Welcome to Second Grade Curriculum Night! Paula Carline Stephanie Hines Shirley Smith

Classroom Rules Listen and follow directions when given. Be prepared for class with all materials. Keep hands, feet, and other objects to yourself. Raise your hand and be recognized before talking. Say and do only nice things to others. Students should return all homework on Fridays.

Nine Week Behavior Expectations Infraction chart by grade level: Conduct grades will include infractions received for no homework. Office referrals will be counted as 9 infractions. Therefore, a student will receive no better than an “N” in conduct in nine weeks where behavior has resulted in an office referral. Students who choose to participate in clubs must maintain an S in conduct. N’s in conduct will result in a 4 week probationary period. U’s and F’s will mean dismissal from clubs. Grade LevelExpectations KindergartenS = 0-8 color changes/infractions N = 9+ color changes/infractions All other grades 1 st -5 th S = 0-8 color changes/infractions N = 9-12 color changes/infractions U = 13+ color changes/infractions

New Tardy Policy Students are counted as tardy if they are not in the classroom by 7:45 a.m. Students with excessive tardiness will be referred to the attendance committee for consideration of ISS and a home visit by the social worker. Three or more tardies in a 9 week period will disqualify students from attendance awards.

Communication Tuesday folders will be sent home each week. Weekly newsletters will be posted on the school website. ( Homework folder will communicate conduct and homework assignments daily. Our conference period is 1:15 – 2:05. Please send notes, call or if there are any questions or concerns! Please send notes for transportation changes or contact office prior to 2 pm! We are unable to accept transportation changes via .

Newsletters Beginning on Sept. 3rd, all grade levels will post a copy of the newsletter on the Frost Elementary website and will do so each Monday evening during the year. In addition, an blast will be sent out to grade level parents with the newsletter attached. Newsletters will include special events, birthdays, learning objectives, assessment dates and any other information deemed necessary by the grade level team. Access to the newsletters is at:

Reassessment (Daily Grades) The teacher shall provide one reasonable opportunity to reassess failure to master the TEKS/Curriculum in each daily grade. The highest possible grade that can be earned and recorded on the reassessment is a 70. There will be no reassessment based on lack of effort. The teacher will make a note in the electronic grade book of the date and grade of the reassessment. Original grades will be recorded in the notes section.

Reassessment (Test Grades) A teacher shall provide one reasonable opportunity to reassess failure to master TEKS/Curriculum on each test grade. There will be no reassessment based on lack of effort. Teachers will reteach and allow students an opportunity to retest the objectives not mastered. The highest possible grade that can be earned and recorded on the reassessment is a 70. The teacher will make a note in the electronic grade book of the date and grade of the reassessment. Original grades will be recorded in the notes section. Elementary 9 week assessments and student projects are not subject to reassessment.

Common Assessments Common summative assessments are major tests that are given at the 8-9 week mark of each grading period. These tests are to be completed by the student in one class period. Common summative assessments are not subject to reassessment guidelines and will be weighted at 200%. Assessments will be given in math, reading, language, science and social studies.

Common Formative Assessments (CFA) CFAs are formative assessments – they inform teachers and students ‘of’ learning (that which has already occurred). Research shows that schools that consistently used CFAs showed the greatest improvement in student achievement. Students will take a CFA once per nine weeks in the areas of reading, science, writing and math. Data from the CFA will be used to form small groups and guide instruction. CFAs are not graded but are used diagnostically and to better facilitate student learning and provide feedback for students.

LCISD Grading Policy All corrections on daily graded work must be made in school. Any work that is to be graded will not be sent home for completion. Students will not be given make-up work ahead of time when parents remove their children for trips during school days. Late Work Policy – classwork will be accepted late within the current grading period with these guidelines in place: One (1) day late = 0 points off Two (2) days late = 10 points off Three (3) days late = highest grade possible is a 70 Extenuating circumstances will be reviewed by campus policy.

Report Cards/Progress Reports Report TypeDate Report Sent Home Progress Report – 1 st Nine WeeksThursday, September 26, 2013 Report Card – 1 st Nine WeeksThurs.-Fri., November 7-8, 2013 (Parent Conferences) Progress Report – 2 nd Nine WeeksThursday, December 12, 2013 Report Card – 2 nd Nine WeeksThursday, January 23, 2014 Progress Report – 3 rd Nine WeeksThursday, February 20, 2014 Report Card – 3 rd Nine WeeksThursday, April 3, 2014 Progress Report – 4 th Nine WeeksThursday, May 1, 2014 Report Card – 4 th Nine WeeksThursday, June 5, 2014

Skyward Family Access Replaces the Classroom Connection Center PCG portal Allows parents to track student grades and progress Go to and click on the Family Access button at the top of the page. Sign in with your username and password. Update all addresses associated with your account.

Parent Conference Dates Teachers will meet with parents to review student progress for the first nine weeks. Conferences will be held on November 7 th and 8 th. The first nine weeks report card will be distributed at the conference.

Birthday Guidelines In accordance with district policy, we discourage food being brought in by parents/grandparents for the following reasons: protect instructional time; student food allergies (peanut, gluten, eggs); student medical conditions (diabetes); liability assumed by person bringing in food Flowers, balloons, pencils, invitations and any other treats in honor or recognition of a child’s birthday cannot be delivered or distributed at school.

