Welcome Parents!!!

1. Welcome Parents!!! Parent Orientation Night September 12, 2013

2. agenda I. Introduction II. Curriculum • A. Reading • B. Writer’s Workshop/Grammar • C. Spelling/Phonics • D. Math • E. Social Studies/Science III. Daily Folders IV. Grades V. Library/AR VI. Important Information VII. Conference Time VIII. Absences IX. P.E. X. Recess XI. Newsletters XII. Discipline

3. I. Introduction Welcome and Thank You for coming!!!

4. II. Curriculum • Six Weeks grading periods with Progress Reports sent home every 3 weeks.

5. A. Reading • We use the basal reader, supplemental readers, and books from the literacy library. • A reading quiz will be given weekly and will consist of phonics, vocabulary, and comprehension questions. • The TPRI (Texas Primary Reading Inventory) will be given in Sept., Jan., and April. It is a program that measures different areas in reading such as comprehension, vocabulary, and phonics. -to be considered on second grade reading level, your child must be reading 60 wcpm at the beginning of the school year -at the beginning of third grade your child should be reading 90 wcpm to be on grade level • We will meet with Guided Reading groups on a regular basis. Students are divided into groups of 4-6 students each with similar reading needs. • During Guided Reading, the other students are participating in Work Stations.

6. B. Writer’s workshop/grammar • Students go through the entire writing process to actively create their own texts: pre-writing, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing. This puts kids on the spot and makes them responsible for their own learning because they are writing about what they choose. • Grammar is incorporated into the writer’s workshop. • The Grammar grade consists of spelling and grammar.

7. c. Spelling/Phonics • Johnny Can Spell • Orientation Sept 16 at 6:30pm

8. D. Math • This year our Woodway Campus Plan goal is to strengthen our math program. • We will have weekly timed math tests each Friday. It is essential for our students to know these math facts because everything builds upon these basic math skills. • The math grade consists of timed tests and daily grades. • These are some of the concepts that we will cover this year: place value, word problem strategy, two-digit addition/subtraction, patterns/relationships, numbers through 999, fact families, identifying attributes of geometrical figures, locating & naming points on a number line, measurement using standard & nonstandard units of length, weight, capacity, and time, telling time, money and graphs.

9. E. Social studies/science • We alternate on a 3 week schedule • Social Studies concepts: communities, community helpers, community, state, and national celebrations, recognizing and identifying landmarks, creating and reading timelines, identifying historical figures, using symbols to find locations on maps and globes, natural resources, goods and services, and describing how technology has changed communication, transportation, and recreation. • Science concepts: science safety rules, collect info., using rulers, meter sticks, measuring cups, clocks, hand lenses, and balances, the water cycle, identifying natural resources, distinguishing between living and non-living objects, science experiments using the scientific method, weather patterns, and exploration and discovery in the Outdoor Classroom.

10. III. Daily folder • A daily folder will be sent home each day with your child and it is to be returned to school each day. • The folder is to be signed/initialed each day as well. • Your child’s behavior will be documented inside the daily folder. • Notes, papers, etc. will also be inside the daily folder. Please remove any notes or papers and review them as needed. • A graded papers folder will come home every Tuesday. • Please sign and date the log to indicate you reviewed the graded papers that came home with your child.

11. IV. Grades • Number grades are earned in Reading, Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies. • Grades are usually higher the first six weeks due to the amount of review. • If a T (done together) or check appears on the paper, no grade was recorded in the grade paper.

12. V. Library/AR • Our class will go to the Library each week. Please make sure your child brings his/her library book to school on our library day. • There will be an AR celebration each six weeks. In order for your child to attend the celebration they will have to earn the designated AR points, read within the selected zone, and have an 80% accuracy level. • Your child may take AR quizzes as needed throughout the school day, and may go to the library as needed between each scheduled library time. • Second graders are allowed to check out two books at a time.

13. VI. Important Information • The school building opens at 7:30am and all children should report to the cafeteria if eating breakfast or the gym for proper supervision. • The students will be picked up by the teacher each morning at 7:45am. • Morning announcements will begin at 7:55am. • The tardy bell is at 8:00am. • If your child arrives to school after 9:30am, he/she will be marked absent. • If possible, please schedule any doctor appointments after 9:30am. • Call the school office if your child is going to be absent please call the front office 761-5740.

14. Continued… • If your child forgets anything at home, please drop it off in the front office so as not to disturb our learning. • Our health policy is that if a child is sent home with a fever he/she must be fever free for 24 hours before returning to school. • Always sign your child out at the office if you need to have him/her leave early during the school day. The secretary will call for your child and the teacher will then send your child to the office to be picked up. We are not to dismiss a child unless we receive a call from the office. • Be sure everyone who picks up your child is on the enrollment card. • Please be sure you are wearing a visitor badge every time you are in the school building during the school day. • Please send a note with your child telling of early departures or a difference in a pick up plan. • If an alternate pick up plan occurs, please notify your child’s teacher prior to 10:40am.

15. VII. Conference Time • Second grade conference time is 10:40-11:40. We have weekly planning meets so please schedule any conferences Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, or Friday. • Schedule all conferences through the classroom teacher.

16. VIII. Absences • Please call the office if your child is absent • If your child is absent for 2 days or more, call the office before 10:40 for missed work and the teacher will do her best to have it in the office by 3:00pm. • A doctor’s note is needed if your child misses more than 3 consecutive days.

17. IX. P.E. • Please have your child bring tennis shoes for P.E. Crocs are not appropriate for gym. • If your child needs to miss P.E., please send a note to school with your child. You may also email me or Mrs. O’Leary.

18. X. Recess • Please send jackets to school with your child on cool or cold days because we will go to outdoor recess. • Please place your child’s name on the inside of his/her jacket. • If your child needs to miss recess, please send a note to school with your child.

19. XI. Newsletters • A pink newsletter will be sent home at the beginning of each week. • A copy of the newsletter will also be posted on my website as well. • Please read the newsletter each week to look for the following information: important dates, special events and fundraisers, curriculum, and any important news.

20. XII. discipline • Life-long success depends in part on self-discipline, therefore we have developed a classroom discipline plan which affords every student guidance in making good decisions about their behavior. • With your encouragement and support, your child will be a part of many exciting and rewarding experiences this school year.