From the class of Ms. McMahon and Dionne Gilmore

 October 19, 2009

DearParent(s),

            I want to welcome you and your childto our second grade class at Isenberg Elementary. It is going to be a greatyear, and I’m sure your child will grow in so many ways- emotionally,physically, and academically. Let’s work together as partners to support yourchild as they discover new ways to learn. One of the best ways that you canhelp your child is to check my updated Edgate webpage. This online resourcewill show you what our class is working in each area. The following showsinformation that will be helpful for you to know:

 ***Book Fair this week starting Thursday. Come and check it out! 

***Fall Festival is this Friday. Please come!!!! Our class could win a prize if we have the most parent volunteers and another prize will be given for the most students who attend!! It will be lots of fun-don't miss this Fall Festival!

Schedule: Lunch is12:17-12:47.

P.E.will be on Friday, so please have your child wear appropriate shoes for P.E.

Scholastic Reading Orders: I will sendhome an order form about once a month so your child can order books to read athome (optional).

Discipline: We will befollowing the PBS discipline system. With this system, children can be rewardedfor good choices. I will be communicating through student agendas about yourchild’s behavior. If you child has not made good choices, I will comment intheir agenda. Please discuss this with your child, sign, and return the agendathe next day.

Communication:Agendaswill not be sent home on Fridays.

Also,eachweek on Tuesday or Wednesday I will send home a graded sample of your child’swork from class so you can see their progress.

Transportation: You willneed to write a note or call the school if your child’s transportation changesfor the day.  If your child has a note,they need to hand it to the teacher. If the note is in their agenda, they needto give the note to the teacher.

Homework: Each Mondaystudents will receive a packet of reading workbook pages, a spelling list, andmath practice pages. They may keep the packet until Friday to work onthroughout the week. On Friday, they need to place their finished packet in thehomework file with their name on it. It will be checked, and this will counttoward their grade. Each Friday there will be a spelling test with about 20-25words. *There may be some reading sheets (2-sided) that your child cannotcomplete unless they’re in class. Only complete sheets that are easilyunderstood with the directions.  If aproblem arises with completing homework, please ask or write a note, and wewill work on a solution.  Please read 20 minutes on level eachday. This is more important than the spelling worksheets, so try to dothis first.

Sight Words: Students willbe responsible for spelling and reading a set of 25 sight words each quarter. Iwill send home the list of sight words for them to practice. These words willalso be posted on our word wall. Knowing how to spell sight words is an important part of being a good reader.

Time for Kids: Our classreceived a grant so that your child can read the current news. Each week yourchild will be able to read TFK in class and take the magazine home to sharewith you what they’ve learned. There will be a quiz given in class that goesalong with the TFK reader as well.

Math: Please haveyour child practice their addition math facts. They can make their own flashcards or go on my Edgate website for a fun, interactive math fact game. Just click on the link, and answer as many facts as you can in a set time. If you do well, the game will celebrate with you! If you have questions about this,please ask. There will also be a weekly math quiz. If your child receives a quiz that is stamped “parent signature requested”, please talk with your child aboutthe quiz and return it to the teacher.

Writing: We will beusing the Lucy Calkins Writing model. Students will think about small momentsfrom their lives and write about them with detail and expression. A great wayfor your child to grow in writing is to use a writer’s notebook at home. I have made a notebook with writing topics for your child to use at home.

Science: Students willbegin the year by learning about weather. They will observe weather and the tools used to measure weather.

SocialStudies: Students will be learning about people and government.

Language Arts: We will be studying our second theme-nature stories. This week, we are studying fact and opinion. In addition, each week, your child willhave an envelope with books. Please read and retell the stories at home and returnthe envelope of books on Monday. Your child will receive a new set when they turn in the set they’ve read. I am checking children's progress with reading assessments and sight word testing. I will begin parent conferences on October 30th to let you know how your child is progressing. Please check Tuesday folders for your conference time.

Technology: Your child will have many opportunities to use technology this year. We will make Keynotepresentations, use Comic life software, Garage Band, and Kidspiration. They will do many activities on our new Promethean Board throughout the day as well.

Please visit the wonderful technology links that can help your child tremendously this year on this webpage. The new spellingcity site is a great way for students to practice their spelling words each week. They type in the spelling words and the website uses those same words in a variety of games.

Please feel free to ask if you have questions. Again, the Edgate page is always a great way for parents to keep up with what’s happening in our class. It’s going to be a great year!                               

                                                                                                Partners in Learning,

Ms. McMahon