Save the Date!
Tuesday, March 22nd
Second grade will have an
on campus Field Trip
provided by the
program:
Tadpole to Frog
(life cycle of frogs & body development)
(life cycle of frogs & body development)
and
Insect Detective
(insect life cycles & plant and animal interdependence)
(insect life cycles & plant and animal interdependence)
Lunch will be ordered from Cici's Pizza.
Introducing Mesquite ISD's Digital Library
Look for information coming home in your child's folder.....
Here is the link to the site and the Guided Tour:
Mesquite ISD Digital Library
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It's Pumpkin Time
Answers to blog post questions about "A Day at the Pumpkin Patch"
Is a pumpkin a vegetable or a fruit? fruit (because it has seeds)
What is that funny name for the stem of a pumpkin? peduncle
What is another name for the outer skin? rind
What do we call the inside of a pumpkin? pulp
What is the largest variety of pumpkins? Atlantic Giant
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PTA Volunteers Needed for Popcorn Days
Parents that are willing to help with Popcorn Days please email our PTA Volunteer Coordinator:
Fletcher at fletcher6484@sbcglobal.net
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Scholastic Book Orders
I have created a class page on the Scholastic web site for placing online orders.
Below is the link to the parent page:
You will need to register for access to our class page by creating a user name and password. This will only take a few seconds. You will also need our class activation code: H9PGW.
The following are due dates for most of the catalogs:
(you will see the due date on the site as well)
September catalogs due October 8th
October catalogs due October 29
November catalogs due November 19
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Calendar Tab
I have removed the Calendar Tab from the site and placed a list of calendar reminders on the Home Page. You will be able to view the Calendar Reminders from any page on the site.
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Report Card Conferences Sign Up
I sent home the sign-up sheets on Friday, September 24th.
Please return them to me quickly so we can get your conference scheduled.
I wanted to get the sign up process posted on the website but couldn't quite figure it out.
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Please return them to me quickly so we can get your conference scheduled.
I wanted to get the sign up process posted on the website but couldn't quite figure it out.
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To Access Tumble Books
go to
click on "Search", then click on "More Resources"
scroll down and click on the link for Tumble Books
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Open House Parent Information
Welcome to Second Grade
2010-2011
2300 Mesquite Valley
Mesquite, Texas 75149
972-882-7080
www.mesquiteisd.org/smith
Cindy Heiman, Principal
Jennifer Gibralter, Asst. Principal
Mildred Abu, Counselor
Second Grade Team
Mrs. Culmo, Mrs. Rich, Ms. Price, Mrs. Willis
Read to Me, Parent
Read to me, parent of far away places
Where elephants reign and turtles win races.
Read to me, parent and we’ll leave on a flight
To Jupiter, Mars, and home in one night.
Read to me, parent and fill up my head
With fanciful pictures ‘fore I go to bed.
Read to me, parent of wishes come true
Read to me, parent then I’ll read to you.
Adapted from a poem by Russ Walsh
6 Reasons to Read Together
1. Reading together builds a lifelong bridge.
Reading with children sends a positive message:
I want to spend time with you.
A child will carry that message forever.
2. Reading and storytelling build word power – the power to communicate.
3. Reading with a child is fun. You can be silly or sad or serious – together.
4. Reading aloud promotes good listening skills. Good listeners are good learners.
5. Reading stretches imaginations, introduces new ideas, and encourages
independent thinking.
6. Reading at home gives your child an advantage in school. Children become
better readers by reading.
Balanced Literacy
The framework for literacy in MISD represents a balanced multi-leveled approach.
