Fall Parent-Teacher Conference: Sign Up and Important Updates

1. Mrs. Thorne 2nd Grade • Please sign in. • Please sign up for a Fall Parent-Teacher Conference. • Please have a seat at your child’s desk. • If you have not registered for our class website (Edlio), • please do so as soon as possible. (REQUIRED)

2. Communication is Key! • Red Folders, Planners, & Edlio Website • Telephone: (281) 357-4526 Ext. 3886 E-mail: carriethorne@tomballisd.net • Conference Time: 1:50-2:45 • EdlioTeacher Website https://cfes.tomballisd.net/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=1005659&type=u&pREC_ID=1479984

3. Student Planners • Planners should go home and return with your child to school every day. • Students will write down upcoming assessments, and reminders each week. • Behavior will also be documented in their planner. • Please initial your child’s planner each night . • We encourage students to take responsibility by bringing their planner to you each day as part of their daily routine.

4. Edlio Website Please make sure you have subscribed my website page if you are not already receiving updates. We will send out at least one post each week. Posts will communicate what we are learning during the upcoming week, updates about things going on in the classroom, reminders, important dates, etc.

5. Conferences • Please make sure to sign up for a fall conference. The sign up sheets are on the table by the door. • At fall conferences, we discuss beginning of the year assessments, academic/behavioral goals, and answer any questions you might have.

6. Daily Schedule 8:30 Call To Greatness 8:50-10:20 Reading Workshop (including phonics instruction) 10:20-10:30 Recess 10:30-11:20 Writing Workshop (including grammar, word work and handwriting) 11:20-12:00 Math-part 1 12:05-12:35 Lunch 12:40-12:50 Recess 12:50-1:50 Math-part 2 1:50-2:45 Specials 2:45-3:45 Science/Social Studies 3:50 Dismissal

7. Attendance: • Daily attendance is vital to student learning. The tardy bell rings at 8:40. It is important for your child to be at school on time. • We understand your child might get sick. Please do not send them to school if they have not been fever free for 24 hours. If your child needs medicine, please make sure you give it to the nurse. Students are not allowed to bring any form of medicine to school. • Please make sure that you send a written note within two days following an absence, or it will be recorded as an unexcused absence.

8. Transportation • Transportation changes will require a written note. If you have a last minute emergency please contact the front office. • Please include the following in a note to teacher: • -Full name of student  • -Child’s grade and homeroom teacher  • -Date the change is to begin and end • The office accepts faxes or scanned notes, however parents must also scan or fax a copy of the parent ID and follow up with a phone call to make sure the fax was received. • If we do not have parent notification, your child will be sent home the way they normally go. • Please make sure your child and teacher also know their “rainy day” plan if they are a biker/walker.

9. Transportation cont. Before and After School Care: Campus Kids provides before and after school care here on campus. Bus Transportation: School bus transportation is provided by the Tomball Independent School District. For busing information, see the Tomball ISD website. Bikers/Walkers: • Parents must present a Biker/Walker Card, available in the front office, to safely receive their child from the teacher.

10. Lunch & Cafeteria Info • Breakfast is served from 8:20 AM to 8:40 AM. • Parents may pre-pay student meal costs by depositing money into a student’s individual meal account. • Parents/guardians and grandparents are welcome to join their child for lunch at our special guest tables. Second Grade Lunch 12:05-12:35

11. Snacks & Birthdays • Students will be allowed to have a quick, healthy snack in the morning. • It should not be anything messy or needing a spoon/fork. • Candy, cookies, etc. will not be allowed during snack time. • If your child would like to celebrate their birthday by bringing a treat to lunch for their classmates, please let the teacher know in advance. • Treats are only to be given to your child’s homeroom class. • You can also purchase ice cream passes from the cafeteria instead of cupcakes, cookies, etc. • We have students with food allergies and would like to contact their parents so they can plan to send in a treat for their child as well.

