Welcome to 2E

with

Mrs. Maxwell

Classroom Handbook

2015-2016

Introduction Hello, and welcome to Grade 2E! My name is Carrie Maxwell and this is my third year teaching at Connaught School and in Medicine Hat. My family and I moved from Fort McMurray where we lived and I taught for 11 years. I have previously taught in Fort McMurray for 11 years. I began my teaching career in Onion Lake, Saskatchewan where I taught for 4 years. I grew up in Edmonton, Alberta and I graduated from the University of Alberta. My husband is an RCMP member and we have twin boys who are in grade 6 at Wilson Learning Centre. We enjoy living in Medicine Hat and have become involved in many sports and activities in this wonderful community.      I very much look forward to getting to know you and your child and having a wonderful year together!  

I strongly believe that a child’s education is a partnership between home and school. Children will learn and grow within the classroom but their lives will be shaped by the lessons and examples they have at home. I encourage parents to visit the classroom, ask questions, seek help and share their expertise as much as possible. When children see their parents take an interest in schooling, they get the clear message that education is important. In order to make this partnership work the key is communication. Please let me know how your child is doing outside of school and I will keep you informed of what is happening in the classroom.

I try to establish a positive learning environment right from the start so children feel comfortable sharing, learning and growing together. I believe in making learning fun and involving students as much as possible in every lesson and activity. As well, I like to incorporate physical activity where possible so the body and brain can sync together. I believe in allowing children to work individually and in groups so they can discover how to compromise, take turns and develop a tolerance for others. I encourage children to ask questions and learn through inquiry. I believe in teaching children responsibility, good work habits and organizational skills. Most important of all, I want every child in my classroom to enjoy learning and to achieve the best of his or her ability.

School/Classroom Rules

This year the following school/classroom rules will be in place:

• Be Kind • Be Safe • Be Responsible • Be Respectful • Be Truthful • BE YOUR BEST!

These rules are very general and include many different behaviours, see agenda for greater detail on how they will apply to expected behaviour in our school and classroom.

General Classroom Expectations:

Each child will be expected to show:

• Caring • Fairness • Respect • Responsible • Perseverance • Trustworthiness • Citizenship

Following the school and classroom rules and behavior expectation will be tracked/monitored using a positive expectations clip chart system. These are the areas that we will be focusing on during our day.

We will begin by implementing one trait per day, brainstorming what we know about it and how this trait might be displayed by children in the classroom (how it looks, sounds and feels). As students consistently exhibit a character trait during our school day they will be able to put a clip on that trait chart on the board. The clips will be recorded each day on a calendar and those students at have clips on the various charts will record them in their agendas for families to celebrate! The students will not necessarily clip onto the charts each day- this does not mean their behaviour failed to meet expectations, it just means that they were not recognized for exceptional character that particular day.

                         

                     

                         

                                                                                                                     

I like to be proactive when discipline is concerned and I do this by encouraging positive work habits and appropriate behaviours. When children observe others being rewarded for positive behaviours they strive to behave in a more positive fashion in order to attain similar recognition.

Each month we will have a Class Celebration where seven students will be receive an award for showing exceptional character in the class that month. All students will have the chance to be celebrated sometime during the school year. This will occur on the last or second last Friday of the month.

The dates are:

• September 25th • Thursday, October 29th • November 27th • Thursday, December 17th • January 22nd • February 26th • March 18th • April 29th • May 27th • June 17th

Reward Systems

This year I will be using a mixture of an individual reward system and a class reward system.

Individual:

The students will also collect coupons (individually) as rewards for following routines and procedures. These coupons will be collected and traded in for a prize of their choice. Lower coupons values (to 25) will be physical prizes such as pencils, small toys, etc. For higher coupon values (30 and up) students will be able to trade their coupons for special activities, jobs or class celebrations.

Class:

The will also earn marbles (magnets) as a class for following routines, procedures and for displaying responsible and respectful behaviours. The marbles will be placed onto the jar template on the whiteboard for in class rewards to be enjoyed by the class. These rewards could include a PJ day, extra time on the playground, a popcorn and movie party and will be rewarded after 25 “marbles” have been earned.

Discipline:

When students need behavioral guidance, I will follow this procedure. Students will receive 2 warnings (name on the board and then a checkmark), a reminder (where they will need to complete a think sheet) and then will have a natural consequence such as sitting out briefly until self-control is reestablished.

