Buckeye Valley West2nd Grade Handbook

2014 – 2015

Mrs. Prine’s Class

This comprehensive handbook should be kept handy throughout the school year as a

reference.

Part 1: Curriculum Information

Part 2: Classroom & School Information

If you have any questions and/or concerns at anytime, please do not hesitate to contact me. You can send in a note, call, or e-mail. I do my best to check my e-mail on a regular basis, but there are days that I may not get an opportunity to respond via e-mail. If you have a question or concern that requires an immediate response, then please give me a call.

BV West: (740) 666-2731aprine@mybvls.org

Part 1: Curriculum InformationReadingIn reading, the ultimate goal is for each child to make a full year’s worth of growth. To achieve this goal I will be using Daily 5 structure. along with the new district adopted curriculum called Journeys. Journeys are a language arts curriculum that is aligned with the Ohio Common Core.

I understand that each year of your child’s schooling presents new expectations and routines for you and your child to become familiar with. I will be introducing classroom routines and structure in a way that removes all of the guesswork from the child and allows them to concentrate fully on learning. In reading, the classroom structure I use is called Daily 5. Soon your child will be talking about the Daily 5 at home. The purpose of this is to explain to you what the Daily 5 is and what you should expect to see at home.

The Daily 5 is a literacy structure that teaches independence and gives children the skills needed to create a lifetime love of reading and writing. It consists of five tasks that are introduced individually. When introduced to each task, the children discuss what it looks like, sounds like, and feels like to engage in the task independently. Then, the children work on building their stamina until they are successful at being independent while doing that task.

These are the five tasks: Read to Self Work on Writing Read to Someone Listen to Reading Word Work

When all five tasks have been introduced and the children are fully engaged in reading and writing, I am able to work with small groups and confer with children one-on-one. This structure is effective, the results are amazing, and the children look forward to Daily 5 time.

One thing you may notice is a decrease in the number of worksheets your child brings home. Although worksheets keep students busy, they don’t result in the high level of learning we want for your child.

Ask your child about the Daily 5 and see what they have to say. I anticipate your child will tell you about the class stamina and how we are working toward independence, and maybe you will even hear about some of the fantastic things your child has written, read, or listened to during our Daily 5 time. Please feel free to contact me with any questions.

Homework Tip

Please have your child read each night for at least 15 minutes. Students need to pick good-fit books. I PICK is a strategy that will be taught during the Daily 5 to help assist your child in being able to identify a good fit book just for him or her. Please use the chart below to help. Your child can choose a good fit book from home, the library, or one they have brought home from school.

I-select a book and look it over, inside and outP-Purpose: Why might I want to read it?I-Interest: Does it interest me?C-Comprehend: Do I understand what I am reading?K- Know: Do I know most of the words?They will also need to choose one book in which to write a reading

response in their notebooks. The book does not need to be a finished book in order to write a response. Reading responses will be given by the teacher and in your child’s composition notebook. When responses are checked it will be indicated on your child’s response. Responses are a choice writing by the child about what they comprehend from the book. Students will be given some options to help them if they are stuck, but they are not limited to these choices. Please allow your child to be creative. Reading response journals will be collected on Friday’s.

Please note I have taped the journal instructions on the front of the reader response notebook.

WritingDuring our writing time, the children will participate in Writer’s Workshop. 

This approach to writing instruction includes focus lessons where students learn the mechanics, craft, process, genres, word choice, ideas, voice, and conventions of writing.  Most importantly, children will have ample time to write each day.  Children will be given the opportunity to choose what and how they write.  Additionally, children will learn to edit and share their work through conferences with teachers and their peers.  These aspects of Writer’s Workshop allow students to see themselves as authors and illustrators and will naturally reinforce their learning from Reader’s Workshop. 

In addition students will also have the writing component, which is present in the Daily 5 structure. During that time students can choose to do a free top Look for authentic opportunities for your child to write at home. She/he can write thank you letters, journal write, write lists, create stories. Help your child come up with good ideas for writing topics such as a special family trip or a special hobby. After reading a book together, discuss why the author decided to write the story in a certain way.

