Learning is Our Super Power Miss Mc Curdy

“Learning is Our Super Power!” Miss Mc. Curdy 2019 -2020

Classroom Rules 1. Work quietly. 2. Follow directions. 3. Work and play safely. 4. Respect others’ property. 5. Keep to your own space. 6. Listen to others.

7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Clip Up or Clip Down? ? Expectations, guideline, and rules are all necessary in a classroom so that order is maintained for students’ learning, they have a feeling of being in a “safe” place, and they have growth in learning acceptable behavior in a social setting with peers. Our class will use a Clip Chart system to recognize daily student behavior. The illustration below is a replica of our room chart. Students will each have a clothespin clip with their name on it. Students’ clips are in the Ready to Learn position to start each day a new.

Below is a short explanation of each level. * Ready to Learn At this starting level, students are expected to arrive at school with required materials (book bags, homework, etc. ) They are to follow classroom/school rules throughout the day and work appropriately on classroom assignments. This level should be the daily behavior report for students. 7 6 5 * Think About It This level indicates the student has been reminded sometime during the day to follow a classroom/school rule, put more effort into class assignments, or to bring homework assignments to school. 4 * Teacher’s Choice This level indicates the student, after being reminded to “Think About” a choice they have made, has continued making wrong choices. I will assign a consequence for the student’s choice that will be most effective in helping the student think about future choices they make. (For example, some students do not like to go out for recess, so to take away part of their recess is not seen as a consequence by them. I would choose another consequence that would help instruct them more on the effect of the choices they make. ) 3 2 1

7 6 5 4 3 2 1 * Parent Contact This level indicates the student has continued making choices that do not align with expected behaviors to a degree that indicate talking with a parent/guardian is necessary. The contact will be made as soon as possible. A note will be sent home that will need to be signed and returned. A phone call will be made if necessary. * Good Day/Great Job/Outstanding These levels are used only when the student demonstrates behavior/choices above the expected daily behavior in class/school. All students are expected to make good choices. At this level the student has gone beyond that: behavior that is shown to be especially caring, helpful, encouraging and thoughtful to others. * Upward/Downward Movement Students will have the opportunity to move up and down the chart depending on the choices they make throughout the day. **Look daily on your child’s “Daily Behavior/Homework” sheet for behavioral level.

Miss Mc. Curdy’s 2 nd Grade Schedule

Specials Schedule Day 1: Day 2: Day 3: Day 4: Computers/Library Art Music Physical Education **Check Daily Behavior/Assignment Sheet or Classroom Newsletter for reference.

Positive School –Wide Behavior At Highlands, we have high expectations for our students. Each day at Highlands Elementary, we expect the children to listen and learn. While doing so, we must be sure that all children are safe. So that all children are able to learn in a safe environment, we focus on four main expectations. The children are expected to be R. A. M. S. : Respectful Accountable Motivated Safe ** The “Clip Chart" Behavior plan reinforces the Highlands RAMS expectations

It Looks Like A Job For……. . The second graders will have the opportunity to complete different classroom jobs throughout the year. The jobs will change each week. * Attendance/Lunch Count Helper: The student will take the Attendance folder to the office and Lunch Count sheet to the cafeteria each morning. * Messenger: The student will take any necessary items(notes, etc. ) to the necessary place whether it be the office, cafeteria, another teachers room, etc. * Line Leader: The student will "lead" the class anytime we leave the classroom. * Calendar Helper: The student will "assist" the teacher with the calendar routine. * Paper/Materials Passer: The student will be responsible for distributing any papers, math manipulatives, rulers, calculators, etc. to their classmates. * Lights: The student will be responsible to "turn off" the lights when the class leaves the classroom and "turn on" the lights when the class returns to the classroom.

* Board Eraser: The student will be responsible for erasing the chalkboard and dry erase board(s) at the end of the day. * Boy Bathroom Monitor: The student will be responsible for making sure only 3 boys from Miss Mc. Curdy's room are in the bathroom at a time. Also, they will be responsible for telling Miss Mc. Curdy when all of the boys are out of the bathroom. * Girl Bathroom Monitor: The student will be responsible for making sure only 3 girls from Miss Mc. Curdy's room are in the bathroom at a time. Also, they will be responsible for telling Miss Mc. Curdy when all of the girls are out of the bathroom.

