College Preparation Starts Here!

1. College Preparation Starts Here! Mrs. Perez & Ms. Nguyen Please make sure to sign in!

2. Morning Arrival • School starts at 8:00. Students arriving to the classroom after 8:10 are considered tardy. • There is no supervision for students who arrive before 7:30. After 7:30, students may wait in the cafeteria. • Breakfast will be served in the classroom at this time. Breakfast is over at 8:15. Students who are tardy may miss breakfast. • Please make sure your child is on time so that we can all start the day off on a good foot!

3. Reading In Reading, 2nd graders learn about… • Non-fiction and fiction books • Poetry, plays, procedural text, fables, folktales, and electronic media • Reading fluently (90 words per minute!) • Monitoring comprehension when reading independently (for 30 minutes!) • Retelling, summarizing, making predictions, asking questions, and making connections to texts • Using synonyms, antonyms, homophones, prefixes, and suffixes to determine the meaning of words • How to read words with prefixes, suffixes, multiple syllables, long and short vowels, contractions, etc.! Students will receive small group instruction during reading. They will also practice skills independently at reading workstations.

4. Reading What can you do to help? • Establish a nightly reading routine at home (15-30 minutes) • Read with your child, to your child, and listen to your child read • Make sure your child completes his/her reading log • Ask your child what he/she read about to help with comprehension • Let your child know you think reading is both fun and important! • Review classwork and tests that are sent home. Review errors with your child. • Help your child study vocabulary words and skills. • Visit the library as a family! • Allow your child to visit learning websites for extra practice.

5. Writing and Language In Writing and Language, 2nd graders learn about… • The writing process (planning, drafting, editing, revising, publishing) • Nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, and prepositions • Writing sentences with complete thoughts • Writing stories, letters, poems, persuasive pieces, and information about topics of interest • Spelling words with blends, long and short vowels, multiple syllables, contractions, inflectional endings, r-controlled vowels, and high frequency words

6. Writing and Language What can you do to help? • Make sure your child completes his/her spelling homework • Help your child study the weekly spelling words • Encourage your child to write at home! Let your child use different writing tools, special paper, diaries, etc. to make it more engaging! • Let your child tell you stories! Children need to be able to verbalize stories before they can write them. • Review classwork and tests that are sent home. Review errors with your child.

7. Math In Math, 2nd graders learn about… • Numbers to 1,200 • Counting mixed coins • Addition and subtraction (with regrouping) • Problem solving (one and two-step) • Telling time to the nearest minute • Fractions • 2-D and 3-D shapes • Measurement (length) • Exploring multiplication and division Students will receive small group instruction during math. They will also practice skills independently at math workstations.

8. Math What can you do to help? • Practice math facts (use flashcards, games, etc.) • Apply math to real life situations (at the grocery store, while cooking, etc.) • Practice telling time, counting money, measuring, etc. whenever you can! • Practice counting and skip-counting • Make sure your child completes his/her math homework (M-R) • Check over your child’s homework! • Review classwork and tests that are sent home. Review errors with your child.

9. Science In Science, 2nd graders learn about… • How to be a scientist • Earth and space • Properties of matter • Forces and motion • Natural resources • Plants and animals Encourage your child to explore, be curious, and ask questions!

10. Social Studies In Social Studies, 2nd graders learn about… • How to be a good citizen • The community, city, state, and country • Government services and purpose • Famous people • Map skills • Making good choices and decisions

11. MAP Classes • Students alternate between MAP classes as follows: Music, PE, Art, PE • We will visit the computer lab and library one time every week on Thursdays. • Please make sure your child has his/her library book to exchange on Thursdays.

12. Lunch • Lunch is from 11:20-11:50. • Please make sure that any lunch money sent in is in an envelope or bag clearly labeled with your child’s name! • Free/reduced lunch must be applied for online this year. • Students may bring a small, healthy snack to have in the afternoon. Please do not send anything other than water to drink.

13. Recess • Recess will be after lunch, from 11:50-12:20. • Please have your child wear sneakers to school so that he/she is ready to play at recess!

14. Afternoon Dismissal • School ends at 3:30. You may not pick up your child from the front office after 2:30 unless it is an emergency or you have a doctor’s note. • Children are encouraged to ride the bus. • Please send in a written note if dismissal procedures are going to be different on any particular day. This is the only way your child’s transportation may be changed.

15. Classroom Management Your child will have a behavior card in his/her binder. It will be marked each day to tell you how the day went. Please review and sign it every night. Students are expected to be safe, be responsible, and be respectful at all times. School Norms: • Dress for Success • Ask/Answer/Action • Personal Space • Kind Words • Quiet Zone Students have the opportunity to earn “College Cash” for demonstrating good behavior to spend at the school store. Consequences may include isolated lunch, loss of recess, or loss of another privilege.

16. Homework • Reading/ELA: Students will complete a reading log after reading 15-20 minutes a night. Weekly packet due on Friday. • Spelling: Students will need to complete a total of three activities using the words for the week. The spelling homework will be collected on Friday, the day of the test. • Math: Students will need to complete a practice sheet each night as well as study their math facts to prepare for their Math Facts Fluency test each Friday. • Please see your child’s binder/homework sheet for more information on homework requirements.

17. Class Binders • Your child has been given a binder. This binder needs to be checked every night and return to school every day. • All important information will be held in this binder. Please become familiar with it and help your child keep it organized. • Behavior Card High Frequency/Spelling Graded Papers Important Notices Homework Reading Log

18. Grades • Progress reports will be sent home every three weeks and report cards every six weeks. • The grading system is as follows: A = 90-100 B = 80-89 C= 75-79 D = 70-75 Below 70% is failing • Grades will come from tests, classwork, and projects. Graded papers will be sent home on Wednesdays. • Any graded assignments with a grade below 70% will need to be corrected and returned with a parent signature. • You may also visit the Parent Portal to access your child’s grades, set alerts, etc.

19. Tutorials • Students who need extra help in Math and/or Reading will be invited to tutorials. Students coming to school early for tutorials will need transportation. • When tutorials begin, we will let you know if your child needs to attend.

20. Uniform Reminders! • Navy blue, red, or white collared shirts only • Navy or khaki pants or skirts (no cargo pants) • Students are supposed to wear belts if their pants have belt loops. • Sweaters and sweat shirts with hoods may be worn as jackets but not in the classroom. • All sweaters worn in the classroom must be navy blue, red, or white.

21. Volunteer in our Classroom! Volunteers Please let us know if you would like to volunteer your time to help in the classroom, at home, or to help on field trips or with special events!

22. Field Trips To be announced

23. Mrs. McMeekin's Class Website Communication • Your child will have a behavior card in his/her binder. Please sign and return this daily. • Please contact us via phone or e-mail with any questions or concerns. E-mail is the fastest way to communicate.

24. Mrs. McMeekin's Class Website Communication Brandy Perez bperez@staffordmsd.org 281-261-9200 Ext. 3606 Conference Time: Daily from 9:40-10:20 am (Please set up an appointment.) Christine Nguyen chnguyen@staffordmsd.org 281-261-9200 Ext. 3603 Conference Time: Daily from 8:45-9:25 am (Please set up an appointment.)

25. Thank You... for taking the time to attend! We look forward to working with you and your children this year. It is going to be a wonderful year filled with exciting learning activities!