SECOND GRADE FAMILY ORIENTATION August 20th, 2013 University of Pittsburgh Team As we wait: Please write the goals and dreams you have for your child on the star! You may also complete your paperwork packet. Both are on top of your folder.

Why are we here?

Academic Expectations COLLEGE To AND Through! Share!

Objectives and Agenda Objectives:  Meet other members of our classroom community  Become familiar with second grade expectations  Share ways to support your child’s progress Agenda

 Meet the Teachers  Summer School  The Basics  Goals  School Systems  Incentives  Read, Baby, Read!  Me Pockets  Dismissal Procedures  Questions

It’s nice to meet you! Ms. Peters Mr. Perrella Mrs. Peralta Ms. Young Ms. Ringer Mr. Davis Ms. Trunk Senorita Rodriguez Ms. Li Ms. Levine Mr. Ellerbee

Why University of Pittsburgh? * Interactive p. 3

Agenda  Meet the Teacher  Summer School  The Basics  Goals  School Systems  Incentives  Read, Baby, Read!  ME Pockets  Dismissal Procedures  Questions

Summer School Overview  Help our students readjust to the SPARK environment  Teach the cultural and behavioral expectations  Invest students in learning

Summer School Overview:  7:30 AM-12:30 PM, Monday through Friday  Uniforms mandatory  Homework daily  Rewards and consequences systems in place  SPARKbucks store (SPARK It! Market) begins Friday! * Handbook p. 21 * Handbook p

Agenda  Meet the Teacher  Summer School  The Basics  Goals  School Systems  Incentives  Read, Baby, Read!  ME Pockets  Dismissal Procedures  Questions

Saturday School  One Saturday a month  Diversity and Tolerance in our Community  Enriching experiences on campus  Attendance counts towards earned field trips * Handbook p. 16

Specials  Spanish  Music  Art  Science  Social Studies

Family Resource Folder  Weekend review and homework supplement  Important Features  Spelling words  Thousands Chart  ELA and math trimester skills  Trimester 2 and 3 Resource Folders *Resource Folder

Agenda  Meet the Teacher  Summer School  The Basics  Goals  School Systems  Incentives  Read, Baby, Read!  ME Pockets  Dismissal Procedures  Questions

Goals  We have big goals for our SPARKsters, but we know YOU have big goals for them, too! What are some areas you would like to see growth and improvement in this year?  Ex.: I want Skye to become more outgoing and confident this year.  Ex.: I want Jordan to go to college and eventually become a lawyer! * Interactive p. 5

Big Goals Reading Goals 95% at Level N ALL at STEP 10 Math Goals Fluency with addition and subtraction facts Problem-solving and critical thinking skills Multiplication facts

Agenda  Meet the Teacher  Summer School  The Basics  Goals  School Systems  Incentives  Read, Baby, Read  ME Pockets  Dismissal Procedures  Reminders

Important School Systems Keeping us safe and having fun!

Dress Code Appropriate Inappropriate *Handbook p

Staying Warm  At SPARK, we love to go outside and play. Please make sure that your child comes to school when it is cold with a warm jacket, gloves, and hat so they are able to participate in outdoor activity.  In the classroom, students may wear a SPARK sweatshirt or a navy blue sweater/sweatshirt/cardigan  Sweaters must be solid navy with no designs or brands  Please label sweaters and SPARK sweatshirts with your child’s name! Yes!No!

Work hard. Be nice. Be safe. Keep up the good choices. Warning: Think about your choices. You can make better choices. Great Day! Scholar earns $6 on paycheck. A few reminders to make good choices. Scholar earns $3 on paycheck. There was a major issue or student had many reminders to follow class rules. Scholar earns $0 on paycheck. * Handbook p Every day, scholars also have the opportunity to earn $4 when their homework is NEAT and COMPLETE.

