Ms. Polanski’s 2nd Grade ClassWelcome Parents!

Before We Begin

Sign up for a Fall conference Sign up for volunteer opportunities-fill

out volunteer form Look around the room Write your child and tell them your

hopes and dreams for them for this year

Welcome to Room 21!

Introduction University of MN (B.S., M.Ed.) Georgetown (TEFL) Hamline University Urban Learner Certificate

Over 13 years of elementary school teaching 3rd year in LCPS Experience teaching Pre-K-6 and adults Supervised student teachers and literacy

coaches.

Routines Morning Procedures

School starts at 7:50 so please make sure your child arrives on time.

If you know your child will be absent please call the absentee line (703-957-4391) or send a note or e-mail in advance.

Meals Snack - Nut Free 9:15ish Lunch 11:25-11:55 –Come and eat with your child!

Dismissal Buses start loading at 2:35. Car riders released at

2:40. Please send a note or e-mail about any changes.

Please do NOT send an e-mail if the change occurs after school starts just call the office and leave a message. (703-957-4390)

Classroom Expectations

We will have a calm, open, warm and safe environment so our brains can do their best work.

Our classroom rules are based on ROAR-Respectful, On Task, Act Safely, and be Responsible.

We have ROAR rules throughout the school

Classroom Opportunities

Students earn classroom dollars by asking good questions, doing extra research, following directions, offering solutions to problems, repeating something important from the announcements, etc

Students use their classroom dollars for many special things including reading to Arcola staff during DEAR (Drop Everything and Read), creating a flip chart for the class, checking out one of my books, stuffed animals or learning games overnight or for the weekend, teaching the class about a topic they researched, reading to a younger student, going on a mission to an upper grade etc.

ROAR Guidelines for Throughout the School

The Hallway The Cafeteria The Playground The Bathrooms The Bus

ROAR Rewards for the Whole School

Will be rewarded when the dragon’s belly is full.

The rewards will be determined by staff and students

ROAR Guidelines forSecond Grade

Snack Centers Transitions Carpet Desk

Dragon Bites 2nd grade

Rewards 15 minutes extra recess PJ Day Movie Stuffed Animal Day Crazy Hair Day Choose your seat in class day Show and Tell Day Board games in afternoon Free art in afternoon 15 minutes of Cool Math in the lab

Consequences

Students are expected to follow the school and classroom rules

Gentle reminders are given when needed If a student needs additional reminders

they may be fined classroom dollars along with a follow-up discussion when needed

Persistent behaviors will be discussed with parents and school administration

Our Daily Schedule Academic Blocks (Average Daily Time)

2-3 hours Language Arts reading, writing, word study, read aloud, shared reading

1 hour Math 45 minutes for Science or Social Studies

Specials PE ( Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday.) - tennis shoes Music (Wednesday and Thursday) Library (Tuesday) Computer Lab (Wednesday) Art (Friday) SEARCH and Guidance (EOW Monday.) Recess (daily for 15 minutes)

Curriculum Virginia SOL’s (web site)

9 week plans (web site)

Language Arts Balance Literacy Approach Readers Workshop: shared reading (poems and

readers theater), guided reading (flexible groups), independent reading and read alouds

Writers Workshop: generating ideas, develop independent and fluent writing, editing and revising skills

Word Study: understand patterns and spelling rules, recognize “oddballs” Spelling tests every other week

Curriculum Math

Math centers and manipulatives to improve and extend knowledge

Math To The Moon – math facts SME – computer based program individualized based

on student’s level Problem Solving – math journals

Socials Studies and Science VA SOL’s drives instruction 9 week plans Study guides are sent for tests

Grading Policy Assignments are scored with a 4/E, 3/M, 2/P, 1/B. 4/E = exceeds standards, 3/M = meets

standards, 2/P = making progress towards standard, 1/B = below standard These letters are not the same as the traditional A-F

report card

Effort is scored with O, S, N O = Outstanding, S = Satisfactory, N = Needs

Improvement

Grading Policy Please keep in mind that information about a

child’s achievement and development may be gathered in a number of ways. Some techniques are:

Observations Rubrics Discussions/conferences Work samples Class participation Formative and Summative Assessments County wide assessments (PALS an DRA)

Sample RubricStandard: Math SOL 2.4Learning Target: The student will count forward by 2s, 5s,

and 10s to 100 and count backwards by 10s starting from 100, as well as identify even and odd numbers.

4 The student will skip count forward and backwards using other multiples from various starting points, as well as explain how to identify even and odd numbers.

3 The student will count forward by 2s, 5s, and 10s to 100 and count backwards by 10s starting from 100, as well as identify even and odd numbers.

2 The student will count forward by 2s, 5s, and 10s to 100 starting at 2, 5, and 10.

1 The student will count forward by 10s to 100.

Report Cards

Report cards are issued 4 times a year. Conferences are held in the fall and by

request. LCPS uses a standard based report card Students are assessed on their academic

achievement and effort level. Reading Level (above, on, or below) Comment section will elaborate on student’s

strengths and weaknesses

Homework Look in agendas on Fridays-Homework is due the

following Friday-Students need to bring their homework, green folder and agenda every Friday

Reading (15 minutes nightly) Word Study (Fri. - Thurs.) spellingcity.com –

please see the web site for directions Math worksheet, ixl.com and Dream Box Science or Social Studies –part of the packet Projects – as assigned Options for extra credit each week

Communication Folders

Take Home Folders (green) Homework Notes to and from school

Thursday Folders (yellow) PTA and school information Student work

Agendas Homework - written instructions

Phone Calls Please leave a message in the office. (703-957-

4390) E-mail Updates-be sure that I have your current email Students blog

Communication E-mail - do NOT use for emergencies

cathy.polanski@lcps.org Website http://www.lcps.org/arcola

Upcoming Events Nine Week Plans Homework Assignments Classroom Schedule Grading Policy State SOL’s Curriculum Web Sites

Birthdays Birthdays

LCPS does not allow any food or non-food items to celebrate birthdays.

Student’s name will be announced on the morning announcements.

Students cannot pass out invitations at school.

Parents are welcome to donate a book to the Arcola library or our classroom library to honor your child’s birthday

Student of the Week Each student will have a

special week to design a poster with a book and reading focus (provided by me) and bring in items to share with the class.

The poster will be sent home the week they are class Vice President- a week before it is due.

Medication

If your child requires medication, please give it directly to our school nurse. The children are not allowed to give it to the nurse.

Children are NOT allowed to have medication in class. This includes cough drops.

Please volunteer whenever you have the time-students do better and the

teacher can differentiate even more .

Have students read to you for a few minutes in the morning.

Run a center or recess game Help with our expert unit or

special event Help with logistics

I’m looking forward to a great year!