Second Grade Overview, August 2010

Dear Parents and Second Graders,

             I would like to welcome everyone to second grade.  I am looking forward to working with you.  I have listed our subject areas and discipline with a brief overview.  Of course every child is unique and every class is different so things may change.

 GENERAL – Respect each other.

This classroom is our classroom.  We must care for it, respect everything and everyone, and feel safe.  We must be organized and have a clear understanding of what is expected. 

 Every child will have a home binder.  Please mark the home binder pockets with the words "keep at home" on one and "return to school" on the other, parents should be prepared to check this home binder each evening.

 Homework should be completed so each child has a full understanding of the information, therefore, written homework should be checked and oral homework practiced. 

All papers with the number correct are recorded grades.   All corrected papers should be cleaned out of the home binder and kept at home. 

 Have names on everything if possible (especially uniforms).

 There will be individualizing when needed in this classroom. 

Look for emails to you so you can help your child be prepared and you can stay informed.

 DISCIPLINE  - Everyone has a right to learn and no one has the right to take that away.

We will be using play money as a token system for small consequences and rewards.  Through this we learn the value and counting of money.  

RELIGION – To know God is to love God.

We have a big year with First Reconciliation and First Communion. It’s always so exciting!  We will watch videos when they compliment what we are learning and we’ll read from the Bible daily. We’ll follow the curriculum recommended by the Diocese.  There will be a lot of discussion.

 SCIENCE – Growth through living and exploring.

We will be using a textbook, hands on materials when possible, experiments and run off materials.  Information will be coming from a variety of resources. 

 SOCIAL STUDIES – Understanding yesterday, today and tomorrow.

We will be working to understand communities, people, geographical settings, and map skills through books, activities and run off materials.

MATH – Seeing the world in order.

Every child will have a school workbook and a home workbook.  Math is so important that we’ll be spending a lot of time with it and you will probably be seeing homework quite often.  I hope everyone will practice flash cards as often as possible because that is the basis for so much to come.  If a child doesn’t know the basic facts, they can be held back from progressing as quickly as the rest of the children.

 LANGUAGE ARTS – Putting the physical world on paper.

            The following will all work together to bring about appropriate written and oral communication skills.

Reading – We’ll be covering at least a story a week.  This includes grammar skills and vocabulary.  There will be skill run off papers to go along with the stories.

Spelling – 

 English – These skills will be worked on throughout the entire curriculum.  All work will be evaluated for grammatical and proper sentence usage.  Individual worksheets and/or textbook will be used for added practice and evaluation. 

 Phonics – Skills will be covered through vocabulary, spelling, and reading activities related to the curriculum.

 Literature – We’ll be reading books written by Laura Ingals Wilder.  We know them as “Little House on the Prairie”.  There is a set of nine books, which is usually available through Scholastic ($21.95) in the Fall.  You do not need to purchase these books. The first book is Little House in the Big Woods.  There are a few videos, which we’ll watch when the stories align with the book.  Many skills are brought into practice through Literature: oral reading, geography, history, spelling, grammar, and math to name a few.

PARENT HELP – Using our time to benefit our children.

- I will ask on occasion for parent help in certain areas. Please consider participating if you schedule allows. It means a lot to me and your child. 

 Please feel free to email me, call me or stop in after school if you have any questions.  Our five-minute conversation may save a lot of anxiety and frustration.  I’ll be working in the classroom before school begins so stop in if we haven’t met each other or if you need something clarified.  

 I am here to serve your children.

Respectfully,

Ms. Kelly