1. Read Aloud: listen responsively, ask and answer relevant questions, make contributions
2. Word Wall: read and spell high frequency words, decoding
3. Shared Reading: read orally form familiar texts with fluency
4. Spelling: write with more proficient spelling or regularly spelled patterns, word sorts
5. Self Selected Reading: build reading endurance
6. Guided Reading: small group instruction, decoding strategies, comprehension skills
7. Writing: shared writing, writer’s workshop, penmanship, grammar, author’s chair
Reading grades are determined by the following rubric:
50% Classwork
25% Developmental Reading Assessment (DRA) level
25% Fluency goal
Each six weeks we will administer the DRA to check for:
Use of decoding strategies
Comprehension
Fluency
The DRA level may be interpreted by placing a decimal between the numbers where the first number equals the year and the second number equals the month. For example, a level 20 = 2.0 which translates to second grade, zero months. A reading level 28 = 2.8 translates to second grade, eighth months. This allows us to determine if a child is reading on grade level, above grade level, or below grade level. When a child enters second grade they should be on a level 18 or 20. When leaving second grade they should be on a level 28 or 30. The DRA level makes up 25% of the reading grade each six weeks.
Fluency is another portion of the reading grade (25%). Good readers read fluently. This means they read like they talk with smooth transitions between words, not choppy like a robot. We use the DRA to measure fluency by recording how many words per minute a child reads. Our goal is to be reading 90 words per minute by the end of second grade. In an effort to reach this goal we have fluency goals for each six weeks. These goals help us determine the fluency portion of the reading grade.
Fluency Goals:
1st six weeks – 40 words per minute (wpm)
2nd six weeks – 50 wpm
3rd six weeks – 60 wpm
4th six weeks – 70 wpm
5th six weeks – 80 wpm
6th six weeks – 90 wpm
At-Home Reading Assignment (Reading Log)
Frequently Asked Questions
- How often does my child have to read at home?
Your child will need to read for twenty minutes each night.
- So, my child only has to read every night?
I realize you have busy schedules and if you find a night where it is just impossible to find the time you can make up the time another day of the week.
- Does my child have to read aloud to me?
No, your child does not have to read aloud to you. However, by having your child read out loud, you can assure that they are actually reading (not just pretending to read) and reading correctly. Your child may read anything that his/her heart desires. Yes, Guided Reading books count.
- Does it count if I read aloud to my child?
Yes! By reading aloud to your child you are modeling the fluency of a proficient, adult reader. That is extremely valuable to your child!
- How can I help my child when they are having difficulty?
Some suggestions for helping your child read.
Read the title: “What do you think the book is about?”
“Follow my finger as I read.”
“Now let’s read it together.” (Pointing to the words as your read with your child)
“Did the number of words you said match the number of words on the page?”
“Can you find _________ (say a word) on this page?”
“Can you find _________ (say a letter) on this page?”
When your child is experiencing difficulties:
“Did your reading make sense?”
“You were almost right. Try that again!”
“That word makes sense but does it look like ________________ (say the word read incorrectly)?”
“Try that again and start with the hard part.”
“Check the picture. Can it help you with the meaning?”
“What do you know about that word that can help you?”
“Can you say it that way?”
- How do we fill out the Weekly Reading Log?
Each night that you read, have your child write the title of the book and the author’s name. In the square next to each day, have him/her mark the type of reading (fiction, nonfiction, poetry). In the circle, they are to draw a face to show how the reading went for that night. You are to write your initials on the blank next to the circle.
- When is the Weekly Reading Log due?
I will send home the Weekly Reading Log at the beginning of the week. (Usually this will be on Mondays, but sometimes, it will be on Tuesdays.) The Log is due the next Monday. Just send it in the daily Take Home Folder.
- What is the most important thing to remember?
Have fun and enjoy spending quality time with your child while reading! Happy Reading!
Mathematics
One of our goals for math instruction is to teach strategies for solving word problems. We would like students to have a toolbox of strategies that they can pull from to attack word problems using UPSL (Understand, Plan, Solve, Look Back). Some of the strategies we will use are draw a picture or diagram, look for a pattern, act it out or use objects, systematic guess and check, make a table, work backwards, and work a simpler problem.
