1. The Grade 2 / Grade 3 Transition
Kathy O:
Welcome parents. Introduce Kathy and Pam and any guests.
Laying the Foundation for the Intermediate Grades and Beyond

2. Our Goal…
To ensure that all elementary school students attain the knowledge and skills to be prepared for their future.
Kathy O:

3. What the Research Says…
“When parents are actively involved in the
education of their children, there are significant gains in student achievement.”
Richard Dufour
Pam-
Thank you for being here this evening. Your involvement does matter. From over thirty years of research, we know that when parents are
actively involved in the education of their children, there are significant gains in student achievement.

4. What are your
Hopes and Dreams?
Kathy O.

5. Howard Community College Military Culinary School Family
University of Maryland
Morehouse University
Job in the technology field
Kathy O.
We all have hopes and dreams for our children. Each one of us has envisioned a bright, happy and successful future for our loved ones. Maybe you have thought about your child’s life after high school a little bit, or perhaps a lot. We are going to provide some time now for you to reflect on your hopes and dreams for your child. A sample hopes and dreams has been provided for you. For my son, he has talked about being a “Morehouse Man” but he may want to stay closer to home and attend Howard Community College or the University of Maryland. He is a Scout and has interest in the Armed Forces, and he also likes cooking and computers- two more possibilities for college and careers for him. I also want him to have a family as he gets older -whatever form it takes. Folder; take 4 minutes; share with a neighbor

6. for College and Careers?
What do we already know
about Readiness
for College and Careers?
Kathy Jacobs:

7. True or False ? Satisfactory or better learning
behaviors matter for College and
Career Readiness.
Kathy Jacobs:

8. Which one of these are considered after school and community based activities?
After school clubs
Scouts
Gymnastics
All of the above
Kathy Jacobs:

9. Which one of these learning behaviors impacts academic success?
Completes homework
Listens attentively
Completes class work
All of the above
Kathy Jacobs:

10. True or False? The desired student attendance rate
is 90%, allowing 18 excused absences.
Katy Jacobs:

11. The College and Career Advantage
Memorandum of Agreement - National Governor’s Association
Common core of standards: Language Arts and Mathematics for K - 12
College/ 21st Century Workplace Expectations
Kathy Jacobs:
Policy experts at the national and state levels are currently working to ensure that requirements for high school graduation align with expectations for entry into higher education. A key area of focus is to ensure that high school graduates have the reading, writing, and mathematics skills needed to enroll and succeed in credit-bearing, first-year courses at post-secondary institutions--such as 2 or 4 year colleges, trade schools, or technical schools. Maryland has signed a memorandum of agreement with the National Governors Association committing to a process to develop a common core of standards in English and mathematics for grades K MSDE has convened a College Success Task Force to prepare all students for post-secondary studies. For decades it has been a commonly held belief that high school students planning to go to college need to take more rigorous coursework than those going directly into the workforce. Today, however, many employers are convinced that in an expanding global economy, entry-level workers need much the same knowledge and skills as college-going students. Research now supports this. HCPSS believes that providing the college and career advantage is a shared responsibility of all educators, pre-K through high school.

12. Sharing Hopes and Dreams
HCPSS Pathways to Success
No hidden rules -- increase parent understanding
of expectations… and opportunities!
Sharing Hopes and Dreams
Kathy J.
Elementary Readiness indicators have been identified for our primary students. Helping families understand the expectations for academic achievement, academic learning behavior, extracurricular and community involvement, attendance and punctuality, and responsible behavior and positive attitudes in the primary grades makes these indicators transparent. There are no hidden rules that some know and others do not; all families are aware of what students need to accomplish to have the Career and College Advantage. We share your hopes and dreams!

13. Readiness Means . .
being prepared to successfully complete credit-bearing college coursework or industry certification without remediation.
Kathy J.

