Mrs. Moore

August, 2010

 

 

Dear Parents:

Welcome to Ellsworth Hill School and Second Grade! This packet contains information for you to refer to over the course of the year. Please keep it in a safe place. If you have any concerns or questions you can send a note in with your child or send and email and I will respond as soon as possible.

 

Each month I post on my website information of upcoming events and important dates. You can see this at the Hudson Schools website. Go to www.hudson.edu. Click on Ellsworth Hill Elementary at the top then look for Classroom. Click Classroom and select Mrs. Moore. You will see the calendar of information pertaining to my classroom, math flashcards, Social Studies and Science vocabulary .

 

Every child must have the appropriate tools for learning. Please use the list supplied by the school of materials for Second Grade. I would like each child to have 2 spiral notebooks- wide ruled.

             Please do not send Trapper Keepers as they are too large for the desks. All materials should be clearly marked with your child's names. This prevents confusion and loss.

The supplies listed are in the right quantity for a Second Grader. Too many things interfere with learning and crowd the desk.  Missing or used items should be replaced throughout the year

Throughout the year we may ask for craft items to be donated. I will inform parents through this Newsletter. We are always grateful for donated items and I have a Wish List of things we need. I will keep this list updated for you to view.

 

            The following are the specials that your child has each week:

Monday-Enrichment-10:52- 11:17

                 Gym- 11:20-11:57                   

Tuesday-Art-10:40-11:17

                Library-11:20-11:57

Wednesday-Music-10:40-11:17

                        Library Research-11:20-11:57

Thursday-Art-10:40-11:17

Friday-Music-10:40-11:17

             Gym-11:20-11:57

 

           We are using a wonderful reading program called Literacy By Design. It is a comprehensive reading/writing program that includes spelling and phonics as additional components. The Reading portion involves modeled reading, shared reading and interactive reading. These are all done whole group. The second portion is the small group instruction. The children are put into groups of six or less students that will be instructed in targeted skills.

            The Writing component follows the same pattern-modeled writing, shared writing and interactive writing. For specific skill practice there is small group instruction and also independent writing.

 

Your child will be given a Reading Calendar each month. The calendars are used to track the nightly reading that each. Children should read at least 20 minutes each night. This time will increase as the child becomes more proficient and masters more skills.You will need to sign the calendar at the end of each month and have your child return it. I will collect the calendars and keep a record of each child's participation and progress. Children should read books on an independent level- those books that can be read with some ease and varied genre- mystery, biography, fact, fairy tale, fable, etc.

 

            I use the Sitton Spelling program. There is not a "traditional spelling list" given each week. Instead your child will be instructed on phonics skills and word family information as well as introduced to content words from our reading stories and math Social Studies and Science. About every 8 to 10 days I will give a Cloze Test. This is a story with missing words. Your child will listen to the story and write in the missing word. The targeted words are those that were part of the skill instruction. Any words missed will be put on the Home List and become your child's words to be studied at home with you. As you read over the Parent Letter that will come home every Friday, you will notice misspelled words. Please create a list of words to be learned from that writing. Those are the words that your child wants to use but hasn’t mastered. If your are really pressed to find words needed to be learned then go to the 100 Word List that I have sent home and have your child practice those.

            There will be Spelling homework and it should be returned the next day.

 

            The class will review the correct formation of manuscript letters and practice writing by journal writing, writing stories and writing letters. In January the class will be instructed in cursive writing.  Proper pencil grip is important. The child should grasp the pencil with the thumb and pointer finger then curl the other remaining 3 fingers under.

 

             You be will be receiving Math Parent Letters explaining the math concepts that your child is learning in each particular unit. The letters tell what skills are being learned and games that you cam play with your child to reinforce those skills. By looking at your child's Learning Journal you will be able to see what your child is doing in class and his/her level of understanding and competence.  The hard backed student math books should be used as a reference for concepts and games that your child is learning. Please keep the book handy and in a safe place. It will need to be returned at the end of the year.

 

           The Social Studies units are The Sun, Moon and Stars, Geography, Landmarks, Africa, Williamsburg, Polar Regions, and American Government.

            The Science Units are Changes, Soil and Pond Study. In Health you child will study Nutrition, Safety, Dental Health and Ohio animals and Habitats.

 

            Your child will be assigned seatwork each day. Each activity will have a connection to the concepts being studied. If the work is not completed by the afternoon recess, extra time may be needed by your child to complete the work. Therefore, your child may have to use their recess time to finish the morning work. If the seatwork remains undone, it will be sent home to be completed and returned the next day. The amount of work assigned is appropriate for this age and can be completed if your child works with normal attentiveness. Please check with your child each night to see how they are doing with seatwork and reinforce the importance of using time well.