Word Study Word study involves spelling, phonics and vocabulary development.

Through the study of the second grade high frequency words phonics and vocabulary skills will be reinforced. Vocabulary skills will be developed through learning about parts of speech, contractions, homophones, suffixes, prefixes, etc. The children will have word wall words in their writing folder, on our classroom wall, and in the BARONS binder. They will be encouraged to utilize the list during everyday writing.

Spelling is also an important component of word study. We will be studying phonemic “hunks and chunks” to help kids learn common spelling patterns. Your child’s spelling will be assessed in their writing samples. There will not be a formal spelling assessment each week, rather students will be assessed on their writing. Please practice the spelling patterns at home each week. The list of hunks and chunks for the week can be in your child’s BARONS.

High-frequency words (Word Wall Words) will be assessed quarterly. Your child should able to read all 200 words by the end of second grade. You can find the list in your child’s BARONS.

Homework TipWord study lists will be sent home in your child’s B.A.R.O.N.S. most

weeks. These words and spelling patterns need to be studied and practiced AT HOME throughout the week. Please refer to the word study list provided for some fun ideas. There will be no formal spelling assessment. Reading and writing word wall words should be practiced often.

In second grade, we do not stress perfect spelling, but developmental spelling. We do not wish to hinder the student’s writing by making him/her feel that he/she needs to stop and ask how to spell every other word. When you child is attempting to spell words, encourage him/her to “give it a try” using spelling strategies taught in class. We suggest saying, “hunk and chunk it” or “stretch out the word”. If a word is more than one syllable, we suggest clapping each syllable and then hunking and chunking each syllable separately. We also encourage students to use the word wall list in the BARONS Notebook to spell the word wall words. Overtime, you will see your child’s spelling progress and change as he/she learns to apply the spelling strategies in everyday writing.

Math

The major focus of math in second grade is on number sense—that is, an understanding of numbers, their meanings, magnitudes, relationships, and how they are affected by operations. Much like we expect students to be able to see and recognize letters and words in reading, students are expected to see and recognize common dot patterns, like the dots on dice (subitizing), addition & subtraction facts (composing and decomposing a number), counting up and back, and so on. When students have this familiarity with numbers, they are capable of performing operations quickly and being comfortable with manipulating numbers. In order to teach the new math standards, we have a new curriculum called My Math. The My Math program is divided into 12 chapters with specific goals for each chapter.

Homework TipAt the end of each lesson, the students will bring home a page of math homework. Please check the homework for accuracy and help your child with any challenges he/she may encounter with the homework. Additionally, your child will be asked to regularly practice fluency with addition and subtraction facts. Homework is an opportunity to grow as a learner and prepare for the chapter assessments. Homework should NOT be returned to school. Please save homework and classwork to use as a review tool before the chapter assessment.

Science and Social Studies In second grade, we will alternate between social studies and science

within each nine weeks. In science we will be learning about the atmosphere, changes in motion, interactions with habitats, and fossils. In social studies the overall theme with be “People Working Together”. We will be learning about citizenship, history, heritage, mapping, and economics.

It is my goal to have students participate in many learning experiences and project based learning to help kids explore science and social studies. These will be determined in part by student interest in our curriculum and our current focus. Our class will have Kim Banks, from Preservation Parks in Delaware; share her knowledge of Ohio habitats (plants and animals) once a month. We will show our learning in a science notebook to incorporate written response following Ms. Banks’ visits. We will also use these notebooks during our science experiments.

Assessments

Student’s grades are not averaged together using points or percentages; instead students are assessed by their progress in meeting each grade level standard. Students will be assessed formatively and summatively. In formative assessments, the students are assessed in order to guide instruction for individual needs. Summative grades are given at the end of a unit or at the nine weeks to show students’ progress towards meeting the grade level standards.

Expectations for student performance increase each nine week. A “Meeting Grade Level Standards” grade the first nine weeks does not have the same expectations in the following nine weeks. Additionally, an “Exceeding Grade Level Standards” does not equate an “A” on a traditional grading scale. The same is true for all of the letter grades given in second grade.

