Welcome to Second Grade!

Ms. Neighbors’ Class

A Little About Me

Texas by choice “Three” Children

Education

Bachelor of Science M.Ed. Educational Administration Licensed Teacher

Goals

Students’ Social and Academic Success Student and Parent Communication

Enjoying Second Grade!

Arrival and Dismissal

School hours are 8:00 a.m. – 3:20 p.m. TARDY at 8:05 a.m. If there is ever a change in how your child is

going home, please send a note! Any walker or biker in K-2 must be

accompanied by an older sibling or adult Absences – All students who miss a day of

school are required to return with a written explanation of the absences within 48 hours.

Red “Take Home” Folder

Brought to school and taken home M-F Reading log within a sheet protector

– Student’s responsibility to read, write the title of the book, and ask parent for parent signature (you know your child, he or she may need reminders)

• Research Things to look for on the left

– Homework, notes from me, notes from you, conduct card,

• things to be returned to school Things to look for on the right

– important information from District, School, PTO, or Faculty and Staff

• things to keep at home (do not return)

Home Expectations

Students read Monday-Thursday for 20 minutes at the appropriate level! (fill out reading log in red homework folder)

Parents sign and students return reading log in red homework folder Tuesday - Friday.

Students math homework needs to be completed and turned in by Friday in red homework folder.

Students complete homework and both students and parents initial homework packet.

The Fall Creek Elementary Community

Our school is a community. In our community, we have expectations to help us be successful.

Our Cardinal Creed (school and classroom expectations) are to :

– Be Safe

– Be Respectful

– Be Responsible

Behavior

Reward system– Classroom

• Brags

– Table Points

• Reward

– Personal

• Best Behavior Catalog

Negative consequences– Verbal warning, minutes off recess, call/note home, classroom

behavior sheet, or office referral• Consequence depends on the action

Our Daily Schedule 7:50-8:00 Organization 8:00-8:20 Morning Meeting 8:20-9:10 Math Investigations 9:10-10:00 Specials 10:00-10:45 CATCH Break/Math Fluency 10:45-11:10 Word Study 11:10-12:15 Reading 12:20-1:20 Lunch/recess/read aloud 1:20-2:10 Writing 2:10-3:00 Science/social studies 3:00-3:10 Organization 3:10 Dismissal

C.A.T.C.H. Break

Birthday Treats

Store bought treats are allowed from home for birthdays.

You may purchase a snack such as ice cream for each student from the cafeteria.

Fall Creek Policy – No Treat Bags. If you have party invitations you would like

given out, we can only pass them out if there is one for each classmate.

Lunch and Recess

Lunch: 11:15-11:45 Recess ends at 11:45-12:05 You are welcome to have lunch with your child.

– We have special tables for parents and their child in the main hallway. (Student/Parents only)

Please remember to sign in at the front office. Monthly menus can be downloaded on Fall Creek’s

Website Cafeteria Prices: Breakfast - $1.40, Lunch - $2.20 Accounts for “extras”, snacks, and ice cream may be

“frozen” at parents’ discretion.

Our Monday Schedule

7:50-8:05        Jobs 8:05-8:15        Meeting

8:15-8:45        Reading lesson 8:45-9:15        JRR/guided group 9:15-9:45        Workstations/guided group 9:45-10:00       Read/Snack 10:00-11:15     Math  11:15-12:15     Lunch - Recess 12:15-1:10       EE/Writing 1:15-1:35         Word Study 1:35-2:10         Science 2:10-3:05         Specials

Our Tuesday Schedule

7:50-8:05        Morning organization 8:05-8:15        Community Meeting

8:15-8:45        Reading lesson 8:45-9:15        JRR/guided group 9:15-9:45        Reading Workstations/guided group 9:45-10:00      Read Aloud/Snack 10:00-11:15    Math  11:15-12:15    Lunch - Recess 12:20-1:15      Specials 1:15-2:05        EE/Writing  2:05-2:25        Word Study 2:25-3:05        Science/Soc. Studies

Wednesday, Thursday, FridaySchedule

7:50-8:05        Organization 8:05-8:15        Meeting

8:15-8:45        Reading 8:45-9:15        JRR/guided group 9:15-9:45        Reading Workstations /guided group 9:45-10:00      Read/Snack 10:00-11:15    Math  11:15-12:15    Lunch Rec. 12:15-1:10      EE/Writing 1:15-2:05        Specials 2:05-2:25        Word Study 2:25-3:05        Science/S.S.

