Welcome to Second Grade

Welcome to Second Grade Mrs. Mize Mrs. Johnson Mrs. Tingle Mrs. Williams Mrs. Bruner Ms. Fischer Mrs. Warren

Welcome Parents If you would like to sign up for our Monday, October 10thParent Conference Day, please contact your child’s teacher. Thank you! Welcome

We LOVE Our Volunteers! • Photocopying • At home projects • Bulletin Boards • Other projects as needed A background check is required for all volunteers. Whether you plan to help out in the classroom or go on field trips, we must have your name on the approved volunteer list. We always appreciate yourinvolvement and help! To complete a background check, please visit www.friscoisd.org/back/forms.htm#volunteer

Science and Social Studies • Daily Science activities • Lots of discovery with the Scientific Method • Research skills and reporting • Social Studies integrated through Language Arts

Science • Matter and Energy (Weeks 1-8) • Lab Safety, Scientific Method, Solids and Liquids, Flexibility, and Changes to Physical Properties • Force, Motion and Energy (Weeks 9-16) • Heat Energy, Sound, Light Energy, and Magnets • Organisms and Environment (Weeks 17-26) • Meal Worm Life Cycle, Needs of Animals, Food Chain, Migration, Hibernation, Adaptations of Animals, Needs/Parts of Plants, and Forests • Earth and Space (Weeks 27-37) • Rocks, Water Properties and Sources, Natural and Manmade Resources, Weather, Seasons, Water Cycle, and the Moon’s Appearance

Social Studies • First Nine Weeks • Our Local Community, Past to Present • Second Nine Weeks - American Citizenship and Government • Third Nine Weeks -Our Country Throughout History • Fourth Nine Weeks -Our Environment/Working Together

Math • Manipulative Based Program • Problem Solving • Flexible Grouping • Math Reflection Journal • Computation Games (dice, dominoes, flash card games, etc.) • Individualized instruction through centers • Math Fact Practice

Math • Cluster 1 (5 Weeks) • Fact Families • Number Lines • Addition/Subtraction Strategies • Cluster 2 (7 Weeks) • 100 Chart • Place Value • Addition/Subtraction • Cluster 3 (7 Weeks) • Fractions • Money • Cluster 4 (6 Weeks) • Patterns • Paired Numbers • Multiplication/Division (concrete) • Cluster 5 (3 Weeks) • Graphs • Probability • Cluster 6 (3 Weeks) • Geometry • Cluster 7 (5 Weeks) • measurement

UPS √

Reading • Guided Reading/Flexible Grouping- Children read books on their own levels • Books will come home daily. Some nights there might be an activity. • Reading reflection through journal writing during Reader’s Workshop • Literacy Centers • Read Aloud • Shared Reading • Bubble Gum Reading Club

Reading • Author/Novel Studies • Jan Brett • Tomie dePaola • Frog and Toad • Boxcar Children Comprehension Skills story elements context clues sequence of events main idea problem/solution fantasy/reality drawing conclusions compare/contrast non-fiction reading strategies form generalizations cause/effect making inferences summarization

Good Reading Comprehension 90-94% Accuracy Fluency

Language Arts • Includes poetry, reading, spelling, word work, writing, grammar, and handwriting • Spelling words come home on Monday • Spelling Checks and Sentence Dictation on Friday • Writer’s Workshop • Handwriting without Tears

Language ArtsWriting • writing a complete sentence • expanding a sentence • choosing a topic • narrowing a topic (Small Moments) • writing a topic sentence • adding details • staying on topic • organization (sequencing, strong leads, closing statements) • “How-To” writing • compare/contrast writing • word choice (senses, verbs, literary devices) • sentence fluency • voice • narrative writing using the writing process

Language ArtsGrammar • statements/questions • commands/exclamations • subjects/predicates • combining sentences • nouns (plural, proper, possessive) • contractions • adjectives • using “a” and “an” • adjectives that compare • using commas • action verbs • present/past tense verbs • subject/verb agreement • Pronouns/possessive pronouns/pronoun/verb agreement • adverbs • quotations

Frisco Independent School District Spelling Instruction FISD supports direct spelling instruction with embedded opportunities for the authentic application of learning through writing. The goal of spelling instruction is to develop independence, fluency, and accuracy in writing. A quality program equips students with strategies for spelling words independently and proofing personal writing.