Daily Log What are some rewards and consequence systems you use at home? How does this correlate to the daily log? * Handbook p. 18

Homework: Dinner for your SPARKster’s brain Homework Expectations:  Complete Sentences  Neatness  Completeness  Materials – write with pencil, color with crayon  Name on every page (because we often tear out pages to show great work! )  Front log and inside reading log signed each night by family member * Handbook p

Homework Check System I √-√ No credit - Homework is incomplete. Please make up work tonight. Not complete OR Not legible OR Poor effort Complete AND Legible AND Good effort

Agenda  Meet the Teachers  Summer School  The Basics  Goals  School Systems  Incentives  Read, Baby, Read!  Me Pockets  Dismissal Procedures  Questions

SPARKbucks!  Students earn money based on their…  attendance,  homework completion ($2 for neat HW + $2 for complete), and  Color ($6 = green, $3 = yellow, $0 = red).  Students can earn bonus dollars, or “SPARK Power Points” for excellence in academics or character.  Students can spend their money at the school store on Friday.

Other incentives!  Free choice… daily!  Student of the week  Monthly incentive parties!  80% of the month on green  Special incentive parties!  Complete break HW  Field trips  MOY and EOY based solely on attendance

Agenda  Meet the Teacher  Summer School  The Basics  Goals  School Systems  Incentives  Read, Baby, Read!  Me Pockets  Dismissal Procedures  Questions

Read, Baby, Read!  At least 30 minutes daily!  Our end of year goal is for scholars to independently read chapter books at Level N or beyond  Accelerated Reader

The Reality Facts About Children's Literacy Children who are read to at home have a higher success rate in school.  The NCES1 also reported that children who were read to frequently are also more likely to:  count to 20, or higher than those who were not (60% vs. 44%)  write their own names (54% vs. 40%)  read or pretend to read (77% vs. 57%) Children who read frequently develop stronger reading skills. Source: National Education Association

What does Level N look like?  Chapters  Multiple characters  Rich vocabulary  Variety of texts  Emphasis on comprehension, not decoding

What we learned last year… T1 data from nd grade… 66 39

T2 data from nd grade

Literacy Benefits Literacy skills impact every aspect of child development and adult life. Adults who are more literate are more likely to:  Read to their children and discuss school topics;  Be employed full time and receive a higher income;  Use the Internet and ;  Seek varied sources of information  Vote, volunteer, and access information about current local and national events Source:

Agenda  Meet the Teacher  Summer School  The Basics  Goals  School Systems  Incentives  Read, Baby, Read!  Me Pockets  Dismissal Procedures  Questions

ME Pockets!  Me Pockets are one page filled with magazine cut outs, hand drawn pictures or photographs of things that tell the class about your scholar and his/her life! I performed with the National Tour of the Broadway show “42 nd Street I LOVE to cook! My favorite place to be is on the beach! In the fall I love to go pick a pumpkin! My favorite holiday and time of year is Christmas

Agenda  Meet the Teacher  Summer School  The Basics  Goals  School Systems  Incentives  Read, Baby, Read!  Me Packets  Dismissal Procedures  Questions

Dismissal Procedures  Changes this year (due to the growth of our network and the need to align ourselves with other elementary schools)  This year we are limiting the ability to make dismissal changes  TEAM elementary can only accept changes:  If the changes is initiated by phone prior to 8:00 a.m.  when a family calls the “bus change” extension of the main office  *Your bus change is only confirmed after speaking with the office manager via text, phone call, or . Handbook p.9

What do each of these people have in common? Are they all geniuses? Are they all gifted and naturally talented?

These three Individuals are successful because they PRACTICED their craft for at least 10,000 HOURS! At SPARK, we believe that our children can be just as successful in their education and careers if they develop a skill and desire to read that motivates them to PRACTICE THEIR READING!

WORKING TOGETHER the SPARK School Community can produce GREAT READERS! ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ * Interactive p.5

Classroom Website!  I will be utilizing a classroom website for students and parents!   You can find:  Weekly news (can subscribe by !)  Homework  Important calendar days  Pictures  Important documents

Questions