Thursday PLC: 2:05-3:00

Specials Schedule

Please see emailed classroom calendar– A: Library

– B: P.E.

– C: Computer

– D: P.E.

– E: Computer

– F: P.E.

– G: Music

Reading

Balanced literacy approach: Read-Alouds Multiple genres, poetry, biography, etc. Just Right Reading Shared Reading Guided Reading Groups Reading Workshop

– **The more your child reads, the better the comprehension – proven by research

Reading

Balanced literacy approach: Read-Alouds Poetry Just Right Reading Shared Reading Guided Reading Groups Reading Workshop

Writing

Writer’s Workshop incorporates: The writing process Writing exercises Editing / Revising lessons, expectations

Spelling/Word Study

Phonetic principles for spelling words and high frequency words will be emphasized as well as the consonant, vowel pattern

Spelling lists usually come home every other Monday

List will show phonetic PATTERN (CVC) Test will be given at the end of two weeks The test will look for application of the

phonetic principles being studied

Mathematics

Investigations Word problems Logical thinking Math processes and reasoning Memorization of basic addition facts with

sums to 18 Money The clock Number of the day

Math

Investigations Word problems Logical thinking Math processes and

reasoning Memorization of basic

addition facts with sums to 18

Science and Social Studies

The Scientific Process Seasons, matter, weather, living things,

and our environment

Social Studies- How things work together (communities, citizenship, government, natural resources, and economics)

Tutorials

An email will be made informing parents when tutoring is suggested.

Tutoring begins promptly at 7:30. I will pick up your child at the door at 7:25, if he or she is a car rider or biker or walker. If your child is a bus rider, and is getting breakfast at school, they will go to the front of the breakfast line and ask for a disposable tray and come directly to class.

Standards-Based Report Cards

•Similar to kindergarten and 1st grade report cards

•Documents academic growth

•Provides specific information about what students know and are able to do

•Success is determined by improvement over time

Reading the Standards-Based Report Card Documenting Mastery

– Teachers take the work that the student completes and then evaluate it based on a rubric. The rubric score will provide specific information about where students are in the process of learning the standard.

Scoring Grid for 2nd Grade Report Cards

4Advanced

3Proficient

2Basic

1Below Basic

Standard Consistently meets and

often exceeds.

Regularly meets.

Beginning to meet.

Working below grade

level.

Errors in Work

Rare to none Limited Many N/A

Teacher Support

Rarely needs teacher support

to meet standard.

Works independently

Occasionally needed.

Demonstrates proficiency.

Frequently needed.

Strong instructional

support needed.

If the standard is…..

To bake a cake.

4Advanced

3Proficient

2Basic

1Below Basic

Ingredients

All ingredients used; measured exactly;

used all natural ingredients; no substitutions.

All ingredients used; no

substitutions; measured exactly.

All ingredients used; made a few

substitutions; measurement not

exact.

Missing ingredients; made substitutions; did

not measure exactly.

Appearance

Decorated cake above and beyond

expectations; added a second layer of

cake; candles; used several icing techniques.

Iced cake; candles on cake.

Iced cake; no candles.

No icing; no decorations; cake

did not rise appropriately.

Directions

Followed exactly; needed no support to

complete cake.

Followed directions; asked

few questions; needed little assistance.

Attempted to follow directions;

had many questions;

needed frequent support.

Did not know how to begin; had

many questions; needed constant

help.

Portfolios

Your child will have a portfolio that is used to collect a sampling of work. Some work will be sent home to you for review but most work will remain in the portfolio that is housed in the classroom.

Report Card

At the end of the grading period, your child will get a report card. Your child will receive a score of 4, 3, 2, or 1 on each of the standards listed. This will give you information about how your child is progressing in mastering the standard. If an area is shaded in, that particular standard is not taught during that grading period.

