Welcome

1. Welcome Please come in and start filling out the paperwork at your child’s seat. Thanks!!!

2. Mrs. Tilley My teaching philosophy: • I have very high expectations for my students. • My goal is to help foster responsible & independent learners in second grade. • I am very consistent with my classroom routines and procedures. • I try to be very organized and keep parents informed about what is going on at school. • I am pretty tough at first! / Firm, but fair! • I strive to treat all my students the way that I would want my own children to be treated at school. • Once they are mine, they are ALWAYS mine! • I need parent support! (We are a 3 legged stool) • If you have a problem, please don’t hesitate to talk to me about it.

3. Second Grade Curriculum • Reading & Writing (daily 2.5 hours) • Harcourt Story Town Series and Authentic Literature • Phonemic awareness & phonics progression • Frye sight words • Reading strategies • Comprehension & vocabulary • Writing Workshop • Math (daily 1 hour) • Math Investigations Series • Hands- on / “real world” math • Calendar, daily data, story problems • Building number sense & fluency • Using pictures, manipulatives, & words to solve problems and explain thinking. • Science & Social Studies (daily 30 min.) • Lunch (daily 25 min.) • Snack (daily 15 min. while working on reading) • P.E. (daily 30 min.) • Recess (daily 15 min. weather permitting) • Art, Music, & Computer (weekly 30 min.) • Library & Guidance (twice a month 30 min) • Handwriting (15 minutes daily)

4. Classroom Rules Rules in my classroom are few. I believe that all children are different, and all actions and reactions are very personal in nature. Situations are dealt with as they arise with the focus on enabling the child to grow and learn from his or her actions. Guidelines for my students: • You may engage in any behavior which does not create a problem for you or anyone else. • If you find yourself with a problem, you may solve it by any means which does not cause a problem for anyone else. • You may engage in any behavior that does not jeopardize the safety or learning of yourself or others. Unkind words and actions will not be tolerated.

5. In ensuring that the above guidelines are adhered to, I will operate with the following principles as my guide: • I will react without anger or haste to problem situations. • I will provide consequences that are not punitive but that allow the child to experience the results of a poor choice, enabling him or her to make better choices in the future. • I will proceed in all situations with the best interest of the child foremost in my mind – academic, social, and emotional well-being will be fostered. • I will guide students toward personal responsibility and the decision making skills they will need to function in the real world. • I will arrange consequences for problem situations in such a way that the child will not be humiliated or demeaned. • Equal is not always fair. Consequences will be designed to fit the problems of individual students, and they may be different even when problems appear to be the same. • I will make every effort to ensure that, in each situation, the students involved understand why they are involved in consequences. • If I at anytime react in a way that a child truly feels is unjust, that student need only say to me, “I’m not sure that’s fair.” I will arrange a private conference during which the student can express to me why he or she feels my actions were not fair. This may or may not change my course of action. I am always open to calm, rational discussion of any matter.

6. Positive Behavior • My focus is on positive behaviors. • I give rewards based on various actions. • I do not use a clips, red light, or sticker system. • Students receive rewards at random because of the positive choices they are making. These include candy, trinkets, extra computer time, free draw, game with a friend, visit a previous teacher, Warrior Cards, etc. • We work as a class to make our way around the Monopoly Board towards a class reward. • We also work as a class towards receiving 100 compliments from other adults in the school to earn a popcorn party.

7. “Building Warriors for Life” This year at Creek View we will be focusing on teaching specific social skills from the Boys Town model to support our school rules and procedures. These social skills will build the foundation to help students achieve success in the classroom and in the community. The key is empowering students to make better choices and decisions. The following skills will be focused on throughout the school year: • Following instructions • Accepting “no” for an answer • Accepting criticism or a consequence • Greeting others • Getting a teacher’s attention • Disagreeing appropriately • Making an apology • Asking permission • Working with others

8. Traits of a WARRIOR

9. Homework Folder School Notes Pocket • The school notes pocket will have field trip information, lunch menus, fundraiser information, flyers from the office, etc… • Please empty this folder daily. Fabric Pouch • Send any money or small notes in the pouch to keep them from getting lost. • Loose change or cash should still be placed in an envelope or baggy. Include what it is for. Agenda • Your child will write homework and reminders here. • Initial it and write the title of the book read each night. • You may correspond with me here as well. • Leave all of the pages intact.

