Back to School Night 2014-2015

1. Back to School Night 2014-2015 Mrs. Sinkovich Room 17 2nd Grade

2. Introduction • 25 years teaching experience with the majority of my experience in lower grades. • Taught grades 1-4 • Bachelor’s degree in Child Development from SDSU. • Multiple Subject Teaching Credential (SDSU) • G.A.T.E. / English Language Development certified.

4. Homework • The weekly homework reflects what your child is learning or reviews what your child has learned.  Your child will have spelling words to learn and spelling activities to complete, reading comprehension, writing activities, handwriting, and possibly other pages that go with our Social Studies, Health, or Science units. • The homework packet is due on Friday. • In addition to the packet, your child will receive math homework Mon.-Thurs. that must be completed and returned the following day.  This math reinforces the lesson we did that day in class. • Folders:  Each student needs to bring a homework folder to school each day. I can provide a folder for your child if he/she needs one

5. School to Home Communication • Class webpage: sandi.net/gage • Shutterfly (coming soon) • Weekly Progress reports: sent home every Monday for the week before • Email: msinkovich@sandi.net • Come by before or after school • Schedule conferences: please sign up • Parent/Teacher conferences (November 17th-20th) • All minimum days that week

6. Volunteers • Classroom-working with small groups, individual students, grading, projects, etc. • Teach a lesson to the class • Bring in your expertise/culture • PTA • School-wide events • Volunteers must have T.B. clearance. (Valid for four years) and yearly clearance through the office

7. Class Schedule

8. Common Core Resource • http://vimeo.com/51933492 • http://www.corestandards.org/ • http://www.sandi.net/Page/61304 • Principal Burns will be holding an additional Common Core meeting for parents that will go more in-depth.

9. Common Core Key Shifts in English Language Arts • Regular practice with complex texts and their academic language • Reading, writing, and speaking grounded in evidence from texts, both literary and informational • Building knowledge through content-rich nonfiction

10. Literacy: Reading • Please encourage your child to select a book at their level and read until completion. • Balance reading between fiction and non-fiction. • Literacy interim assessments from district • Scores will be recorded on weekly progress reports

11. Common Core Key Shifts in Math • Greater focus on fewer topics- Understanding vs. coverage • In grades K–2: Concepts, skills, and problem solving related to addition and subtraction of whole numbers up to 100. • Coherence: Linking topics and thinking across grades • Rigor: Pursue conceptual understanding, procedural skills and fluency, and application with equal intensity

12. Math • www.pearsonsuccessnet.com • Access textbook, learning videos, quizzes, and assessments. Coming soon. • Homework: Current topic and lesson- Reteach and Practice/Enrichment. • Topic Tests: at end of each topic. • Scores will be recorded on weekly progress reports • Math interim assessments from district one per unit. • Scores will be recorded on weekly progress reports • Engage New York- Lesson Exit Tickets

13. Science/Social Studies • Science Strands include physical science (balance and motion), life science (insects and plants life cycle), earth science (pebbles, sand, and silt) and investigation and experimentation. • Students will complete an Animal Report where they choose an animal and study the animal’s life cycle and habitat. • In Social Studies, students in grade 2 explore the lives of actual people who make a difference in their everyday lives. • Students will complete a Heritage Report where they study the country their family originally came from and explore this country’s customs and traditions. • These content areas are taught separately and integrated into the literacy block, as appropriate.

14. Technology • Android Device (coming soon) • ActiveEngage, an important component of the i21 classroom, is the student response system. Each student device includes the software that allows students to respond electronically in real time to teacher questions, quizzes or discussions. • Access to Pearson, Raz Kids, My Big Campus, AdaptedMind, and other academic websites.

15. Behavior Policy • Every student has the right to learn in a safe, productive, and clean environment. • Every student is expected to participate, and pay attention. • Positive behavior system individual tickets, team points, a bean jar, and Focus Friday. • Individual tickets can be used for a coupons that include bring your stuffed animal to school, wear your flip-flops/slippers/hat/pajamas in the class, trip to the treasure box, or lunch with the teacher.  • Donations to our treasure box would greatly be appreciated • I use a colored card system in our room to monitor behavior: Green=Great day, Orange=Warning, Yellow=Time Out in classroom, Blue=Time Out in another classroom, Red=Parent contact. • Please review the weekly progress report with your child each week

16. Differentiated Instruction • Through Content: reading text, or math enrichment/levels • Through Process: project based learning, high level inquiry, or dimensions of depth and complexity. • Through Small Group Instruction: Guided reading, math groups, or cooperative groups projects.

17. Book Orders • Scholastic Book Orders will come home approximately every other month. • Preferred method of payment: A check made out to Scholastic Reading Club or cash. • Book orders can also be made online: Access Code: HFRLB • First order is due this Friday, 9/26. • Book orders should arrive 2 weeks after the closing date for ordering books.

18. Thank you! • Thank you for coming tonight and being invested in your child’s education. • I am looking forward to an exciting year of learning with your child. • Be sure to sign in, sign up for your parent conference, take a volunteer form. -Mrs. Shelly Sinkovich