Welcome to Room 30! I hope to make your child’s second grade year a fun and exciting one! My goal is to instill a love for learning that will last a lifetime. I know that together we can help your child be the best that he or she can be. I can’t wait to see the progress that your child will make this year!

The information in this packet may change as the year goes on. I will keep you updated on important changes. Please keep this packet as a reference should you have any questions.

Daily Lunch/Recess Schedule

Recess: 11:15 - 11:35

Lunch: 11:50 - 12:20

                      Our Daily Specials

Day 1: PE 2:40

Day 2: Computer 2:40

Day 3: PE 2:40

Day 4: Music 2:40

Day 5: Art 2:40

Day 6: Art 11:00 and Library 2:40

    Special Area Teachers

• Music: Mr. Ortego 

• Library: Mrs. Eiler 

• P.E.: Mr. Yard 

• Art: Mrs. Clark 

• Computer: Mr. McGrath

Parent/Teacher Relationship

• I am very excited to meet you and work with you as a TEAM.

• It is so important that we work TOGETHER to ensure that your child is successful this year.

• Please know that I welcome and highly encourage communication.

• Never hesitate to contact me. I check my email as much as I can.

• PLEASE DO NOT RELY ON MY VOICEMAIL OR MY EMAIL TO MAKE CHANGES ON THE SAME DAY (SUCH AS STUDENT DISMISSAL CHANGES). CALL THE OFFICE FOR DISMISSAL CHANGES.

School Attendance

• Your child’s regular and prompt attendance at school is crucial to his/her success. 

• The best learning takes place when there are teacher/student interactions. Please view school as a priority. 

• An excuse needs to be E-MAILED to buffattendance@freeport.k12.pa.us when your child is absent. 

• I would greatly appreciate it if you could email me too. planavsky@freeport.k12.pa.us 

• If you are planning a trip during the school year, make sure you have filled out the necessary forms from the office. All trips and vacations must receive pre-approval.

Classroom Expectations

• I expect students to behave respectfully and cooperatively at all times. I will contact the parent/guardian if a student has had several warnings and the behavior still persists.

• Be a STAR

  • S- Stay on task.

  • T- Try your best.

  • A- Always follow directions and procedures.

  • R- Respect yourself, classmates, staff, and property.

Classroom Behavior System 

• Following classroom expectations and having good behavior is expected.  

• Students earn tickets for positive behavior and sometimes participation. 

• Students may move their name magnet on our behavior cabinet for negative behavior. 

• At the end of every day, I choose 2 tickets from our "raffle bin". Those selected students get to choose a prize if his or her name isn't moved on our behavior cabinet. (Warning, Think Sheet, Note Home, Principal's Office)

• Depending on the severity of the situation, consequences may also include a think sheet, partial loss of recess or privilege, no recess or privilege, call home to parents, write an apology letter, or talk with the principal and parents.

• As a class, we work towards earning Bee Bucks from our Schoolwide Behavior Plan. When the class earns a certain number of Bee Bucks, we spin the prize wheel to reveal our special classroom prize.

Homework 

• Homework is very important. It reinforces what the students learn in class.

• I understand that your child may be involved in activities after school and family time is valuable. This is why I assign flexible homework.

• I typically assign Math/ELA homework on Day 1 and it is due on Day 6. You and your child can decide which evenings to work on homework, as long as it is turned in by the due date.

• Students should study spelling words and addition/subtraction math facts every day.

Grades 

• Your child’s report card will reflect grades for Reading, Language Arts, Spelling, Math, and Handwriting. Student work habits will also be evaluated and reported.

• The grading scale in FASD is as follows:

            91-100 A        81-90 B          70-80 C          60-69 D         0-59 F

District Assessments

• Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS)

  • Given 3 times each year – benchmarks are 52, 72, and 87 wpm

• Measures of Academic Progress (MAP)

  • Given 3 times each year - assesses math and reading skills

Classroom Procedures

• Supplies: Your child’s pencil pouch should be large enough to fit a pencil, 2 dry erase markers, small eraser or sock, scissors, glue stick, and a 24 pack of crayons.

• Please provide the following supplies with your child. 

  • 1 pencil pouch (Please label with your child’s first and last name.)

    • 1 pack of dry erase markers

    • 1 small eraser/clean sock for dry erase board

    • I will supply scissors, glue, and crayons to your child.

  • Filled water bottle (please send daily)

  • Please send in headphones for your child in a Ziploc bag labeled with his or her name. This bag will be kept in your child’s bookbag.

• Take Home Folder: BLUE FOLDER. Please check and send back EVERYDAY.

  • Please keep the Reading Packet and Math Buddy in the Return to School side of the folder at all times. These items may be removed once a new one is given out.

  • All checked papers and notes should be removed from the Keep at Home side every night.

  • When in doubt about a paper or item, return it to school. I will send it home again if we no longer need it here.

  • Students may be required to move their behavior magnet for not having required daily materials.

