Welcome to Second Grade!
Disney II Open House
Room 208 and Room 210
Our Goals
- Nurture children’s identities as life-long
learners
- Build independence and problem-
solving skills
- Create happy memories
- Maintain strong home/school
partnership
Behavior Expectations
Traffic Light System Green: Regularly following class rules Yellow: A warning was given, and
negative behavior continued Red: Negative behavior continued
further. Note home.
Green Achievers Rewards students for good choices Every Friday
ReadingReader’s Workshop- Each student reads books at their independent reading level (Just Right books)
Our goal for students is not just reading the words;
- Making meaning- Slowing down to become thoughtful, active
readers.- Growing a love of reading- Preparing students for future academic life of
interacting with many different texts. Independent Reading, Partner Reading, Book
Clubs, Guided Reading, Read Alouds
Read AloudThe National Reading Panel found that “the single most important activity for building the background knowledge required for success in reading is reading aloud to children.” This applies at home and at school. (Jim Trelease, The Read Aloud Handbook) Benefits:
› Equates reading with pleasure› Expands vocabulary› Strengthens reading comprehension› Models fluent reading› Exposes students to a variety of subjects and
genres that helps build literary knowledge.› Instills identity of a reader in a child
Other Way to Help Your Reader at Home
Library Trips
Nightly “check in” after reading time
› “Read me your favorite part.”
Audio Books
Cozy reading spot
Second Grade Math Big Year in Math!
› Fluency with math facts through 20› 2-3 digit addition and subtraction› Reading/writing numbers up through 10,000’s› Telling time to the nearest five minute› Adding and subtracting money› Extended/Open Response
Focus on strategy, not algorithms.› CCSS stress critical thinking, rather than
memorization of pencil-and-paper algorithms. Spiral Curriculum- mastering 1st -2nd grade skills,
introducing 3rd grade+ concepts.
Math “Do’s” Do: Play games and talk about math in the real world. Go
grocery shopping together, count change, bake and cook, etc.
Reinforce addition and subtraction facts for the numbers 1 through 10. The MOST effective way to do this is through games, not flash cards or workbooks.
Ask your children to explain how they came up with the answer.
Practice estimating to develop measurement sense: Try estimating the number of windows in your house- then count and see.
Practice Mental Math (“Start at 37, count by 10s”)
Math “Don’t’s”Don’t: Please, do not teach your child to use the “carrying”
addition algorithm. Please, do not introduce the “borrowing” subtraction
algorithm.
These are quick and efficient ways to add/subtract, and we all learned to subtract that way. However, it often makes children less flexible with their thinking about numbers. Children who are introduced to this algorithm too soon have a much harder time understanding what addition and subtraction “mean”.
Writer’s Workshop
Daily writing time Units- narrative, informational, opinion,
poetry. Revising and editing taught as important
parts of the writing process Some invented spelling is encouraged.
Fundations words are expected to be spelled correctly.
Writing Celebrations at the end of each unit
Small Moment Stories
All About Books
Writing About
Reading
Poetry
How to Help Your Writer at Home
“Writing Center”› Different types of paper, stationary, blank
books, postcards, envelopes, pens, markers, etc.
Spur writing ideas at home Notice good writing in read alouds Share writing with relatives Writing check-ins
› “What are you working on in WW?”
Science/Social Studies
Our school will work on units of study in each area for each marking period.
Units include: Economics and Growth in a Community, Life Cycles, Neighborhoods Across Chicago, Force and Motion, Solar System.
Students will explore content areas through literacy, art, music, and technology.
Each unit with end with a culminating activity to celebrate our learning.
Technology Integration Kid Blog
› Sharing learning› Writing for a real audience› Family involvement› Archiving student work
iPads› Creation-focused (Movies, pictures,
ebooks, blogging, etc)› Integration with Mr. Bartel
Homework The red homework folder AND Book Buddy
bag will be sent home each night.
Nightly homework (unless otherwise noted) includes:› Reading for 20 minutes (Ask your teacher for an
optional Reading Log)› Any Guided Reading homework (Check Book Buddy
Bag)› Math worksheet› Fundations practice- due every 1-2 weeks; Work at your
own pace.
Allow students to attempt homework independently. Then, go over it with them and revise as needed.
Not meant to be challenging; Contact teacher
Teaching ResponsibilityA big part of second grade is transitioning towards independence. With that in mind, here are some things that second graders will be responsible for at school: Turning in homework and notes from home. Packing up their folder at school and bringing it back
in the morning Book Buddy Bag + guided reading book Afterschool schedule (Chess club, etc) Peak of the Week Journal Kazoos on Music days Saying goodbye to teacher at dismissal Actions- apologies and making it right
Grades A = Exceeding CCSS for 2nd grade/Advanced (90%+)
› Consistently uses major skills or processes with ease and confidence in completing required grade level and above academic tasks
› Consistently uses knowledge to skillfully communicate complicated ideas and concepts
› Consistently completes and turns in accurate, excellent classwork and homework
B = Above CCSS/Proficient (80-89%)› Uses major skills or processes with very few errors in
completing required grade level appropriate academic performance tasks
› Demonstrates the ability to use knowledge to effectively communicate difficult ideas
› Completes and turns in above average classwork and homework
C = Meeting CCSS for 2nd grade/Proficient (70-79%)› Demonstrates average uses of major skills or
processes with some errors in completing required grade level appropriate academic performance tasks
› Demonstrates average ability to use required knowledge to communicate important ideas
› Completes and turns in satisfactory classwork and homework
D = Below CCSS for 2nd grade/Basic (60-69%)› Makes a number of errors when using major skills and
processes required to complete academic performance tasks
› Demonstrates below average understanding of grade level appropriate content standards, strands, and benchmarks
› Classwork and homework often have errors and/or are incomplete
Absences and Tardiness
Please send in a note or email when your child is absent.
Monitor your child’s absences on Parent Portal, especially at quarter’s end.
Unexcused absences make students ineligible for honor rolls.
We start our learning promptly at 8:30. Please be on time!
Birthdays! On your child’s birthday, a family member
is welcome to come in and read a book to the class to celebrate.
No food treats, please
Birthday Party Invitation Policy› Invitations can be passed out at school ONLY
when a whole class is invited (or all girls/all boys).
› Small group invitations should distributed outside of school.
Family Involvement! Math Explorations Fridays 11:15-12:15 Mystery Readers Fridays 9:10-9:30 Field Trips Guest Speakers Home-Links- urgent!
› Pop in and disassemble workbooks for our daily Math homework.
Celebrations! › Writing Celebrations› Culminating Activities
Thank You! Our goal this year is to increase your
child’s confidence and independence in school.
We want children to love themselves, school, and learning.
We are building a community of learners in second grade and we are glad you are a part of our community!
Please check website for weekly newsletters and school information!