Lunch Drop-off Once the school day begins, parents will want to follow these guidelines to drop off lunches: o Check in at the front office and receive a visitor’s name badge. o Proceed to the cafeteria with the lunch. o Place the lunch in the appropriately labeled bin near the cafeteria kitchen. o Students and/or teachers will check the bin at the beginning of the lunch period for their class.

Dress Code Red, white, light blue or navy blue collared shirts are allowed. Tops may not have any visible logos. Viewable undershirts should be one of the uniform shirt colors. Sweaters and jackets must be solid red, navy, black, khaki or white. Khaki, navy, black, blue denim slacks, shorts, skirts, skorts and jumpers are permitted. School shirts and sweatshirts are allowed. Leggings and tights should be red, black, blue, white or khaki. No backless shoes, flip flops, overalls, hats, caps, scarves, skate shoes, sweat pants, or rolling backpacks are allowed.

Food Service Meal Prices Breakfast - $1.10 Lunch PK-8 - $1.80 Lunch Visitor - $3.00 Student lunch numbers are the same as their student ID#. This should never change as long as they are enrolled in LCISD. Bar code scanners are on order to help schools manage the speed of service.

Food Service (cont.) Updated meal charge policy – Students are allowed to charge up to -$ After reaching this, a student will receive milk and cereal for breakfast and a cold cheese sandwich and milk for lunch. The account will be charged $0.50 for this alternate meal. No charging is allowed by adults. The district meal charge policy will take effect September 3, 2013.

Food Service (cont.) After a student receives 10 alternate meals the parents will need to make arrangements to provide a lunch for their child. Our automated calling system will call phone numbers listed to remind families to send money to avoid receiving alternate meals. Please make sure to update your contact information with the district. Pay online at All schools have copies of the free/reduced meal application if needed.

Food Service (cont.) New meal requirements: o Students must take ½ cup fruit or vegetable at lunch to complete a reimbursable meal. o There is no longer an entrée. A student must take 3 components to complete a meal. No beverage is required. o LCISD practices ‘offer vs. serve’. Students need to be allowed to make their own choices. o No juice will be offered at lunch. o There will be no more syrup. New items such as prepackaged mini-pancakes, mini-waffles, and French toast sticks will have syrup flavor cooked in the product.

Daily Instruction

Guided Reading As part of our Balanced Literacy curriculum, teachers will differentiate reading instruction through Guided Reading. Teachers will use assessment data to plan and adjust small group Guided Reading lessons. Groups will be flexible and will focus on specific strategies and skills needed by students. Students will rotate between literacy-based activities, independent reading, and meeting with the teacher as part of our Reader’s Workshop approach.

2 nd Grade DRA2 Reading Assessment Teachers will administer the DRA2 reading assessment for the 1 st, 2 nd and 4 th nine weeks. Teachers will use running record assessments to determine reading levels for the 3 rd nine weeks. Reading levels will be recorded on the report card; however, they will not be averaged in as a percentage of a student’s reading grade. Minimum Reading Levels for Second Grade

2 nd Grade Word Study Second grade will use an integrated word study program for phonics, vocabulary and spelling instruction called Words Their Way. This approach involves differentiation using hands-on lessons centered around five stages and instructional levels based on students’ individual needs. Highlights: Students are given an assessment to determine their word study level, and teachers will use the results to create word study groups. Students will meet with the teacher in small groups and will receive differentiated word lists that correspond with their level. Students will practice critical features of words through sorts, poems, games and other literacy activities. Students’ spelling lists will be individualized based on their word study groups. (No more one size fits all approach to spelling!)

English Language Arts Grading Language Arts:  Writing 40%  Oral and Written Conventions 40% * Grammar * Handwriting * Capitalization * Punctuation * Spelling  Research 10%  Listening and Speaking 10%

Guided Math Implementation of guided math consists of:  Whole group instruction: 1-2 days a week, primarily to introduce a new concept or topic  Small group instruction: 3-4 days a week so that teachers can effectively monitor student understanding and tailor instruction to meet needs of all students  Math workstations: 3-4 days a week during the guided math cycle  Fact Fluency: 3-4 days a week during the guided math cycle

EPSE Problem Solving Method What is EPSE? In mathematics, students continually use problem- solving, language and communication, and reasoning (justification and proof) to make connections within and outside mathematics. EPSE is a method in which students can explore a problem, plan and solve it, then explain their thinking. What does each letter stand for? E – Explore: Fact Finding P – Plan: How will I solve this problem? S – Solve: Find the answer. E – Examine: Show or explain how the answer is reasonable.

EPSE at Frost Elementary At Frost, teachers will implement EPSE with fidelity. Students will have time for guided and independent practice in the classroom. Grades 2-5 will include one EPSE problem for homework two days a week (Mon. & Wed.) Grade 1 will begin including EPSE homework in the 3 rd nine weeks. For homework and assessments, students will only be required to practice and master the sections of EPSE that have been taught previously by the classroom teacher.

2 ND Grade Homework Policy Reading –District requires reading a minimum of 80 minutes a week. Math - On Going Review and Problem Solving daily using E.P.S.E. method on Monday and Wednesday. All Homework is due on Fridays for the first semester. Please do not send in homework early. Second semester homework will be due daily to prepare them for 3 rd grade.

Parent Volunteers Any parent wishing to chaperone on the Field Trip or work in the Teacher Workroom, must sign in at the front office with valid ID.

Thank you for coming! It is a privilege to teach your children.