Reading Homework Starting 10/2/2017
Each child will get a reading log giving them a place to write what book they read and write a few sentences about their book. Please read for 20 minutes nightly! Students can read books from home, library books or books from the classroom if given permission to take them home. This year, students will be required to read 40 books of different genres by the end of the year. Students will have time in class to complete story reports, meet with Mrs. Woodward, and then have their 40 book Challenge sheet initialed in the right place by Mrs. Woodward. These are kept in the reading log so you can see what genres are still left to be read before the end of the year!
Parent Pick-up/Drop-off
Getting your child to and from school safely is very important! We always want to make sure that we have correct information on how your child will be leaving school. Please make sure that if your child will be going home in a way that different from what they usually do that you send in a written note for the teacher. A written note ensures that even if there is a substitute teacher, your child will be going home safely. In the mornings, if you take your child to school, we ask that you let them come in on their own and walk to their classroom by themselves (after the first day of school). Class starts promptly at 8:15 and students arriving after 8:15 will need to be signed into the office and will be considered tardy. Coming to school late or being picked up early on a regular basis means that your child may be missing important instructional time.
Behavior
Respectful and well-mannered behavior is essential for everyone in our classroom to learn. We will be using a web-based program called Class Dojo (please see additional information) in order for students to earn points for positive behaviors and lose points for negative behaviors. This behavior system will be used school-wide and will be the basis of our school behavioral plan. It is very important that you sign up to use the Class Dojo system as it will not only serve as a tool to communicate your child’s daily behavior, it will also serve as a place for weekly messages about our classroom and updates on events going on in our school. The Class Dojo App can easily be downloaded onto any smart phone and is an app just like any game app or social media app that you may already have on your phone. If you signed up for Class Dojo at Central Elementary last year you should not have to sign up again.
Money Matters
Anytime you send your student with money for any reason please make sure you put it in an envelope and write their name and the amount on it. Instruct them to hand the money to the teacher to hold until they need it (ex. lunch). Please do not send money stuck in a pocket or book bag, this is how money generally gets lost or stolen.
Breakfast/Lunch
Breakfast served at school will be eaten in the classroom. If you child eats breakfast at home and would like to eat a small snack in the classroom in the mornings that is fine. If you do not wish for your child to buy breakfast at school please make sure you let Mrs. Woodward know so that you do not have any unnecessary charges on your students cafeteria account. At lunchtime, please specify if your child is allowed to get a snack or ice cream daily or only on certain days. Breakfast is served from 8:00-8:15, please make sure if your child needs to eat breakfast at school that they arrive on time.
Homework
The only homework that will be given this year is a nightly Reading Log unless otherwise needed (such as extra practice or not finishing work in class). Students will be required to read for 15 minutes nightly. While it is best that your child do the reading most nights, you may also use that time to read to them. We will start homework after the Labor Day holiday. If you would like to request extra work for your child at home, a list of learning programs will be available on this weebly. Students will receive a Dojo point daily for having their reading log signed. If homework is not completed then a point is lost.
Grading
All classwork will be checked for understanding and some will be graded for the purposes of knowing which students understand the concepts taught and which still need some extra help. All grades will be entered into Powerschool weekly and parents will obtain and login in order to keep up with the grades. All work will also be sent home for you to view. If you see a graded paper and the grade is different in Powerschool please contact Mrs. Woodward so that she can clear that up! Powerschool is new for 2nd grade teachers this year so I appreciate your patience as I learn the system! Grades will be entered for the standards being covered. The grading scale is as follows:
M= Mastery
P=Progressing
LP= Limited Progress
WA= With Assistance (meaning the student can understand the concept, as long as a teacher walks them through the steps)
NA= Not Yet Attempted
Curriculum
We will be following the North Carolina Standard Course of Study. You can find all of the 2nd grade standards on the NCDPI website. For math we will be using a program titled “EngageNY” and for reading we will be following the Daily 5 program. Most of the instruction in this classroom will occur in small group work. This weebly will be updated with current links to help your child if you feel they need extra assignments. If you have any questions, please contact me!
Each child will get a reading log giving them a place to write what book they read and write a few sentences about their book. Please read for 20 minutes nightly! Students can read books from home, library books or books from the classroom if given permission to take them home. This year, students will be required to read 40 books of different genres by the end of the year. Students will have time in class to complete story reports, meet with Mrs. Woodward, and then have their 40 book Challenge sheet initialed in the right place by Mrs. Woodward. These are kept in the reading log so you can see what genres are still left to be read before the end of the year!
Parent Pick-up/Drop-off
Getting your child to and from school safely is very important! We always want to make sure that we have correct information on how your child will be leaving school. Please make sure that if your child will be going home in a way that different from what they usually do that you send in a written note for the teacher. A written note ensures that even if there is a substitute teacher, your child will be going home safely. In the mornings, if you take your child to school, we ask that you let them come in on their own and walk to their classroom by themselves (after the first day of school). Class starts promptly at 8:15 and students arriving after 8:15 will need to be signed into the office and will be considered tardy. Coming to school late or being picked up early on a regular basis means that your child may be missing important instructional time.
Behavior
Respectful and well-mannered behavior is essential for everyone in our classroom to learn. We will be using a web-based program called Class Dojo (please see additional information) in order for students to earn points for positive behaviors and lose points for negative behaviors. This behavior system will be used school-wide and will be the basis of our school behavioral plan. It is very important that you sign up to use the Class Dojo system as it will not only serve as a tool to communicate your child’s daily behavior, it will also serve as a place for weekly messages about our classroom and updates on events going on in our school. The Class Dojo App can easily be downloaded onto any smart phone and is an app just like any game app or social media app that you may already have on your phone. If you signed up for Class Dojo at Central Elementary last year you should not have to sign up again.
Money Matters
Anytime you send your student with money for any reason please make sure you put it in an envelope and write their name and the amount on it. Instruct them to hand the money to the teacher to hold until they need it (ex. lunch). Please do not send money stuck in a pocket or book bag, this is how money generally gets lost or stolen.
Breakfast/Lunch
Breakfast served at school will be eaten in the classroom. If you child eats breakfast at home and would like to eat a small snack in the classroom in the mornings that is fine. If you do not wish for your child to buy breakfast at school please make sure you let Mrs. Woodward know so that you do not have any unnecessary charges on your students cafeteria account. At lunchtime, please specify if your child is allowed to get a snack or ice cream daily or only on certain days. Breakfast is served from 8:00-8:15, please make sure if your child needs to eat breakfast at school that they arrive on time.
Homework
The only homework that will be given this year is a nightly Reading Log unless otherwise needed (such as extra practice or not finishing work in class). Students will be required to read for 15 minutes nightly. While it is best that your child do the reading most nights, you may also use that time to read to them. We will start homework after the Labor Day holiday. If you would like to request extra work for your child at home, a list of learning programs will be available on this weebly. Students will receive a Dojo point daily for having their reading log signed. If homework is not completed then a point is lost.
Grading
All classwork will be checked for understanding and some will be graded for the purposes of knowing which students understand the concepts taught and which still need some extra help. All grades will be entered into Powerschool weekly and parents will obtain and login in order to keep up with the grades. All work will also be sent home for you to view. If you see a graded paper and the grade is different in Powerschool please contact Mrs. Woodward so that she can clear that up! Powerschool is new for 2nd grade teachers this year so I appreciate your patience as I learn the system! Grades will be entered for the standards being covered. The grading scale is as follows:
M= Mastery
P=Progressing
LP= Limited Progress
WA= With Assistance (meaning the student can understand the concept, as long as a teacher walks them through the steps)
NA= Not Yet Attempted
Curriculum
We will be following the North Carolina Standard Course of Study. You can find all of the 2nd grade standards on the NCDPI website. For math we will be using a program titled “EngageNY” and for reading we will be following the Daily 5 program. Most of the instruction in this classroom will occur in small group work. This weebly will be updated with current links to help your child if you feel they need extra assignments. If you have any questions, please contact me!