WELCOME TO SECOND GRADE

This is sure to be an exciting year! This handout will help you learn a little about our class. We currently have 25 students.

A Day in the Life of A Second Grader

After prayer, pledge, and the handing in of homework and important notes most days begin with a Morning Meeting on the rug where we do our calendar math, read aloud, and discuss our schedule for the day. Language Arts is in the morning and includes: whole group instruction, small group instruction, partner reading, independent reading, phonics, spelling, handwriting, grammar and writing. Students will read selections from our literature book as well as trade books. Our first math unit is Numbers, Operations, and Data. A review of Addition and Subtraction strategies is the beginning of the unit. Science includes a balanced study of Life, Physical, and Earth Science and the Human Body. Our Science book will be supplemented with additional hands-on activities and experiments. As you know we've started with a study of Insects; the Monarch caterpillars arrived last week. In New York State the focus in Social Studies for second grade is communities. First, they will learn about their local community. From this common knowledge base they can "visit" rural and suburban communities throughout the state and country. I'll try to arrange "guest community speakers" as the school year progresses. (A note will come home when we are ready!) In Religion we will be using the Blest Are We series. Naturally, preparation for First Reconciliation and First Eucharist is quite important. I will keep you updated as the school year progresses.

Homework Details

Homework assignments are written down daily in the blue folder. In the beginning of the year most of the homework is typed on the sheet when it is duplicated and put into the folder. As the school year progresses second graders will assume more responsibility for writing down assignments. It is requested that an adult initial/sign the homework sheet daily so that home/school communication is consistent. I look in the blue folder daily so that is a great place to leave a note.

Reading for 15 minutes is a daily homework assignment. Second graders may read alone, with someone, or have someone read to them. Inside the blue folder is a reading record for daily reading. Title and author are requested. If a child is reading a chapter book they may write down pages numbers or chapter numbers but do not have to. A chapter book would only need the author once per week.

Spelling words come home on Mondays with most tests on Fridays. I correct tests over the weekend and send them home in a yellow test folder on Monday nights. Children will make a list of misspelled words to keep at home to keep studying. Adults are asked to sign the test and have children return the folders on Tuesday. Please leave the tests in the folder so your child and I can keep track in school of the spelling words. I expect to give a review test about every 6th week.

In addition to reading and studying spelling words your child can expect to work on one other homework assignment some nights.

Math homework will be sent home in the beginning of the year once or twice weekly. I try to send home a variety of homework - not just worksheets. Don't be surprised if your child is expected to explore the house and make a list! Written details about "different" homework assignments will be sent home.

Religion - Occasionally your child will bring home religion homework that compliments our study in school.

Handwriting - printing practice will only be sent if needed. Cursive homework will be assigned in the spring.

Science and Social Studies - As the school year progresses students will have assignments related to our current themes. Written directions will be sent home explaining assignments to families.

Projects - At this time I don't have any "at home" projects planned for second graders. You can expect us to do something for the 100th Day of School.

Other Information

Supplies - Most second graders have what they need. A few second graders need a pencil box. If you ordered from the school store, pencil boxes were not a part of the order. Everyone has the notebooks and folders they need.

Work Folder If your second grader brings work home in a folder marker Work Folder please send it back to school!! Unfinished work is placed in the folder daily. I also add papers for individuals as needed. I will not send home work for your child to finish without attaching a note to you.

Father Daley will visit our classroom on Wednesday mornings when he is available.

Mrs. Baynes works with groups of second graders in the cafeteria on Language Arts assignments each morning. This gives me the opportunity to work with individuals and small groups during our Language Arts block.

Snack - We have a short snack break each morning. Children are told to choose 1 healthy snack from their lunchboxes. I try to be very flexible about "healthy." I don't think any adult honestly believes that Fritos are healthy or need to be eaten at 10:00 in the morning. Snack sharing will be discouraged. If your child doesn't have a snack they are welcome to visit with friends or read a book.

All Eyes On - One our Language Arts standards is to read, write, and listen for social interaction. All Eyes On will help us to do this. Each week one person has a turn. Early in the week photographs and mementos may be brought in. The All Eyes On Person shares on Friday. At that time classmates and teacher will listen and ask "politely worded and thoughtful" questions for a brief time. How to prepare? Children will be verbally reminded and a note written on the homework sheet when your child's turn is near. Students may write captions for photographs at home and either attach to construction paper or tape them to the poster board I have in school. What if you don't have any photographs you want to send to school? Students may draw pictures to go on the poster board or tape on anything that is flat. During the week the student may place items in our All Eyes On basket for other second graders to look at. The school cannot be responsible for lost or damaged items so please keep anything of value at home. Something special could be brought in on Friday. (I will remove and put in my closet anything that becomes a problem or a distraction. The child will then be allowed to take it home at the end of the day.) A calendar for All Eyes On was created by listing children in reverse alphabetical order. There is time at the end for the "I forgot it was my turns" to have another chance.

Flat Stanley

Stanley is the main character in a book written by Jeff Brown. Later this fall we will read the book aloud. In the book Stanley is peacefully sleeping one night when a bulletin board falls on him and flattens him! He's flat, but he's still okay! He has some wonderful adventures including being mailed across the country to friends. In school we will pretend that each of us is flattened. We'll write our own stories about how this happens. We will make Flat People journals and write entries about our real life activities pretending that our Flat Person was with us. These entries will be read by me and the children may volunteer to read them aloud to friends and the class. I will try to arrange for our flat people to spend some time in another St. Thomas classroom. In the past my classes have mailed Flat People to family, friends and other schools. Mailing the flat people to other places helps us with our study of different communities. No child will be forced to participate in the sharing of the journals. Please let me know if you have any concerns. I'll send home a permission slip before any journals leave our classroom. This is a year long project - the mailing of journals will not occur right away - Other schools will be mailing us their Flat Stanleys during the school year.

Communication

Home/school communication is very important. I try to send a Friday letter home each week. If you have computer access our class page is http://homestead.com/millergrade2. I know that some families visited and signed our guest book. Copies of letters and information I've sent home should be on the web page. I've created an insect page with links for our study of Monarch Butterflies. You may always send me a note in the morning or leave a phone message at school. Together we can make this a wonderful year for your second grader.