1. Second Grade By: Mrs. Thompson

2. Math: We are using the Everyday Math series. With this new series there is a lot of group work and oral work. The skills are not necessarily expected to be mastered at the time it is presented. The skills are presented many times throughout the school year. Each child will have a student (workbook) Journal. We will not tear pages out of this book. The pages are completed in class. Each student will have a math message booklet. Home Links will be sent home with many lessons. They need to be completed and returned the next day.

3. Reading: We will be using HBJ Treasury of Literature series. Wonderful stories and authors are introduced. Many integrated activities will be done weekly with the stories. A vocabulary list will be sent home weekly for your child to practice. This should be signed and returned. We will review the Open Court Phonics Program. Guided Reading will be emphasized in order to meet specific needs of the children.

4. Spelling: We use the Sitton Spelling Program. There will be a Take Home Task to be completed and returned the next day. (This will be a preview of some skills that we will be working on. There will be a set of core words (usually weekly)…the words and assessments will not be given on a particular day. Students will be expected to incorporate the correct spelling of previous words into their writing. We will do a set of skills/activities weekly.

5. Writing: Six Traits of Writing will be incorporated into all subject areas. Six traits is VOICE, ORGANIZATION, IDEAS, WORD CHOICE, SENTENCE FLUENCY, AND CONVENTIONS. Many writings will be saved in a portfolio for you to review at conferences.

6. Science: We will be working on a rotating basis. Some of the activities we will be doing are: Apples, Sunflowers, Balance & Motion, Weather, Plants, and many more experiments.

7. Social: We will be doing this on a rotating basis also. Some Units that will be covered are: Communities, Rules & Laws, We Meet Our Needs, And We Explore Community Changes.

8. Health: We will be doing Health on a rotating basis with Science & Social. Some of the lessons that we will cover are: Skill Builders, Body Fuel, A changing You, Safety Smart, Fitness Fun, I Can Choose, Conflict Resolution, A Healthy Smile, An Ounce Of Prevention, Consumer Wise, The Environment, and The Right Choices. We actually get through as many as possible. The Parent Connection will inform you what we are currently studying.

9. Stations: There will be five to six stations weekly. The activities last about 25-30 minutes. The activities will include: math, reading, spelling, writing, social, science, and much more depending on what we are studying. The students are in groups of 4-5. The teams usually work together and solve different situations, This has proven to be a wonderful opportunity for working together, for good listening skills, and for independent practice.

10. Star of the Week: Each child will get the opportunity to be the student of the week. This will involve bring things to share about themselves to the class. Students may bring pictures, awards, trophies, and anything else that would be appropriate to share in our second grade room. On Friday of their week a special treat may be brought to share with the class to celebrate that person. A class book will be given to that student also.

11. Stuck on Reading: This is an incentive for students to read at least 15 minutes per day. A green record sheet will be available for students to take and have initialed when reading has been done. When the sheet is filled out, return it and add gumballs to their machine. (A real gumball will be given, also.) When the student’s gumball machine is full it may be taken home and another machine will be added to the board.

12. Expectations: Team Work Listen Carefully Being Positive Being Prepared Being Helpful Respecting Others

13. For Your Information… Assignment notebooks will be sent home on Mondays only. We will write any of our spelling words that are incorrect in the June section of the planner. (Easy Reference for you and your child) Weekly Reader will be completed weekly. I LOVE having helpers-volunteers. D’Nealian is our writing and cursive will begin mid-year. Parent Connection will be sent home on Fridays.

14. Discipline: Verbal Warning Name in my book will mean loss of free time at the end of the day and their name will not be put into the drawing jar. Check by the name will mean no free time, their name will not be put in the drawing jar, and parents will receive a phone call. Two checks by their name in a day…Mrs. Stigman will get involved along with parent(s).

15. Schedule!!! Mrs. Gruetman (MUSIC) M,T,TH 8:45-9:10, Fri. 9:10-9:35 Mr. Discher (GYM) M&TH 1:05-1:30, W-9:10- 9:35, & Fri. 9:35-10:00 Snack @10:00 Library-Tuesday @ 1:30-2:00 Computer Lab- Wednesday@ 2:30-3:00. Lunch/ Recess-11:20-12:00. You can reach me from 8-3:45 @ school 446- 5032 or at home 241-7927.

16. “We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future.” Franklin D. Roosevelt