Grades • Second graders will receive numeric grades. • Progress Reports will be sent home in the middle of each nine weeks. • Report Cards will be sent home at the end of each nine weeks. • Please sign and return to school.

Red Binders and Thursday Envelopes • Red Binders come home daily. • Please sign the behavior sheet everyday. • If the behavior sheet is not signed by the teacher this means a  day. • Thursday Folders come home on Thursdays. Please remove all papers and sign the Thursday envelope. • Return it on Friday.

Homework • Homework comes home in the Red Binder on Mondays and should be turned in on Fridays. • *Please have students do their work in pencil. • * Parents initial each part of the homework. • Homework should take 2nd Graders no longer more than 20 minutes per night to complete. If your student is struggling to complete the assignments because of the level of difficulty, please contact your child’s teacher. • Other Homework • Guided Reading Books Bubble Gum Reading Club (optional incentive) Math Fact Practice (optional incentive)

Attendance • Under Texas Education Code 25.094 a student is in violation of the Compulsory Attendance law if the student is absent (unexcused) 3days or parts of day in a four-week period or 10 days or parts of days in a six-month period. Tardiness and leaving early is considered part of a school day. • Children can copy notes or make up assignments, but they can never get back what’s most important; the discussions, the questions, the explanations by the teacher, and the thinking that makes learning come alive.

Attendance Procedure • If your child is absent, you can email Lori Cochrane-Nunes at CochranL@friscoisd.orgor click on the “Report an Absence” link on our Boals Website. • A note or email regarding the absence should be sent to Lori Cochrane-Nunes within 3 school days of returning. After 3 school days without a note or doctor’s documentation, the absence(s) will be considered unexcused and automatically coded in the computer system. • By law, we have to notify you when your child has accumulated a combination of 5 tardies, unexcused absences, or early dismissals (leave early). A letter will be generated by the computer system when your child has missed 5, 8, and 10 combinations of any of the above absences. At 10, our district Truancy Specialist will contact the parent(s).

Vacations • We strongly discourage students being absent for the purpose of vacations. However, if your child is going to be absent due to a vacation, the school board policy now states: 1. The parent shall submit a written request, in advance, stating that the vacation or trip cannot be taken at another time. These absences will be considered unexcused. The vacation form is loaded on our school website and can also be obtained in the front office. 2. Only one such trip or vacation per family, per year, can be requested. 3. No more than five consecutive days of absence shall occur, except in extenuating circumstances as determined by the Superintendent or designee. 4. No such trips shall be taken during the last two weeks of a semester. 5. If a student is going to be absent more than 10 consecutive days, the student will be withdrawn on the 10th day. 6. For further questions about vacations, please contact the assistant principal.

Attendance Questions • If you have further questions about attendance, please contact the Assistant Principal, Christina Beran. She will be more than happy to answer any questions you may have. • You may also contact Boals’ Truancy Specialist, Gary Brazil at BrazilG@friscoisd.org

Classroom Interruptions • To minimize disruptions to the learning environment, we request that parents do not stand or walk in the halls while waiting on his or her child. • Forgotten lunches, money, or supplies are to be left in the office and will be delivered to your child by office personnel. • Thank you helping to minimize distractions during instructional time!

Student Dress Code • FISD’s Elementary Student Handbook states that “students shall come to school looking clean, neat and ready to learn.” • Tennis shoes must be worn during PE. • Boys must wear shirts with sleeves at all times. • For girls, tank tops must have straps two inches wide. Midriff, halter type, or spaghetti strap blouses are not permitted. Shorts and skirts must extend to or below the student’s fingertips when their arms are held to their sides.

Birthdays • Parents may bring store-bought cupcakes or cookies to celebrate a child’s birthday. • These treats will be served after 2:30 pm. Treats can not be shared during lunch time. • Students issuing birthday invitations to individual parties may be placed in the weekly take home folder. • No food rewards can be given to students during the instructional day.

New Traffic Procedures • Kindergarten students will be dismissed on the east side of the building by the playground. On rainy days students will stay in POD 1 and be dismissed at the car lane. • First and Second grade students will be dismissed through the main entrances and will walk to the pick-up area on the far east side on Jaguar. • Third, Fourth and Fifth grade students will be coming out the north and west side entrance doors on Roadster. • Please stay in your car and your child will be walked to your car and loaded off of a curb for safety.

