Frequently Asked Questions
2016-2017 Overview
Below you will find questions I have been asked in the past regarding different aspects of second grade and my classroom. I have done my best to answer these questions in a simple, but informative way.
If you have a question that was not answered below, please feel free to submit a question using the form to the right. |
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Questions
Grading:
- What is the difference between a product and a process assignment? Product assignments are considered tasks students should be able to show mastery on. Process assignments are tasks students should be working towards mastering.
- How often do you enter grades? While the CCPS requirement for entering grades is within two weeks of the day the assignment is due, I do my best to enter grades within a few days of being collected. I use class assignments to guide my instruction, as well future assignments.
Communication:
- When are you available to conference? I am generally available to meet Tuesday, Wednesdays or Thursdays during my planning time from 1:00 to 1:30. I am also available some mornings at 8:10 and afternoons at 4:00, but this varies by week based on commitments I have inside and outside of school.
- How often is the website updated? The main page of the website is generally updated weekly. If the website is not updated, it is most likely due to an unforeseen family emergency. I email families once the site has been updated and I am confident there will be no additional changes for the week. Please know that the website is also a constant work in progress. My goal is to provide families with a resource that is informative, current and useful.
- I notice you write A LOT of information. I think that is great, but I don't have time to read it all. What do you suggest I read each week? While I do have a lot to say, blame it on my father, I also work under the philosophy that parents are one of the greatest factors to a child's success. The more a parent knows about their child's day of school, the better equipped he or she will be to discuss that day with their child. Each week I will bold the most important academic information. Be sure to at least read the bold academic information, as well as the paragraph at the top of the main page.
- How will families be notified about special events such as field trips or Fall Festival? In addition to flyers that will be sent home in your child's Friday Folder, information about upcoming events will be posted on the weekly update page of this website. I would also encourage families to review the links in the additional resources section of this website to learn more about our second grade field trips and our Mystery Reader program.
Classroom Management:
- What is your class behavior system? The student behavior chart has six parts to it. Each day, students begin at respectful, responsible, and ready to learn. Throughout the day, students have the opportunity to move up the chart to making smart choices and mighty mustang. Students can also move down the chart to stop, think and reflect. Then, consequence time or last stop. If a student reaches consequence time, an immediate consequence is often given such as temporarily moving one's seat or changing partners. You will be informed when your child is on last stop through a note in the assignment book, a phone call, or an email asking you to check your child's assignment book.
- How are students rewarded? Students who end the day on mighty mustang may choose to place a star on the celebration chart or students may choose to receive a MHES buckaroo. Once a student fills up his or her celebration chart, the student may choose a prize from our prize book. Students may use their buckaroos at our school store called the Trading Post. The Trading Post is organized and run by our PBIS team.
Technology:
- It is my understanding that second grade has access to iPads and possible laptops. How are these incorporated into the classroom? In the past, the second grade teachers have chosen to assign each classroom five iPads. These iPads are often used during targeted instruction and math rotations. If a teacher needs more than five tablets, that teacher coordinates with the team to use the additional iPads on a specific day. This year we may also have laptops to utilize with our students, depending on the success of fundraisers. If we have access to laptops, this will be the first year we will have the laptops. As they year progresses we will continuously examine our practices with the devices and make changes to how we distribute the devices as need be during the school year.
- Are there any applications you frequently use or are planning to use this year? One application that I used in the past and am excited to use again is Seesaw, a student drive digital portfolio. We also frequently use the Weekly Reader app and Popplet to organize our thinking. I also plan on incorporating the Microsoft for Education tools, such as Microsoft Classroom and Notebook. This will be the first year I will be utilizing these tools with second grade.
Academics:
- Can you provide more insight into the English Language Arts block? ELA is comprised of phonics, comprehension, writing and handwriting.
- Phonics is taught whole group and in small group, depending on the students' individual needs. In second grade, we focus much of our whole group phonics time on spelling words with our current phonics concepts. Please know that while your child may easily be reading words focused on the phonics concepts, the spelling of the words can be more difficult.
- Comprehension is also taught in whole group and small group through reading workshop and targeted instruction.. During reading workshop, the focus is often on listening comprehension. More complex books and pieces of text are read aloud to the students. In order for a student to succeed with reading comprehension, he or she must have decoding (reading words fluently) and listening comprehension skills in place. During targeted instruction, students will use text that they have shown they can fluently read to complete reading comprehension activities. Our ELA theme units are incorporated into reading workshop and targeted instruction. Written responses are incorporated in our ELA theme units during whole group and targeted instruction. Students will complete daily routine writing assignments that focus on informative and narrative writing. During the second quarter, students will write a class book focusing on our community of Calvert County.
- Writer's Workshop will be used throughout the year to assist with increasing the quality of writing of each student. In the writing workshop model, students are led through the writing process from generating an idea to publishing a piece. Students will focus on writing about small moments, as well as writing about topics he or she is an expert in and can teach others about. Writing is a BIG deal in my classroom.
- Handwriting is taught using the program Handwriting Without Tears, which was developed by an occupational therapist. Students will begin the year by reviewing manuscript handwriting. We will shift our focus to cursive handwriting during the third and fourth quarters. Please know that handwriting is not a separate grade on the report card. Instead, handwriting is incorporated into written language.
- I see that you have a section focused on math concepts. Can you elaborate more on these concepts? One of the main goals of math in second grade is for students to gain a deeper understanding of number relationships. To do this, we will revisit several concepts throughout the year. Each time a concept is revisited, the rigor will increase by incorporating larger numbers or more complex problems. Some of the overarching concepts in math are place value, fluently adding and subtracting sums and differences to 20, and two-digit addition and subtraction with sums and differences to 100.
- When is science and social studies taught? We generally spend approximately two weeks on a concept, and move back and forth between social studies and science. Science and social studies concepts are also incorporated into the ELA theme units.
- What are the science topics for the year? Our science topics include animals of long ago (fossils), help save the earth (natural resources), sky high (solar system), magnets, life cycles and parts.
- What are the social studies topics? The social studies topics include citizenship, national symbols, goods and services, and geography. One of my favorite topics that second grade focus on is culture, specifically celebrating the differences in cultures while recognizing the similarities. Each year in December we organize a family cultural celebration where we look for family members of the students who can teach the grade about a specific culture. This is not just limited to parents, as extended family is welcome to join in on the fun.
- What is flex time? Flex time is a block of time focused on providing intervention, extra practice and enrichment activities to students based on the needs of the grade level. This was new to CCPS last school year and will be better defined as the year progresses, based on the needs of the students.