Second Grade Handbook
Second Grade Handbook
2009 - 2010
“Ride the READING Wave!”
Mrs. Andrea Laborde Turner
www.mrs.turner.teach-nology.com
aturner@selu.edu
ACADEMICS
Grading
Letter grades will be given in Mathematics, Reading, and Language Arts (which includes Spelling, Writing, and English). The following grading scale will be used:
A 94-100%
B 87-93%
C 78-86%
D 70-77%
F 0-69%
Grades given in Science/ Social Studies, Art, Music, Computer and Physical Education will be:
O Outstanding
S Satisfactory
N Needs improvement
Report cards will be sent home every six weeks. Tests and daily work will be sent home on Monday along with a weekly newsletter (newsletter will be emailed to you). Since major tests must be kept on file, they will not be sent home. These tests are on file at school and parents are welcome to schedule an appointment to come and view them. Please sign and return the tests to school every Tuesday. Your child will receive an “X” on his/her telegram if the tests are not returned every Tuesday. Occasionally tests will go home on Tuesday - I reserve the right to take a weekend off now and then J
Promotion Policy
The promotion policy for the second graders to advance to the third grade is as follows: Students must be in attendance 160 days of the school year. Students must pass mathematics, reading, and language arts on grade level. A student may fail two minor subjects and be promoted. In major subject areas a student must achieve an average of an absolute D (1.0).
Reading
Students will be reading from textbooks in the Harcourt reading series as well as from a variety of outstanding children’s literature. Comprehension tests will be given after each reading section weekly. Reading grades are also derived from daily work, projects, Accelerated Reader (AR) tests and Reading Logs. Each student must read at least 40 books per six-week grading period. For longer chapter books the students may divide the total number of pages by 30 to get an equivalent. (Example; A ninety-page book would count as three books in the Reading Log.) Students are to keep track of the books they read in their Reading Logs. As each child completes a page in their Reading Logs (10 Books), they should bring the entire log to school. Parents are asked to initial these logs. Prizes will be given from the Learning Resource Center (LRC) for every 10 books read. Reading logs will count as a major test grade each six weeks. Special awards will be given for those students who read more than the required 240 books. The two students that read the most books and earn the most AR points during the year will be honored at the school wide awards program in May.
Accelerated Reader (AR)- The Accelerated Reader Program is a computer-based program that tests comprehension of books read. Students earn points for the correct responses. I will read at least one AR book in the beginning of each week and the students will take the AR test for that book. Time will be given for students to take tests on other AR books they have read. AR books are available in our classroom as well as in the LRC. Students are given many opportunities during the week to take AR tests. By the second semester students will be required to take AR tests on chapter books. I am challenging all second graders to reach 25 points by mid-term. The LRC will sponsor a field trip for the students in second grade earning 50 points. The student that earns the most AR points during the year will be honored at the school wide awards program in May.
The Accelerated Reader Program reports that if second graders read at least 60 minutes each day at their independent reading level, their reading ability will increase by two grade levels in one school year. I have been monitoring this and I can report that it is true. The second graders who read the most at home show the largest growth in reading! We start each school day with 30 minutes of school-wide Sustained Silent Reading. Together with the 20 - 30 minutes of reading homework each night, your child is getting approximately 60 minutes of reading practice daily. It is very important that you do your part and help make the 20 - 30 minutes of reading each night a very special and positive time. The perfect scenario would be the entire family quietly reading together. We can make your child a lifelong reader with this simple method. Students are required to read 120 minutes at home weekly. You can divide this into six 20 minute sessions, four 30-minute sessions, or whatever works for your family.
Students will be read to on a daily basis at school and parents are encouraged to read to and with students at home. Many students enjoy following along in the book that I am reading aloud to them. Do not be surprised if your child comes home with a chapter book that seems too difficult. The selections that I read aloud are at your child’s listening level which is higher than his/her independent reading level. I will be working to get your child reading chapter books as soon as possible. I am delighted that some students are already reading chapter booksJ
Language Arts
Students will receive spelling lists each Monday. Spelling words include spelling words that comes from the reading series and the words second graders need to know to be good writers. These spelling words will be glued into your child’s spelling composition book. A trial spelling test will be given on Wednesday. Students receiving 100% will be exempt from the test on Friday. Bonus words are given. These words are also posted on the class website.
Students will write every day. Students will participate in creative writing and journal writing every day. Every six weeks a grade will be given for journal entries. Students will be given time every afternoon to reflect in their journals. Students must date each entry and write at least three sentences. Writing portfolios will be kept on each student.
A writing topic will be assigned on Monday. We will work on this writing for two weeks. During the first week, the thinking map and rough draft are due on Thursday. On week two the edited writing will be due on Friday. It will ALWAYS be Thursday night homework to either complete the rough draft (week 1) or to revise the final writing (week 2). Later in the year, the students will take this same writing and produce it using a word processor which they will be able to save on their flash drives and take home to revise. We are using the Write from the Beginning writing program.