E = Exceeding Grade Level StandardsM = Meeting Grade Level StandardsP = Progressing Toward Grade Level StandardsN = Needs Support to Achieve Grade Level Standards

NWEABuckeye Valley uses the Measures of Academic Progress computerized test

to measure student growth. This testing will be completed three times a year in reading and math.

Part 2: Classroom & School Information

********************* Classroom *********************

B.A.R.O.N.S. You can find important information in your child’s organizational binder or

B.A.R.O.N.S. (Being a Responsible, Organized, Neat Student). Some items include: class schedule, specials’ schedule, class list with birthdays, homework, high frequency list (word wall words), number grids, daily calendar for behavior and our weekly newsletter. Please make sure your child brings his/her BARONS to school everyday!

Star Student of the Week In order to celebrate all students in our class, we will have a different Star

Student each week. During this week, students will have the opportunity to bring in favorite pictures and artifacts, a letter from their family, a favorite book, and have lunch with a special friend or family member.

** More information and the Star Student schedule can be found in the back of the handbook!

Parent Visitations/VolunteersI welcome you to visit our classroom. You need to report to the office and

sign in when you arrive. There will be many occasions when I will be in need of parent help. If you would like to help, please fill out and return the parent volunteers form. Please remember to respect each student’s privacy and not share information as you work with individuals. Thank you so much for your help!

Mystery Career

This year, kids will learn about a variety of professions with the help of our “Mystery Career” volunteers. Students LOVE having their family, friends, and relatives visit our classroom to share in our learning. Volunteers are asked to share information about his/her career in a way that kids will find interesting. This may include: pictures, materials used on the job, videos, work-related clothing, and/or other hands-on opportunities. The goal is for students to learn

the work necessary to obtain the job, responsibilities on a daily/weekly basis, and what makes this career fun and rewarding.

Mystery Career volunteers will visit us at 3:00 p.m. on select Fridays, unless otherwise scheduled. Included with this note is a list of dates that are available. Many family members like to book around their child’s birthday or another special date. Please indicate at least three dates that will work for you so that I can accommodate as many people as possible. You can email me your preferred dates or send your three choices in a “top secret” envelope to school with your child. I will get back to you as soon as I can to confirm your official Mystery Career date. I will also send a reminder email or note one week before your scheduled date to ask for your clues. If you sign up, you’ll receive more information about clues when the dates are selected.

Shhh… don’t tell anyone!

SnacksWe feel it is important for students to have a healthy snack during the day

to help keep them focused and energized. Please send one snack each day with you child. Examples of healthy snacks include; pretzels, crackers, fruit, veggies, popcorn, granola bars, etc. Please do not send in candy, potato chips, cookies, or any other dessert type of snack. The procedures for snack may change depending on how snack goes throughout the year. Students may keep a water bottle at their desk.

Birthday TreatsYou are welcome to send a simple birthday treat, like cookies, with your

child on his/her birthday. Another idea to celebrate your child’s birthday is to send in a “Grab Bag” for each student filled with small toys. Please let me know what day you plan to send something in so I can plan accordingly. Treats should be dropped off in the morning so we can pick the best time of day to celebrate, unless otherwise discussed.

If you plan to invite children from our class to your child’s birthday party, please do the following: if your child is inviting the entire class or all the boys/girls, then he/she may pass out invitations at the end of the day. If only a few children from our class are invited, please do NOT send the invitations to school, as we do not want to hurt anyone’s feelings.

Scholastic Book OrdersScholastic book orders will be sent home monthly. Participation is

OPTIONAL. It is preferred that orders are placed online using:Web address: www.scholastic.com/bookclubs

This is a great opportunity to purchase quality books at a minimum cost. Best of all, our class will earn a FREE book for our classroom library each time you order. Place all orders by the due date on the letter attached to the flyers. Delivery generally takes 2 weeks. Your child will look forward to receiving new books and will continue to develop his/her love of reading!