Parents will be notified as needed when behavior is extreme such as in cases where the student or other students in my class are no longer safe or if the behaviour is at the top of the school behaviour pyramid. I believe in natural, appropriate consequences. Each day is a fresh start and a new chance to make good choices.

In addition to the above school/classroom rules and expectations there will be more specific procedures and routines

Morning Routine:

• Leaving outside shoes on shoe rack and put on indoor shoes before entering the classroom

• Hang up backpacks on hooks and bring in agendas, home reading (when it starts) and library books (when necessary).

• Come into the classroom quietly and get ready for learning. • Complete attendance on the Question Board • Bring in home reading folder and place it in the home reading basket/bin.

(Home reading exchange will be happening after lunch during DEAR time) • Have agenda open on table to today’s date. At this time I will be checking

for parent signatures/notes. • Begin table work/bell work

• Exchange Read-to-self books from book bin

After School Routine:

• Clean up your work area and help with general classroom clean up • Make sure to take agenda, homework and home reading folder are placed in

backpack. • Pack up bag, lunch bag, agenda, folders and personal belongings • Hug or high-five teacher as you leave so that they are aware that you have

left for the day • Move quickly to bus, if applicable.

What to Expect in 2E

1) Communication: • Agendas are an important tool for you and your child to keep track of

important dates, home reading, words for the week and any messages the teacher and parent may need to relay to one another. Therefore, it is very important that the child brings the agenda home every night, attains a parent signature and brings it back to school the next day.

• Monthly Newsletter with our grade 2 curricular outcomes and focuses, special dates and reminders for the coming school month will be sent via email (or paper copy, if requested) using the email address provided on the information card sent home on the first day (this can be sent to more than one person in the family). It will go home around the first school day of the month)

• Weekly updates with changes or new information not available when monthly newsletter went home will be sent via email each week or as needed.

• Remind App: will be used for special reminder such as hot lunch, special days, book orders and other important reminders. Please sign up for these texts using the free app remind or by providing an email address that the information can be sent to. This form of communication is like a text and does not involve the exchange of personal information.

• Classroom Website: this will be setup and ready to use near the end of

September and will be linked to the school website as well as through www.weebly.com. More information will go home when I am closer to have everything working successfully!

2) Illness and Attendance: Please keep your child home if ill. He or she will recover quicker at home

and will not infect others in the class. It is important that you call the school or let me know if your child is going to be absent. You may contact the office at 403-526-2392. There is an answering machine available when school is not open. Please keep in mind that the office is very busy each morning and that the earlier you call the better.

Emails may be sent to my email addresses as well, however, please be aware that I might not be present in class or that I will not have read your email when attendance is done and you could receive a call from the school to check on attendance.

3) Homework:

As a rule, I do not assign extra homework on a regular basis. It is expected that each night the children will do their home reading (reading program), practice their word sorts and spelling words for the week. There may be times when I will send home a practice sheet for math skills.

If a child is ill, I will do my best to catch them up at school, but there may be times where work will need to go home to prevent them from falling farther behind.

4) Word Sorts/Sight Words:

Every Monday the students will bring home their word sort sheet. They are to cut out the words and store them in a bag to be used at home each night. An information package will accompany the word sorts the first time that they come home. Each day we will be doing a different type of sorts and recording of their words (instructions will be included in your package).    

Students will also have spelling/sight words work with for the week. We will study these words during our word work time sand will have an assessment of these words. The list will continue to change as the words are learned and applied in everyday writing. You can study by looking for the patterns in the words, copying words multiple times, reading words out loud, and exploring words that have similar patterns. You will receive more spelling information as this begins in our classroom. If your child needs extra help with studying please inform me and we can come up with a few strategies that will work well for them.

5) Evaluation and Report Cards:

Formal written reports are sent home at three separate times throughout the year. Evaluation, however, is an ongoing process as I am continually learning more about your child, their strengths and weaknesses, and developing teaching and learning strategies that are effective. Please do not hesitate to contact me at any

time to discuss the academic progress of your child. If I have concerns about your child I will get in touch with you so we can work together to solve the problem.

6) Reading Program:

Reading is the foundation on which all other learning is built and it is an essential life skill. I encourage parents to sit down and read with their children as often as possible. Starting in mid-September, your child will come home with their Home reading folders. This includes their reading duo tang and book(s). Please take the time to listen to your child read the book that they have selected. Fill out the reading log with your child each day they read at home, as I keep track of the number of books/days that each child has read. Return the home reading folder each morning and your child will choose new books (or continue to read longer books). As reading skills improve, longer books with more difficult vocabulary will come home. Make this reading time a regular part of your after-school or bedtime routine and the academic gains for your child will be immense. Enjoy this time with your child!

