Disclosure
Welcome to Mrs. Linford's and Mrs. Arrington's Second Grade Class!!
We are so excited to have your child in our class this year! We plan to be consistent and clear with each other and parents to make our Co-Teaching Team run smoothly for your child. For the most part, Mrs. Arrington will be teaching Mondays and Wednesdays, and Mrs. Linford will be teaching Tuesdays and Thursdays, with Fridays alternating. We are both “All-In” and committed to your child and their learning. Here is a piece of our philosophy:
All students have a right to learn, and all teachers have a right to teach. Every child learns best when they are in a safe, comfortable environment where they are free to explore, discover and express themselves. Additionally, students should show respect and be kind to other students and all teachers. Students learn in different ways and at different speeds. We try to provide experiences that reach everyone. There are times when some students need accommodations. We encourage students to be kind and understanding of these accommodations. Standards for learning and behavior should be supported at home to be most effective. Our goal is that your child will leave second grade with greater awareness and pride in their own accomplishments, a greater sense of responsibility, and a solid foundation in reading, writing and math. We look forward to being partners with you in your child's education. As a team, we can accomplish many great things!
Listed below are some things that will help your child enjoy second grade and be a happy, responsible member of our class.
Attendance/Tardies. Regular attendance is vital. Please schedule vacations during school breaks. It’s important to know that in second grade we are learning many new things each day. Some of those things are foundational that continue to build upon. It is very difficult if your child has missed those foundational lessons. Work missed while your child is absent will be saved in your child’s mailbox to complete at home after they return to school. It is the parents’ responsibility to do what they can to teach the missed concept at home. Absent work should be completed and turned in within a week after the student returns.
It is very important that your child arrives at school on time. School starts at 8:50. Tardies greatly influence your child’s learning and affects the class in general. When a student is consistently tardy by 5-10 minutes they are missing out on learning experiences.
Recess. We have 3 recesses each day. Per school rules, students are expected to go out to each recess, unless weather dictates otherwise. Please dress your child so he or she can go outside during recess every day. Please have a pair of dry socks in your child’s backpack at all times.
If your child needs to stay in for recess because of an illness, a note is required. Your child will sit in the hall and read during recess time because the teacher will be in and out of the room. This isn’t a play and visit time. The ill child will not be able to invite a friend to stay in with them.
Behavior. We want the children in our class to feel safe, loved and happy. We stress a lot of kindness in everything we do. We encourage students to respect each other in the classroom and out on the playground. We also encourage students to just brush off the little stuff and learn to be problem solvers with small issues. We will discuss this in class.
Please talk to your child and help them polish up their manners of saying “Please” and “Thank you”, “Excuse me” and “I’m sorry.”
Students should respect any teacher they have. That respect is shown by listening quietly, talking to others only when appropriate, using a voice that does not disturb others who are concentrating, and not interrupting the teacher when she is talking. They should always answer a teacher when spoken to and do their best to follow the rules the class has formed together.
In second grade, we learn about counting money. We use play coins to reinforce good behavior and sometimes to cause a change in what a child is doing. They can then use this money to buy things from the class store. (If possible, would you please send 10-15 small items for our class store; ie, notebooks, small toys, individually wrapped candies, small bags of chips, cookies or crackers, etc.)
At times, it may become necessary to start up a tracker on a student to help improve more serious behaviors that are affecting the students’ learning, including his/her own. We will contact you and we will discuss this before it is done. Remember it takes a team! I know you love your child and please look at this consequence as a way of helping your child reach their full potential.
Purple Folders. Purple folders will go back and forth with your child each day he/she is in school. Any work that hasn’t been completed for the day will be included for them to finish at home. They can also keep their reading log in the folder. Your child can earn money to spend in our class store based on the number of minutes read at home. It is expected that your child reads 20 minutes at home AT LEAST five nights each week. CONSISTENT READING EACH DAY IS THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU CAN DO TO HELP YOUR CHILD BE A SUCCESSFUL STUDENT. Spelling and Vocabulary will be sent each week along with the reading log for them to practice at home. If your child needs additional practice in subject areas we will address this on an individual basis.
Language Arts - We will be using a new reading program called CKLA this school year along with Phonics Lessons from the District. Assessments are given at the end of each Unit after materials have been taught. There will be parent notes sent out at the end of each Unit discussing what has been taught and things that can be practiced at home.
Math - We will be using lots of hands-on materials to teach math. In second grade we learn several different strategies to solve adding/subtracting 2- and 3-digit numbers. We will also continue telling time and counting money……….a lot!!! Please help your child practice the basic addition and subtraction facts (0-20).
Birthday Treats - Birthday treats are welcomed but not required. We will celebrate your child’s birthday as close to the actual day as possible. If your child’s birthday falls on a weekend, we will celebrate as close to his/her actual birthday as possible. If you choose to celebrate with treats they need to be commercially prepared, which is district policy.
Library - Our library day is Monday. Please remind your child to return their books on library day.
P.E. - Our PE day is Thursday. Please remind your child to wear proper clothing. They cannot participate in sandals, open-toed or slip-on shoes, etc.
Field Trips - Traditionally, we have gone on a field trip to the SeaQuest Aquarium in the Spring. We are hoping we will be able to do that this year but stay tuned!
Volunteers - We will be sending out some volunteer forms on Sign-Up Genius for parties etc. We also need a “Room Parent” for our class. This person will be working with the PTA as well as personally with our class.
Lots of parents are needed throughout the year to help with our class parties and activities. These activities and parties include: Halloween, Christmas, Butterfly Painting, and Valentine’s Day. If you would like to help with any of the parties or act as head room parent, please sign up.
Additionally, we will need volunteers for the hall bulletin board, class store, and clerical help. More information about this will be included on sign-up Genius.
Donations/Supplies. If possible, the following donations are greatly appreciated:
First of all, on myDSD for your student, we would appreciate a donation of $25. This money is used for extra needed supplies for our classroom, lessons, and sometimes field trips.
We also would appreciate the following items being donated as they are to be used during the regular school day. If you cannot supply them, they will be furnished by the school.
- Headphones for computer/iPad use
- 3 black dry erase (white board) THIN markers
- Pencils - sharpened
- two Glue Sticks
There will also be a list of specific items we can use that will be on sticky notes at our Open House. Parents can choose to take a sticky note and donate that particular supply as well.
Crayons, scissors, pencil sharpener, personal white board, and a pencil basket will be provided. Please do not send your own large box of crayons or pencil case because they take up too much desk room. Thanks.
If you have any concerns, please email us at earrington@dsdmail.net and slinford@dsdmail.net. We try to read emails at the beginning of the day or on recess breaks. Sometimes we don’t get to them until the end of the day. If you have something urgent, please contact the office and they will get us a message.
Best regards,
Mrs. Arrington & Mrs. Linford