Each day your child will bring home graded work from the previous day. Review these papers to help your child to understand any errors and to keep you connected to your child's learning.

 

            The children will have some homework. In most instances homework should be returned the next day. A special folder should be used to carry paper from school to home and back again. You can help your child by checking with them when they arrive home to see if they have homework. After they have completed their work, please review it with them.  Remind them to put their homework into the Take Home Folder and then into their backpack. When the children tell me, "My mom forgot to pack my homework" I remind them that it is not 'Moms work'. Let's work together to encourage personal responsibility and establishes good work habit right away.

When homework is forgotten your child will sign a Homework Book with the date, the assignment, and their name. You child is given one day to bring in the assignment. When they return the assignment they cross off their name. If the assignment is not returned the second day, a letter is sent home informing mom and dad of this fact. Please discuss with your child forgotten homework and what they are going to do to solve their problem. In my class typical homework has three components. Every night your child should read for a minimum for 20 minutes. T his is the Monthly Reading Calendar time. Every night your child should review math facts- addition first, then later subtraction facts. These can be done with the traditional flashcards or on line. Please look at my website for math flashcards. Your child should spend about 10 minutes reviewing spelling words. When your child says I have no homework, PLEASE don’t believe them !!! Occasionally they may bring a math paper home or a Spelling worksheet. Unless otherwise indicated, all homework is due the next day.

 

Every Friday the students write letters home. This is a recap of our week. Please look for this letter, read it with your child, and help them to edit spelling and punctuation. Please sign it as it indicates that you have seen it . You may write a return note to your child. The letter must be returned on Monday as it is used on a daily basis in class.

 

            Conferences are held after the first report card in November. A second conference day is  in February. This is an optional conference if you and/or I feel it is necessary.  In the meantime, if you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact me at school, send a note, or email me at mooref@hudson.edu. I will respond at my first opportunity. I do not take calls at home as this is my time with my family.

 

            Lunchtime for our class starts at 12:25. Lunches are sold at school and are $2.25 each or a bag or tray lunch. You can view the menu on line. This allows you and your child to look over the menu and select a bag lunch or tray lunch. Milk, chocolate or white, is available for $.50 for those children bringing a lunch.

 

            There will be four report cards-one for each quarter of school. Please keep the report card and review it with your child. Return only the envelope the next day.

             Each week one student will be asked to be the "Star of the Week". A name will be selected on Friday. That child will bring home a large poster that he/she will fill in with exciting and important information about himself/herself. The following Monday the child will bring in photos and mementos to be shared with the class. Trophies, pictures of family and pets and collections are terrific things to share.

 

I will send Trumpet and Scholastic Book orders home monthly. Please review these with your child and make your selections. The orders must be returned on the date stated and must contain checks made out to each book club, not to me. Cash will not be accepted by the book clubs. These books are well priced and often the best in children's literature.

 

Treats may be brought in for the class to share on the date on or near your child's birthday. If your child has a summer birthday you may pick a day any time during the school year to celebrate the "un-birthday". You may send in the treat with your child in the morning or may drop it off at the office by 12:10. The treat will be eaten during lunch. Be sure that the treat is something that the child can pass out without assistance.

If you are having a party outside school please, DO NOT send invitations through school unless ALL of the children in the class are invited. Children left out are hurt and this causes many problems that are not necessary.

 

We have three class parties - Fall Celebration, Winter Holiday and Valentines Day. If you would like to volunteer or would like to donate something for the parties, please contact the Head Room Mother. I will  inform you of this person as soon as I have a volunteer !

 

When we have a rainy day that will require an indoor recess, I am inviting the children to bring in a game that can be played with others. He/she should be able to teach the game to the others and is responsible for the care and cleanup of the game. At the end of the day, the game will be returned home.

 

Your child must have a note if there is a change in their going home routine. The note should be dated and indicate where the child is going and with whom. If you forget to send the note, please call the office before 3:00 (330-653-1236) and I will informed of the change. If there is no note and no phone call your child will follow their normal routine for going home.

 

            During the cold winter months the children should dress appropriately for the weather. Boots, show pants, gloves and hats are necessary. All children will go outside to get some fresh air and have a chance to run off extra energy. Without boots your child will play on any dry patch of playground. Without snow pants you child will not be permitted to play on the snow banks.

 

I look forward to an exciting year. Thank you for entrusting your wonderful child to my care. Together I'm sure we will have a terrific year.

                                                                                                Sincerely yours,

 

 

For questions regarding this page, please contact Mrs. Moore