• Snack: Students WILL NOT be permitted a snack throughout the day. Please be sure your child eats breakfast at home or at school. Students MUST bring a refillable water bottle to school. Please only fill it with plain water. Water bottles will be kept at your child’s desk.  Refill stations will be available for your child to refill his or her water bottle if needed.

• Book Orders: Will come home once a month. Please do not send cash. Make checks payable to Scholastic Book Clubs. You may also order online by using our class code J2GKJ.

• Technology: I will use a digital camera in our classroom to capture special events that happen during the day.  The photographs will be strictly used for educational purposes or shared with you in Class Dojo. Please inform me if you do not wish to have your child in photos.

• Chromebooks: Your child will bring his or her chromebook and charger to and from school EVERYDAY. Please encourage your child to charge the device at home each night. Students may be required to move their behavior magnet for not having required daily materials. 

• Username format: lastnamefirstname@freeport.k12.pa.us

• Password format: fasd(student lunch number)

• Clever: This platform allows students to login to other applications. Your child must be logged into his or her chromebook to access this.

• Schoology: MUST be accessed through Clever. If your child is absent, you can view missing assignments using the Work Habits Course. Please become familiar with Schoology and practice navigating through the courses with your child.

• Lunch: If your child is packing his/her lunch, please pack items that your child can open independently. You can deposit money into your child’s lunch account online. If this is not an option for you, please send lunch money in an envelope with your child’s first and last name, along with my name (Mrs. Planavsky). 

• Recess:  Please do not send handheld video games or electronics to school. Students need to have a coat, hats, and gloves during cold weather. Students who do not have a coat in cold weather will be kept inside.  

• Illness: If your child has a temperature of 100 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, he or she MUST stay home from school. If your child is exhibiting ANY symptoms of illness, please refer to the FASD Health and Safety Plan before sending him or her to school. 

Birthdays

• If you’d like, you may send in a treat with your child or drop it off in the office. Treats may be edible or non-edible. Please NO cakes or cookie cakes. Please do not send in a variety of donuts, cookies, or cupcakes with different designs or flavors. This can cause quite a frenzy in a classroom of second graders. 

• I will let you know if we have any allergies.

• To celebrate, I will give your child a birthday treat bag and a book. We will sing too! :)

• Summer birthdays may be celebrated during the last month of the school year.

• Please use discretion when distributing birthday invitations. Birthday invitations may only be distributed in school if they are for the whole class, all of the boys in class, or all of the girls in class.

Language Arts

We will focus on advancing children’s phonemic awareness, phonics, and high-frequency word recognition skills, extending their understanding of narrative and informational text, and increasing their efficiency in written communication. **Because this is a new program, routines and test schedules may change until we find a system that works. I appreciate your patience in advance.

• Wonders by McGraw Hill

  • NEW evidence-based ELA program, aligned with standards and based on the Science of Reading

• Phonics/Word Analysis

  • Spelling 

• Fluency and Expression

• Comprehension

  • Reading Literature and Informational Texts

  • Comparing Texts

• Vocabulary 

• Researching

• Writing: Narrative, Argumentative, and Expository

• Write using capitalization and punctuation correctly in complete sentences.

• Social Studies is incorporated into the language arts curriculum.  In addition, we will learn about our addresses, compass directions, states, continents, and oceans.

Math

• Envision Mathematics by Pearson

• Contents in Brief:

  • Topic 1 Fluently Add and Subtract Within 20

  • Topic 2 Work With Equal Groups

  • Topic 3 Add Within 100 Using Strategies

  • Topic 4 Fluently Add Within 100

  • Topic 5 Subtract Within 100 Using Strategies

  • Topic 6 Fluently Subtract Within 100

  • Topic 7 More Solving Problems Involving Addition and Subtraction

  • Topic 8 Work with Time and Money

  • Topic 9 Numbers to 1,000

  • Topic 10 Add Within 1,000 Using Models and Strategies

  • Topic 11 Subtract Within 1,000 Using Models and Strategies

  • Topic 12 Measuring Length

  • Topic 13 Shapes and Their Attributes

  • Topic 14 More Addition, Subtraction, and Length

  • Topic 15 Graphs and Data

• Math Facts: Memorizing addition and subtraction facts is extremely important for your second grader. Please practice math facts as often as you can with your child. Additionally, we will be using an online math fact fluency program this year.

Science

• FOSS Next Generation (Full Option Science System)

• FOSS was created to give students meaningful scientific experiences through active, hands-on participation.

• Students will investigate earth, physical, and life sciences through three modules.

  • Pebbles, Sand, and Silt

  • Solids and Liquids

  • Insects and Plants

Handwriting

• Good handwriting is an important skill for your child to learn in second grade.

• We will review uppercase and lowercase letters of the alphabet and numbers.

• Once we review, your child will learn how to write the letters in cursive.

I am looking forward to a great year of working with you and your child. Thank you in advance for all of your support!