Welcome!

 

 

 

 

 

Buffalo Elementary

Second Grade Orientation

2017 – 2018

Room 29

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mrs. Conjack

Buffalo Elementary

500 Sarver Road

Sarver, PA 16055

724.353.9577 ext. 4029

 

 

 

 

                                     Parent/Teacher Relationship

 

• I believe a good parent-teacher relationship is necessary for maximum school success.  Throughout the year, I will communicate with you through notes, telephone calls, email, progress reports, nine-week report cards, and parent-teacher conferences.  
• Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns at any time.  You can call me at school (724.353.9577 ext.  4029), send a note, or email me.  

 

Parent Participation

 

• Throughout the school year there will be different special classroom activities and celebrations.  I encourage you to attend these functions when possible and to support them by sending supplies and treats.

 

• Your support of school activities makes your child feel important and sends the message that you value school.

 

• Let me know if you are interested in reading to the class, sharing family history, or making an art/craft project.  I am more than willing to make accommodations for you throughout the year in order to include you in our learning experiences.   (I will send home a calendar to fill out and return for any date you can come in.)

 

 

 

 

 

School Supplies

• If possible, please send a pencil box and small pencil sharpener to school for your child.   All other supplies will be provided. 

 

Classroom Supply Donations

• Things needed throughout the school year: Kleenexes, hand soap, paper towels, pencils, erasers, etc.  Please feel free to send in something if you would like at any time throughout the year. 

 

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. 

• Journeys by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

• Complete thematic reading units (each unit has five lessons)

*We will typically spend 6 days on each lesson. We will begin a new lesson each Day 1. This is when students will receive new spelling and vocabulary lists.

• Practice using a dictionary, glossary, and thesaurus
• Learn how to alphabetize words
• Vocabulary words for each language arts theme
•  16 Spelling words
• Dictate sentences using the spelling words
• Write using capitalization and punctuation correctly in complete sentences
• Read more fluently with expression
• Work on decoding and comprehension skills
• Learn and practice the different types of writing (narrative, opinion, etc.)
• Social Studies and Science are incorporated into the language arts curriculum.  In addition, we will learn about the days of the week, months of the year, continents and oceans, compass directions, the four seasons, our addresses, planets, and states.  

 

Math

• New math series – My Math by McGraw-Hill
• Students will have deeper experiences with Mathematics due to narrowing the scope of concepts expected to be taught at each grade level.
• Students will develop a conceptual understanding, learn procedural skills and develop fluency, and apply mathematical concepts in real-world situations.
• Contents in Brief:
  • Operations and Algebraic Thinking
    • Chapter 1: Apply Addition and Subtraction Concepts
    • Chapter 2: Number Patterns
    • Chapter 3: Add Two-Digit Numbers
    • Chapter 4: Subtract Two-Digit Numbers
  • Number and Operations in Base Ten
    • Chapter 5: Place Value to 1,000
    • Chapter 6: Add Three-Digit Numbers
    • Chapter 7: Subtract Three-Digit Numbers
  • Measurement and Data
    • Chapter 8: Money
    • Chapter 9: Data Analysis
    • Chapter 10: Time
    • Chapter 11: Customary and Metric Lengths
  • Geometry
    • Chapter 12: Geometric Shapes and Equal Shares
• We will be memorizing addition and subtraction facts.  Each set of facts will be copied on a different color of paper.  The students will cut them out at school and keep them in a brown envelope. They are quizzed orally on these “flash cards”. 

 

School Attendance

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

 

• Learning takes place when there are teacher/student interactions.  This is next to impossible to make up at home.  Please view school as a priority, and see to it that your child attends every day except in cases of illness or emergency. 

 

• Please use the excuse blanks in the back of the calendar.  One excuse needs to be sent to school on the day the child returns to school.  If you are planning a trip during the school year when your child will miss class, make sure that you have filled out the necessary forms from the office.  

 

 

Mrs. Conjack’s Second Grade Classroom Expectations

I make good choices! I am expected to: Raise my hand and wait to talk. Stay in my seat.  Use kind words and actions.  Listen to Mrs. Conjack and all adults at Buffalo. Always try my best.

 

Consequences If Rules Are Broken

• Warning
• Loss of recess
  • No recess or loss of privilege
• Teacher’s Choice of Consequence
  • Call or write home to parents
  • Talk with the principal and parents

 

If an expectation is not met, the students will be required to write/draw about their actions and how to make better choices either during recess or special event (assembly, movie, etc.)

 

Good Behavior = praise, stickers, special rewards from the prize box

 

Homework Assignments

• Homework is very important.  It is reinforcing what we are doing in class, not busy work.

