2. Meet Mrs. Byrne-Quinn Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the University of Arizona 25 Years of Teaching Experience 23 years of teaching primary grades and two years of teaching fourth grade Taught in Tucson, AZ, Nashua, New Hampshire, Houston, and Austin, Texas. This is my thirteenth year of teaching in the Kyrene. Three children (1 son who is a UofA graduate, 1 daughter in college in CO. and 1 daughter at Desert Vista High School). My husband is a math teacher at D.V.

3. ebyrne@kyrene.org BEST way to get a hold of me Email (480)541-2345 Leave message (24 hours) Call Transportation change Need anything/help Note * Bi-weekly newsletters will be through email. * Check and clean out white take-home binders daily for papers, work, or things that need to be returned. Left: Items to be LEFT at home. Right: Bring RIGHT back. * Sign up for e-subscribe at www.kyrene.org.

4. School Policies Birthdays- Students’ names will be read during morning announcements. Please do not send birthday treats from home. Please mail all birthday invitations, this helps avoid anyone getting their feelings hurt. Class Parties- Fall Winter Valentine’s Day End of the Year Lunch- Send checks and cash in an envelope with your child’s and teacher’s name. You can also place money in your child’s lunch account online.

5. Please call all absences into the front office at (480)541-2201 Nurse- add to cell phone contacts 541-2220 No student is allowed in the building before 7:40 a.m. All students should enter through the playground gate, even if you arrive right when the bell rings. Students will be marked tardy if they arrive inside of the classroom after the tardy bell at 7:45. Students should be in the classroom, unpacked and ready to work at 7:45.

6. Leadership Notebooks All students will have their own Leadership Notebook.  Student’s talents are fostered, highlighted, and developed.  Students take ownership in their learning.  Students set difficult but achievable goals.  Students track their own progress.  Students will learn to take pride in their work.  Not competing against each other….striving to make themselves better.

7. Uninterrupted Time: Language Arts: 7:45-10:35 Math: 11:15-12:50 Recess 8:50-9:05 Lunch/recess 10:35-11:20 Specials: Monday- P.E. (12:50-1:35) Tuesday- Music (12:50-1:40) Wednesday- Library (8:45-9:30) Thursday- Computer Lab Friday- Art (12:50-1:40) *Please make sure your child wears tennis shoes on Monday and returns their library books on Wednesday.

8. Community building takes place weekly. Team building activities/games Morning Meeting everyday Expectations (both classroom and school-wide) Community building will guide our respect and trust for one another. Mission statement: Created by students…this is what is expected of them. We all agree to follow our class and personal mission statements. Behavior: I’m a firm believer in students doing what they are supposed to be doing. I will verbally praise students when they are following our classroom rules. I award table points to tables doing the right thing. The students are here to learn and others should not disrupt their learning.

9. Behavior Management System Cubes Stop and Think reflection sheet Table Points Raffle Tickets Coming Soon Daily Reflection Each student will write a daily reflection in their agenda at the end of each day. They will color a circle showing how their day went. Please look for notes from me if they are not on green. Please review this with your child and initial daily.

10. In your child’s white take-home binder there will be an agenda that needs to be initialed every night. As mentioned before, check for papers daily. * Builds responsibility for students * Helps build communication between home and school.

11. How the 7 Habits came to Cerritos In 2010 a group of Cerritos teachers read a fabulous book about Leadership in schools. 5 teachers drove to California to hear the principal speak about leadership. We wanted to bring it to Cerritos. Our staff went through the 7 Habits of Happy People training to use in our daily lives. The following year we started implementing the 7 Habits in the classroom. We became a Leadership Academy Last year we became recognized as a Lighthouse school for our Leaderhip.

15. The main purpose is to provide PRACTICE and develop the RESPONSIBILITY of completing work and turning it in on time….it is graded for COMPLETION. Homework will be handed out every Monday and will be due the following Monday. Math homework is included in the weekly homework contract. Read Decodable books that are sent home each week. It will give your child practice reading the spelling pattern.

16. Spelling City is a great tool for practicing spelling at home. If you don’t have internet access at home, please let me know so that I can send home something different for your child. To access go to: www.spellingcity.com Click “Find a List” on the top tabs Search “Byrnequinn” in the search box and click on our class The spelling list for the week and week’s prior will be available.

