Aloud Handbook)  Benefits: › Equates reading with pleasure › Expands vocabulary › Strengthens reading comprehension › Models fluent reading › Exposes students to a variety of subjects and genres that helps build literary knowledge. › Instills identity of a reader in a child

6.  Library Trips  Nightly “check in” after reading time › “Read me your favorite part.”  Audio Books  Cozy reading spot

7.  Big Year in Math! › Fluency with math facts through 20 › 2-3 digit addition and subtraction › Reading/writing numbers up through 10,000’s › Telling time to the nearest five minute › Adding and subtracting money › Extended/Open Response  Focus on strategy, not algorithms. › CCSS stress critical thinking, rather than memorization of pencil-and-paper algorithms.  Spiral Curriculum- mastering 1 st -2 nd grade skills, introducing 3 rd grade+ concepts.

8. Do:  Play games and talk about math in the real world. Go grocery shopping together, count change, bake and cook, etc.  Reinforce addition and subtraction facts for the numbers 1 through 10. The MOST effective way to do this is through games, not flash cards or workbooks.  Ask your children to explain how they came up with the answer.  Practice estimating to develop measurement sense: Try estimating the number of windows in your house- then count and see.  Practice Mental Math (“Start at 37, count by 10s ”)

9. Don’t:  Please, do not teach your child to use the “carrying” addition algorithm.  Please, do not introduce the “borrowing” subtraction algorithm. These are quick and efficient ways to add/subtract, and we all learned to subtract that way. However, it often makes children less flexible with their thinking about numbers. Children who are introduced to this algorithm too soon have a much harder time understanding what addition and subtraction “mean”.

10.  Daily writing time  Units- narrative, informational, opinion, poetry.  Revising and editing taught as important parts of the writing process  Some invented spelling is encouraged. Fundations words are expected to be spelled correctly.  Writing Celebrations at the end of each unit

17.  “Writing Center” › Different types of paper, stationary, blank books, postcards, envelopes, pens, markers, etc.  Spur writing ideas at home  Notice good writing in read alouds  Share writing with relatives  Writing check-ins › “What are you working on in WW?”

18.  Our school will work on units of study in each area for each marking period.  Units include: Economics and Growth in a Community, Life Cycles, Neighborhoods Across Chicago, Force and Motion, Solar System.  Students will explore content areas through literacy, art, music, and technology.  Each unit with end with a culminating activity to celebrate our learning.

19.  Kidblog › Sharing learning › Writing for a real audience › Family involvement › Archiving student work  iPads › Creation-focused (Movies, pictures, ebooks, blogging, etc) › Integration with Mr. Bartel

20.  The red homework folder AND Book Buddy bag will be sent home each night.  Nightly homework (unless otherwise noted) includes: › Reading for 20 minutes (Reading Log Optional) › Any Guided Reading homework (Check Book Buddy Bag) › Math worksheet › Fundations practice- Due every 1-2 weeks; Work at your own pace.  Allow students to attempt homework independently. Then, go over it with them and revise as needed.  Not meant to be challenging; Contact teacher

21. A big part of second grade is transitioning towards independence. With that in mind, here are some things that second graders will be responsible for at school:  Turning in homework and notes from home.  Packing up their folder at school and bringing it back in the morning  Book Buddy Bag + guided reading book  Afterschool schedule (Chess club, etc)  Saying goodbye to teach at dismissal  Actions- apologies and making it right

22.  A = Exceeding CCSS for 2 nd grade/Advanced (90%+) › Consistently uses major skills or processes with ease and confidence in completing required grade level and above academic tasks › Consistently uses knowledge to skillfully communicate complicated ideas and concepts › Consistently completes and turns in accurate, excellent classwork and homework  B = Above CCSS/Proficient (80-89%) › Uses major skills or processes with very few errors in completing required grade level appropriate academic performance tasks › Demonstrates the ability to use knowledge to effectively communicate difficult ideas › Completes and turns in above average classwork and homework

23.  C = Meeting CCSS for 2 nd grade/Proficient (70-79%) › Demonstrates average uses of major skills or processes with some errors in completing required grade level appropriate academic performance tasks › Demonstrates average ability to use required knowledge to communicate important ideas › Completes and turns in satisfactory classwork and homework  D = Below CCSS for 2 nd grade/Basic (60-69%) › Makes a number of errors when using major skills and processes required to complete academic performance tasks › Demonstrates below average understanding of grade level appropriate content standards, strands, and benchmarks › Classwork and homework often have errors and/or are incomplete

24.  Please send in a note or email when your child is absent.  Monitor your child’s absences on Parent Portal, especially at quarter’s end.  Unexcused absences make students ineligible for honor rolls.  We start our learning promptly at 8:30. Please be on time!

25.  On your child’s birthday, a family member is welcome to come in and read a book to the class to celebrate.  No food treats, please  Birthday Party Invitation Policy › Invitations can be passed out at school ONLY when a whole class is invited (or all girls/all boys). › Small group invitations should distributed outside of school.

26.  Math Explorations Fridays 11:15-12:15  Mystery Readers Fridays 9:10-9:30  Field Trips  Guest Speakers  Home-Links- urgent! › Pop in and disassemble workbooks for our daily Math homework.  Celebrations! › Writing Celebrations › Culminating Activities

27.  Our goal this year is to increase your child’s confidence and independence in school.  We want children to love themselves, school, and learning.  We are building a community of learners in second grade and we are glad you are a part of our community!  Please check website for weekly newsletters and school information!