Welcome to Back to School Night 2017 2018

Welcome to Back to School Night 2017 -2018 Mrs. Battaglia nd 2 Grade

A little bit about Mrs. Battaglia ! • Grew up in Salem County • Graduated from Rowan University in 1997 with a degree in Elem. Ed. & Sociology • Hired by Woodstown in 1997 • 21 st year teaching • Taught 5 th grade at WMS for 16 years • Wife and mother of 2 – Gianna in 6 th grade- Joey in 9 th grade • Lives in Woolwich Township

Our Schedule This is our schedule on Days A, C, D and E Day B is our ENCORE day where we begin with specials from 8: 05 -9: 25. We also have STELLAR on Day B. Time Subject 7: 45 – 8: 00 Homeroom 8: 00 -8: 10 Morning Centers 8: 10 – 8: 25 - Morning Meeting 8: 25 – 9: 25 ELA (Reading and Writing) 9: 30 – 10: 00 Math 10: 00 – 10: 40 Reading to Succeed 10: 45 – 11: 12 Interventions Block 11: 13 -11: 55 Lunch/Recess 11: 55 – 12: 10 Read Aloud 12: 10 – 12: 53 Specials 12: 56 – 1: 40 Math 1: 40 – 2: 00 Fundations 2: 00 – 2: 30 Science/Social Studies

Specials • Students are assigned to a team – • Caring Kids/Courageous Crew/Problem Solvers/Team Players • All specials begin in the gymnasium where students join their team • All specials return to the gym where students rejoin their class • Encore days (Day B) are used for special events and activities as needed • Specials are: art, music, gym, health – refer to PIRATE folder for Special Class schedule • Students also have STELLAR on Day B • *Remember to return library books on Day B. *

Homework • Monday through Thursday for about 20 minutes each night. • - 15 minutes of reading – baggie books and should be returned daily – students record titles in agenda book daily • - Math worksheet – returned the following day • - Math fact practice is always beneficial

Agenda Book & Friday Folders • • • Agenda Books Students will copy HW each morning I will check to be sure it is correct and stamp Please check to be sure HW has been completed each evening Please sign the agenda book each evening • Friday Folders Beginning next week, Friday folders will be sent home every Friday. -All graded work for the week will be included -Please look through the work and sign the folder -Please leave work INSIDE the folder – all work will be returned at the end of each trimester.

Behavior Management & Incentives • Pirate Chart – Color Coded – coordinates with PIRATE folder calendar • Tokens for STARS behavior • Tickets for answering questions • Classroom rewards for token jar • Monthly drawing to choose from prize box

Birthday Celebrations • Birthday Treats • • Drop off at the office in the morning or send in with your child • We will celebrate birthdays during lunch time OR in the afternoon depending on the day and our schedule • We have 20 students • ALL BIRTHDAY SNACKS MUST BE PEANUT and TREE NUT FREE • Summer birthdays will be celebrated in June

Buccaneer of the Week • Each week, one student will have the opportunity to be our “PIRATE OF THE WEEK” • Students receive the “Pirate Bag” on Thursday – complete their poster over the weekend • Monday – share poster • Tuesday – Bring in 3 items in the “Pirate Bag” to share • Wednesday – Parent Letter • Thursday & Friday – Acrostic Poem Poster • *See handout in folder for more detailed directions and schedule for the year. • *There is also a “Pirate of the Week” tab on our website

Parent Volunteers Ø Please Fill out the Tier I volunteer form and send it back ASAP, you must be board approved to volunteer. We are encouraging everyone to be Tier I approved. Ø If you are able to help with classroom parties, please fill out that form and return it. Ø 4 parents to plan and run each party • Halloween • Winter • Valentine • Spring • End of the Year • *The classroom volunteer party schedule will be sent home on 9/29 – If you can’t attend an event, we always need help! You can send something in or make something at home.

Tier I and Tier II Volunteers • Parent Volunteer forms (Tier I) should be returned as soon as possible, but please no later than 9/30. • Tier I – activities within the classroom/school (parties, Fair Day, etc. ) *It is recommended that EVERYONE fills out a Tier 1 form. These MUST be completed each year. • Tier II – class trips – only field trip chaperones • Final lists for activities will be established and sent home on Wednesday, September 30 th. At that point if you are going on the class trip you can begin to fulfill the Tier II requirements. • .

