The Reading Team

In second grade, all students will have Mrs. Haff for reading. They will come to reading class 45 minutes/1 hour a day.  In addition to this, they will have independent reading time everyday during the week for 30 minutes in their homeroom classes. Here are some notes that will help you throughout the year. As the year progresses, I will keep you informed of new information concerning reading.  If there are any questions or concerns, the best way to contact me is through a note sent to school or sending a message to my email address: haffkg@rss.k12.nc.us. 

Story of the Week

On most weeks, we will read a story from our textbooks in class. We will read this on Monday together, and then read it 2-3 more times in class later that week. They will be tested on this story on Friday. We listen to the story on CD right before the

test, and they are always open book tests. The test is on comprehension-how well they understand the story. It is always open book, and I encourage them to go back and look in the story to find the answers. This is a skill that will be taught in class and discussed a lot. I have found that it really helps students to read this story at
home also.

Graded reading tests are sent home on Mondays for parents to sign and return on Tuesday.

Please note that there are some weeks that we will not have a story of the
week. During these weeks, we will work on other reading materials and skills.  I also add in a variety of reading---such as recipes, plays, fiction and nonfiction. I assess them on different things when we do these activities. 

**On weeks when we are reading a story in class, I strongly encourage them

to read the story of the week every night at home. This will help them

on their weekly tests.**

Vocabulary

Your child will have vocabulary almost every week. These words will come home on Monday for them to define, and I will check to see if they are complete on Tuesday. They will define words in their reading notebooks. Usually this list is no more that 10 words. They will go along with the story that we are reading that week in class.  They will learn how to use the glossary in class the first time they are given these for homework. They will be tested on these words on Friday along with their story of the week. I ask students to please keep these defined words in their reading notebooks. If they forget their reading notebook, then please just have them define them on notebook paper, and they can staple it in later. Also, if they forget their reading text book and do not have their glossary at home, they may use a dictionary. But, my test is based on the definitions from the text book glossary. The vocabulary words will be updated on my website, and there is also an online glossary on my links on the bottom. Please email me if you need help finding it.

Reading Logs

Your child will complete a reading log all year long. This will be checked every Friday and will be recorded as a grade. If they do not turn in one on a given week,then it will be recorded as a zero. If it is late, it is a 20 point deduction for each day it is late. If they are absent on Friday, it is due the next day they are in attendance at school. They are required to read at least 20 minutes Monday-Thursday night. After they read, then they have to pick two questions to answer from the following questions on the reading log:

 *What was the story about?

 *What did this story remind you of?

 *Did you like the story? Why or why not?

Students will answer these questions in a sentence format. So, they will be

writing two sentences each night about what they read. For example:

 *I liked this story because Amelia was funny and silly. She did everything wrong in the story and I laughed.

*This newspaper article reminded me of when I went to Carowinds this summer. It was about all the new rides.

 *This chapter was the best one yet in my book. It was so scary because they were being chased.

I am looking for evidence that they have read. For example: I like this book. It was funny. That does not tell me about the book they have read. They need to include why they liked it, what they thought was funny. Points are deducted if the student did not include a thoughtful response.

What can they read? Your child may pick anything they want to read. Here are just some choices: books from home, books from the public library, magazines, newspapers, comic books.

Reading Book Reports

Throughout the year, there will be book reports that are assigned. Students will have at least 2 weeks to work on these. These are usually projects that get them thinking about a book in more depth. These book reports are mandatory, and the grade counts as a test grade.

AR Points

This year, your child will start reading “Accelerated

Reader” (AR for short) books and taking computerized tests. Within the first 2-3 weeks of school, each student will take a test on the computer that will give them a reading level. This level will be reported to all parents, and the students will write this level in the back of their planner. This level will let all of us know what book level is “just right” for them. If their level is a 1.8, that means first grade eighth month, a 2.3 would be second grade, third month. The

level will have a range, like 2.1-3.2. We ask that students pick out AR books within their reading level. All of the books in our library are leveled, along with how many points they get for passing the test for that book.

Here is how the testing works! Your child will read a book on their level at least two times. This is done at home or in class. Then, they go to the computer and take a short comprehension test on that book.  They must make at least an 80 percent to pass the test. We emphasize strongly at school that they just can’t skim the book or read it quickly-they must understand it in order to pass the test.

We have a goal for each student per semester for AR points.  If they meet their goal each quarter, they get rewarded! Your child will have an individual goal. This is set by a test given in the computer lab. You will receive a note with their reading level and AR goal once they are tested.

There are many opportunities throughout the day for your child to take accelerated reader tests.  These are taken in the classroom or when we go to computer lab. When they take the test, they are unassisted. Sometimes they need help with a word, but we do not read the test to them on the computer. This program is designed to help make them independent readers.

I look forward to helping your child grow as readers. I appreciate all the extra help that parents give their children with reading.  This year, the students, parents and staff will Team Up For Success.  I know that with everyone working together, all the second graders will be successful in reading!!

Sincerely,

Mrs. Kellie Haff

Important concepts that will help SECOND GRADERS:

READING:

*Have your child READ, READ, READ!!!

*Have your child read and write the following 100 high freqency words from first grade:
the, of, and, a, to, in, is, you, that, it, he, was, for, on, are, as, with, his, they, I, at, be, this, have, from, 
or,
one, had, by, word, but, not, what, all, were, we, when, your, can,
said, there, use, an, each, which, she, do, how, their, if, will, up,
other, about, out, many, then, them, these, so, some, her, would, make,
like, him, into, time, has, look, two, more, write, go, see, number,
no, way, could, people, my, than, first, water, been, call, who, oil,
its, now, find, long, down, day, did, get, come, made, may, part

*Have your child read and write the following 100 high frequency words from second grade:

over new sound take only little work know place year live me back give most

very after thing our just name good sentence man think say great where help through

much before line right too mean old any same tell boy follow came want show also

around form three small set put end does another well large must big even such

because turn here why ask went men read need land different home us move try

kind hand picture again change off play spell air away animal house point page

letter mother answer found study still learn should America

MATH:

Have your child

*read number words and write the correct numeral to match (the number words

should be all mixed up, not in sequential order) : zero through one hundred
*count by 2s, 5s, and 10s
*complete math problems that include adding and subtracting 2 digit numbers (with regrouping), counting money, counting tens and ones, interpreting graphs and charts,
using tally marks, making patterns, number order, comparing numbers, measuring with a ruler

WRITING:

*Have your child:

*Draw a detailed picture and then write a story about one "small moment" (one activity that you participated in)

**your story should include 

*5 paragraphs

*1st paragraph--topic sentence-tells who, what, when, where

*2nd paragraph--first event with details

*3rd paragraph--second event with details

*4th paragraph--last event with details

*5th paragraph--closing paragraph-tells who, what, when, where, and how it made you feel

*a capital at the beginning of each sentence and a period at the end of each sentence

*words spelled correctly or sounded out well enough that others can read them
*use great details--adjectives and adverbs (sparkle words)

*a space is left between words