Mrs. Norris’
2nd Grade Handbook
2013-2014
September 2013
Dear Parents,
With the start of a new school year, you are sure to have many questions about what our year will look like. I have put together this classroom handbook to give you some information about school and classroom expectations, routines, and curriculum. Please feel free to contact me with any additional questions or concerns you may have @ 334-1600 ext. 4107, or by e-mail at . I am looking forward to a great school year with you and your child!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Norris
Our Daily Schedule
8:30-9:00 Breakfast/Morning Meeting
9:00-9:40 PE, Art or Music
9:40-10:40 Listening and Learning
10:40-11:40 Math
11:59-12:29 Lunch
12:30-1:20 GRAIR/Writing
1:20-2:20 Skills
2:25-2:55 Recess
3:05-3:30 Dismissal
* GRAIR = Guided Reading and Accountable Independent Reading
Specials
A & C Days- Physical Education (Ms. Glavin)
B Days- Art (Ms. Fetzko)
D Days- Music (Mrs. Murphy)
Go-Home Folders
Your child will have a Narwhal “Home” folder. This plastic folder will be the primary means of communication between home and school every day. Please place lunch money and other notes to school in the folder, as each morning I will ask your child for it. Your child will be learning how to be responsible by keeping track of this folder. Please check your child’s folder every day for homework and other important notifications. Also, there will be a communication sheet inside for correspondence between home and me. Foldersmust be returned daily.
Dismissal Notes and Excuse Notes
Whenever there is going to be a change in your child’s dismissal plans, please write down this change on a separate piece of paper and place it in your child’s folder. I will then send this note to the office in the morning. Also, when your child is absent from school, a note explaining the reason for your child’s absence is required. This note will also go to the office in the morning.
Breakfast and Lunch
Your child has the option to buy a school lunch or bring a lunch from home.
Breakfast is also offered everyday school is in session. A monthly menu will
be sent home with your child. Please let me know if you would like your child to go
to breakfast every day,and I will make sure they go. Our cafeteria provides
you with special envelopes in which to put money for your child’s snack milk and
lunch. I will send envelopes home weekly for your use.
Snack
With the exception of birthdays or special events, we will not be serving food other than milk for snack. This is a school-wide decision to help our students develop healthy habits. We will have snack milk at around 9:40 each day.
Birthday
Each child will be able to bring in a special snack to celebrate his/her birthday. This is not a party, just a special time for us to sing to them and for them to share a special store bought snack.
Recess
The children will go outside everyday unless the weather is severe (“feels like” temperature 15 degrees or below.) Please help your child remember to dress appropriately for the weather. Also, an extra change of clothes, including socks and underwear, is strongly suggested. During the winter months they may keep their snow pants, boots, hats and mittens at school in their locker.
Specials
P.E., Art and Music will be at 9:00am every day. Please make sure your child is
prepared. They will need a pair of sneakers for Physical Education
class. Your child is welcome to keep his/her sneakers at school if you wish.
Library
This year your child will regularly visit the school library to borrow books and (later in the year) work on research projects. I will be teaching the children how to select “Good Fit” books and reading material. They will be encouraged to bring their library books home to read independently and to you. It will be your child’s responsibility to take good care of these books and return them to our“Library Book Basket” as soon as they have finished reading them.
Required Homework
Math
After each math lesson, there will be a required homework sheet that will come home. It may or may not be every day. The homework sheet will also be attached to a “Problem Set” page that we have completed in class. We have attached this page in hopes that it will give you a better understanding of what is required for the homework assignment.
Skills
After each skills lesson, there will be a reading selection that will go home for your child to practice. Prior to this homework, there will be a “Parent Letter” that will go home explaining homework expectations. The skills homework will change starting from lesson 11, with another “Parent Letter” indicating the changes and new homework expectations.
Independent Reading
Your child will be encouraged to read at home for 15 minutes only on the days that the “Skills” reading selection is not sent home. Your child may read at home each day if they so choose.
Optional Homework:
*Raz-kids is a fantastic website that your child can go on in order to listen to books read aloud. This is a differentiated website, so your child will listen to books that are at their independent reading level.
**I will be sending home information listing the website(username and password) after the students have been instructed about how to use the website and have had time to practice in class.
Supplies and Personal Items
All school supplies will be provided for your child…crayons, glue, pencils, scissors,
paper, etc. Children are urged to bring a backpack daily. Please put all notes in the home folder in the backpack. Please label your child’s backpack or bag, boots, coats, clothing and any other personal items theyneed to bring to school. All toys and keepsakes must be left at home unless your child has special permission from school.
*Sneakers – Children are urged to wear sneakers daily. If they prefer to wear other shoes to school, they can leave their sneakers in their lockers for recess and PE.
Volunteers
I welcome visitors to our classroom. If you would like to spend some time volunteering or just observing, please let me know in advance so we can plan a day and time that works best for all.
Classroom Structure
To better serve your child at his/her optimal level, we will be changing classrooms with other 2nd grade teachers during math, and skills. We are listing the names and contact information of each teacher on the team so you can contact us with any questions or concerns that you may have. When preliminary assessments have been completed and differentiated classes have been assigned, we will then send a letter home indicating the teacher that will be instructing your child in each subject.
Please feel free to contact us with any questions you may have, and
thank you for your continued support!!
Mrs. Norris- ext. 4107
Mrs. Somers- ext. 4109
Mrs. Hartman- ext. 4110
Mrs. Runyon-ext. 4111
Once again I am looking forward to a great year. I hope this has been helpful in answering some of your questions.
~Jean Norris