Welcome To Mrs. Birnbaum’s Grade 2/3 Class

Grade 2/3 Program Grade 2/3 Goals: To facilitate independence, inquiry, character education, problem solving and critical thinking skills To facilitate independence, inquiry, character education, problem solving and critical thinking skills Consistency is facilitated through Consistency is facilitated through classroom routines, our classroom expectations, and school expectations

Combined 2/3 Class A Ministry curriculum document has been linked to Blog (bee6buzz.wordpress.com). It provides an overview on how combined grades work A Ministry curriculum document has been linked to Blog (bee6buzz.wordpress.com). It provides an overview on how combined grades work Your child was selected to be in a combined grade for various reasons (academic, social or emotional) Your child was selected to be in a combined grade for various reasons (academic, social or emotional) Program will be differentiated based on need of a child and curriculum expectations Program will be differentiated based on need of a child and curriculum expectations

Classroom Expectations Be prepared to learn: Homework is to be completed and brought back daily with a signed agenda. Grade Two students will be given an agenda in the next two weeks Be prepared to learn: Homework is to be completed and brought back daily with a signed agenda. Grade Two students will be given an agenda in the next two weeks Must bring indoor and outdoor shoe Must bring indoor and outdoor shoe Please make sure students arrive from our entry door. If you need to pick up your child, please pick them up from the office Please make sure students arrive from our entry door. If you need to pick up your child, please pick them up from the office Peanut free snacks and lunches Peanut free snacks and lunches School begins at 8:45am and ends at 3:25pm. Lunch is from 11:30 am to 12:40pm. Students eat first and then have lunch recess. School begins at 8:45am and ends at 3:25pm. Lunch is from 11:30 am to 12:40pm. Students eat first and then have lunch recess.

Homework TDSB Homework Policy Type:Definition: Intended Outcome: Application: Completion Work not completed in class Help to keep up to date May be differentiated if student needs to complete homework on regular basis Practice Reviews or reinforces skills and concepts To develop fluency Students should be able to complete it independently Preparation Work that prepares for upcoming lessons Bring in prior knowledge and experiences Extension Explores and refines learning to new contexts Problem solve, think creatively and critically Relate learning to the real world

Weekly Homework Program Nightly: Your child is encouraged to read daily.. Nightly: Your child is encouraged to read daily.. Monday: Spelling Monday: Spelling Every other Monday your child will receive a list of 10 words. The spelling sheets have suggested activities that you and your child can complete on your own i.e. writing, saying it orally, using cut out letters, on a chalk board, painting, with play dough, etc. This helps with memory and makes it more enjoyable to them. Spelling Programs will be differentiated according to the needs of your child (i.e. Bonus words, less words, etc.) Every other Monday your child will receive a list of 10 words. The spelling sheets have suggested activities that you and your child can complete on your own i.e. writing, saying it orally, using cut out letters, on a chalk board, painting, with play dough, etc. This helps with memory and makes it more enjoyable to them. Spelling Programs will be differentiated according to the needs of your child (i.e. Bonus words, less words, etc.)

Tuesday: Problem of the Week Tuesday: Problem of the Week Every Tuesday, your child will have a new math word problem to be solved at home. You child will have had time to learn and practice problem solving strategies in class. Problem of the week will be taken up the following Tuesday and a new one will be assigned for homework. Problem of the week is due on Mondays. Every Tuesday, your child will have a new math word problem to be solved at home. You child will have had time to learn and practice problem solving strategies in class. Problem of the week will be taken up the following Tuesday and a new one will be assigned for homework. Problem of the week is due on Mondays. Wednesday and Thursday: Math Questions Wednesday and Thursday: Math Questions Every Wednesday and Thursday, one page of math will be assigned from the Math Makes Sense Homework Book. This is for practice of skills taught in class. Every Wednesday and Thursday, one page of math will be assigned from the Math Makes Sense Homework Book. This is for practice of skills taught in class.

Program Highlights

Literacy Instruction Comprehensive Literacy Program Included Comprehensive Literacy Program Included Modeled Reading/Writing Modeled Reading/Writing Shared Reading/Writing Shared Reading/Writing Guided Reading/Writing Guided Reading/Writing Independent Reading/Writing Independent Reading/Writing GOAL – for the students to be proficient readers and writers

Mathematics Mathematics Strands: Strands:  Number Sense and Numeration  Measurement  Geometry and Spatial Sense  Patterning and Algebra  Data Management and Numeration Problem of the week: To help students to understand, practice and apply the 10 problem solving methods Problem of the week: To help students to understand, practice and apply the 10 problem solving methods Problem Solving and critical thinking based learning Problem Solving and critical thinking based learning

Team Teaching with Ms. Sherman What is Team Teaching? All instructors are jointly responsible for curriculum and assessment. However, instructors take turns presenting material to different groups. This type of teaching involves dividing the class into smaller groups according to learning needs, or grade specific units of study.

Grade Specific Instruction What advantages are there to grade specific instruction? Due to the extensive curriculum required to be taught and learned in both Grade Two and Three, the children will benefit from grade specific instruction. This way we can do a better job focusing on the content and inquiry in each grade. When will grade specific instruction occur? It will occur during Science and Social Studies. Please see Science and Social Studies chart for more specific information. Who will be assessing my child? Referring back to our team teaching philosophy, both Mrs. Birnbaum and Ms. Sherman collaboratively create and assess all tasks.

Subject AreaTerm #1 (September to end of January): Term #2 (February to June): Social Studies Grade 2: Changing Families (Taught by Ms. Sherman) Grade 3: Living and Working in Ontario (Taught by Ms. Birnbaum) Grade 2: Global Communities (Taught by Ms. Birnbaum) Grade 3: Communities in Canada (Taught by Ms. Sherman) Science Grade 2: Movement; Liquids and Solids (Taught by Ms. Sherman) Grade 3: Forces Causing Movement; Strong and Stable Structures (Taught by Ms. Birnbaum) Grade 2: Air and Water; Growth and Changes in Animals (Taught by Ms. Birnbaum) Grade 3: Plants and Soils in the Environment (Taught by Ms. Sherman)

Assessment Strategies: Anecdotal note Check lists Rubrics Tests Quizzes Oral assessments Conferences Guided reading Writer’s notebook Reading responses Group work Projects Developmental Reading Assessment

Agendas  To be used as a communication tool between home and school  Please write notes for the teacher in your child’s agenda.  To be signed nightly by parents and daily by the teacher  To be filled out by students daily

Parent/Teacher Communication Parents and teachers must work together to ensure the best possible learning for the students. You can contact me by: Writing a note in the agenda Writing a note in the agenda Phone: Phone: address : address :

Our Classroom Blog Please check out our classroom blog – bee6buzz.wordpress.com Please check out our classroom blog – bee6buzz.wordpress.com It will highlight students work, success, inquiry and great examples of learning It will highlight students work, success, inquiry and great examples of learning Please feel free to provide any feedback Please feel free to provide any feedback

Questions ?