Background Checks • Visitors to a campus entering the building past the security doors must provide a valid state or government-issued photo identification card before being granted access into the school. • Photo identification will be scanned and entered into the Raptor system. A badge will be printed out and must be worn while visiting the Boals Elementary campus. • Any all visitors who plan on volunteering for any classroom activities must complete a background check. Background checks can be completed on-line at www.friscoisd.org

Guided Reading • Guided Reading books will be sent home every night. • Often, the same book is sent home for multiple nights, as students are working on improving a specific skill such as fluency. • The cost for a lost guided reading book is $10.00

Meal pay Plus • Meal pay Plus (www.MealpayPlus.com) is a new, online payment system for school meals. • It can monitor your account balance, view purchase history, make payments, and set-up low balance reminder emails or autopay and place restrictions on how funds are spent. • There are two accounts you can create • A general account-allows students to purchase a la carte items, in addition to school meals • A meal account-limits student spending by only allowing single, plated meal purchases

Lunchroom Procedures • Parents are welcome to join his or her child for lunch during the assigned lunch time. • We ask that all parents sit with his or her own child in a special reserved section of the lunchroom. This allows a special opportunity for you and your child to visit about the day.

Positive Incentives • Bucket Fillers • Positive Notes • Stickers • Special Recognition • Fun Friday • Positive Referrals

Discipline • Verbal Reminders • Think Track/Think Time • Parent Notified • Verbally Redirected • Practice Desired Behavior • Office Referral

Bullying Prevention Program Boals Elementary Statement of Belief At Boals Elementary, we believe that all children should feel safe and have a sense of belonging; this will foster an environment that provides for students to achieve success. We will be consistent and fair when intervening against bullying behaviors. These are our rights: To be safe To have our possessions be safe To be included To have a chance to be our best These are our responsibilities: I will do no harm, or threaten harm, to others Physically Verbally Socially Elecontrically

Bullying Rules Elementary Rules: We will not bully others We will help those who are bullied We will include everyone We will report bullying when we see or hear it Possible Consequences: Verbal reprimand Temporary removal from the classroom Deprivation of privileges Detention, ISS, OSS After school programs

Types of Bullying • Bullying is when a student or group of students engage in any gesture or written, verbal or computerized or other electronically transmitted act, or threat that: • 1) Will have the effect of physically harming a student, damaging a students property or reputation, or placing a student in reasonable fear of harm to the student’s person or damage to the students property; or • 2)Is sufficiently server, persistent or pervasive that the action or threat creates an intimidating, threatening, or abusive educational environment for a student K-2definition-Bullying is when someone hurts, scares or takes things from someone and they do it over and over again. 3-5 definition-Bullying is when a person is exposed repeatedly and over time to the negative actions of one or more people.

Bullying Procedures • All staff members have been trained in bullying awareness. • Our school has procedures in place anytime a child or parent reports bullying behavior. • Bullying behavior is taken seriously and will be addressed by both administrators and counselors.

What Can Adults Do • Provide positive educational opportunities for the student who bullies • Help the victim develop coping skills • Encourage bystanders to take action • Inform school staff about potential bullying situations • Stay in touch with the students • Take all reports seriously

Communication • “Constant Contact” all school e-mail • Please check your e-mail and our grade level website for important information, dates, reminders, and forms. • School Phone Number 469-633-3300 • 10:00-10:45 Conference Time • www.friscoisd.org • http://teachersites.schoolworld.com/webpages/Boals_2nd/

Miscellaneous • Names on belongings • Responsibility- Please allow your child to endure natural consequences. • Recess and Families – Younger children are not allowed on the playground for safety reasons.

2nd Grade Websitehttp://teachersites.schoolworld.com/webpages/Boals_2nd • Teacher Information – Email / phone numbers • Special Events - PTA Meetings, Fall Festival, etc. • Web Links • Homework – Spelling Words • Special Notices – Reminder Dates, News • Classroom Pictures

reminders • PTA Membership • Volunteer Sign-up • Boals T-Shirts

Thanks for coming!

Welcome to Second Grade