Work Habits & Conduct

Quarters

1 2 3 4

Work & Study Habits

Uses time wisely

Stays on task

Follows written directions

Follows oral directions

Listens attentively

Completes work carefully & neatly

Organizes work area & materials

Works at a steady pace & avoids making careless mistakes

If an item is not marked it is not applicable at the time.

+ Consistently demonstrates at independent level

√ Demonstrates with support

- Needs improvement

Rubric used for evaluating student:

Work Habits & Conduct

If an item is not marked it is not applicable at the time.

+ Consistently demonstrates at independent level

√ Demonstrates with support

- Needs improvement

CitizenshipQuarters

1 2 3 4

Follows rules

Interacts appropriately with others

Accepts responsibility

Demonstrates self-control

Respects others and their property

Is gaining independence

Works democratically with others in a group

Rubric used for evaluating student:

Questions or Comments

Together we are successful.– It will be a fun adventure!

Reading

**The more your child reads, the better he/she will become!

Word Study

A list will be sent home on Mondays. Students will be tested on Thursday after working with the pattern for two weeks.

Writing

Writing occurs in all subject areas. Writing Workshop

English

The correct use of punctuation, capitalization, and parts of speech will be taught and reinforced through writing.

Grammar will also be taught traditionally when needed.

Science/Social Studies

The 4th grade teachers are requesting a $5.00 lab/activity fee to supplement any special materials the children use.

Mathematics

Concepts we will be working on:

Handwriting

Students are expected to be proficient in cursive handwriting and use it for daily work.

Homework

Students are expected to complete homework Monday thru Thursday and to bring it back the next day.

Tutoring

We will not request tutoring before school unless we see a real need. We make every attempt to tutor students using alternative resources.

Progress Reports and Report Cards Progress Reports

– Each child will receive a Progress Report 4 to 5 weeks into the grading period (except 1st 9 weeks)

Report Cards– sent home every 9 weeks

**Please sign and return

STAAR

State of Texas Academic Achievement of Readiness– Writing in March

– Reading and Math the last week of April

The tested objectives are taught in the course of daily lessons because the test is a criterion-based test. Occasionally, you will see STAAR related papers coming home in the graded paper folder. We spend several months teaching the students how to take the test.

Homework Folder--red

This folder should come home nightly and will contain the math homework, word study, daily planner, and reading log along with any other assignments that need to be completed.

Take Home Folder--blue

The blue folder is sent home on Tuesday of each week

Conduct

Fall Creek Expectations:– We are safe.– We are respectful.– We are responsible.

Weekly conduct marks will be based on these expectations.

Arrival and Dismissal

Arrival-– school doors open at 7:30 am– stay in cafeteria until 7:50

Dismissal-– released to dismissal rooms at 3:07– car riders are released at 3:10– Walkers, bike riders, and bus riders are

dismissed at 3:20

Book Orders

When ordering books please make the CHECK out to the SCHOLASTIC BOOK COMPANY for the amount of the purchase.

Classroom Parties

Winter party and Valentine’s Day

Medications

A note and the medication are to be given to the nurse..

Dress Code

Straps on shirts must be 3 fingers wide (no spaghetti straps).

Arm holes on boys’ shirts cannot hang down low, but sleeveless shirts are acceptable.

No cut-up jeans. No colored hair (crazy colors after carnivals). Tennis shoes with backs must be worn for PE. Shorts should reach the finger tips.

Explanation of the Homework Policy

Students should not spend more than 90 minutes per night. This time should be budgeted in the following manner.

15 minutes – looking for assignment

11 minutes – calling a friend for the assignment

23 minutes – complaining that the teacher is mean and just does not like kids

8 minutes – in the bathroom

10 minutes – getting a snack

7 minutes – checking the TV guide

6 minutes – telling parents that the teacher never explained the assignment

10 minutes – sitting at the kitchen table waiting for Mom or Dad to do the assignment

Contact Information

Please do not hesitate to contact me concerning your child…– Email: dana.neighbors@humble.k12.tx.us– Phone #: 281-641-3430

Humble ISD Websitehttp://www.humble.k12.tx.us/

Fall Creek Website: Humble - Fall Creek – Teacher Websites – Dana Neighbors