Curriculum Night

Waggoner Elementary Second GradeMiss Dorsett

Welcome!• Thank You for coming!!!• Enjoy your child’s note!• Write a note back! Leave the note

on the desk• Introductions• Classroom Routine• Questions

Language Arts• Focus on the Common Core Standards• Major Components of our Reading Program are:• Reader’s Workshop:

-Balanced Literacy –Active Choices-Independent Reading/Reader’s Notebooks

• Flexible groupings: whole group, small guided reading groups, partner reading, independent reading

• Adopted Reading Series: Harcourt TROPHIES (Visit their website: www.harcourtschool.com)

• Ongoing reading assessments• Goal: We strive to increase student vocabulary,

comprehension, and fluency. Daily practice (both at school and at home is essential for reading success.)

Spelling• Use the Harcourt Trophies Spelling Program. • Basic skills taught: phonics, spelling rules,

patterns, word origins, spelling.• Spelling is assessed and evaluated on an ongoing

basis through classroom writing samples, daily spelling lessons, dictated sentences, and quizzes.

• The true test of spelling mastery is its transfer to and application in student writing on a daily basis.

Writing• Writer’s Workshop• Steps in the writing process: prewriting,

drafting, revising, editing, publishing• Six traits of writing: ideas, organization,

voice, word choice, sentence fluency, conventions

• Forms of writing: narrative, story, poetry, expository (observations, journals, etc.) functional (friendly letters, thank-you notes, experiments, posters, etc.) literary response, research (simple report)

• Adopted Writing/Language program: Units of Study for Primary Writing by Lucy Calkins

• Scott Foresman D’Nealian Handwriting• Emphasis on correct handwriting in all

written work• Cursive is not taught in 2nd Grade.

Cursive is part of the 3rd Grade curriculum

Handwriting

Listening and Speaking Skills

• Students will be taught to effectively use listening and speaking skills in a variety of situations – For example: oral reports, Reader’s

Theatre, Reading Workshop, Writer’s Workshop, math problem solving, etc.

Math• Focus on the Common Core Standards• Numeration: number sense, counting, place value,

money, fractions, addition, subtraction, multiplication and division strategies

• Problem Solving/Higher Level Thinking Strategies• Data Analysis and Probability• Patterns and Algebra• Geometry• Measurement and Time• Adopted Math Programs: Investigations in

Number, Data, and Space by Scott Foresman and Mathematics by Scott Foresman/Addison Wesley

Science

• Hands-on encouraging active learning• Major Components of our science program:

– Earth and Space: Weather– Life Science: Insects, Human Body, Mammals- Physical Science: Solids, Liquids, Gases

• Units involve cooperative skills and learning the scientific method

Social Studies• Major Components of our social studies

program:• Adopted social studies program: Social

Studies: People We Know by Harcourt• Students will… …explore the human experience through time

and recognize the relationships of events and people;…Learn about ideals, rights, and responsibilities of citizenship…analyze locations, regions, and spatial connections;

economic reasoning skills

HealthMajor components of our health program:

– Adopted Health Program: Health and Fitness by Harcourt

– Students will study safety and injury prevention, nutrition, personal health, hygiene, and disease prevention.

Library and Technology

• Students will visit the Library weekly to check out books and learn library/media skills.

• We visit the Computer Lab every week and use the classroom laptops to create multimedia projects, do research using the Internet, and explore various computer programs.

Specials• Computer Lab is scheduled every Monday

• PE is scheduled on Tuesday. Please have your child wear tennis shoes on Tuesday

• Music is scheduled on Music • Library is on Thursday• Art is scheduled on Friday

Classroom Management• Love and Logic Skills

• Be Safe, Be Respectful, Be Responsible • Based on cooperation and respect of all• What you do Matters!• Private redirection of negative behavior• Individual Daily Behavior Plans if necessary• Friday Reports sent home Friday, to be signed

and returned the following Monday. • Friday Reports will include student self-evaluation

Homework Homework Expectations:

– Weekly homework assigned on Monday, due on Friday. Please look in your child’s Communication Folder. (Note: If you need an extension over the weekend, just send a note in on Friday to inform us of the change.)

– Students are to do homework thoroughly. Parents and students sign the contract.

– Students are to do homework neatly.– The Harcourt Trophies reading book must be

brought back to school each day. We do not have extras.

– Weekly reading, writing, spelling and math practice at home is part of homework.

Volunteers• LOVE THEM!!!• Work with kids • Some workroom stuff • Sign up if you have not already• We are still in need of a Carnival Rep• Library Helpers are needed too! Sign up

with Janice Rubocki• There are many PTO opportunities to

volunteer as well

School Policies• Snacks/Class Parties-Wellness Law

– Please do not send in any homemade treats. When asked to donate snacks/party supplies please only send in store bought items only.

• Birthdays– Please mail all birthday invitations (don’t

bring/send them to school), this helps avoid anyone getting their feelings hurt.

– Please do not send in any treats.– Your child will receive birthday acknowledgment

from administration, morning announcements and myself.

Miscellaneous• Snacks (healthy, donations)• Label items (backpack, lunch box, jackets, etc.)• Always send in lunch $ in an envelope with child’s name• Car Pick-Up: USE tagboard name plate in car window…

include all last names of students in car pool (only driving through)

• Ramada Pick-up: Park and designate a specific meeting spot

• Return library books on Thursday• Bus passes will only be issued for emergencies and parents

who call the Transportation Department (480-541-1700) • Please do not call the office after 1:00 to make an

unscheduled after school change unless a true emergency arises. You can always call my phone (480-541-5716)

Stuffed Animal Day is this Friday

Communication• Newsletter with Homework • Note with Child• Call me at 480-541-5716• Email – jdorse@kyrene.org• Front office 480-541-5600

Thanks for Thanks for Coming!!Coming!!Do not forget to visit the Book Fair in the library this Do not forget to visit the Book Fair in the library this

evening. We’re looking forward to a great year!!!evening. We’re looking forward to a great year!!!

Thanks!Thanks!