We will be using the Zaner-Bloser handwriting system this year. We will be learning cursive handwriting during the second semester. Please familiarize yourself with the formation of the letters and encourage your child to complete all written assignments using correct letter formation and spacing.
We use McGraw-Hill Language Arts for grammar and additional writing skills. English skills are incorporated in every subject area.
Mathematics
We will be using the Harcourt Math textbook for math instruction. Chapter tests will be given at the end of each chapter (usually on Friday). Homework assignments and graded class work will inform the parents of the skills being taught. A practice test will be sent home the night before each chapter test. Our beginning focus will be to memorize our addition and subtraction facts up to 20. Timed tests will be given. There will be 20 problems to solve in 8 minutes. Students will be given a timed test one week and the next week they will get another test on the same facts - the best grade of the two will be counted. Please use flash cards if your child does not know his/her basic facts.
Science and Social Studies
Science and social studies units will be incorporated with the reading units. Students will be involved in a variety of learning experiences. Science and Social studies textbooks will also be used at various times throughout the year. Second grade students will also participate in Buddy Science activities with other grades. Older students will be paired with the second graders fro science activities that are integrated with other subject areas.
Second graders are not required to have a project for the science fair but any student interested is strongly encouraged to do so. In the fall, second graders will do a major project on an endangered animal. In the spring, they will do a project on a country.
Art and Music
We have an excellent arts program. The students go to highly qualified teachers for art and music. Students are expected to participate and display correct behavior. These specialists give art and music grades.
Physical Education
Second grade students go to P.E. daily. Please make sure that your child has on shoes and clothing that will allow them to participate in all activities. The P.E. teacher will be responsible for assigning the grades in P.E.
Centers
There are five enrichment stations in our classroom. Every afternoon students go to a different center. Centers include Classroom library, AR computers, Creativity/Art, Social Studies, Science, Math and seasonal centers. Students not completing class work will not visit their center for the day until their class work is complete. We will not have centers on weeks that do not have a full five days.
Learning Resource Center (LRC)
The second grade class visits the library at least once a week. Second grade students are allowed to go to the library before school and during free time. Students may check out two books at a time. The school wide theme for this year is “Ride the READING Wave”.
I am requiring each second grader to read 240 books this school year and challenging them to read more. (Remember that every 30 pages of a chapter book counts for one book.) Students may use the LRC after school if they are accompanied by a parent. This is an excellent way to select Accelerated Reader books together. Parents may request a library card so additional books may be checked out.
Homework
Reading nightly is homework for every night you are in second grade and hopefully it will become a lifelong habit. Students are to read at least 120 minutes a week.
Homework assignments are given every Monday through Thursday night. These assignments are a review of material covered in class. Students are expected to write down assignments on the special form that is given on Monday. Please check your child’s communication binder every night for assignments, important notes and papers. Please place anything you need to send to school on the left-hand side of your child’s communication binder.
The following homework assignments are standard for every week:
Daily – Read 20 - 30 minutes
Monday – Turn in (on Tuesday) the prior week’s tests signed by parents
Tuesday - Write sentences with spelling words
Wednesday – Reread the story for the week and study the vocabulary for test on Thursday.
- Study for spelling trial test.
Thursday – Complete writing rough draft (Week 1)
-Revise the final writing (Week 2)
- Math chapter review (page torn out of math book)
Friday – Turn in (on Monday) the prior week’s Turner Telegram signed by parents
Please note that most assessment is done on Thursday and Friday.
Second graders earn “Free Homework” passes for being kind and respectful. The passes are not valid for anything that must be signed or for the weekly writing assignment. “Free Homework” passes that are not redeemed will be eligible for prizes at the end of the school year.
If your child is going to be absent, please call the office before 10:00 to request homework and missed assignments. Assignments will be left in the office after 2:35 for you to pick up. Second graders are responsible for writing down homework assignments, completing the assignments and coming to school with the completed work. Students will not be allowed to call home for forgotten homework. Students that do not have the required homework assignments will complete the work at recess or during centers.
Communication
Each child has a communication binder. This binder should go to and from school daily. All important material is kept in this binder.
Every Monday your child’s work from the week before will be sent home to be signed by you and returned to school on Tuesday. A weekly newsletter containing both class and school announcements will be emailed to you on Monday. If you have a message for me or for the school please put it in the left hand pocket of your child’s communication binder “To:School”. All communications from the school will be put in the right hand pocket “To:Home”. Check your child’s communication binder daily for the Turner Telegram, homework, reading log and communication from the school. If you have any questions or concerns (or positive feedback) please write a note, call the office -549-2185- or the best way to communicate with me is through email. My school address is aturner@selu.edu and my home address is andrealturner@bellsouth.net.CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT
Kindness Curriculum
Second graders will be expected to be well mannered, courteous, and to treat others with kindness. We will be concentrating on being the best mannered and kindest individuals that we can be. We will be applauding “Acts of Kindness” in order to acknowledge, value, and reinforce positive things children have done. Students will earn special “Star Student Awards” for these kind acts. You will be asked to keep up with kind acts done at home on an "I'm a Kind Kid" chart. At the beginning of every day our class will recite The Kindness Pledge:
I pledge to myself, on this day,
To try to be kind, in every way.