 

• Second graders are expected to spend time completing homework daily.
  • Homework may include:  worksheets with math problems, practicing math flash cards, writing, practicing, and orally reading vocabulary words, writing and practicing spelling words, reading “Take-home books” and other classroom books sent home, reading weekly story from the unit, daily reading – assigned or not. 

 

• Your child should be able to complete it with little assistance.  Give help only when asked and never do the work for your child. 

 

• You will be notified if work is not done on time.   

Grades

 

• Grades will be taken on tests, homework, class work, and performance tasks.

 

• Grades are taken on work that the students have had enough practice on to be assessed.  You will know which pieces have been graded because they will have a score at the top of them.

 

• The Grading Scale of the 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-50, 70 and 90 wpm.
• Measures of Academic Process (MAP)
  • Given 3 times a year
• None of these are graded for report cards.

 

 

Classroom Procedures

• Take-Home Folders:  ORANGE FOLDER – Check and send back EVERYDAY.
  • 4 items your child must keep in his/her Return to School folder ALL week:

1. Spelling list
2. Vocabulary list
3. Math flash cards (in brown envelope) (will receive later in the school year)
4. Behavior/Homework Chart

• The yellow Homework Sticker chart should stay on the outside of the folder at ALL times (in the plastic part of the folder). 
• When in doubt about a paper or item, return it to school. I’ll send it back again if we no longer need it here.
• All checked papers, notes, and notices should be removed from the Keep At Home side of the folder each night.  Please send in absence excuses on the day the student returns, and apply to the main office for vacation absences. 

 

• Language Arts curriculum will be taught during the 6 day rotation (Days 1 – 6).  The majority of tests will be given on Days 5 and 6 of the rotation. 

(This could change due to holidays/cancelations/etc.)

 

• Math Flash Cards:  BROWN ENVELOPE- Return to school EVERYDAY.  (as mentioned above)

 

• As homework your child will be asked to read the weekly story to an adult each week.  After your child can read the story to you fluently, please sign and return The Weekly Reading Log the following day.  

 

• Take-Home Books:  Your child should read the book to an adult.  Please sign the take-home book.

 

• Show and Tell:  Last school day of the week – Your child’s name will be on the newsletter if he/she has Show and Tell the following week.

 

• Boys and girls are encouraged to share something each week as a way to practice communication skills.
• Students may bring in items to show, or tell about special events, ideas, or learning. 
• Valuable items should not be brought to school.
• Names on common items are very important.

 

• Snacks and Drinks:  Designated snack time: (Please only send in healthy snacks. For example fruits, vegetables, fruit snacks, crackers. Your child will be told to not bring in anything unhealthy.  Please NO chocolate, cookies, candy, etc.) Water bottles may be brought to school.  Students should take them home frequently to be cleaned. 

 

• Book Orders:  Will come home once a month (Please do not send cash. Make checks payable to Scholastic Book Clubs)

 

• Newsletters:  Will be sent home every Friday and emailed to you weekly. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Star of the Week:  Each student will have an opportunity to be the Star of the Week.  When your child is the Star of the Week, a paper with questions to be answered will be sent home.  The items a student brings in are displayed for the week and presented by the student. 

 

 

Recess

 

• No handheld video games should be brought to school. Students are expected to play actively outside and cooperatively inside in bad weather. 
• Boys and girls need to have hats and gloves during cold weather.  We like to go outside in all but extreme weather.  Layered clothing works to keep children comfortable inside and out.
• No toys should be brought to school except items to be used during recess in active play.  We welcome donations of balls, jump ropes, board games, etc. 

 

 

 

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• You may send in a treat with your child or drop it off at the office.
• Treats should be a snack that is easy for your child to pass out.  Please not the school rule regarding delivering flowers, etc.
• Summer birthdays may be celebrated whenever you wish during the year.  Please let me know ahead of time.
• Please use discretion when distributing birthday invitations. 

 

 

 

Special Area Classes

• Computer: Mr. McGrath
• Library:  Mrs. Eiler
• Music:  Mr. Harris
• Art:  Mrs. Clark
• Gym:  Mr. Yard

 

 

 

 

 

Daily Schedule

Day 1: Gym 1:20

Day 2: Art 9:40   Music 1:20

Day 3: Art 1:20

Day 4: Library 1:20

Day 5: Gym 1:20

Day 6: Computer 1:20

 

 

 

Technology in the Classroom

• With current trends in the use of technology to enhance learning and communication, I will be using different means of classroom media include a Bright Link, Smart Board, Smart Clickers, computers, etc.  Additionally, 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.  Please inform me if you do not wish to have your child in photos. 

 

Thank you!

• I am looking forward to a great year working with your child!
• Please save this outline for future reference.
• Thank you in advance for your support throughout the year!