Remind… • Remind is a free and safe way for teachers to send text reminders to parents • Sign up via text message • You may unsubscribe at any time • *See handout in folder with more specific directions.

Shared Reading • In 2 nd grade the children will engage in both shared reading/whole group experiences as well as small groups reading at their level. This is called Balanced Literacy. During our shared reading time the children will be reading stories and books in whole and small groups. These stories and books are most likely on a second grade reading level, although we do read texts below, and above the children’s reading levels too. We will be using Ready Gen as our primary resource. This program uses a variety of texts to practice reading, fluency, phonics, and comprehension skills as well as literary analysis. Students will also • respond to text in writing.

Reading to Succeed/RTS • For 40 minutes, four days a week, all second graders will be part of small, teacher-led reading groups to set personal reading goals and develop individual reading skills. Children may work with other teachers, and will be grouped with children from other second grade classes. During this time, small groups of students come together to read a new series, explore a topic, or work on a particular reading strategy. In addition to meeting with their small group teacher, children will spend 20 minutes practicing their skills and strategies by reading independently. Small groups may change throughout the year depending on each child’s progress and individual reading needs. Reading to Succeed is the time that we focus on independent reading levels and challenge the students with books they should be able to read by themselves. During Reading to Succeed, we challenge our excelling readers above and beyond typical grade level expectations, and help our struggling readers get the small group assistance they need to move forward in reading. Each child is truly getting what they need to succeed as a reader .

Writing • Focus on three genres – narrative, informational and opinion • Writing tied to reading • Specific minilessons/skills – small snippets of writing leads to eventual formal piece • Journal or “free” writing • Family Journal - weekly

Fundations • This year, we will be continuing the instruction that first grade began, using the Fundations program. Fundations is a multi-sensory, structured language program that focuses on the following: • Phonemic awareness • Phonics/ word study • High frequency word study • Reading fluency • Vocabulary • Comprehension strategies • Handwriting • Spelling

Mathematics • Our district follows the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics. These standards outline the skills and practices students need to master at each grade level. This year, our class is using Envisions as our resource to implement the standards. - Topics of Study – Place Value, Addition and Subtraction Facts, Time and Money, Measuring – Length, Basic Geometry and Problem Solving 60 minutes of math - whole group and center approach Basic Fact practice– daily basic fact drills with weekly assessment Emphasis on Math Vocabulary – use of flash cards/glossary -

Science • We will be completing science units that reflect the Next Generation Science Standards this year. • Our units are full of hands—on discovery • We will be using TCI as a resource • Our first unit is a life science unit – plants and habitats. We also incorporate non-fiction reading and writing into our Science units!

Social Studies – America, A Proud Nation • We will start our study of America by learning about Native Americans and Colonial America. We also learn about the Revolutionary War and the events leading up to it as we learn how America became a nation. This year we culminate our yearlong theme with the 2 nd Grade Patriotic Program in June. This is an amazing show, so don’t miss it!

Standards Based Grading • SBG is helpful in showing exactly where and how students are making progress and where they may need more time. It is a true measure of your child’s progress. • -Benchmarks developed for ELA and Math – state what students should be able to do at each trimester - 1 -4 grading scale – no percentages out of 100 - 3 is the EXPECTATION – this is what is expected of your child - 4 is ABOVE AND BEYOND what is expected - Check out our class website – there is a SBG page with more detailed information

STELLAR • We have S. T. E. L. L. A. R. on Day B. In this class students will get library books and work on various projects throughout the year integrating technology with our curricular units. Our second graders will learn how to use Box, Picollage, Puppet Pals, and i. Pad care just to name a few. • We will be attending KIC in Jan. Students will develop their presentation in STELLAR

School Reminde • Notes are required to change student transportation • Call the office if your child is out sick • Conferences are in October and March, but if you need to meet before then please let me know • Write your child a note in the Family Journal composition book – comes home on Friday • Complete student directory forms and volunteer forms

Good night • You’re now the parent of a SECOND GRADER… • You may be overwhelmed and feel as though you need a HUG. RELAX! In Mrs. Battaglia’s & Mrs. Filipponi’s Class, parents and teachers STICK together. Hopefully, tonight’s information has been a LIFE-SAVER and has left you feeling like a real SMARTIE! • Thank you for coming tonight! • It’s going to be a great year!