Second Grade Policies and Procedures 2018-2019

1. The s Second Grade Policies and Procedures2018-2019 of Second Grade

2. Attendance • Good attendance is extremely important to obtain an excellent education. Illness and emergencies do occur and must be reported to the office. • If your child will be absent from school, please call the office at 708-747-0301. If you are aware ahead of time that your child will be absent you may send a note.

3. At the back of your child’s green take-home folder is a behavior log. The student’s are responsible for coloring in their log each day. Please initial EVERY night so you are aware of your child’s behavior for that day. • *More information regarding behavior will be discussed at Open House.* Behavior

4. Reading and Language Arts – Storytown, Engage NY • Mathematics – Everyday Math • Science/Social Studies • Spanish, Art, Music, & Physical Education Curriculum

5. In order to provide the best possible instruction to each child… • Not all children will be on the same page, in the same book, at the same time. • Please let me know if your child is really struggling or if he/she is not being challenged. Differentiated Instruction

6. Entering the Classroom/Leaving the Classroom • The following is the procedure for entering the classroom each day: • Hang up your coat and book bag. • Bring in your take – home folder reading book. Put your folder in the clear bin on top of the mailboxes and put any notes or lunch money in the bin on the white board. • Go to your seat and quietly complete your morning work “Do Now” • The following is the procedure for leaving the classroom each day: • When your table is called get your mail and your folder. • Fill in your behavior chart and show it to the teacher. • Get your book bag and put your reading book and folder in it. • Sit at your table QUIETLY until your bus is called.

7. Kindergarten and 1st grade correlate field trips. • Please check your child’s take – home folder for any notes/permission slips regarding upcoming trips. • When sending money for a field trip, please send it in a sealed envelope or zip lock bag with your child’s name on it. Field Trips

8. Grades • In 2nd grade students earn letter grades for all subjects. • Weekly tests in ELA and Math can be expected. Other assessments will also be taken in Social Studies and science.

9. Every Friday, students will receive a weekly homework packet. The packet is due the following Friday. Please return the packet in their homework folder. Homework will be reviewed for mastery of content. • It is important that 2nd graders read for a minimum of 20 minutes EACH night. This may include practicing their baggy books, shared reading with an adult or older sibling, and reading and decoding good fit books on their own. There will be a reading log in every homework packet. • Occasionally, a monthly family project will be assigned. Homework Policy

10. Incentives Pizza Hut offers a reading incentive program for students. The program runs from October through March. Look for more information regarding the Book It program in your child’s take-home folder. Other various incentive programs will occur throughout the year and I will keep you up to date regarding them.

11. Studies have shown that those children whose parents are actively involved in the reading process will become the best readers. • Reading to your child and listening to them read to you, taking them to the library and providing quality just right books at home is of the highest importance. • Raz-Kids will level your child and allow them to increase levels automatically. Just Right Books

12. Visit our district and school website. • Look out for weekly newsletters given each Friday. It provides information about weekly lessons and topics, due dates, upcoming assignments and more! • Make sure to read any class newsletters or flyers sent home. • Monthly calendar • Watch for emails • Utilize Remind App 101 Keeping Informed

13. I feel that the best way to help children learn is to make learning fun. • Our classroom will be an active environment where all students are expected to engage in the learning process. Learning Environment

14. Menu • The district lunch menu is available through the district website: www.sd162.org • I will also send home monthly a paper copy of the breakfast/lunch menu.

15. Effective the beginning of the 2012-2013 school year, there is a NO CUPCAKE/JUNK FOOD policy at Illinois School. Matteson School District 162 is now a part of the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, therefore, as a school, we are trying to model and promote healthier lifestyles for our students. Please be mindful of the new policy and do not send cupcakes or any other junk food with your child for birthday treats or classroom parties. HEALTHY ALTERNATIVES: • Food Items – pretzels, popcorn, rice crispie treats, rice cakes, granola bars, 100 calorie snack bags, animal crackers, graham crackers, baked tortilla chips & salsa, jell-o cups, lowfat string cheese, cheese and crackers • Fresh Fruit & Veggies – fresh seasonal fruit and/or veggies, orange or apple wedges, mini carrots with dip • Beverages – 100% juice boxes, small bottles of water • Other Ideas – stickers, pencils, erasers, bookmarks, rulers, deck of cards NO Cupcake/Junk Food Policy

16. Parent Teacher Conferences • Conferences are held after 1st and 2nd quarter report cards go home. Look for more information as the dates approach. • Supplies • I will send home a note if supplies are needed. • Snacks • Please send a healthy snack with your child EVERY DAY. • Book Orders • Throughout the year, I will be sending home flyers from various book clubs. If you would like to purchase any books, you may order online or send cash/check to school. Other Items

17. Students are not allowed to sharpen their own pencils because it creates a distraction. • If student’s need a pencil, they can put their unsharpened pencil in the “please sharpen jar” and take a new pencil from the “sharpened jar.” • If the pencil does not have an eraser or is smaller than a pinky finger it should be thrown away! Pencil Policy

18. Please feel free to contact me anytime you have questions. You can do this in a variety of ways: • Write a note • Send an email: • Mrs. Gawla – jgawla@sd162.org • Call me at school – (708) 747-0301 • Make an appointment for a conference Questions

19. Report Cards will be sent home on the following days: • 1st quarter – November 9th • 2nd quarter – February 1st • 3rd quarter – April 5th • 4th quarter – June 6th Report Cards

20. School Books and Supplies Please make sure your child has all of the necessary school supplies for class each day. Students are allowed to bring home their reading books anytime as long as they return the next day.

21. Fridays • Spelling, High Frequency Words, Focus Skill (reading), Comprehension, Grammar • Other Assessments • Reading Fluency • Everyday Math Assessments (upon completion of each unit) • Everyday Math Quizzes • Rubric-Scored Writing • Star 360 Tests

22. Together we can be a powerful team in your child’s education. I look forward to working with you! Us

23. If you have time or talents to share with us, please consider volunteering in our classroom. • Our school policy requires all visitors/volunteers to check in at the school office. Visitor Badges are required if you will be in the school hallways or entering a classroom. • There will be more information regarding volunteering at Open House (August 30th at 6:30pm). Visitors and Volunteers

24. Everyday Math • http://everydaymath.uchicago.edu/parents/ • Storytown • Check our class edline page for information regarding access to the reading series website • Matteson School District 162 • www.sd162.org Websites

25. Read different types of text: fiction and nonfiction!! • READ READ READ…… and then write! • Good strategies for your child learning to read books are: • Read the book to your child (point to the words as you read) • Have your child retell the story • Have your child use the pictures in the book to decode words • Have your child practice reading the book, pointing to the words as they read • Read the books every night EXtra Reading!

26. You • You are your child’s first and most important teacher. • I hope that we can work together this year to make your child’s 2nd grade school year a huge success!

27. Please make sure your child gets plenty of sleep each night, so that he/she is well rested and ready for the challenges of first grade. It is recommended that 5 and 6 year olds get 10 to 11 hours of sleep a night. • This year will ZOOM by, so let’s make the most of it. Zzzzz…

28. Thank you for taking the time to read through the ABC’s of 2nd Grade. Please return this page only signed indicating you have read through the handbook.Child’s Name: ____________________Parent Signature: _________________