14. Why Grade Two Transition?
Understand requirements of Grade 3 and beyond
Review indicators for success
Examine plans for strengthening the home/school
partnership
Create a Career and College Advantage!
Kathy J:
A committee of elementary administrators and curriculum staff have convened to plan and assist parents in understanding the requirements for grade 3 and beyond. We will examine reading and mathematics content that are covered in the primary and intermediate grades. As we discuss the College and Career Advantage, indicators for success will be highlighted within the elementary school context, identifying expectations for students transitioning to kindergarten…to third grade…and exiting fifth grade to middle school. Our goal is to strengthen our home/school partnership to ensure that all of our children are successful.

15. Pam:
As our students journey on the road to a brighter future, categorical indicators of success across grade levels help us to understand how our children will benefit from the college and career advantage. A glimpse at expectations for students entering third grade can be seen here.

16. Spotlight on Laying the Foundation for the College and Career Advantage Readiness Indicators
Academic Achievement
Academic (Learning) Behaviors
Extracurricular and Community Involvement
Attendance and Punctuality
Responsible Behavior and Positive Attitude
Pam
Research has shown that each of the indicators is important in Laying the Foundation for success in the intermediate grades and beyond.
In your folder you will find a document entitled, “Laying the Foundation for Grades 3-5 and Beyond”(hold-up document). HCPSS has created
this document that gives parents information and tips to help their child be successful in third grade and beyond. The document contains
information on what students should know and be able to do upon entering third grade and useful tips of how you may support your child’s
success at home.
In your folder you will also find a copy of your child’s third quarter report card. As I review each of these indicators, it might be helpful to review your own child’s report card to look for strengths and/or areas of focus around each indicator.

17. Academic Achievement Ready for Grade 3 Laying the Foundation
SAT 10 Performance
Marked On or Above Grade Level in Reading and Math
Pam:
It is our goal to have each student enter third grade on or above grade level in both reading and math. If your child is currently marked below grade level in either reading or math, they will receive additional support to help him/her reach grade level. This additional support may be delivered by a reading specialist, Interventionist, paraeducator or his/her own general education teacher.
Another indicator on Laying the Foundation for Success is related to the standardized test that each of our second graders took in April. Your child’s individual scores on the SAT 10 will be mailed to your house sometime in the next few weeks. The SAT-10 is a nationally normed test. Nationally, the average score on the SAT-10 is 50%. We would like to see all HCPSS students scoring at or above the national norm on the SAT 10.

18. Take a Look at the HCPSS Intermediate Report Card

19. Curriculum Expectations from grade 2 to grade 3
Handouts
What you can do at home
Kathy O.
Speaking of academic achievement… in a short time, your child will move from the primary grades to the intermediate ones, beginning with grade 3. Grades 2 and 3 share the same subjects of reading, language arts, math, science, social studies, health, physical education, music, art, technology and library/media.
In your folders, we have provided you a copy of a brochure entitled, … in which you can see what your child will learn in grade 3. In addiiton, provided for you are specific reading and math tips, as well as ways to continue to develop learning behaviors at home. Please take out the brochure so that we may highlight some of the information for you.

21. Reading Comprehension and Written Responses
Sample Assessment and Exemplars
Kathy O.
Some of you already may have asked your child’s reading teacher about what to expect in reading as your child moves from grade 2 to grade 3. We have something special for you - we have a sample of your child’s written response to a reading comprehension question. In reading, children are asked to answer questions about what they read. We call these comprehension questions. Sometimes, the children are asked to respond orally and sometimes they are asked to write their answers. In grade 3, the expectation changes. We expect children to write more than one sentence about what they just have read, sometimes even a paragraph.
Please take a moment to read the following excerpt from a second grade text. This is the text your child was given to read independently and to respond in writing to.

22. Fish and Whales
Fish and whales both live in the water, but they are different in many ways.Most mother fish lay eggs. The babies are born when the eggs hatch. Right after they are born, the baby fish must find their own food. Whales have babies in a different way. Mother whales give birth to live whales. The baby whale must come to the top of the water right away for air. The baby drinks milk from its mother for about a year. Then it finds its own food Whales are large animals that live in the water. Even though whales live in the water, they must come to the top of the water to get air. When they come to the top of the water, whales breathe in air through a hole in the top of their heads. At the same time they blow out old air. Whales don’t get air like fish. Fish take in air from the water.
Kathy O.
In response, children were asked the following question:
1. According to the article, how are fish and whales different?
Use details from the article to support your answer.

