Welcome, Second Grade Families! MSS Back to School Night

Mrs. Battaglia and Mrs. Wolf

September 15, 2015

•  Room #114

•  School Phone – 769-0144 ext. 66247

•  E-mail – battaglia.j@woodstown.org wolf.s@woodstown.org

•  Cell Phone – 856-430-8320

Contact Information

•  Grew up in Salem County •  Graduated from Rowan University in

1997 with a degree in Elem. Ed. & Sociology

•  Hired by Woodstown in 1997 •  Taught 5th grade at WMS for 16 years •  Wife and mother of 2 – Gianna in 4th

grade- Joey in 7th grade •  Lives in Woolwich Township  

A little bit about Mrs. Battaglia

•  Grew up in Franklinville •  Graduated from the College of St. Elizabeth in 1996

with BA in Psychology and Education with a Certification in Special Education. Earned MA in Student Personnel Services from Rowan University in 1998

•  Hired at MSS in 1997 for Resource Room and Guidance •  Wife and mother of 2 boys – Cody 10th grade at WHS,

Tyler 5th grade at UPS •  Lives in Upper Pittsgrove •  Enjoys cheering my boys in local sports events  

A little bit about Mrs. Wolf

Our Schedule

Day A ENCORE Day B Day C Day D Day E 7:45- 8:05 Homeroom Homeroom Homeroom Homeroom Homeroom

8:05-8:50

Reading

8:05-9:25 -Encore Reading

Reading

Readign

8:50-9:25

Writing

Reading/Foundational Skills – 9:25- 10:25

Writing

Writing

Writing

9:30-10:10 Reading to Succeed

Reading to Succeed

Reading to Succeed

Reading to Succeed

10:10- 10:30

Foundational Skills/Word Wok

Foundational Skils/Word Work

Foundational Skills/ Word Work

Foundational Skills/Word Work

10:30 – 11:20 10:30 – 11:00 – Lunch 11:00 – 11:20 - Recess

10:30 – 11:00- Lunch 11:00 – 11:20 - Recess

10:30 – 11:00 – Lunch 11:00 – 11:20 - Recess

10:30- 11:00 – Lunch 11:00 – 11:20 - Recess

10:30 – 11:00 – Lunch 11:00- 11:20 - Recess

11:20- 11:45 11:45 – 12:10

Book Box Math

Book Box Math

Book Box Math

Book Box Math

Book Box Math

12:10-12:53 Specials

Specials

Specials

Specials

12:56-1:39 Math Math Math – Math Math

1:42-2:25 Spanish (1:45 -2:15)

SS/Science Science/ SS Science/ SS SS/ Science

2:30- 2:35 Student dismissals 2:30 SACC,2:33 buses 2:35 Carpool/Walker

Student dismissals 2:30 SACC,2:33 buses 2:35 Carpool/Walker

Student dismissals 2:30 SACC,2:33 buses 2:35 Carpool/Walker

Student dismissals 2:30 SACC,2:33 buses 2:35 Carpool/Walker

Student dismissals 2:30 SACC,2:33 buses 2:35 Carpool/Walker

Special Schedule

•  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 •  Students also have STELLAR and Spanish once a week.

(Spanish Day A and STELLAR – Day B) •  *Remember to return library books on Day B.*

Reading

In 2nd 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.

Reading to Succeed…

. 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..

Language/Foundational Skills

Our language lessons focus on skills such as nouns, verbs, adverbs, possessives etc. and reflect the Common Core Standards. In addition, Ready Gen provides lessons on foundational reading skills focusing on concepts like short and long vowel sounds as wall as parts of speech. Students will keep a Language Notebook to organize what we are learning in these lessons. This will be a valuable resource for students.

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Math

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 working on hands-on science units this year. Our 4 main topics of study are Monarch Butterflies, plants, soils, and dinosaurs. We have our own science kits and they are full of hands-on discovery learning activities. 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 2nd 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

S.T.E.L.L.A.R.

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 iPad care just to name a few.

Spanish

We are lucky to have a Spanish teacher! Mrs. Miles will start introducing the Spanish language to our students. This is a fun class! Students learn the basics of Spanish through songs, dance, games and activities.

Homework

Monday through Thursday for about 20 minutes •  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 and Friday Folders

•  Agenda Books •  Students will copy HW

each morning •  We 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 this 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

•  Disney Character Chart – Color Coded – coordinates with WALT folder calendar

•  Tokens for STAR behavior •  Tickets for answering questions •  Classroom rewards for token jar •  Monthly drawing to choose from prize box

SNACK  We will have a WORKING snack time each afternoon. •  Snack time will be at between 1:00 and 1:15,

depending on our schedule.

•  Please send your child with a snack each day – after September, class snack will not be provided.

•  *A suggested snack list was sent home on the first

day of school.*

BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS

Birthday Treats •  Drop off at the office in the morning or send in with

your child •  We will celebrate birthdays during snack time, lunch time

OR in the afternoon depending on the day and our schedule

•  We have 23 students •  ALL BIRTHDAY SNACKS MUST BE PEANUT FREE •  Summer birthdays will be celebrated in June

MOUSEKETEER OF THE WEEK

Each week, one student will have the opportunity to be our “MOUSEKETEER OF THE WEEK” Students receive the “Mouskeketeer Bag” on Thursday – complete their poster over the weekend Monday – share poster Tuesday – Bring in 3 items in the “Mouseketeer 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 “Mouseketeer of the Week” tab on our website

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 –Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, PA. – only field trip chaperones Final lists for activities will be established and sent home on Wednesday, September 30th. At that point if you are going on the class trip you can begin to fulfill the Tier II requirements.

Communication

•  Friday “Buzz Letter” Newsletter •  WALT folder – daily •  Friday Folder – weekly work –

PLEASE LEAVE ALL WORK INSIDE •  Website - http://www.woodstown.org//Domain/336

•  E-mails – please provide on list •  Phone Calls as necessary •  Text Alerts - REMIND

REMIND

•  Remind is a free and safe way for teachers to send text reminders to parents

•  Three ways to sign up – via text message, e-mail or download the app

•  You may unsubscribe at any time

•  See handout in folder

School Reminders

•  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

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. Wolf’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!