12. Library & A.R. • Each student may check out two books. • One MUST be an AR book on their reading level and the other may be their choice. • AR = Accelerated Reader • Students need to be independently reading labeled AR books from the library. After reading the book, they will take a test on the computer to earn points. • Not sure if it’s an AR book? Go to www.ARbookfind.com

13. Classroom Volunteers All volunteers must go to the Tomball ISD website and fill out a volunteer application. Volunteers must check in at the front office. Each volunteer is also required to show a photo ID and will be issued a badge to wear during their visit. Please remain in the area designated on the Visitors Pass. Volunteers must check out at the front office when leaving the building.

14. Great Expectations • Each morning, all students and staff gather in the cafeteria for our Call to Greatness. • During this assembly, students review the 8 Expectations we practice throughout the school, ensuring consistency. • Pledges are recited, birthdays are recognized, and a sense of community is built. • This gathering will begin daily at 8:30, allowing our instructional day to begin at 8:50. • Students will also present the Call to Greatness assembly during the school year. • Parents are always welcome to attend.

15. The 8 Expectations for Living #1 We will value one another as unique and special individuals. #2 We will not laugh at or make fun of another person’s mistakes, nor use sarcasm or put downs. #3 We will say “please,” “thank you,” and “excuse me,” and allow others to go first. #4 We will cheer each other to success. #5 We will help one another whenever possible. #6 We will recognize every effort and applaud it. #7 We will encourage each other to do our best. #8 We will practice virtuous living, using the Life Principles.

16. Behavior Student behavior will be addressed using the 8 Expectations of Living which have been implemented consistently throughout the campus. • Issues will be handled on a case by case basis, aimed at teaching children to learn from their mistakes. • Consequences are logical and natural, based on the circumstances. • Behavior will be documented in student planners so parents can reinforce desired behaviors at home. • Example: Students chatty during independent reading time would have to move away from each other. If the behavior continues the next day, they would be given an assigned reading spot.

17. Grades Numerical Grading Scale: 90-100 A 80-89 B 75-79 C 70-74 D 69 and below F • Report cards are sent home every 9 weeks. Progress reports are sent home every 3 weeks. • Spelling will NOT include weekly spelling tests. Spelling patterns will be taught and assessed in class through a variety of activities. • Late work policy: 1 day late = -5 points, 2 days late = -10 points, 3 days late = 0 on the assignment.

18. Homework • We will not assign specific subject area homework. We ask that you create a routine at home to help your child practice the following: • Read 20 Minutes a day • Math Facts Practice (addition/subtraction) to 20 • Occasionally, a student may be given a homework assignment if they need extra practice on a particular skill. • If you would like your child to do additional homework, math and science textbooks are available online for you to utilize.

19. Curriculum Overview

20. Language Arts Reader’s Workshop • Comprehension using multiple questioning strategies • Fluency- accuracy, expression & rate • Vocabulary- expand vocabulary and strong word choice • Stamina- read to self • Responding to reading- written & oral Writer’s Workshop: • Writing Process • Ideas- the main theme • Organization-sequence and transitions • Voice- the feeling of the writer coming out through the words • Word choice- the use of rich, colorful words • Sentence fluency- the way in which the writing plays to the ear • Conventions- the mechanical correctness • Grammar-parts of speech and subject-verb agreement

21. Math: • In 2nd grade, students will be assessed on their math fact fluency on a regular basis as required by the TEKS for their grade level. Weekly assessments will be taken and starting the 2nd nine weeks, the average of those weekly assessments will account for 1/2 of a major grade for students for the nine weeks.  This ½ of a major grade will be in addition to the 3 major grades taken in each nine weeks. • Addition & subtraction strategies • Place value to 1,200 • Addition and Subtraction (within 1,200) • Geometry • Measurement • Money and Time • Fractions • Problem Solving using multiple strategies & higher level thinking • Number Sense • Writing to explain thinking & reasoning

22. Science & Social Studies • Safety & Tools • Matter • Energy, Motion, and Force • Resources • Earth • Sky • Plants & Animals • Environments • THE GARDEN! • Community • Geography & Map skills • People in the community • Community government • Anthems, mottos, symbols • Culture of America • Time • Significant individuals • Technology • Economics

23. Questions? It’s going to be a great year in 2nd Grade!