Together We are Weaving a Bright Future for Your Child! Mrs. Hernandez’s Room

1. Together We are Weaving a Bright Future for Your Child! Mrs. Hernandez’s Room

2. To give an overview of some of this year’s curriculum. Homework procedures. Establish for parents a clearer understanding of my expectations. Create a partnership between school and home to help foster learning. Purpose of Tonight

3. If your child has not had a professional eye exam within the last 18 months, please do so as soon as possible. School eye exams missed over 20 students needing glasses in my class the last few years. Checks just for distance, not close-up work. Eye Exams

4. Homework goes home usually on Tuesday in their homework notebook. • Most homework is not due until upcoming Monday at 8:45 a.m. unless noted. • Student have a fluency card in their binder to practice until it can be read with no errors in one min. • Second will also have a phonics story to practice for the week in their folder on Thurs. • Please initial or sign their daily homework journal • We are trying to establish routines that will help you and them • A note may be written in it that you need to read. • If they need help on their homework they can get this during lunch recess if they tell me in the morning. This help is not available on Mon. for math when it was due at 8:45 that morning. Homework

5. Students need to do their homework in pencil. The due date is firm. Parents may “help” and review their work. Papers go home on Tuesday and are due on the following Monday by 8:45 a.m. If absent please make arrangements for the paper to get to school. • If parents have them do corrections, please leave pencil mark, so I can see if they struggled with that concept. • They can get help at lunch recess they inform me at the beginning of the school day. Also on Wed. or Fri. I can help before school if prearranged. • Labeling of answers is a must for credit! • Please be sure they know their basic facts. Timing test scores are based on problems correctly completed within the time limit. • Use flashcards to go through facts. Separate what they know quickly with what they struggle with answering. • Then use beans, noodles, etc. to have students workout the facts they are struggling with getting correct. Mathematics in Mrs. Hernandez’s Room

6. The Common Core State Standards provide a consistent, clear understanding of what students are expected to learn, so teachers and parents know what they need to do to help them. The standards are designed to be robust and relevant to the real world, reflecting the knowledge and skills that our young people need for success in college and careers. With American students fully prepared for the future, our communities will be best positioned to compete successfully in the global economy. • Please take a copy of the PTA Common Core handout for your child’s grade level. This will help you know our goals this year in the different subject areas. It is also a way you can help us reach these goals when working with your child at home. Common Core State Standards (CCSS)

7. Writing will become an exciting way for your child to use newly learned words and phrases to express ideas. As they write and speak, 2nd graders will be more attentive to the formal and informal uses of English and will spell most words correctly in their writing. • Show & Tell is to have students practice their ability to clearly express ideas to an audience. This is a required activity and is graded. • Spelling words are given monthly, and tested on Thursday. • You were given a letter with your child’s account on Voc. Spelling City www.spellingcity.com. This site will be used for our classroom tests and practice. It also is a tool for your child to practice at home. (I can reissue this information if you lost your previous letter.) Language – 2nd

8. By the end of the year, your child also will be writing clear sentences and paragraphs on a range of topics, drawing on an expanding vocabulary. • Show & Tell is to have students practice their ability to clearly express ideas to an audience. This is a required activity and is graded. • Spelling words are given monthly, and tested on Thursday. • You were given a letter with your child’s account on Voc. Spelling City www.spellingcity.com. This site will be used for our classroom tests and practice. It also is a tool for your child to practice at home. (I can reissue this information if you lost your previous letter.) Language – 3rd

9. We are working on building their comprehensions skills when silently reading this year. • When students are silently reading at home, be sure they are not mouthing the words. • We will use fiction and non-fictions text. • Upon request I can give you their current STAR Reading grade equivalent level. • A handout is given to you about the importance of nightly reading. Therefore, at least 5 nights of reading for 20 min. is required. Please verify this reading homework assignment was completed by signing their reading log. • Reading logs and AR tests on the books they read are an important part of their reading grade for the term. • Students need at least 10 AR points per term at their reading level. Reading

10. District adopted anti-bullying program. Mentor Program Nutrition How their choices effect their health. Our class rules were sent to you the week of Sept. 4. Your copy was on the back of your child’s behavior calendar for Aug. (Please tell me if you need another copy.) Health/Safety

11. Second graders will stay with Mrs. Hernandez. • Solid, Liquids, Gases • Plants, • Life Cycles • Communities Social Studies and Science

12. This is the year for your child to learn to be responsible with getting their work, papers, “Homework Folder” back and forth from home to school (completed). • Homework folders go back and forth from home daily • Hawks Fold goes home on Tues. and is to return to class Wed. • Students need to learn to work independently in the classroom. Responsible Students

13. I will try to match your interest with the time you come in to the class. • Listen to students read • Help with art • Help with math • Tutor • Paper management • Please respect every child’s right to privacy. The only time to speak about a someone else’s child outside of school is when you are bragging about them! • Understand that some of my expectations and procedures have to differ for various students to accommodate their personal academic needs. This is not something I can discuss with anyone except their support staff & his/her parents or guardian. Volunteers

14. We will only do birthday celebrations on Fridays at 2:35. Please contact Mrs. Hernandez at least one week before if you want to send a healthy treat into the classroom. I will need to know what the item will be at this time. If your child would like to invite classmates to a private birthday party they are welcome to distribute invitations at school providing there is an invitation for every child in the class (student handbook page 6). You can always check with me for current class numbers. Our class currently has 22 students. Birthdays

15. Emails work well for me. hernandezc@csdk12.org Contact me before or after school. (I am not available Tuesday & Thursdays before school due to staff meetings.) Notes in the homework folder. If for some reason you do not get a response from me within 24 hours, please contact me again! Parent-Teacher Communication

16. I realize that there is nothing more precious than one’s child. If you have a question, comment, or concern, tell me. I will try to reply to it as long as it does not invade another person’s right to privacy. In Conclusion

17. Together we will weave a bright future for your child! Thanks for Coming