Room 20Second Grade

Karen Macari

Jackie Barthelmes: Student Intern

A Day In The Life of a Second Grader

• Morning Work• Fundations

• Specials (Gym, Art, or Music)• Writing/Grammar

• Snack• Literacy Block• Meeting Time• Recess/Lunch

• Math• Library Research

• Science/Social Studies• Open Circle

• Jobs

GRADE 2 EXPECTATIONS

• In second grade, an emphasis is placed on developing student effort.

• An important part of our focus will be:- teaching organizational skills

- promoting academic and behavioral responsibility and accountability on the part of

students.

Homework

- Homework Folders are expected to come to school every day

- Send in a note with homework if your child has spent 30 – 40 minutes on an assignment and is having difficulty

- Reading should occur daily and be recorded on your child’s wiki.

- Daily practice of math facts is needed for mastery. There is a page on your child’s wiki to record this as well.

- Homework is assigned each night, Monday-Thursday and is collected the next day

Grading

- Unit Tests will be weighted heavier and graded with an E, M, P or B

- students are assessed both formally and informally

-writing assignments will be graded based on content and mechanics

Most daily work will be assessed using:

+ = excellent content and quality

= good content and/or quality

- = below expectations in content and/or

quality *Boomerangs are assignments that are returned to the student to be completed or corrected

-New report cards willreflect the Common CoreStandards

Star of the Week

- Family members can visit the class to talk about their jobs or read a story

- Students can bring in pictures of themselves or other objects to share with the class

- Each student will have the opportunity to be the Star of the Week

- A letter with the date of your child’s week and other details will be sent home at a later date.

COMMUNICATION

• School News podcasts are written and recorded by students weekly and posted on our class blog for sharing and discussion.

• Edline postings of grade level dates• “Tidbits from Room 20” Blog linked to

Edline. Postings include student writing, photos and short action videos.

CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT THROUGH

WHOLE BRAIN TEACHING

• Classroom Rules with gestures– Rule #1: Follow

directions quickly– Rule #2: Raise your

hand before you speak

– Rule #3: Make smart choices

– Rule #4: Use appropriate level voice

ScoreboardClass/YesTeach/Okay

Practice Cards and letters

Math- reinforce many of the skills and concepts introduced in 1st grade

- use games as a way to practice and reinforce skills

- encourage students to write about math

-solving word problems

Mastery of:

- math facts (addition and subtraction) to 20- Telling time to five minute intervals-coin values, counting money, making change-place value to the 1000’s-linear measurement -basic geometric shapes* Home practice is needed for mastery to occur*

Everyday Mathematics

- Calendar

- Weather

- Math Message- Mental Math- Mad minutes

- Lesson

-Practice/Review

- Homelinks

-Independent

Literacy

Fundations

Tiered InstructionalModel

Daily 5 with C.A.F.E. goals and strategies

John Collins Writing

Grammar Skills

Social Studies & Science

- rotate between the two subjects

- incorporate reading and writing into activities

- at home and in school projects!

Communities

- Walking tour of Reading

-Community Workers Research project

Mapping

- locate continents, oceans, rivers, and mountain ranges

- identify directionality using a map

Native Americans

- study of the four regions of Native Americans in North America

- one at-home project and a field trip to Harvard Museum

- terrain & climate, food, shelter, transportation, beliefs, tools & weapons, and clothing

Balancing and Weighing- hands on Science unit

that explores the relationship between weight and balance

- students have to act and think like a Scientist

- explore the factors that effect the weight of objects

Heritage

- locate on a map and research each family’s countries of origin

- identify important landmarks, traditions, and customs

Insects

- hands on study of the lifecycles of various insects

- witness first hand the metamorphosis of a caterpillar to a butterfly

- recyclable insects!

TECHNOLOGY

• Weekly lesson in computer lab• Learn basic function of computer• Research topics using computers• Create power point slides • Use wiki to record reading and

math practice• Podcast, Photostory, Glogster,

Voicethread