In addition to daily word problem practice we will work on fact strategies. See the fact strategies timeline below.
Six Weeks 1 | Six Weeks 2 | Six Weeks 3 | Six Weeks 4,5,6 | |
Making Ten | 10+0 9+1 8+2 7+3 6+4 5+5 4+6 3+7 2+8 1+9 | Practice with Games & Automaticity Check | Practice with Games & Automaticity Check | Practice with Games & Automaticity Check |
Doubles | 1+1 5+5 2+2 6+6 3+3 7+7 4+4 8+8 9+9 | Practice with Games & Automaticity Check | Practice with Games & Automaticity Check | Practice with Games & Automaticity Check |
Neighbors (Doubles +1) | 3+4 6+7 4+5 7+8 5+6 8+9 | Practice with Games & Automaticity Check | Practice with Games & Automaticity Check | |
Count On 1 and 2 | 2+1 8+1 7+2 3+1 9+1 8+2 4+1 3+2 9+2 5+1 4+2 6+1 5+2 7+1 6+2 | Practice with Games & Automaticity Check | Practice with Games & Automaticity Check | |
Facts with 0 | 0+0 0+5 0+1 0+6 0+2 0+7 0+3 0+8 0+4 0+9 | Practice with Games & Automaticity Check | Practice with Games & Automaticity Check | |
Leftover Facts | 3+5 4+6 3+6 4+7 3+7 5+7 | Practice with Games & Automaticity Check |
Math grades are determined by the following rubric:
50% Classwork
25% Word Problem Activities
25% Tests
Reading With Your Child
Reading Tips
Start now!
Continue reading aloud to your child until he is at least 10 years old. Children continue to benefit from listening to others read, long after they have learned to read.
For young children, books with rhyme, rhythm and repetition are excellent. Be sure to read Mother Goose rhymes often. Poetry is also a good option.
Be consistent about reading aloud to your child. Do it daily and, if possible, about
the same time every day. Reading right before bedtime often works well.
If you have several small children, you can read to them together. Picture books
work well for this.
Don't be surprised if your children want to hear a favorite book again and again. That's fine. As they get to really know the story well, have them fill in words for you.
Try to choose books that are above your child's reading level but at the child's
interest level.
Some children love reading about the same characters. If that's what your child likes, choose several short books in a series or a longer chapter book. Reading a chapter a night works well.
Vary the subject matter of what you read as well as the type. In addition to fiction, you might also read poetry, magazine articles and non-fiction.
Try to find books that match your child's interests. Get suggestions from the librarian at your school or public library. Check with a bookseller at your favorite bookstore.
If your children are several years apart you will need to read to them individually
as they get older to ensure that each book you choose is at the appropriate
reading and interest level for each child.
As your child gets older and gains in reading ability, occasionally pick a book
right at his reading level and take turns reading to one another.
When reading a chapter of a book each night, always review what happened in
the previous night's chapter before starting a new chapter.
When you begin reading aloud to a baby, you will only be able to keep your
baby's attention for a few minutes. That's to be expected.
As children mature, so do their attention spans.
What You Need: children's books --- time --- enthusiasm
Curriculum
Second graders will be exposed to an integrated, child-centered curriculum. Our guided reading program is designed to the meet the needs of each student at his/her reading level with a combination of phonemic awareness and sight vocabulary. We will be exploring Reading, English, Mathematics, Science and Social Studies as well as encouraging a love of literacy.
Student progress is evaluated through the use of checklists, teacher observations, self-monitoring, journal writing, and report cards. Report cards will be sent home at the end of each six weeks. The brown copy will need to be signed and returned to school as soon as possible. Another copy will be sent home for you to keep once the original signed copy has been returned. Progress reports will be sent home mid-six weeks if the student is in a failing position. Graded papers will be returned once a week. At least 10-15 grades will be recorded for each graded subject per six weeks.