23. 1 Response (not yet) Kathy O.
This student’s response is a nice start; however, this student did not meet the expectations for the assignment.

24. 2 Response (partial) Kathy O.
This response is “on track” however, it still lacks the depth of response required. The question asks for details from the text to support the answer.

25. 3 Response (fully demonstrates)
Kathy O.

26. Academic (Learning) Behaviors Attendance & Punctuality
Academic Achievement
Academic (Learning) Behaviors
Attendance & Punctuality
College and Career Readiness Indicators
Responsible Behavior & Positive Attitude
Extracurricular & Community Involvement
Pam:
We have talked about some important academic indicators for Laying the Foundation for student success in the intermediate grade and beyond. Let’s take a closer look at some of the other indicators.

27. Academic Learning Behaviors
Achieves satisfactory or outstanding learning
behaviors on report card
Responsible behavior and positive attitude
Follows school-wide behavior expectations
Extracurricular and Community Involvement
Pam:
We know that learning behaviors and citizenship are also important for success in the intermediate grades and beyond. Learning behaviors, extracurricular and community involvement, behavior and attitude have been identified as indicators that are important for the Career and College advantage.
Since academic learning behaviors and responsible behavior are important to student success each school provides parents with feedback on how students are performing in these areas. Parents will receive information on you child’s learning behaviors on each quarter’s report card as well as mid-quarter on the Interim reports.
Participates in school and/or community activities of
interest

28. Attendance and Punctuality
Time on Task Helps Students Soar to Success
Attends school 96% or more of 180 days (7 days)
Arrives to school on time each day
Pam:
We know there is a correlation with student time on task and academic performance. Meeting the exemplary standard of 96% attendance helps to
be sure each student has full advantage of the teacher’s instruction. Excessive absences can interfere with a student’s success in the intermediate grades and beyond. We do know from research that students with excessive absences at the elementary level are at a greater risk of not graduating high school. If there is a circumstance where you child may be out for an extended absence, please be sure to contact your child’s teacher so plans can be coordinated to help your child maintain their academic levels to help ensure an easy transition back to school.
Arriving to school on time helps you child to start the school day prepared. By arriving on time, students have an opportunity to unpack their back pack, put their things away, and be present as the teacher reviews the schedule for the day.

29. Home/School Partnership
Plans for Increased
Home/School Partnership
Grade 2/3 Transition Parent Meeting
Back to School Night Overview
Parent Conferences
Parent Resources
On-going Communication
Pam:
Many home-school connections already exist in our classrooms. We are proud of the open door policy we create in our schools and we embrace your involvement at all levels. To increase our level of support and promote a greater understanding of the College and Career Advantage, several new steps are being introduced. Parents of our second graders will participate in an informational Grade 2/3 Transition meeting during the Spring of their child’s second grade year. Back to School Nights will include an overview of the College and Career Advantage plan at all grade levels. Parent/teacher conferences will, again, be scheduled twice a year… and upon request. In addition, parents of our second grade students who are working below grade level will be invited to meet with administrators and designated staff during the early summer months to gain assistance in working with their children to build skills and confidence in preparation for their third grade year. Tools and resources will be provided. Our on-going communication with home will providing a coaching network to set goals for our students and accelerate achievement.

30. In Summary… • Involvement • Information • Intentionality Kathy O.
In summary… We are so grateful for your attendance tonight and we are so glad that we have begun the partnership that was started when you enrolled in the HCPSS.
Our purpose tonight was threefold: we wanted to involve you in your child’s education and to find out about your hopes and dreams for your child. We wanted to inform you about the College and Career Indicators. Our third purpose was to let you know that what happens now in second grade moving to third grade matters for college and career readiness. Remember, readiness means being prepared to successfully complete credit-bearing college coursework or industry certification without remediation.

31. How did we do? Survey Suggestions
Further information? Contact your school administrator.
Kathy O: