Second Grade 2018-2019 I grew up in southern Minnesota. My family - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Second Grade 2018-2019

• I grew up in southern Minnesota.
• My family and I have lived in Wexford, PA for 22 years.
• I have two children.
• This is my 26th year of teaching. I have taught in Pine-Richland for 21 years.

Prior to Pine-Richland, I taught in Hilliard, Ohio for 5 years.

• I have taught kindergarten, first, second, and third grades.
• I have a Masters Degree in Reading and a reading specialist certification.
• I am the second grade co-chairperson on the district’s Academic Leadership
• Council. I also serve on the social studies curriculum committee and the

report card committee.

• I am the co-chairperson of Wexford’s Literacy Book Room. This room

contains books for small group differentiated guided reading groups.

Spotlight on 60 Spotlight on Excellence

• Welcome to an exciting year in your child’s educational journey!
• This year’s second grade theme is “All-Star Sports!” The students

will learn how to work collaboratively and independently.

• We will learn to be kind, caring, responsible, and respectful students.
• In second grade, we will work in large and small groups.
• Your child will also be responsible for completing his/her independent

work during the course of the school day.

• 8:55 Arrival

–Turn in homework –Exchange books –Complete morning work –Take attendance/lunch count

• 9:15 Tardy Bell Rings
• 9:30 Morning Meeting

–Math Calendar –Daily Schedule –Learning Goals

• 9:45 Math
• 10:45 Guided reading
• 11:15 Specials
• 12:00 Lunch/Recess
• 1:00 Handwriting/Read Aloud
• 1:25 Spelling/Grammar/Writing
• 2:00 Guided reading
• 2:20 Reading
• 3:00 Social Studies/Science
• 3:35 Prepare for Dismissal
• 3:45 Dismissal

• The second grade reading program consists of whole group reading lessons, small group

guided reading lessons, and independent reading assignments.

• As a whole class, we read stories from the McGraw Hill Reading Wonders reading series.
• In small groups, students read guided reading books at their instructional reading level.

Teachers provide direct reading instruction to students based upon their individual needs.

• During the reading block, students work independently on five literacy activities: read to self,

read to someone, listen to reading, work on writing, and word work (grammar & spelling).

• Reading comprehension, vocabulary, fluency, phonics/spelling, writing, and grammar

lessons are taught each week.

• A reading comprehension test will be given five times each grading period.
• The STAR 360 reading and math assessments are given three times a year to monitor

students’ reading and math development.

• Oral reading benchmark reading assessments are given throughout the school year to

monitor the students’ reading progress.

• Second grade writing goals are:

–To write a paragraph with a topic sentence, three supporting details, and a closing sentence. –To self-edit for capitalization, punctuation, spelling, and grammar.

• Second graders will write personal narratives, informational reports, friendly

letters, persuasive essays, opinion paragraphs, and poetry.

• Writing lessons include: topic focus, organization, word choice, descriptive

details, voice, strong openings and conclusions, time-order words, and sensory words.

• Writing projects will be compiled into their student portfolios.
• Manuscript letter formation will be taught during the first semester.
• Cursive handwriting will be instructed during the second semester.

• The Wilson Fundations program is a phonemic awareness, phonics, and

spelling program.

• It is a systematic, sequential, multisensory method of teaching students.
• Students blend and segment sounds as they spell words.
• Students actively manipulate sounds by moving magnetic letters to form

words.

• Students use white boards and gel boards to practice spelling words.
• The Fundations spelling list will be sent home each Friday. It consists of

15 phonetically regular words and 5 trick words (phonetically irregular words).

• Students will practice these spelling words in Fundations lessons all

week.

• Students will also need to study the spelling words at home.
• The spelling test will be given on Friday of each week.

• The McGraw-Hill My Math program is used to give students opportunities to explore

math concepts through concrete math manipulatives and paper/pencil assignments.

• The students will learn math concepts and problem solving skills through whole class

activities, small group games, and individual practice.

• We place a great importance on memorizing addition and subtraction facts to 18 in

second grade. Please practice addition and subtraction math facts with your child using flash cards or the Rocket Math app (see information paper in folder).

• The second grade math topics are:

–Apply addition & subtraction concepts –Number patterns –Add & subtract two-digit numbers –Place Value to 1,000 –Add & subtract three-digit numbers –Money –Data analysis –Time –Customary & metric lengths –Geometric shapes and equal shares

• Social Studies

–Houghton Mifflin, publisher –Units include:

• Our School Community
• Economics: Goods &

Services

• America’s Past
• Cultures & Holidays
• Everyday Heroes
• Pittsburgh: Then & Now
• Science

–McGraw-Hill, publisher –Units include:

• Water Cycle
• Earth’s Changes
• Fossils

–Two ASSET science kits

• Balance and Motion
• Changes

• Music!

–Our music class consists of vocal and small instrumental instruction.

• Art!

–Bring a labeled short-sleeved t-shirt!

• Library!

–The students are permitted to check out two books per week.

• Physical Education!

–Wear gym shoes!

• Computers!

• Wexford’s School Behavior Program is focusing on Kindness this school year! It

encourages positive behavior and shows children how easy and rewarding it is to express kindness, appreciation, and love on a daily basis. We can be kind by using caring words, giving compliments, helping others, and showing our appreciation.

• Students will be taught the expectations for good behavior in all school areas.
• Students will receive encouragement when meeting these expectations in the form of

verbal praise, stickers, kindness coupons, and special recognition.

• Students will understand the enforcement steps that will be followed if a student does

not meet the behavioral expectations. For example, the recess enforcement steps are a verbal warning, a 10 minute time-out, an entire recess loss, and a referral to the

• ffice.

• Our Classroom Rules:
• Raise your hand and wait.
• Show good listening.
• Check your personal space.
• Use kind words and actions.
• Do your best!
• Our Classroom Consequences:
• Verbal reminder
• Lose a sticker/move to yellow card
• Lose recess/move to red card
• Parent meeting
• Principal’s office

• We look forward to celebrating our students’ birthdays. In lieu of birthday snacks, the

second grade teachers request that children select a book or game to donate to their

• classroom. The birthday book/game may be wrapped in birthday paper to add to the

day’s festivities.

• A special birthday sticker will be placed in the front of the book/game acknowledging

your child’s gift. If he/she donates a book, we will read the book during read aloud.

• The “Big Hit Birthday Books” will be placed in a special birthday basket in our

classroom for all to read! The “Birthday” games will be added to our recess cabinet for lots of recess fun!

• Summer birthdays will be celebrated on his/her 1/2 birthday.
• Birthday invitations should NOT be sent to school for distribution. To avoid hurting

children’s feelings, please mail all party invitations and thank you cards to the children’s

• homes. Addresses can be found in the Wexford Student Directory, which should be

available in late September.

• Monday

Math

• Tuesday

Math

• Wednesday

Math

• Thursday

Math

• Friday

Spelling

• Every Day

Read book in plastic reading bag Study spelling words Practice math facts

• Please call the school office the morning of your child’s absence.
• Make-up homework is available, by request, after the second consecutive

day off. All requests must be called into the office or e-mailed to the teacher by 10:00 am. Work may be sent home with another student or available for pick up at 3:45 pm the same day of request. The school office is open until 4:30 pm.

• When your child returns to school, remember to send a note to school stating

the reason for the absence.

• If a special absence is necessary for travel or other family needs, a Request

for Special Absence form, which can be found on the Wexford Elementary School website, must be completed 2 weeks prior to the absence. Your child will have make-up homework to complete during the absence.

• Second Grade progress reports are distributed every nine weeks.
• Parent-teacher conferences are scheduled for November 8 and 9.
• If you have any questions or concerns regarding your child’s education,

please contact me at lolson@pinerichland.org. I check my e-mail at the end

• f the school day.
• Each Friday, you will receive an e-mail containing our Classroom Newsletter,

which will highlight our learning from the week and give you a preview of the upcoming week. All important homework assignments and announcements will be in the newsletter. Please be diligent about reading our newsletter!!

• Our second grade website is located at

http://pinerichland.schoolwires.net/Page/1594. Math homework is available

• n the My Math website if your child forgets his/her homework folder. Also,

your child is encouraged to use our second grade on-line curriculum

• resources. Please sign your child’s Website Calendar when your child works
• n-line.

• Bus Procedures

–If your child is going home in a different way than usual, a note must be sent to the teacher. If a child is coming home with your child, a note must be sent. Otherwise, the children will not be permitted to vary from the normal routine. You may call the school office if you forget to send a note.

• Lunch Money

–Make checks payable to the Pine-Richland Cafeteria Fund. Write your child’s name and pin number on the check. You may also add money to your child’s lunch account using the link on the Wexford Elementary School’s website. Please help your child memorize his/her cafeteria number. They will use it until they graduate from PR!

• Toys

–Please DO NOT send toys, trading cards, or stuffed animals to school. These items are often lost, which results in disappointment and tears.

• Teach your child to tie his/her shoes with double knots.
• Limit your child’s screen time. Encourage him/her to play outside,

play board games, create with Legos and art materials, and most importantly, interact with family members.

• Practice your child’s lunch pin number.
• Read with your child every day.
• Teach your child his/her entire name, address, and phone number.
• Have a consistent early bedtime for your child.
• Check over all of your child’s homework assignments and sign the

top of each assignment before returning it to school. Thank you!

• Green Communications Folder
• Spelling list (do not remove from the folder)
• Homework/Specials Schedule
• Family Contact Card
• Parent Homework Paper
• Parent Volunteer Form

for attending our Second Grade Parent Night!

I look forward to working with you and your child this year. It is going to be a wonderful school year!