Schedule
Our day begins at 7:55am. Learning will begin at that time, so please be prompt. Children who arrive earlier will need to report to the gym. Students who need to eat breakfast will go to the gym and wait for a teacher to pick them up. Students should not go to their classrooms before 7:45am. All students will be directed to the gym by the school Safety Patrol.
Our day ends at 2:55pm. Students who ride the bus or day care transportation will be dismissed from the gym. All other students will be dismissed by their teacher and from the front entrance of the building.
Absences and Tardies
When your child is absent, please send a note (a doctor's note if your child has been seen by a doctor), explaining the reason for the absence. If your child is out for two or more days, please call the school (972-882-7080) and leave a message for the teacher.
Any student who enters the building after 7:55am will receive a tardy slip and must present it to their teacher upon arrival in the classroom. Tardiness is reported on the report card and does affect our classroom routine.
In the event of bad weather, please tune to Mesquite ISD's radio station, KEOM 88.5, for the latest information and announcements concerning bad weather or log on to www.mesquiteisd.org.
PTA
Smith PTA is a very active and helpful organization to our school. It sponsors school activities, coordinates volunteer programs, and provides materials for our classrooms. Be sure to join and support your child and his/her school. Annual membership to the PTA costs $6.25.
Money
Please send all money to school in a sealed envelope with your child’s name and the teacher’s name written clearly on the front. Send the envelope in your child’s folder. This will facilitate returning the money if lost. Checks made payable to BJ Smith Elementary must have your name, address, phone number, and Drivers License number or they will not be accepted. Date of birth is no longer required. We are unable to accept checks for field trip payments. If you send a check for lunch money please put the students’ PIN number on the check. You can also make payments to your child’s school meal account online. For more information about online payments visit: www.paypams.com. There will be a transaction fee for online payments. This service provides parents with the balance of their child’s account.
Book Orders
Book orders will occasionally be sent home. This is a great way to build your home library. Orders usually take about two weeks to be processed.
Folders
Please be aware that your child will bring home a folder every day. It is important for you to look at this folder as notes from school, homework, and conduct reports will be inside. Please help your child remember to return this folder to school daily with any documents that need to be returned.
Snacks
We will have snack time in our classroom. All snacks must be finger foods, dry and healthy. Please do not send candy. Snacks are optional and you do not have to provide them. Students are not allowed to share snacks with other students. The classroom teacher will set snack time. Bottled water will be allowed in the classroom and must have a pop-top lid. Following is a list of suggested nutritious snacks: graham crackers, animal crackers, wheat crackers, goldfish pretzels, flavored rice cakes, fig newtons, dry cereal, vanilla wafers, pretzels, fresh fruit, welch’s fruit snacks, raisins, vegetables, low-fat string cheese, fruit/grain bars, 94% fat free popcorn, mixes, and peanut butter and crackers,
Conferences
The second grade conference time is from 1:10-1:55 each school day. It is helpful if you let the teacher know you would like a conference time, but not necessary. Please feel free to contact the teacher about any of your concerns. Parents are invited to come visit at any time, however for the safety of our children you must check in at the office and receive a visitor’s pass. A conference will be scheduled at the end of the first six weeks to receive the first report card and at the end of the year if needed.
Other Information
School Menu Prices
Student Adult
* Breakfast $1.05 $1.40
* Lunch $1.75 $2.55
* Desserts $ .30-$.50 extra
To maintain a positive balance in students’ accounts, MISD has a “No Charging, No Borrowing” guideline. Students without means of paying for lunch will be provided with an alternate meal of a peanut butter sandwich and choice of milk. A reminder will be stamped on your child’s hand or a note will be sent home if your child has a low balance or no money in their account.
*A criminal history form must be on file before working/volunteering at the school or helping on a field trip.