Daily Behavior Chart/Assignment Sheet • Be sure to look here so that you know what is happening in our classroom and school. • The news also serves as a daily assignment sheet. Your child’s assignments will be typed on this paper. • Please initial underneath the behavior chart for that day and sign this sheet after seeing your child’s folder for that day. Return it daily in your child’s folder. • I will circle the behavior level for your child each day at the end of the day.

Second Grade Classroom Newsletter • The Classroom Newsletter will be sent home each Friday or last day of the week in your child’s graded folder. • Be sure to read it over so that you know what is happening in our classroom and school. • The newsletter contains homework assignments, upcoming events(tests, field trips, etc. ), schedule for the week, and a small blurb about what we learned about the previously week in Math, Language Arts, Social Studies, and Science. • A Link to the Classroom Newsletter is also on my homepage.

Homework • Homework is usually given daily. (Usually not Friday!) The amount of time it should take your child to complete homework should be approximately 20 minutes. • If your child does not understand his/her homework, he/she must make the effort to complete the tasks (even if it is incorrect). • Students are not graded on correct and incorrect answers. They earn a completion grade for completing the homework. This grade is part of their report card grade. Please note that if homework is consistently not completed it could effect their grade.

“Earn and Return Card” • Each student has been given a “Earn and Return” Card that they are to keep in their pencil boxes. • When your child has completed a homework assignment and has their “Daily Behavior/Assignment” paper signed by an adult for the previous night, they will receive a punch on their card. • When your child has received 10 punches on their card, they will be awarded a “Homework Pass” to use for (1) side of a future assignment. • Your child should check with Miss Mc. Curdy and see if they can use their “Homework Pass” on an assignment of their choice. • If Miss Mc. Curdy agrees, the child must staple the “Homework Pass” onto the assignment and turn it in the next day! • If your child loses the “Homework Pass” another one will not be awarded.

Graded Folder • • Each Friday, your child will bring home a green folder which will contain your child’s graded papers from the past week. Inside the folder will be a chart telling you how many assignments for each subject will be in the folder. (Ex: Math +3/3). If your child is missing a paper(s), the number will be less than the total for that week. I will try to indicate what assignment, test, etc. they are missing on the chart. Please review the paper(s) with your child and sign the chart showing that you saw the graded papers for that week. If the paper does not have a “Sign and Return” sticker or stamp on it, you may keep the graded papers and return the folder with the chart with your child to school the following Monday. If you have any questions or concerns, write them on the chart where it says, ”Parent Comments” that is in the green folder and I will get back to you as soon as I can. The first graded folder will be distributed on Friday, September 20 th!

GO MATH! GO Math!® is the first K– 8 math program written to fully support new standards. GO Math! provides teachers with in-depth instructional support embedded Professional Development videos and tips, and a wealth of differentiated instruction resources to ensure the depth of instruction required for student success.

Go Math! Listed below are some of the topics that are covered in the second grade curriculum. Some are secure and others are beginning or developmental skills. * • • • Chapter 1: Number Concepts Chapter 2: Numbers to 1, 000 Chapter 3: Basic Facts and Relationships Chapter 4: 2 -Digit Addition Chapter 5: 2 -Digit Subtraction Chapter 6: 3 -Digit Addition and Subtraction Chapter 7: Money and Time Chapter 8: Length in Customary Units Chapter 9: Length in Metric Units Chapter 10: Data Chapter 11: Geometry and Fraction Concepts

Math Homework: Homework sheets (Review the skills taught that day) **2 sided (Sheets are torn out of their Go Math workbooks) Family Newsletters: • Skill/Concept Stated • Vocabulary Words and definitions • Home Activity • Sent home at the beginning of each chapter Mad Minutes: Probably starting in October, we will be doing “Mad Minutes” in basic addition and subtraction facts. Grading: • End of Chapter Test(s), Quizzes

Language Arts Journeys is a K– 6 comprehensive, research-based English Language Arts program built on the foundation of the proven Journeys instructional design that provides all students with a path to achieving rigorous standards with print and state-of-the-art digital components. Students are empowered by skill mastery, inspired by authentic, award-winning text, and are confident —confident in their problem-solving and critical-thinking skills, confident in their ability to analyze complex text, and confident that they are building the skills they need for college and careers.

Spelling • Words are tied in with the current reading story and phonics skill. • New lists will be announced on the Stories Study Guide. • Tests will be announced on our Classroom Newsletter as well as the Daily Behavior/Homework Assignment Sheet. • Each spelling test will contain 2 sentences that will be dictated by the teacher. The sentences will be graded as followed: 1 point for the capital letter, 1 point for the punctuation mark, 1 point for the spelling word, and 1 point for all the other words in the sentence.

