Welcome to Curriculum Night!

Please sit in your child’s chair. We will begin promptly at 6:30

p.m.

While you are waiting, use the stationery to write him/her a note. Please leave it on your

child’s desk.

Purpose of this Evening• Introduction to curriculum, classroom

management and what you can expect in Second Grade.

*If you would like to discuss your child, please contact me to determine a day and time. Thank you!

Paperwork• Conference Sign-Up• Heart Power Sign-Up• Parent Volunteers

How to get in touch with me:

• Email: aprilsams@solonboe.org– Check email once a day

• Voicemail: 440-349-7757, ext. 5792– Check messages once a day– If calling about a bus change or pick-up change, please call

the office directly instead of leaving me a voicemail 440-349-6225

• Fall Conference: – I will send a reminder letter to you near conference time.

• Additional Conferences:– As needed, please email or call to schedule a time to meet.

A Little Bit About Me:• Graduated in 2005• Bachelor’s Degree in Early

Childhood• First full-time teaching position• Worked in Solon Schools for 3

years including long term assignments in grades 1,4,5, and 6.

Daily Schedule• 7:45-8:10 Bellwork• 8:10-10:10 Language Arts• 10:10-11:00 Special• 11:00-12:00 Recess/Lunch• 12:00-1:00 Math• 1:00-2:00 Science/Social Studies• 2:00-2:20 No New Instruction

Family Information System

• www.solonschools.org – Schools Lewis K-4 April Sams

• Calendar:– Upcoming assessments– Holidays– Field trips– Homework– Special events

• Class News and Photos• I Can Statements• Useful website links that can support your child’s

learning• Email access

Language Arts

• Reading• Writing• Word

Study

Reader’s Workshop• Mini-Lesson• Guided Reading• Buddy Reading• Independent Reading

Reader’s WorkshopMini-Lesson - Daily, brief, powerful,

whole group demonstrations about how reading works or how readers work.

• Example: We are learning to answer a “right-there” question.We are looking for facts, details or ideas found right in the text that answer a question.

Reader’s WorkshopIndependent Reading – Daily, silent,

sustained reading from a self-selected text. Students are expected to read “just right” books from a variety of genres, stay on task, and reflect upon their reading.

Reader’s WorkshopGuided Reading - groups are flexible and fluid.

Students are grouped according to needs and appropriate focus.

Teacher role:Teacher meets with small groups and provides descriptive feedback to students about their learning.

Student role:Students share their thinking and reflect on their success with the reading topic. They participate in an active discussion which incorporates comprehension, questioning, and higher-order thinking skills.

What is a “Just Right” book?

• Students that can effectively choose appropriate texts are less likely to abandon books and are more likely to spend extended time engaged in reading.

• A book is "just right" when a student chooses a purpose for reading and can the text matches that purpose.

Finding The "Just-Right" Book

• Easy Books (Downhill Books): Help children to read more smoothly and are fun to read aloud or silently.

– A favorite book that has been read multiple times is an easy book.

– Your child knows, can understand, and read almost every word.

– Your child reads the book easily and smoothly.

– Fun to read, but does not provide mental “exercise”.

Finding The "Just-Right" Book

• Just-Right Books (Flat Road Books): Just-right books help children learn the most as they provide just enough challenge. The child should be able to figure out most of the words and understand what is going on in the text.

– Your child is interested in the book. – Your child can tell you what is

happening in the story. – Your child has to occasionally reread

parts of the text to understand it. – There may be a few words on the page

that your child needs help reading. – Most reading is smooth-only

occasionally choppy.– Provide good mental exercise.

Finding The "Just-Right" Book

• Hard Books (Uphill Books): Hard books can do more harm than good. If your child selects a book that is too difficult for him/her to read, suggest reading later or read it to him/her.

– Your child is interested in this book. – Your child is confused about what is

happening. – Your child has difficulty understanding

the book even after reading passages. – Your child needs a lot of help to read

this book.– Feels exhausting.

Writer’s Workshop• Mini-Lesson

• Independent Writing

• Individual Writing Conferences

Writer’s WorkshopMini-lesson

Daily, brief, powerful, whole group demonstrations about how writing works.

Example: One powerful introduction strategy is to use the “Magic of 3”.

Writer’s WorkshopIndependent Writing

Students write on self-selected topics or teacher-directed topics. Students keep a writing folder and writer’s notebook.

Writer’s Workshop

Guided Small Group Instruction Teacher meets with small groups of students to teach or re-teach about some aspect of writing that represents a common need for the group. Children apply the concept into their own writing.

Writer’s WorkshopConferencing

Teacher meets with individual students to give descriptive feedback on one aspect of writing. Students are expected to act on this feedback to improve some aspect of their writing.

Writer’s WorkshopGroup Sharing/Author’s Chair

Students listen to writing and offer feedback in a three point discussion— for example: positive comments, suggestion for improvement, and a question for student author.

Word Study• Picture Sorts• Word Sorts• Word Hunts• Word Wall• Assessments

Word StudyHow can parents help their children

with spelling?

• Encourage your child to reread his/her work. Have your child identify words that do not look correct. This is the first step to better spelling. Encourage your child to apply the spelling patterns he/she knows.

• Help your child review or learn our list of sight words. These words do not necessarily fit into any spelling pattern, but are extremely important in daily writing. Children will be expected to spell these words correctly in their writing.

Math• Individual and group

problem solving• Aligned with state

standards• Math integrated into real

life• Math Advantage• First in Math

Math• Fluency with basic addition and subtraction facts• Add and subtract two and three digit addition• Count money and make change up to $1.00• Understand common fractions• Exposure to concepts of multiplication and division• Explore 2-D and 3-D shapes• Measure length, weight, and capacity in U.S. and metric

units• Create and extend number and shape patterns• Create a pattern that follows the same rule as an

existing pattern using different objects• Describe a rule for a pattern• Create charts, tables, and graphs to represent data• Make predictions and draw conclusions from data• Study probability to determine the likelihood of an

outcome

Science• The Universe• Seasonal

Changes (Weather)

• Light• Sound• Ohio Habitats

Social Studies• Citizenship Rights

and Responsibilities

• Government• Economics• History• Geography• People in

Societies

Grading• # Correct• Follow-Up Given as Needed• Positive Feedback• Rubrics• No Letter Grades• Common Assessments

Report Cards• Reflective of state standards• Given every nine weeks• On a continuum based on your

child’s development

Common Assessments• Expectations are the same of all

students.• Reading, Writing, Math, Science,

Social Studies

Classroom Management

• RESPECT• Praise• Pennies• Class store• Break Check Off

Homework• Packet• Pacing/Routine• Due Fridays• Practice• Strengthening

Skills

Daily Procedures

• Notes, Money, Bus Passes• Take-Home Folders• Classroom Jobs• Homework• Supplies• Book Orders- checks only• Birthday Treats

PTA• Parties• Assemblies• Book Fairs• Special Events

THANK YOU FOR COMING AND SUPPORTING US!