10. Homework Folder Continued Fluency A nonfiction leveled passage will be placed in the sleeve each week. Leave the passage in the sleeve. Do not write on the passage. Spelling/Word work List These are the word patterns we will work on for the entire school year. Leave the sheets in the sleeve. Spelling Activities This sheet should stay in the sleeve all year.

11. Homework • Read for 20 minutes nightly and record the title in the agenda. • Read fluency sheet aloud three times nightly. • Three spelling activities due each week.

12. Sets of papers go home every other week. Sign the form on top. Return the form and the papers the next day. Behavior will be included on the form. Graded Papers

13. Weekly Newsletter • The weekly newsletter will be e-mailed or sent home in your child’s homework folder. • The newsletter will inform you about upcoming events and activities that your child will be participating in at school. • They will also keep you informed about what your child is learning in school.

14. Conferences • Will be held before the end of the first nine week period. • Look over the schedule and fill-in a spot that works for you. • We will have another conference during the third nine week period to discuss your child’s progress. • Anytime you have concerns, we can schedule a conference.

15. Attendance • It is important to have your child at school each day and for them to arrive on time. • I believe that success in second grade is strongly related to attendance. • Please try to plan vacations and appointments around school if possible. • If your child is absent from school for any reason, please send a note the day he or she returns to school. If a note (parent or doctor) is not received within 3 school days, the absence will be coded as unexcused. • Remember that the tardy bell rings at 7:45 and if a child comes in the classroom after that time he or she will be counted tardy. • Buses usually arrive at school between 7:15-7:30. • Car Rider drop off begins at 7:15.

16. Lunch • Our lunchtime is from 11:09-11:34 each day. You are welcome to eat with us any time. You can meet us at the benches by the lunchroom doors. • Your child will be issued a 5-digit lunch number. • Lunch is $2.50 per day and breakfast is $1.25 per day for students. • Lunch checks need to be labeled with your child’s 5-digit lunch number so that it will be credited to your child’s account. Please do not include any other money with lunch checks. • Lunch can also be paid online at MyLunchMoney.com. You will need to get your child’s ID Number from me before you can use this tool. • You may send a simple birthday snack for the class to eat during lunchtime on your child’s birthday if you would like. • Please do not bring fast food items for your child to eat during lunch. (McDonald’s, Arby’s, etc…) • If anyone needs a free or reduced lunch form, please let the office know as soon as possible.

17. Daily Snack • Please send a healthy snack and juice from home each day. • Snack needs to be brought in a snack bag or paper sack with your child’s name on it. • You may want to use a freezer pack to keep cold items from spoiling. • Please no candy or cokes!

18. Medicine • Medicine – All medication must be brought to the school office by an adult. The adult will be required to fill out a short medication form. Students are not allowed to keep medicine in their book bags. This includes cough drops. • Allergies- Please alert me of any food or seasonal allergies that your child may have. • Sickness- If your child has been sick please make sure they arefever, vomit and / or diarrhea free for 24 hrs. before they return to school.

19. Transportation ***** IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO BE CONSISTENT ***** • Your child will be given a transportation tag to wear on his or her book bag. • If you plan to change your child’s transportation for any reason, I must have a parent note so that I can send it to the office to be approved. I cannot send a child home a different way without a note. This is for your child’s safety.

20. Field Trips and Guest Speakers • Fall: Nutcracker Ballet (December 13th) This trip is for students only. • Spring: American Village (April 16 or 17) All adults welcome on this trip. We LOVE to have parent chaperones on our Field Trips! • All students ride on buses • All parents drive in cars • No younger siblings may attend • No check-outs are allowed from the field trip site Guest Speakers • McWane Center Visits (October 17) • 4-H Center Herp Journey (January 27 or 28) • 4-H Center Birds of Prey (April 29)

21. Donations If you would like to make a donation to our classroom you might want to consider: • Choosing a sticky note or two from the table. • Purchasing a Gift Card for our classroom. (Wal-Mart, Staples, Parent-Teacher Store, etc…) • Making a monetary donation to the school. (½ classroom teacher & ½ CVES General Fund) • Checking the weekly newsletter for items we need in our classroom throughout the year. • Box Tops – 10 cents each

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23. Remind101 • Get a direction sheet on your way out. • Will be used as a quick reminder of upcoming events. • Can be done through texting or emails. • Your information remains confidential.

24. How to Contact Me: • Email me at Ashley.Tilley@alabastercityschools.org • Send a note in your child’s homework folder. • Call the office and leave a message 205-685-6100.

25. Thank you for your time and I look forward to working with you and your child.