Spelling Practice Ideas/Homework See enclosed handout for detailed explanation of each activity. * Spin and Spell(use the enclosed “spinner board”) * Word Scramble * Hang Man * ABC Order * Computer * Letter Tiles * Rhyming Words * Memory Game Spelling Homework Students will be given occasionally. Please review the assignment with your child and make sure it makes it back into the Second Grade folder to be turned in.

Reading Homework will include: • Refer to the reading study guides sent home at the start of each new story listing high frequency words and vocabulary. • Review meanings of vocabulary and encourage the use of these words in daily conversation. • Also, re-reading of the story before the test to practice comprehension and fluency. (The students will be permitted to bring home their reading book the night before the test to re-read the story. ) ** On my Teacher Webpage are links for Vocabulary Power Points which can be used for review.

Reading Practice Ideas For High Frequency Words & Vocabulary: (see enclosed handout for detailed explanation of activity) • Play “I Spy A Word”, giving clues for each word. (high frequency words) • Say a sentence leaving out the word; your child identifies the missing word. (high frequency words and vocabulary) • Try to create sentences using more than one of the words. (high frequency words and vocabulary) • Put words in ABC order. (high frequency words) • Identify familiar parts, sounds, etc. (high frequency words) • Refer to study guide sent home at the beginning of each story for “robust” vocabulary words and their definitions. Encourage your child to use their “new” vocabulary in conversation during the week.

More Reading Practice • Echo Read (You read, then your child “echoes” what you just read) • Choral Read (Reading together at the same time) • Leave out key words for your child to supply as your read. • Identify words pertaining to skill being taught.

“Adopt A Pet” Each of my students “adopted” a pet to read to. Students are encouraged to read to their pet at least 20 minutes a night or as much as they can! *Book-It will be starting in October. The books that the students are reading to their “pets” can be used for Book-It!

Flex Groups * Beginning end of September/beginning of October • Entire second grade involved • Focus: to improve different components of reading(phonics, fluency, comprehension, etc. ) • Students will be grouped by ability level and needs • Daily for approximately 30 minutes • Several staff members leading groups

Report Cards Subject Graded: * Reading * Social Studies (1 st & 3 rd 9 Weeks) * Spelling * Science (2 nd & 4 th Weeks) * Grammar * Math Graded Scale: 100%-90% A 89%-80%B 79%-70%C 69%-60%D 59% & Below—failing Misc: • Evaluated every 9 weeks • Class participation and effort are considered when grading. • Homework is small portion of the grade.

Miss Mc. Curdy’s Webpage As a communication tool between you and I, I have made a webpage which I change frequently to show what we are learning in Second Grade. Follow the following steps to access Miss Mc. Curdy’s Webpage. 1. Type in www. goldenrams. com into the address bar 2. On the Highlands website at the top right will be a tab which says “Select a School. ” Click on “Highlands Elementary School. ” 3. When Highlands Elementary School’s webpage comes up, click on the tab which says “teachers”. 4. Click on “MCCURDY, MELISSA” 5. On the left hand side of our webpage is an index for you to use. ENJOY! HAPPY SURFING! * I change my webpage daily! Check often!

Misc. • Water bottles are permitted. ( Please NO juice, pop, Gatorade, etc. ) They can be kept on the shelf and used when needed. Please remind your child to take home each night for washing and refilling. **If it becomes a toy or distraction, they will be asked to not bring it back to school. • Our classroom is air conditioned. I have encouraged the students either to dress in layers and they can take it off if they are hot. Also, students could keep a “hoodie” or light jacket in their locker or book bag if they get cold! • If you are going to send home “Birthday” Invitations through the school, only send them in if everyone in the class is invited. (School Policy) • If you would like to send in a birthday treat for your student. Currently, we have 19 students in our class. Please send in a note or email me and let me know when you are planning on sending the treat in. Stickers, pencils, erasers, temporary tattoos, etc. are good alternative items that could be sent in for holiday parties and birthday treats. • Scholastic Book Club order forms will be sent home periodically. Be sure to send a check(Made out to Scholastic Book Club) or money order if ordering. NO CASH please.

Closing • Questions? • Thank You for attending! I am looking forward to a great year with you and your child! • Feel free to contact me by phone or e-mail: Phone: (724) 224 -0300, ext. 111 E-mail: mmccurdy@ goldenrams. com