Classroom Policies

  • Reading

    It is required that every child read 20 minutes a day. I encourage parents to read to their child, which counts as part of the requirement (listening comprhension). A daily reading log can be found in your child's homework folder, which should be initialed by parent/guardian that your child has completed his/her daily reading. At school, your child will place a sticker for every day he/she reads. We will have reading incentives as we reach our reading goals. 

    Spelling/Phonics/Sight Words

    A spelling pretest will be given every Friday to determine which list your child will be given for the following week.  If 2 or fewer words are misspelled on the pretest your child will practice List 2 words. Otherwise, your child will be given List 1 words.  If your child is absent on the day of the pretest, they will practice List 1 for the week. Both lists will be available on our 2nd grade classroom webpage each week. The assigned list will be glued in your child’s homework journal with suggestions of how to practice the words.  These various ways are offered to help match your child’s individual learning style.  Each child is expected to complete three activities of his/her choice in their spelling/homework journal each week. 

    In class, we will be discovering the ‘patterns’ of words, as well as using the spelling words in our daily writing. In addition, phonics skills and sight word activities will be applied while teaching the spelling ‘patterns’. The children will be tested every Friday or at the end of the week based on days off from school.

    Math

    Throughout this year, the big focus is on computation and number sense.  We will use a lot of hands-on exploration to help your children visualize math concepts. Children should have mastered 0-20 fact families by October. We will be working with manipulatives and various strategies in class to accomplish this goal, and would greatly benefit from the extra work at home to commit these facts to memory.  Being fluent with the facts will help them as we move on to adding two and three-digit numbers. 

    In order for children to develop critical math thinking, we will be working on problem solving skills which requires the children to write/draw and explain how they problem solved.

    Homework

    Homework will be assigned Monday through Thursday.  Homework will correspond to daily skills taught at school and should be completed on that designated day for reinforcement and/or preparation and turned in the following day. Homework can be found in your child’s homework folder.  Your child’s homework folder/journal must be brought back to school daily. Also, the folder will be used to send home any completed class work and 2nd grade communication (letters, notices, reminders, permission slips).

    Homework/journals will be reviewed by your child’s teacher and samples of your child’s weekly homework and class work will be sent home in their homework folder.  Samples of your child’s school work/tests will be filed in a portfolio.  Portfolios will be given to parents at parent-teacher conferences throughout the school year.

     *Please note that throughout 2nd grade your child will be engaged in various projects that may require work at home during the weekend.  Also, please review your child’s class work and homework with them.  Having your child correct their “mistakes” on past work is a valuable part of the learning process. All corrected work should be taken out of folders daily.

    Snack

    Your child is encouraged to bring a simple, healthy snack to enjoy at our morning break – a fruit or vegetable is preferred. Please click here to see the list for peanut free suggestions. Your child should bring a water bottle to school (please make sure that is labeled with their name).

    Building Classroom Community

    I will work hard this year to keep your child motivated and excited to learn, as well as allowing them to be proud of their many accomplishments.  Positive reinforcement will be very present in the second grade classroom.  I really believe in the unique abilities and talents of each of our students, and will communicate this often to them.  In addition to positive verbal comments, children will have an opportunity to put their name into We are Bucket Fillers container. At the end of the week, they will have a chance to win a trip to the Prize Jar!

    In order to help the children learn responsibility for their actions, the class brainstormed classroom rules. We discussed consequences and if necessary, your child will fill out a behavior reflection sheet which should be discussed and signed by you. This is intended for the child to think about his/her behavior and provided him/her the opportunity to turn his/her behavior around.  If the behavior continues to disrupt the learning environment, I will set up a meeting so together we can work on a solution to help your child be the best version of themselves.   

     Birthdays

    The week of your child’s birthday, you are invited to come in and reminisce with the class about the day your child was brought into the world.  Kids are fascinated with questions like “Who was the first to hold her/him?”…etc.  Bring photos or an object your child has not seen in awhile from his/her birth.  The class will give a birthday blessing and testimony of how your child has touched our lives.

    Please contact me a week in advance to schedule birthday celebrations.