Welcome to Adkins Elementary 2nd Grade Parent Orientation

The Daily Five The Daily 5 is a structured language arts framework that helps students develop the daily habits of reading, writing, and working with peers that will lead to a lifetime of independent literacy. The 5 elements that students participate in every day are: Read to Self, Read with Someone, Listen to Reading, Word Work, and Work on Writing. In our classes, the students will visit four of the five each day.

Read to Self Students each have a book box full of “just right” books that they read from during read to self. Students work on stamina each day until they can read for 20 minutes. Read to Someone Students can practice developing their fluency by reading to someone. Students sit EEKK during this time (elbow to elbow, knee to knee). Work on Writing Students work on original stories, lists, poems, letters, etc...during work on writing. Work on Words/Word Work Students use various manipulatives and materials to practice their sight words and word patterns that we are working on for that week. Listen to Reading Students use CD Players, computers, and tape players to listen to fluent reading.

CAFE Strategies ● CAFE is an acronym for Comprehension, Accuracy, Fluency, and Expanding Vocabulary. It uses a system of goal-setting with students in individual conferences. ● We also develop small group instruction based on clusters of students with similar goals and target whole-class instruction based on emerging student needs.

Guided Reading ● Leveled fiction and nonfiction books will come home in book bags. It will be required for students to read minutes each night. ● The books are property of Adkins and cost $10 each if lost or damaged. ● Students that read above grade level will work on going deeper in their reading in regards to elements of literature. As a grade level, we will not read above a level P due to maturity of higher levels. ● Please remember that the reading level on the report card is your child’s independent level. The guided reading books will be at a higher level because students are being guided by the teacher with these books. This is considered their instructional level. The independent level on the report card is what they can read without anyone’s help.

Sight Words/Word Work ● Your child will learn new sight words each week, as well as, a spelling pattern for word work. ● Please have your child practice reading the sight words as part of their reading each night. ● Students will be assessed on these words at the beginning, middle, and end of the year during our ELI (Early Literacy Inventory) assessment. ● We will not be having spelling tests this year, but will instead have assessments in which sight words and spelling patterns will be included in dictation form to check for mastery.

Math Problem Solving ● solve multi-step problems using addition and subtraction; all math topics will include problem solving Number and Operations ● compare and order numbers using number lines and place value ● generate & solve addition and subtraction problems ● compose, decompose, and represent numbers using place value ● recognize and represent fractional units & communicate how they are used ● add & subtract two-digit numbers using mental strategies Measurement ● solve problems by estimating and measuring length using standard units ● read & write times shown on analog & digital clocks using 5 minute increments ● read a thermometer to gather data Geometry ● describe attributes of 2D & 3D shapes ● use attributes to describe how two 2D or two 3D shapes are alike/different ● cut two-dimensional geometric figures apart and identify the new geometric figures formed Probability & Statistics ● Construct picture and bar graphs; draw conclusions & answer questions about picture & bar graphs

Math Workshop Introduction ● Pose the problem with a Guiding Question Workshop Stations ● Hands-on activities & games ● Manipulatives ● Small groups Workshop stations should lead students to discover answer to the guiding question. Closing ● Correcting misconceptions ● Discuss different solutions, strategies, and methods

Social Studies Highlights of our year: History ● Identify & explain the significance of landmarks ● Identify contributions of historical figures (Thurgood Marshall, Irma Rangel, John Hancock, Theodore Roosevelt) Government ● Identify & compare government functions and leaders Geography ● Locate places on maps & globes Economics ● Identify & distinguish between producers & consumers

Science Highlights for our year: Scientific Investigations & Reasoning ● Science Safety Rules ● Collect, record, & compare using tools Matter & Energy ● Properties of matter Force, Motion, & Energy ● Observe & identify how magnets are used in everyday life Earth & Space ● Identify, measure, record, & graph weather info. ● Explain the process of the water cycle Organisms & Environment ● Compare & give examples of interdependence of living organisms

● We will require students to read minutes each night from guided reading or library books. Sight words can be included in this reading. ● Tic Tac Toe homework boards will be sent home weekly with the newsletter. This will be 9 squares of curriculum-related practice for the week. It is not required, but can be used as a quick review at home.

Report Cards The 2nd Grade Report Card has a 3, 2, 1 grading scale. 3, 2, 1 converts to the following: 3 - Meets Expectations 2 - Making Progress 1 - Insufficient Progress The first report card will be given during conference week, October Since our report card is a rubric system based on common assessments, we do not actually take grades. You will see your child's school work checked for accuracy and the need for reteaching. It will then be placed in your child's Friday or Daily Folder.

Recess & Lunch Lunch is from 11: :00. ● Must check in at the office to eat with your child at the reserved parent table. ● You may eat with your child only. Recess is from 11: :30. ● Tennis shoes are the best footwear to keep everyone safe.

Communication ● All important information, such as school wide notices, PTA event flyers, etc. will come home in the Friday folder. ● Weekly newsletters will be ed every Monday, as well as, sent home in the daily folder. ● is the best way to contact us. We will not answer the phone during instruction. ● Check & empty the folder daily. ● Our daily folder will include a calendar in which we will communicate important information to you. Please feel free to include any important messages to us, as well.

Birthdays ● You may send a birthday snack (cookies, brownies, cupcakes, donuts) to school with your child on their birthday. If the birthday snack is a cookie cake, please send pre-cut. ● Please no drinks, plates, or goodies bags. ● Please do not send birthday invitations to be distributed at school unless there is an invitation for everyone in the class. You can send invitations to all girls/all boys, if it is an all girl or all boy party.

Procedures ● Your child will need his/her backpack and folder every day. ● If there is a change in transportation, a parent must send a note, , or call the office. ● Students may come to class at 7:35 and instruction begins at 7:50. ● Please send one healthy quick to eat snack (nothing that requires utensils) every day. ● Your child may bring a water bottle to keep in the classroom.

Behavior/Positive Reinforcement ● We are all implementing the CHAMPS expectations into our classrooms. ● Each 2nd grade class has an Oops! book. When students have already received warnings, but continue in a disruptive behavior, they will need to sign the Oops! book. ● Name in book= Loss of 2 minutes of recess ● Each 2nd grade class has different rewards for their class. Please check with your individual teacher about that.

Questions??? ● If questions come up throughout the year, please don’t hesitate to contact your child’s teacher through or by phone. ● Thank you so much for coming tonight! We are going to have a wonderful year!