Dear 2B Families,


(Our classroom was formerly known as 2BR, however, since I am now the only 2nd grade teacher with a B at the beginning of my name, we are now 2B.)

We are up and rolling along toward a fantastic 2nd grade year!  We have been busy organizing our school supplies and getting to know one another.  We have also had an opportunity to tour many areas of the school and learn about our updated Citizenship Program. Throughout the year, you and your children will hear a lot about CHAMPS and being Safe, Responsible and Respectful.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for sending nutritious snacks to school with your child. We will be discussing health and nutrition as a part of the 2nd grade curriculum later this year so this is a great opportunity to get a jump start on choosing healthful foods.

Please refer to the calendar at the bottom of this blog for homework due dates and information relating to our classroom. (The calendar is way, way, way down at the bottom of this posting page. Please keep scrolling down and you will get to it...eventually.)
Parent Orientation/Curriculum Night

On Thursday, September 13, you are invited to visit your child's 2nd grade classroom. This informational night is designed for parents only to attend. During the classroom sessions, I will provide you with district curriculum information as well as routines and procedures specific to 2BR. You may attend either classroom session, whichever works best with your schedule.  Our new principal, Mr. Lecrone, will be meeting with parents in the gym to introduce himself and present some of our school-wide programs. 

6:30-6:55 Session 1: Mrs. Brouch, Room 202
7:05-7:25 Mr. Lecrone, Gym
7:35-8:00 Session 2: Mrs. Brouch, Room 202
While you are here...please sign up for your November conference time. We will also have sign-up sheets outside the 2nd grade classrooms for volunteer positions and/or classroom donations.

Citizenship
 
Be Respectful
Be Responsible
Be Safe
Your child may be talking about the “blue tickets” he/she is earning. This is a research based, school-wide positive reinforcement program designed to guide students toward good citizenship. This year the tickets earned may be redeemed for items from our new travelling cart or for special activities. Students will also be earning whole-class marbles when they demonstrate good citizenship throughout the day.

CHAMPS

CHAMPS is a component of our citizenship program and is new to May Watts this year. This is a proactive and positive approach to help every student exhibit behavior that will make that student feel like a champion! 


Spelling

Each week your child will receive a list of 13 spelling words to practice at home. This week's spelling homework will be completed in class so you can use it as a how to reference for upcoming weeks.

All of this years' spelling words are available under the tab, at the top of this blog, labeled "Spelling". Your child will be studying either the "pattern" list or the "alternate" list. 

Each Friday your child will come home with a Spelling Tic-Tac-Toe homework sheet explaining the activitiy choices for the week.  The Tic-Tac-Toe homework will be due the following Thursday. Since we are doing the homework in class this first week, there will not be anything due just yet. Please read the blog next Friday/Saturday for specific instructions about completing the spelling homework.

Math

In June, 2010 the state of Illinois formally adopted new learning standards in Mathematics based on the Common Core. The Common Core initiative was born out of the need to define a set of clear, rigorous standards in K-12 education to ensure students graduate high school with the preparation to succeed in college and careers in the 21st century. Forty-five states, including Illinois, have officially adopted these standards. These standards are aligned to college and work expectations, are more rigorous, and for the first time, internationally benchmarked to top performing countries.

You will receive more information about our implementation of Common Core Math during Curriculum Night and in weekly blog posts. Meanwhile, a parent guide, specific to 2nd grade, is available at the following link:
http://www.isbe.net/common_core/pdf/guide/grade2.pdf

Math Reference Book
On Friday, your child brought home a hardcover Math Reference Book. This is a tool that you may keep at home for the entire year. The book has been checked out in your child's name and will be due back to the May Watts LMC (Library Media Center) in May. Please put this book in a safe place where you and your child will have access to it throughout the year. In May, I will remind you and your child to bring the book back to school.

Specials

In the left hand column of this blog, I have listed the days of the week that your child will attend PE, Art, Music and the LMC. Please refer to these days and help your child remember to bring his/her PE shoes on the PE days. (If you prefer to leave an extra pair of PE shoes in the classroom, I will remind your child to change into them on our PE days.) It is also a good idea to not wear any jewelry on PE days, unless it is absolutely necessary. Please leave your child's art smock in his/her backpack all year long. Ms. Hemmens, our art teacher, will let me know which days smocks are needed, and I will ask students to retrieve their smocks from their backpacks on those days.

Scholastic Book Order

Each month I will be sending home book order forms for your perusal. If you choose to order books for your child, please fill out the order form on the back of the book selection pamphlet. I will write a “book order form due date” on the blog calendar (below). Please make checks to: Scholastic Book Orders. Please do not send cash. I am very discreet about distributing books when they arrive in the classroom (I sneak them into backpacks while the children are at a special) so children who choose not to order, do not feel left out. Also, if you would like to place a gift order, just let me know and I’ll put your order in the office for you to pick up.

Blog Updates 

This blog will serve as a parent communication tool throughout the year. It is here for you and your child to use as a reference tool as well. Each Friday (or Saturday morning) I will send you a reminder email to check the updated blog. Please take a look each week as it is full of information including: curriculum targets for the week, hyperlinks for extra practice, homework due dates, parent volunteer information, specials schedule and more.  

Have a wonderful weekend.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Brouch