7) Parent Volunteers

Although parents are always welcome in our classroom, these visits are more helpful if you let me know ahead of time so I can plan for your assistance. Just write me a note in your child’s agenda. There is always something that I could use an extra pair of hands for. If you are not able to come into the classroom but would like to help out in other ways, just let me know! Throughout the year there will be specific times that I will need extra help and will send notes home explaining the activity when the time comes. Grandparents and other relatives are also welcome if your schedule does not allow for free time during the day. The students enjoy having visitors in the classroom.

8) Celebrity of the Week:

Starting the week of September 14th a student will be randomly chosen for our “Celebrity of the Week”. This is a very exciting week for your child as they have the opportunity to share about themselves with the class and bring special items from home about themselves. In addition, they will be responsible for returning the “Celebrity of the Week” handout, bringing in a favourite books and sharing pictures of themselves and their families. Other pictures of hobbies, sports or things they like to do can also be included. Please watch for a letter the week BEFORE your child’s week.

9) Recess Policy (10:10-10:25):

Recess is a very important part of the day for energy release and social interaction, while keeping in mind our school rules. It is expected that the children will go outside and make use of this time. Please make sure that your child is dressed for the weather every day.

10) Lunch Hour Procedures (11:55-12:44):

During lunch hour, each child will eat in their classroom and clean up any mess they made when finished. They will also have an opportunity to head outside to play, or go to one of the activity areas. Children are not permitted to share their lunches or recess snack with other students. As you may already know, our school is “nut-free”. Please check all labels carefully when preparing lunches and snacks. In addition, pop is not allowed at school. Thank you!

11) Before School Expectations:

If your child is dropped off to school before 8 am, you will be required to register for the “Before School Program”. Supervision begins outside on the playground at 8:20 am. Children are not permitted to be unsupervised outside before this time. As well, students are not to be wondering in the hallways before the bell rings to come in.

12) Birthdays!

We will be celebrating each child’s birthday in little ways inside the classroom on or before their actual special day. This year we will have a class celebration on the last Friday of the month for birthdays and special classroom awards. This will give all birthday children the chance to be recognized and enjoy a treat with their friends. For those with June or summer birthdays we will celebrate during the middle of June to avoid the year-end activitiesJ  

13) Physical Education:

Our class has a scheduled gym period every day. It is very important that your child has inside/gym shoes that can stay at school.

14) Technology:

Technology is an important part of our curriculum and is a tool that helps prepare students for the future. Our classroom will be equipped with Chrome books and a Smart Board. There will be ample opportunity to make use of ipads and the technology room for assignments and projects. Students will need their own headphones as they are not provided for by the school. Handheld gaming systems, iPods and other music/smart devices are not allowed in class at this time, unless otherwise instructed with a note, email or personal conversation.

15) Money:

On occasion it will be necessary for your child to bring money to school. Always send money in a sealed envelope or Ziploc bag with the following information written on it:

• Your child’s first and last name • The amount of money • The purpose for the money (book money, field trip money, etc.) • Teacher’s name and class (Mrs. Maxwell 2E)

With approximately 25 children in our class, to keep track of and several reasons to collect money, this helps us out tremendously and reduces the

likelihood of errors. Also, if the envelope or baggie is left on the bus or dropped in the hallway, this information will help get the money to the right place.

16) Book Orders:

Every month, we will send home book order forms. Please take the time to look over these forms. They offer great books for as little as $1.99! All books purchased will earn bonus points. These bonus points are used to buy books and materials for the classroom.

If you decide to order books, please send order form and cheque in a marked envelope or baggie. You will need to make the cheques payable to SCHOLASTIC CANADA.

17) Lost items:

I cannot stress how important it is to label all of your child’s belongings. Every day articles are found on the floor or out on the playground and it is much easier if names or at least initials are written inside. Thanks for your cooperation! Items left in the coat area or in the classroom will be collected and placed in a black bin just outside the classroom door. Other items may be located in the various lost and found bins around the school.

18) Contacting the Teacher: If there are any questions you have concerning your child, curriculum, homework, etc., please feel free to send me a note in your child’s agenda or contact me by email or phone. I am looking forward to working with you and your child. It will be a great year!

-Carrie Maxwell

Phone (work): 403-526-2392

Email: carrie.maxwell@sd76.ab.ca