Class Website I am have begun the process of creating our school website! Please

know it is a work in progress as I am now using the district provided teacher site. To get onto our site you must go through the uckeyevalley.k12.oh.usWebsite. Click on the, “Our Staff” tab at the top. Search for me, Amber Prine, click on view profile, then our classroom. I will be working to attach all important schedules, dates, and fun pictures to the site. Please be patient as this is a new process for me, and I am learning how to use it.

********************* School *********************Daily Schedule

School begins at 9:00 a.m. and ends at 3:40 p.m. The doors of the building are not unlocked until 9:00 a.m. Your child will be marked tardy if he/she is not IN the classroom by 9:15. If you pick your child up before 3:40, you must sign him/her out in the office.

If your child is to go home differently than normal, I must have a dated note stating how and with whom your child is going home. If I do not have a note, your child will go home on the bus or the usual manner in which he/she goes home.

Lunch is at 11:45-12:10. You are more than welcome to come and eat lunch with your child. Please let me know that morning, if you are planning on coming to lunch so, I can add another adult lunch to the lunch count.

LunchYour child has the option to buy or pack his/her lunch. When sending in

lunch money for your child, please put it in a your child’s baron folder in the zip bag in the front. This year, the students’ lunches are $2.75. You are welcome to join your child for lunch at 11:45 am.

You can access your child’s lunch account at mySchoolBucks.com. There you can schedule recurring payments, set up automatic deposits when your

child's account balance runs low, view extended purchase history for the past 90 days, and receive low balance email notifications. There will be a convenience fee of $1.95 for each transaction.

Procedures for Reporting AbsencesIf your child is absent from school, you must call the school by 9:00 a.m. to

report the absence. The school has an answering machine that you can leave a message for the secretary. If you do not call the school, the school will call you at home or at your place of employment. This is for your child’s well being.

When your child returns to school he/she must have a written note stating the date and the reason for the absence.

If you are planning an absence due to a vacation, there is a vacation form that needs to be completed out and returned before the vacation. The form is in the packet of school forms sent home at the beginning of school.

Attendance at school is important, but do not send your child to school if he/she shows signs of illness such as fever, earache, upset stomach, swollen glands, or a rash. If you do not want your child to go outside for recess, a note must be sent to school. He/she will need to sit in the office during recess, as no other supervision will be available.

End of the Day Pick-upIf your child will be going home in a different manner than usual, please

notify the office and Mrs. Prine either through a phone call, e-mail, or written note. When it comes to dismissal, students can get anxious if they are unsure about how they are going home. Communication from home to school reassures everyone that the student is in the right place at the right time. If you are picking up your child at the end of the day, you can wait in your car in the front, lower parking lot. The students who are walkers and car riders will be dismissed before the bus riders to walk out though the front doors.

Parent CommunicationCommunication is vital in order to ensure your child receives the best

education possible! After all, you are your child’s first teacher and you often know what works best for him/her. I have found the best way to communicate with parents is through email. Often parents tend to check email, and this way papers are not lost. I will be sending monthly newsletters home via email to let you know important dates, as well as what we are working on in our curriculum. I typically will also send a weekly round-up email with any

important information that you may need. I can always send home hard copies if you request.

Color Ladder *In our classroom, I encourage students to take responsibility for their own

choices. As a class, we will create a classroom promise. The school’s school wide discipline policy uses the color ladder system. We

encourage positive choices, which are reinforced through moving up on the color ladder. Unfortunately students may make a poor choice and may need to move down the color ladder. Please review the “How was my day?” calendar with your child to see his/her color for the day. If a student continually needs to move down the color ladder, then the students, parents, and myself will need to meet together to agree on a behavior plan to address the situation.

Your child has a calendar in the front of his/her BARONS. Students color their day before they leave school.

Second Grade FeesThe second grade fees are $50.00. Second grade fees pay for the student’s

math journals, nametags, writing journals, and Scholastic News. These fees are to be paid as soon as possible. If this is a problem, please call the school office and they will find a way to help you.

