Welcome to Ms. Brown’s Second Grade

1. Welcome to Ms. Brown’s Second Grade As you come in please: Sign in Fill out when you would like your child to be Star of the Week. Find your child’s seat On YELLOWnote card fill out contact information On ORANGEnote card fill out concerns I should know about your child On PINKnote card follow the directions

2. Introduction • Background information • Philosophy • Blue Folder • Schedule • Homework • Classroom Environment • Shining Star • Core curriculum • Assessments • Technology • Field Trips • Volunteers • Contact Info. • Conferences • Questions

3. A Little Bit About Me • Grew up in Jeffco, went to school in Jeffco, and now I am teaching in Jeffco • Graduated from Metropolitan State College • Graduated from Colorado Christian University • Student taught at Sierra 2nd grade • Taught 3rd grade at South Lakewood • 1st year teaching at Sierra • I’m here because I want to make adifference

4. My Philosophy Will Focus On: • CURIOSITY • STUDENT INTERESTS and STRENGTHS • LIFE LONG SUCCESS • MOTIVATION and SUPPORT • Meeting students NEEDS • DIFFERENTIATED lessons • CHALLENGES • SAFETY • RISKTAKING • PURPOSEFUL lessons • REAL world experiences • REFLECTION • CHOICES in what we learn and how • COLLABORATION in learning and planning • TECHNOLOGY and LEARNINGSTRATEGIES • The PROCESS rather then just the PRODUCT • The LEARNER

5. Blue Folder Overview • Brochure • Pink Literacy packet • Blue Math packet • Rubric • ABC’s for Parents • Scholastic Information

6. Scholastic News Scholastic http://teacher.scholastic.com/clubs/routing.asp

7. Schedule • 8:55 ~ Welcome Students and DEAR Time • 9:15 ~ Independent Journal and Guided Reading • 10:15 ~ Healthy Snack • 10:30 ~ Writing • 11:40 ~ Lunch and Recess • 12:20 ~ Read Aloud • 12:30 ~ Math • 1:25 ~ Second Recess • 1:40 ~ Read Aloud and Second Healthy Snack • 1:50 ~ Integrated Studies • 2:40 ~ Clean up • 2:45 ~ Specials • 3:35 ~ Dismissal

8. Homework • Printed in pink • Assigned on Friday • Due every Friday • WEB Reports • Math Folders

9. Classroom Environment • Safe • Nurturing • Structured • Clear Expectations and Responsibilities • Clear Rules • Individual and group behavioral plan • Conduct Code Book • Sierra Saber Tooth Rules * Our classroom is a place where students can collaborate and take risks which is a major part of learning

10. It’s Your Week To Shine Favorite color, food, movie TV show, subject in school, book, song etc. Things that make you happy Sports and hobbies Family, friends, pets and a picture of you! Favorite vacation or memory Something interesting -Write descriptions and add pictures -Write a letter -Come join your child for lunch -Peers will write warm and fuzzy’s

11. Reading Curriculum • Home reading bags • Reading strategies within different genres • Work on comprehension, reading for meaning, and enjoyment • Guided reading groups at instructional level • Individual reading conferences • Individual reading, partner reading, shared reading, and read alouds. • The Big Shoe • Home reading for 20 minutes every night

12. Writing Curriculum • Six traits + 1 (conventions, voice, sentence fluency, word choice, organization and presentation) • Writing journals • Writing baggies • Small moments, fiction, non-fiction, letters and poetry • The Big Shoe Story Retell

13. Math Curriculum • Investigations • Modeling using manipulatives • Student exploration • Activities are authentic, open-ended, hands-on • Large group, small group, and individual • End of unit assessment • Math folder – for math homework only! • Sent home throughout the week. • Homework will not be returned, but signed off if completed. • Every 5 signatures = 5 marbles

14. Science Curriculum • Scientific Process: (question, identify what you know, construct a hypothesis, test hypothesis, analyze data and share results) • 3 units of study designed for small groups: • Investigating plants • Earth materials (rocks and minerals) • Investigation sound

15. Social Studies Curriculum • Notable people • Notable symbols • Notable holidays • Civics • Economics • Geography • Timelines

16. Assessments • Pre and Post for reading, writing, math, science and social studies • Ongoing formal and informal • Spelling Test every Thursday • Addition and Subtraction facts • Dibels • DRA2 • Bear

17. Computer Lab • One time per week • Basic technology skills • Integrate curriculum with technology • Practice skills on computer center in the classroom

18. Field Trips • Need volunteers • We will rotate parents • Pay admission • We may ride bus or ask for drivers • First field trip will be to the Arvada Center

19. Classroom Volunteers • Please fill out the volunteer agreement • Sign up on the calendar outside the classroom • Volunteers needed for: • Math organization • Curriculum organization • Reading to the class • Small group instruction • Field trips • Holidays • Craft organization

20. Little Bit More • LMC once a week • Set up a meeting place with your after school child so there is no confusion

21. How to Contact Me • Voicemail – check a few times per day • E-mail – check few times per day • Friday folder • Math folder • Newsletter – once a month • Notes home with students/ to school with student • Conferences

22. “All children need a laptop. Not a computer, but a human laptop. Moms, dads, grannies and grandpas, aunts, uncles – someone to hold them, read to them and teach them. Loved ones who will embrace them and pass on the ones who will pass to the next generation their expectations of them, their hopes, and their dreams.” -General Colin L. Powell Founder of America’s Promise – The Alliance for Youth

23. Conferences October 14th and 15th (Wednesday and Thursday) Please sign up for the time you want outside of the Library.

24. And Away We Go! I am thrilled and honored to have your children in my class. I want to assure you that each child will be challenged, and we will all grow as learners together. Any Questions?