Welcome to 2NB!
Welcome to second grade! This year your child will be in a co-taught classroom. We each share equal responsibility for teaching the students, and we can bring in our unique styles of teaching. Our goal this school year is to help your child learn through exciting lesson plans and hands on experiences. We look forward to working with you as a partner in educating your child. We feel that by working together we can help your child become a lifelong learner.
Attached is information that will help you better understand what second grade will be like for your child and the expectations we have for them. We hope that you find this information useful.
Throughout the school year if you ever have any questions, concerns, and/or comments please do not hesitate to contact us. We welcome any opportunity to speak to you. You may contact us by:
· Sending a note to school with your child.
· E mail (jniemi@bsd100.org) or (kbartley@bsd100.org)
· School phone 795-2364 Ext. 4509
Welcome again to second grade! We hope you are as excited as we are for the learning experiences that await your child.
Sincerely,
Jessica Niemi and Kate Bartley
Report Cards and Conferences
Second grade report cards are given out three times per year. Conferences are held three times in the year and notices will be sent home regarding conferences and times closer to the date.
Homework
On Monday, Wednesday and Friday your child will need to read 20 minutes on a reading calendar and choose one fitness activity from the week to do on the fitness calendar. Please sign or initial on both calendars to verify that your student completed the assignment. These calendars will be in sheet protectors in their yellow take home folder, and should remain in the folder for the entire month.
On Tuesday a math worksheet will be sent home and it is expected to be completed and returned by Wednesday morning.
On Thursday a spelling practice sheet will be sent home and it should be returned by Friday morning to help prepare your child for Friday's spelling test.
A spelling list is sent home every Monday. Please help your child study their spelling words several times throughout the week to prepare them for the test on Friday.
On Tuesday a math worksheet will be sent home and it is expected to be completed and returned by Wednesday morning.
On Thursday a spelling practice sheet will be sent home and it should be returned by Friday morning to help prepare your child for Friday's spelling test.
A spelling list is sent home every Monday. Please help your child study their spelling words several times throughout the week to prepare them for the test on Friday.
Reading
We use the Harcourt Trophies reading curriculum as well as supplemental materials. In this curriculum your students will read the same story every day of the week in order to enhance reading comprehension. During reading, students are organized into different reading groups and they meet with their reading groups from 8:45-9:45. They receive their reading grades from their reading teacher.
Math
We will be using the Everyday Math Series. Math homework will be sent home on Tuesdays. The homework will go along with the lessons that have been taught in class. It will be helpful for your child if you help them review the math homework and have your child explain what they are working on. Having your child teach you how to do something is the best form of learning. Please also take time to practice addition and subtraction flashcards with your child. Flashcards can be purchased at the Dollar Store! By second grade it is our goal that students will be able to recite math facts quickly and accurately.
This will be the first year that we will organize the students into math groups to best meet their learning needs. The groups will be reevaluated every trimester. Your child will receive their math grade from their math teacher.
This will be the first year that we will organize the students into math groups to best meet their learning needs. The groups will be reevaluated every trimester. Your child will receive their math grade from their math teacher.
Spelling
Every Monday your child will be given a new spelling list with spelling words from our reading series. Please keep the spelling list in the sheet protector in their take home folder so that it does not get lost. Try to practice the spelling words with your child every day. On Thursday your child will receive spelling homework so that they can be prepared for the spelling test every Friday.
Writing
Our classroom uses a “writer’s workshop” format to teach writing and we will be focusing on the 6+1 traits of writing: ideas, organization, voice, word choice, sentence fluency, conventions and presentation. The 6+1 traits is a researched based practice of teaching writing developed by Ruth Culham. Writer’s workshop often begins with a lesson or example on a particular trait. Students are then given time to “free write” in any style about any topic of their choice. Teachers will conference with students about their writing regularly and provide them with feedback to help them grow in all of the traits.
Science and Social Studies
Students will be switching classes for science and social studies. On Tuesday mornings and Thursday mornings from 10:50-11:30 am your child will go to Ms. Gorman’s room to have a social studies lesson. Your children will receive their social studies grades from Ms. Gorman. Topics covered during social studies include working together, communities, Illinois, our Earth/landforms, and government.
Science will be taught in their home classroom on Wednesday afternoons and Thursday mornings. Topics covered in science include the scientific method, animals, insects, penguins, oceans, properties of matter, color/light, and dinosaurs.
Science will be taught in their home classroom on Wednesday afternoons and Thursday mornings. Topics covered in science include the scientific method, animals, insects, penguins, oceans, properties of matter, color/light, and dinosaurs.
Other Useful Information
Graded work from the previous week will be sent home every Monday.
Grades: The grading system on the report card is based on a 1-4 number scale.
1=beginning to acquire the skill
2=progressing with the skill
3=proficient in the skill
4=exemplary in the skill.
Grades will be posted online weekly. Information will be sent home with directions on how to check your child's grades online. The grades you see will follow the grading scale above.
Fitness Policy: Piper school is working hard to encourage kids to be active and eat healthy. To promote this we will not allow food to be brought in for holiday parties or birthdays. If you would like to do something special, please feel free to donate a book to our classroom library instead.
Grades: The grading system on the report card is based on a 1-4 number scale.
1=beginning to acquire the skill
2=progressing with the skill
3=proficient in the skill
4=exemplary in the skill.
Grades will be posted online weekly. Information will be sent home with directions on how to check your child's grades online. The grades you see will follow the grading scale above.
Fitness Policy: Piper school is working hard to encourage kids to be active and eat healthy. To promote this we will not allow food to be brought in for holiday parties or birthdays. If you would like to do something special, please feel free to donate a book to our classroom library instead.
Behavior Policy
The expectations for our classroom are for students to:
1. Be here
2. Be ready
3. Be respectful4. Be kind5. Do their best
If students are not following these expectations they will receive a reminder and a warning of what will happen if they continue to not follow the expectation. If they continue to not follow the expectations they will lose the privilege of the activity they are doing and must begin another productive activity.
The entire school follows P.B.I.S. which stands for Positive Behavior Intervention Strategies. This policy encourages teachers to recognize students who are exhibiting positive behavior in order to encourage all students to exhibit similar behaviors. When a teacher recognizes a student following one of the school wide expectations they are given a “bee ticket” to reinforce the behavior. When entire classes are caught showing positive behavior, they are given a "big bee" ticket. The individual bee tickets will be used in a raffle on Friday afternoons. The big bee tickets are saved until the goal number of tickets is reached. The class then decides together how to celebrate.
1. Be here
2. Be ready
3. Be respectful4. Be kind5. Do their best
If students are not following these expectations they will receive a reminder and a warning of what will happen if they continue to not follow the expectation. If they continue to not follow the expectations they will lose the privilege of the activity they are doing and must begin another productive activity.
The entire school follows P.B.I.S. which stands for Positive Behavior Intervention Strategies. This policy encourages teachers to recognize students who are exhibiting positive behavior in order to encourage all students to exhibit similar behaviors. When a teacher recognizes a student following one of the school wide expectations they are given a “bee ticket” to reinforce the behavior. When entire classes are caught showing positive behavior, they are given a "big bee" ticket. The individual bee tickets will be used in a raffle on Friday afternoons. The big bee tickets are saved until the goal number of tickets is reached. The class then decides together how to celebrate.