ConferencesParent/Teacher Conferences are held twice a year. The fall conferences will

be October 23rd and 30th. The spring conferences will be February 5th and 10th. Conferences are an important time for us to get to know you and learn more about your child. Please return the form with selected times that you are available to meet.

Emergency Closing of SchoolEmergency closings will be posted on the Buckeye Valley webpage. The

address is www.buckeyevalley.k12.oh.us. You may also sign up for direct notification through the One Call Now program. On the Buckeye Valley home page, click on the “One Call Now Family Profile” icon to register.

Library

Your child will visit the school library at least once a week. He/She may check out one book to bring home. The book must be returned in order to check out a new book. If a book is lost, it is your responsibility to pay for it.

This year, the children will also be visiting the Ostrander branch of the Delaware library. They will go during their normally scheduled library time. A copy of your child’s library card will need to be sent to school or you can send in your child’s card. Then a copy will be made and the card will be returned. If your child does not have a library card, a form will come home. Please complete the form and send it back to school as soon as possible. Your child will be allowed to check out one book from the Ostrander library. They will be responsible to return it on or before their next visit. Your child may return it to any branch of the Delaware library or return it to school to be returned at our next visit.

ToysYour child is allowed to bring toys to school for recess. During the winter

months, there may be quite a few days of indoor recess and your child may want to bring in something quiet to play with during that time. Please make sure that your child does not bring in anything valuable and understands that he/she must share whatever is brought in. Trading is not allowed and toys brought from home will be restricted if it becomes an issue. Silly Bands are the primary issue. Please note that on page 9 of the student handbook it states the following about valuable property. “Valuable property such as radios, record and tape players, CDs, pagers, cell phones, expensive jewelry, electronic games, iPods, etc. may not be brought to school by students. The school (including buses) will not accept responsibility for the loss of personal property.”

InternetYour child must have signed permission from a parent to be on the Internet.

In first grade, the children only use the Internet in a very controlled and structured manner. We visit certain sites as a class for educational purposes only and may use the internet for research purposes. The school does have a program that blocks inappropriate sites if we happen stumble across something.

Pictures will only be posted on our class website with parental permission.

Student DressPlease make sure your child comes to school dressed appropriately. Flip-

flops are not allowed on the playground and violators will be asked to change shoes before going out to recess. We go out in the winter as long as the weather is not too cold (wind chill above 20 degrees), so dress your child in

a warm coat, hat, mittens, and boots. Please send shoes to school with your child during boot season. Your child may leave a pair of shoes at school.

We will be painting and doing other messy art projects at times. I will always do my best to keep your child clean, but accidents are inevitable. Please remember this when choosing clothing for school.

It may be helpful to keep an extra pair of pants, socks, and underwear in your child’s locker. The children sometimes go outside when it is muddy and come in with wet clothes that need to be changed. This is optional.

My Guiding Principles1. Teach each Student to be a ThinkerTeach students to use their minds well and foster their belief in their own ability to learn. Allow student inquiry and natural curiosity to guide the learning process. Students are encouraged to search and discover, rather than follow, and they are given opportunities for reflection.2. Teach through QuestioningQuestioning draws out meaningful thinking. Questioning encourages students to elaborate on initial responses and guides them towards reaching their own understanding.3. Promote Enduring UnderstandingsLearning has application and meaning beyond the classroom. Students will have opportunities to make meaningful connections. Unit studies will emphasize depth in coverage, focusing on essential questions.

4. Be a Responsive TeacherProvides thoughtful, appropriate planning to meet the learning needs of all students by modifying content, product and process. Recognizes all students’ strengths and interests and focuses on teaching the whole child.5. Create a Collaborative Environment

Building a respectful community is key for all students to feel safe and valued so that they can take risks and be challenged. Students learn through discussions and group work. Making decisions as a group strengthens classroom community.6. Allow for an Exhibition of KnowledgeStudents will demonstrate mastery through public exhibition to peers, parents, and community. Knowledge will be expressed in a variety of formats conducive to students’ learning strengths/styles.