Welcome to Open House!

Welcome to Open House! Home of the Otters Mrs. DeCapua 2nd Grade OSE Old State Elementary School http://www.oldstateelementary.org/ Image provided by Microsoft Office

Tonight’s Agenda • Our Daily Schedule • Curriculum • Homework • 7 Habits • Things to Know • Reporting Student Progress • Questions

Mrs. DeCapua Second Grade Room 148 • 8:45-9:10 Arrival/Morning Stretch • 9:10-9:15 Morning Meeting • 9:15-10:00 Reading • 10:00-10:25 Writing • 10:25-10:55 Reading RtI (M-F) • 10:55-11:10 Take 10/ Brain Breaks • 11:10-11:40 Lunch • 11:40-11:55 AR/SSR • 11:55-12:25 Recess • 12:25-1:35 Math (M/F) Math RTI 12:50-1:35 (T-W-R) • 1:35-2:20 Related Arts • 2:20-3:10 Science/Social Studies

Common Core State Standards • What are they? They were created by Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) and the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center), teachers, parents, community leaders, researchers, and experts. Common Core matches up with college and work expectations, incorporates rigorous content, higher order thinking skills, previous state standards, and ensures that students will be ready to compete in the global world.

Common Core State Standards • Why? To clearly communicate to everyone (teachers, parents, and students) what the standards are for success. Teachers will know exactly what students should learn and provide benchmarks to achieve success. Most states have adopted Common Core to make a more unified system of standards. For more information: http://www.corestandards.org

How we’re meeting CCSS… • Elements of Learning Focused Strategies are being used in classrooms (i.e. UEQ, LEQ) • Acquisition Lessons are taught for each concept • Common assessments are written to assess student progress

As your child is reading, check to see if he/she is…

RtI • RtI is the practice of providing high-quality instruction and intervention. • This is matched to student’s needs. • Monitoring progress frequently to make decisions about changes in instructional strategies. • Reading and Math RtI groups will occur this year.

RtI • Students that qualify to be part of a small RtI group must meet with a grade level teacher for 30 minutes 3 times a week of remediation work. • While in small group with the teacher, students will be working on skills specific to their needs. • Students not working with the teacher will be working on activities that will allow students to practice using their higher order thinking skills. This will be done through using Bloom’s Taxonomy style of questioning.

Language Arts Our Literacy Model • Comprehension Strategies • Grammar • Phonics • We will use our district learning maps created with CCSS to teach these concepts. • Scott Foresman Reading Series is one tool we will use. • Whole group and flexible small groups • Fluency • AR • 6 + 1 Traits • Ideas • Organization • Word choice • Sentence Fluency • Voice • Conventions • Writing for a variety of purposes • Narrative • Opinion • Expository • Spelling • Handwriting

Math • Investigations in Number, Data, and Space (TERC) • Investigations has been carefully designed to engage students in key mathematical content as they develop number sense, learn to visualize and describe geometric relationships, and collect and analyze real data. Students work together using a variety of concrete materials and appropriate technology, and express their mathematical thinking through talking, drawing, and writing. • The new math is focused on finding solutions rather than regurgitating facts, however we will still need fluency in math facts at times. • Here is a link to an article for parents about the new math. • http://www.parenting.com/mathematics-reasoning-homework-help?page=0,1

Math • Concepts include: • Addition ,Subtraction & the Number System • Time • Money (coin identification, counting coins) • Measurement • Multiplication • Data Analysis • Fractions • We will use our district learning maps created with CCSS to teach these concepts.

Science Insects~ life cycles of living things Soils~ how the properties of soils affect living things Balance and Weighing~ account for why objects move and balance OR Bridges

Social Studies • Civics: Respect in Civil Society • Geography: Landforms and Climates & Places • Economics: Trading Partners & Scarcity & Wants • History: Famous Americans

LFS Binder • Check out your child’s LFS binder. This houses important pages that go along with our SLM, which is how we are teaching the CCSS. This will come home periodically as a “brag book”. Look through it with your child and have them tell you what they are learning about. Sign the sheet and return I the next day.

Technology for Curriculum Enrichment • Study Island ~ used for reading practice both in school and at home. http://www.studyisland.com • IXL will be used for math practice, both in school and at home. www.ixl.com • AR ~accelerated reader will be used again this year. This has not started yet, look for more information to come. There is a parent access so you can help your child monitor their progress. It is much more independent this year.

Homework • Homework • Homework Packet (Due Friday) • It’s okay to assist your child with homework but the homework is his or her responsibility. Incomplete or unfinished homework will have to be completed at another time. • Please sign or initial the agenda book every night • Read with or to your child every night.

Reporting Student Progress Agendas Report cards (3 times a year) • Class work and tests are used as evidence of meeting objectives (homework cannot be used as evidence) • Parent-Teacher conferences will be held in November and February to discuss progress Weekly Folders • Provides information on classroom assignments and leadership Please go through the papers in this folder. Papers with mistakes should be reviewed. If your child needs more practice in this skill, contact me.  • Every six weeks, an academic update will be provided

OSE is shaping GREAT Leaders! WHAT IS THE LEADER IN ME PROGRAM? • Beginning this year, our school is using The Leader in Me program as an introduction to personal leadership. • All students have the capacity to lead in their own lives and affect those around them by making positive choices. • Your child is about to embark on an exciting journey! Your child will learn the 7 Habits of Happy Kids and will receive recognition when they exhibit these habits. The goal is for your child to practice these habits both at home and in school. • HOW WILL THE LEADER IN ME BENEFIT MY CHILD? • The Leader In Me program teaches students 21st century skills that are necessary for future success. The skills that are emphasized include: • Personal leadership • Teamwork • Initiative and self-discipline • Making healthy choices • Effective communication and listening skills • Problem solving and creative thinking skills • Self-confidence

The Leader in Me, as seen through the eyes of real kids….

Absences and Early Dismissal • Must send in a note when your child is absent, late to school or for an early dismissal • Notes should be on a separate piece of paper not written in the agenda book • No early dismissals after 3:00 • See your child’s agenda for the district’s policy

Ways to Help your Child • Read, Read, Read….. More to come on this • Basic math facts, begin using flashcards to practice fact fluency ( go digital….they love it!) • Coins (identifying, counting) & telling time (on an analog clock)

How to help boost your child’s reading.

Odds and Ends Lunch menus are online on the school’s and District’swebsitesFor recess please do not allow electronics to come in. Outdoor toys are okay.Our classroom will gladly accept donations of gently used games and activities to use during indoor recess.Visit our school’s website often, it has useful resources as well important OSE news.

Thank you for coming! Please remember to sign the sign-in sheet. tammy.decapua@appo.k12.de.us 378-6720 ext: 2148

Welcome to Open House!