To every person, big and small,
I will help them if they fall.
When I love myself and others, too,
That is the best that I can do!
“Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can read.”
-Mark Twain
Turner Telegram
In order for each student to reach his/her highest potential and to maintain a safe environment, it is necessary to establish certain rules and have a system to reinforce these rules. On Monday morning each student is given a Turner Telegram for the week. It is kept in the communication binder which goes home every night. Listed on the Turner Telegram are the five classroom rules. In the event that a rule is broken the child is first given a verbal warning. If the inappropriate behavior continues one half of the “X” is placed in the proper box. If the inappropriate behavior continues for a third time the other half of the “X” is recorded and the student will have to miss a recess or center to think about and write about what they could do to correct the behavior. If the inappropriate behavior continues, the parents will be notified via note, telephone or e-mail. If the inappropriate behavior still continues after the parent has been notified the student will be referred to the principal for further action. At the end of each day, stickers or stamps are placed in each blank box on the Turner Telegram. Students that have all spaces filled with stickers/stamps will be rewarded on Fun Friday. Students who receive and “X” for unkind words or actions will spend time in Kindness Clinic with the school counselor or the parish behavior specialist during part of Fun Friday. The Turner Telegram must be signed and returned to school every Monday. You don’t have to wait until Friday to see your child’s conduct. The Turner Telegram is updated daily and stays in the communication binder which goes home every night.Fun Friday
Second graders celebrate their good manners and the hard work they have done all week by participating in fun activities on Friday. A typical Fun Friday includes the following: computer lab, science lab, buddy activity with another grade, movie in the Story Theater, guest speaker/reader, bingo of one kind or another, center time, special story time, demonstrations and sharing by that week’s star student, visits to places on campus, and of course….. special food treats!
If you have any fun activities or ideas, please share them with us. We would love to have you come share a talent, recipe or read a story. Grandparents are also invited. If you can help with Fun Friday, please let me know. We need help with special food treats and walking around the campus.
Kindness Clinic
Every Friday morning I will collect the Turner Telegrams. I will evaluate each child’s conduct for the week and determine how much time the child will spend in Kindness Clinic while the rest of the class is participating in Fun Friday activities. The school counselor, parish behavior specialist or I will conference one on one with students in Kindness Clinic. They will reflect on their behavior and concentrate on positive choices to be made in the future. They will write about the behavior and the better choices. The amount of time spent in Kindness Clinic will depend on the conduct for the week. If the only “X” received is for homework or not returning signed tests the child will have a brief session to be reminded to be more responsible. If a child is repeatedly in Kindness Clinic, the parent will be invited to attend Kindness Clinic so the parent, child and teacher can work on a behavior plan.
OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Website
www.mrs.turner.teach-nology.com
Our website is updated weekly - You will find homework, vocabulary, spelling and other valuable information on the website.Lunch
Second grade students go to lunch at 11:00. You are welcome to come and eat with your child. Please call the cafeteria and let them know if you will be eating with your child and wait for your child in the back foyer or in the lunchroom.
Star Student of the Week
In an effort to promote high self-esteem and to give students a chance to get to know one another better, each child will be assigned one week that will be designated his or her special week. They will be the “Star Student of the Week”. During this week the student may bring photos, books, toys, trophies, collections, etc. from home to share with the class. Students may invite special guests to come and share with the class. Share time will be 11:45 unless other arrangements need to be made to accommodate special guests or activities. We like to schedule all special, fun activities for Fun Friday. Each child will be given a special poster to complete about themselves. These posters will be on display during your child’s star week and returned to your child after his/her week. Your child will have special privileges during this week. Every effort has been made to schedule their week close to their birthday. We would love to celebrate the birthday on Fun Friday with special edible treats if you would like to provide something. Each star is invited to develop the art activity at our Imagination/Creativity Center. Just send in a completed sample and the supplies needed (if they are not standard art supplies). The activity needs to be something the students can do independently in 20 minutes. Please send in the Friday before your week begins.Supplies
Most students begin the year with ample supplies. During the year many supplies are used, lost or broken. Please check with your child on a regular basis about replacing supplies. On occasions the students may have the need for additional supplies. Letters will be sent home when this becomes necessary.
Throughout the year circumstances make it necessary to change or deviate from the normal routine. Please be flexible with these changes.
I hope this handbook answers all your questions about Second Grade. This will be an incredible year in your child’s intellectual and social development.