I am very excited about this school year! Second grade is important to your child, and he/she will need lots of encouragement. We strive to help your child become more independent and responsible with his/her work habits. Ms. Layton-Mitchell and I both look forward to working with you and your child. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please feel free to contact me at school. There are a few things that you need to know to help make this a successful year for your child.
Homework: I do not give a great deal of nightly homework and it is not given on weekends. During long weekends and on holidays, I do expect and encourage your child to continue to read. Students will have a Homework Folder where they will write each night's assignments. Please check this folder on a daily basis. When a story is assigned in Reading, please sign that you have read the story with your child. Math homework will be given every night as reinforcement of the day’s lesson in our Saxon Math program. Reading vocabulary words and definitions will be sent home on Mondays to be studied during the week. The vocabulary test will be given on Fridays along with the weekly Spelling test. If your child does not turn in assigned homework, he/she will complete it during recess time. It is also very important for your child to read nightly. Encourage your child to read the library book checked out each week and be sure to return it to school before our next scheduled library time. Also encourage your child to choose Accelerated Reader books so that he/she may take tests and earn points. I will have a variety of prizes for when your child reaches certain point levels.
Grading: All grades will be counted equally in second grade. Grades are usually not given for homework, so your child’s report card average will come from classwork and tests.
Weekly Progress Report Folders: Each Monday, your child will bring home a folder containing the previous week’s work. Please look at the work, go over mistakes with your child, sign BOTH papers, and send it back to school with your child the next day. One paper will be for you to check a box indicating how you feel about your child’s work for that past week. The other paper will show any tags your child lost and the reason those tags were lost. Your child will receive a token for bringing the folder back the next day if it is signed and has a box checked.
Tokens: Tokens are one of my ways of rewarding your child. Students can receive tokens by returning their Weekly Folders, working quietly, or exhibiting good behavior. Each student will have an individual token bag. The students save their tokens and can turn them in for various prizes.
Conferences: I will be glad to meet with parents after school, however, I do ask that you call and set up an appointment. Many afternoon meetings and workshops are schedules, therefore, I will need advance notice to set up a conference. I will also be glad to conference with you by phone if you are unable to come to school.
Absences: If your child is sick, please keep him/her home. Coming to school will only prolong and spread the illness. I will be glad to send work home when your child is absent with a sibling or neighbor that is designated by you. All make-up work will be in a labeled packet on your child’s desk, please make sure that it is finished and returned as soon as possible. When your child returns from being absent, you should send a note explaining the reason for the absence. I am required by law to have a note from home for each absence! These notes must be on file in the office. Please make sure that I have an updated emergency number as to where you can be reached if needed. Also, send a back-up number if possible.
If there’s
anything else I can do throughout the year, don’t hesitate to ask.