17. Harcourt Trophies Literacy Program includes authentic children’s literature in the student anthology of stories. Decodable books will be sent home weekly as well. Each story is supported with leveled books to meet individual student needs. Trade books are used for differentiation in the classroom. K-3 intervention program for students that need extra assistance. Read aloud (author studies) daily. Reading groups allow students to have enriched activities in writing, spelling, and fun-filled tasks to help increase comprehension and fluency.

18. New Common Core Shifts  Balancing Literary & Informational Texts  Knowledge in the Disciplines  Staircase of Complexity  Text-based Answers  Writing from Sources  Academic Vocabulary

19. Each Harcourt Story includes: - Phonics and Spelling Skills - Vocabulary Words - Grammar Focus Spelling- new words given on Monday and spelling test every Friday. The test also has dictation sentences reviewing past words and current spelling patterns. Comprehension tests will be given on Fridays to check understanding of selected texts. The students may use the book on the weekly tests.

20. 2 nd grade writing genres are as follows: personal narratives, poetry, friendly letters, expository writing, and functional writing (making lists, posters, labels, etc.) Handwriting is important in and out of the classroom (D’Nealian form). This should already be in place, but we will practice in class as well. Letter formation is critical in order to move on to cursive next year. Students are expected to turn in work that is neat and complete.

21. The Investigations program offers supplemental activities that build on student’s prior knowledge. It provides opportunities for exploration into math topics such as problem solving and inventive thinking. Major 2 nd grade topics include: number sense, addition and subtraction of larger numbers, time, money, measurement, geometry, graphing, problem solving, probability, discrete math, and fractions. Real life application is important part of common core. CGI Cognitively Guided Instruction (word problems) *Math centers/games are used to practice past and current skills within the classroom.

22. Physical Science: Solids, Liquids, and Gases Earth Science: Weather and Clouds Life Science: Insects, Mammals, and Human Body Thematic units include hands-on experiments, integration with other subject areas, and exploring the nature of science.

23. Communities Civics Holidays and Traditions Patriotism Junior Achievement

24. Computer Lab weekly Programs used include Pixie, Typing Agent, DreamBox, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Word, and Microsoft Publisher. In addition I recently attended summer classes on Pixie and Share. Internet also used for research in science and social studies. Laptops in classroom are used for language arts, math practice, and research activities.

25. EVERY child is unique and has a different learning style. I believe in meeting each child’s learning needs by guiding them toward individual growth.

27. Healthy snacks should be brought daily….we have morning snack every day, including Wednesdays. Water bottles are allowed in the classroom. Contents must be water ONLY. Sweater/Sweatshirt….I know that it is hot outside, but the classroom can get very chilly at times and they MAY end up needing a jacket. They can leave it in their cubby all year if they need to.

28. Food Allergies Food allergies in our grade level include: Peanut Students with peanut allergies cannot ingest peanuts or anything made with them.

29. Please do not send invitations into school….use the classroom directory, even if you are sending invitations to ALL students. Food is not allowed to be brought in for any reason other than our allotted 4 class parties. We cannot have special snacks for birthdays and/or other occasions. Classroom party dates and times will be communicated closer to the date on our classroom website.

30. No open backs or spaghetti straps Appropriate sayings and images Shorts, dresses, and skirts must be finger-tip length. If needed, students will be sent to the nurse to get different clothes.

31. Thank you for signing on to help!! We still need a PTO Class Representative and Junior Achievement Volunteer. Volunteers will start sometime in September!! Please sign the volunteer privacy form…even if don’t plan on coming into the classroom.

32. Please check in at the office to obtain a visitor’s badge and to sign in. You will need to leave your driver’s license at the front desk. Visitors also need to dress according to Cerritos dress code.

33. Changes in Transportation PLEASE notify the office if a last minute change in transportation should occur. There are days I don’t check my email until after school and I want to ensure that every student gets home safely. THANK YOU in advance!

34. PTO is looking for several volunteers to help out during the school year. Please take a moment to sign up and volunteer for one of the many events our school holds. Sign up sheets are in the main hallway.

35. I look forward to a successful year with a shared goal: Helping your child reach his or her maximum potential! *Please leave a note for your child on the apple paper provided. *Don’t forget to sign the Classroom Directory on the laptop computer if you want to be included.