What do students need to bring to school?
All students should have a backpack, lunch, a snack (separate bag from lunch, please!) and a folder to carry notes and lunch money. Please make sure lunch money is in a bag/envelope that has a name on it. They will need a healthy snack every day, enough to satisfy them, but not too much. In the event that a classroom allergy is identified, I will message families to let you know, so lunches and snacks can be planned accordingly. Students should bring a reusable water bottle. All water bottles must have a lid that seals tight and must have their name on it. Sports bottles are usually best for children to open and close without spilling. Please make sure only water is brought in the bottle, other liquids stain and can make our learning space sticky. If your child wishes to bring a book from home to read, it needs to have his/her name on it. Toys are not allowed to be brought to the classroom, even for recess. Trading toys, cards, books, etc. is not allowed.
What health precautions are in place for the classroom?
A LOT of thought and planning has gone into every aspect of the school day, in order to keep students safe and healthy. Throughout the day, hand washing and sanitizing will be an important part of our routine. All learning surfaces are disinfected daily by our wonderful MYB cleaning staff. When students show symptoms of illness, our school nurse will check on them to assess their condition, and may contact you to pick them up. We will continue to follow all district health protocols.
Do we celebrate birthdays or holidays?
We all love birthdays, but due to our current safety guidelines we are not able to have any parties or celebrations that involve food, at this point. We will still find a safe and fun way for our students to be honored on their special day- perhaps you can be a guest reader! I will let families know ahead of time on ParentSquare if we are planning a class celebration. Summer birthdays will be celebrated during the last weeks of school. We won’t leave anyone out!
What are the classroom rules?
During the first weeks of school, students will work to create our own set of expectations for behavior in our classroom community. We will focus more on positive VALUES and character traits rather than RULES. Once students create a list of expectations, they will be posted in our classroom. We will also be developing a Growth Mindset this year. You can learn more about The Growth Mindset and how to encourage it at tinyurl.com/thegrowthmindset.
What are the consequences for misbehavior?
All behavior, whether positive or challenging, is a way for children to communicate their needs, emotions, or struggles. When a child acts out, they are often expressing something they can't put into words. Our goal as educators and parents is to understand what they're trying to communicate, address their underlying needs, and guide them in finding healthier, more effective ways to express themselves. This helps them learn better coping and communication skills for the future. Here are 3 different kinds of “growth moment” consequences I use in my classroom. They come from the Responsive Classroom Organization (www.responsiveclassroom.org):
You Break It, You Fix It - used when something has been broken or a mess has been made, whether accidentally or intentionally. The consequence is that those responsible for the problem take responsibility for fixing it and clean it up.
Loss of Privilege - used when children’s behavior does not meet our pre-established expectations. The consequence is that the child loses the privilege of participating in an activity or using materials for a brief time.
Positive Time-Out - used when a child needs a way to recover self-control. The child moves to a pre-established place in the classroom (we call ours “The Calming Corner”), takes time to breathe and regroup, and then rejoins the class once he/she has regained self-control. We will learn to use various calming breaths as we study and practice some aspects of Mindfulness this school year.
Are there rewards for good behavior?
The goal in teaching responsible decision-making is for students to be motivated by the positive feelings that come from doing the right thing. When a student shows great character, I may contact you to share the good news. This is a great time to reinforce that behavior at home with simple rewards like a high five, their favorite dinner, extra special time, or even a treat from Mr. D’s or Kiwi Spoon!
Do we have homework?
Every Monday, students will receive an assignment sheet to record their reading for the week. It will stay in their folder all week and be turned in on Friday. Your child’s homework is to read every night they can, for at least 20 minutes, and record the title of the book on the reading log. Students are responsible for making time to read, it is not the parents’ homework. Reading every night has been proven to make your child an exceptionally better reader and improve his/her vocabulary. There are also online and card-based math games students can play at home to practice learned concepts and skills. We will not have homework for the first few weeks as we transition into this school year, and I will announce to families when homework is being sent home.
Will we have spelling tests?
No. We will not have spelling tests in second grade. We will be doing explicit daily instruction in phonics. We will practice different phonics chunks and English language “rules” throughout the year. Studies have shown that memorizing certain words from a spelling list (often memorized in order) does not help students to learn spelling patterns, only individual words. We will conduct occasional spelling assessments, which are not graded but rather used to direct further instruction in phonics. We will practice phonics this year through a variety of learning activities such as sound-letter mapping, using whiteboards, sorting cards, computer games, and activities that involve moving our bodies!
What if I have a dismissal change or my child has a doctor appointment?
If there is a dismissal change for your child, please email or call the office to let them know. Alternatively, you can send a note in your child’s folder or send me a private message on the school messenger app. BUT…Contacting the office is the BEST way! If I happen to be absent or your child forgets to check their folder, the office will not know about the dismissal change. If you do message me, please try not to message me with last-minute dismissal changes, as I often don’t get to see those messages until after school is over and I have a chance to check my email. If you speak with the office, they will notify me immediately. Without office permission, we are not allowed to make any changes as far as dismissal goes. This is for the safety of the students. I will be sharing more information about how you can get in touch with the office or submit a student absence online.
What can I do at home to support my child’s learning?
I love this question! Thank you for understanding that learning doesn’t only happen at school! The best way to support learning is to reinforce your child’s reading habit. Help them find a convenient time and a fun place to read (make a blanket fort or reading nook) and praise them for making time to practice reading (especially if it’s difficult). At Open House, I will also be providing links to our curriculum plan if you would like to see what your child is learning and what standards we are addressing. Throughout the school year, students will learn various math games using playing cards and matching cards. They can show you how to play, and this is also a great way to practice the skills we are learning in school. Addition and Subtraction Flash Cards also help students to be quicker with their basic math facts and can usually be found at the dollar store (now the $1.25 store?).
Where do I pick up my child from school?
All dismissal locations will open doors at the dismissal bell (3:30 PM on regular schedule days). 2nd graders who have younger siblings in the building will travel to those siblings' classrooms prior to 3:30, to be dismissed from their siblings' respective pickup locations. 2nd graders without younger siblings will be dismissed through the doors leading out to the compass rose (see map below). Parents cannot park in the back loop or in the staff lot, as the busses will block you in. YOU MUST HAVE A PHOTO ID in order to pick up your child, and you will need to sign your initials on a Parent Pick-Up sheet. Needing to show an ID is a school and district rule. If you forget your ID OR if you show up after 3:35, you will have to go to the office and sign in, and your child will meet you there. Street parking is available on Christian Street and North Main Street, but dismissal time is very busy. Please plan accordingly!
