Welcome to 2 SH 2 SH Teaching Team

Welcome to 2 SH!

2 SH Teaching Team • Teacher Miss Stacey • Teaching Assistant Ms. Analyn • Ms. Angela-EAL teacher.

• A Few Bits ‘n’ Pieces School Times ü Drop off is at 7: 45 -7: 55 when we leave the hall so please be on time-if not please go via the office. If you are late please check the timetable as to where the children need to be. I am in meetings so there is not always someone in the classroom to supervise. ü Please label all things… sweaters, hats, H 20 bottles. • P. E. ü Dress in PE kit on days 3, 4, 7, and 8 ü Swimming kits on Day 4 and Day 7 ü Pickup & Drop-off ü Pick up from classroom until weather cools • Food and parties ü Allergies-parent contact information sheet please return!

Essential agreement IN THIS CLASSROOM… RESPECT WE DO MISTAKES WE DO RESPONSIBILITY WE DO I’M SORRY WE DO SECOND CHANCES WE DO FUN WE DO CARING WE DO OUR BEST WE DO REALLY LOUD WE DO REALLY QUIET WE DO LEARNING WE DO MANNERS WE DO FRIENDS.

Beat The Teacher In 2 SH there are no individual point systems but there is a class point reward chart. If the children get a compliment as a whole class then they are awarded a point. If the children are not working well as a team, not listening, shouting out, not walking nicely then the teacher gets a point. Whoever has the most amount of points at the end of the week wins. The children can have golden time or circle time or if not then the teacher chooses the activity.

Dragon Shields • Dragon Shields are an initiative from the SLT. Children are awarded Dragon Shield tickets from all over the school for walking nicely, being respectful etc. Two tickets per year group get pulled out during assembly and those children win a prize.

Weebly! The Weebly is our MAIN form of communication. This will be updated at least once a week where information about your child’s learning will be shared. I have added an RSS feed where parents can subscribe and they will receive an email each time it is updated. For individual queries please do continue to contact me on my email: showard_gwa@gemsedu. com

The 2 SH Timetable This can be found on the weebly page and I have sent a copy home to parents. Please try and ensure that your child is responsible for bringing is/her resources to school! * Every Thursday School Finishes at 1. 15

GWA Approach to Education • Focus on learning outcomes – feedback, feed forward • Inquiry based – “Leading my Learning” • Challenged according to what students are ready to learn next (developmental approach) • Differentiation, activity based, small group and individualized learning

How We Know What Students Have Learned • Prior knowledge to drive inquiry • Assessment (authentic, projects, not always paper and pencil, etc. ) • Process oriented more often than product (reflection of learning) • Portfolios • Student Led Conferences

ICT and Library THE ROLE OF TECHNOLOGY IN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. Fully integrated into everyday learning Focus on using technology in relevant and meaningful ways ROLE OF THE TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION FACILITATORS (TIF) Facilitate the use of technology to enhance learning Support teachers in using technology for learning 
TIFs will come into the classrooms and work alongside classroom and specialist teachers to integrate the use of technology and enhance teaching and learning.

Library THE LEARNING COMMONS (previously known as the Library!) Students will go to the Learning Commons once a week for book selection Students will receive lessons with Ms. Betty Turpin based on the focus of Literacy and Units of Inquiry as necessary.

Literacy READING Daily 5 • “Learning to Read” vs. “Reading to Learn” • Reading to, with, and by • At home ü At least 15 minutes ü Choose a consistent time and place ü Be a part of it ü Model it: Love it! WRITING • Writing to, with and by • 6+1 Traits of Writing �Ideas �Organization �Conventions �Word Choice �Sentence Fluency �Voice �Presentation

Spelling • Children are given a list which is highlighted. They are able to do a harder list if they chose but they can’t go backwards. • Words assigned Monday, quiz on Sunday • Groupings assessed throughout the year. • Weekly spelling practice activities in Homework Book

Mathematics Our math program will focus on these areas: ü Number modelling ü Collecting, organizing, analyzing ü Place value and review of and graphing data addition and subtraction with ü Units of measurement, including regrouping temperature, litres, mililitres, ü Comparing, ordering, and grams. rounding numbers ü Addition and subtraction to 3 ü Recalling doubles and halves digits. ü Patterning in shapes and number. ü Understanding fractions. ü Symmetry and tessalation. ü Patterns and probability ü Division and multiplication facts ü Understanding the inverse ü 2, 5 and 10 times tables. between Our math program will also focus on strategy, how we do things using the knowledge we have

PYP Units of Inquiry • • • Sharing the Planet Relationships and interactions within communities lead to conflict and peace. How We Express Ourselves Artists use elements of art to communicate and create visual works that an audience may interpret Where We Are In Place And Time Present day societies help us to understand past civilizations. How We Organise Ourselves Understanding the processes that food goes through can help us make informed decisions. How The World Works Understanding forces and energy helps create inventions that impact our lives. Who We Are Choice of role models reflects the values individuals and societies.

Homework! • At GWA we believe that the child learns at school and whilst consolidation of skills is important so is the value of play and socialising with family. • Your child will be required to read 4 times a week if this is communicated in their Daily Diary they will get a star. They can achieve a bronze, silver and gold award. The gold is only achieved by reading four times a week all year and the award will be a mad hatters tea party after school to celebrate. So please encourage your child to read. • They will also get spellings which are differentiated to their spelling level. These will get handed out on a Monday and tested on a Sunday. The children will have three lists. I will highlight the list I suggest they do, but, if they want to they can learn any of the harder lists.

Supporting Learning at Home ü Homework expectations- Consistent agreement across Grade: 2 ü How parents can help – talk, encourage, share ü Give your child the space and opportunity to show responsibility for their learning at home. ü Develop routines and rituals in your family to share and celebrate learning.

Communication üThis year there are no student diaries in Grade 2 if you need to get hold of me please email me on s. howard_gwa@gemsedu. com üIf you know there is a change in your child’s schedule please let me know in advance if possible.

Our Wonderings as Parents Warmest Regards and I look forward to a great learning partnership this year with you and your child.