2nd Grade Discipline Plan
B.J. Smith has a school wide discipline plan in effect and we believe each child that makes good choices and will reap the rewards of acceptable behavior. Every day your child will start with a grade of 100. Five points will be deducted for each conduct mark he/she receives. It is very important to guide a child to learn self-discipline and help them become a productive member of our society. Our efforts to help teach students proper behavior may sometimes lead to a conduct mark, a note home, a phone call or perhaps even a visit to the Principal’s office. With consistent limits, as well as your solid support at home, we expect to have a problem free year.
We will utilize the Rules of Love and Logic in our classroom.
Rule #1 Adults set firm limits in loving ways without anger, lecture or threats.
Rule #2 When a child causes a problem the adults hands it back in loving ways:
1. In a loving way, the adult holds the child accountable for solving his/her problems in a way that does not make a problem for others.
2. Children are offered choices with limits.
3. Adults use enforceable statements.
4. Adults provide delayed/extended consequences.
5. The adult’s empathy is “locked in” before consequences are delivered.
Developmental Assets Addressed by Love and Logic
1. Highly supportive and loving families and schools.
2. Parents who establish open communication with their children.
3. Positive parent-teacher relationships and parent involvement.
4. Positive school climate.
5. Appropriate standards for behavior at home and school (i.e., limits).
6. Positive school and parental discipline.
7. Positive relationships between children and adults other than parents.
8. High achievement motivation and aspirations.
9. Learning to use empathy with others.
10. Decision-making skills.
11. Self-esteem.
12. Hope, or a positive view, of the world and the future.
Daily Conduct
A conduct report for each six weeks will be sent home daily for a parent to initial. Please initial this form daily. You may assume your child receives a 100 for the day if the square is blank. When your child receives a conduct mark you will see the daily conduct grade and the assigned number associated with the behavior issue in the appropriate date. We expect all students to maintain a daily grade of 90 or higher. The following are the steps of discipline in sequential order:
1. Verbal warning
2. Conduct mark (-5 points / grade 95) and teacher/student conference
3. Conduct mark (-5 points / grade 90) and teacher/student conference/self-evaluation
4. Conduct mark (-5 points / grade 85) and teacher/student conference/loss of privilege
5. Conduct mark (-5 points / grade 80) and teacher/student conference/note sent home
6. Conduct mark (-5 points / grade 75) and teacher/student conference/phone call to parent
7. Conduct mark (-5 points / grade 70) and teacher/student conference/teacher referral
8. Conduct mark (-5 points / grade 65) and teacher/student conference/office referral
School-Wide Expectations
Smith Top 13
We will be making a concentrated effort to focus on manners and social skills. We will be focusing on these expectations:
- Responding to adults
- Do not show disrespect with gestures
- Always say “thank you” when given something
- Keep yourself and the bathroom clean and germ-free
- Greet visitors and make them feel welcome
- Do not stare at a student who is being reprimanded
- If someone drops something and you are close, pick it up
- Hold the door for people rather than letting it close on them
- If someone bumps into you, say “excuse me”, even if it was not your fault
- When walking in line, keep your arms at your sides and move quietly
- Never cut in line
- No matter the circumstances, always be honest
- Be the best person you can be
Cafeteria Expectations
- Always say “thank you” when given something
- Do not save seats in the lunchroom
- After dining in the cafeteria or elsewhere, be responsible for your trash
- You may visit quietly the last 15 minutes with the person seated next to you
- Walk
- Raise your hand for assistance / stay in your seat
- Clean your area before leaving
- No talking when lights are off
Hallway Expectations
- Walk in a single file line in the hall at all times
- Quiet in the hall at all times (No talking in line except for Bell to Bell teaching)
- Walk three tiles from the wall
- No leaning on walls
- No touching work or decorations in the hall
- Keep hallways clean (pick up trash, lunch boxes, etc.)
- Front of line should stop at corners until directed by teacher to continue
Restroom Expectations
- Be quiet in the restroom area at all times
- Follow class restroom monitoring system
- Take care of needs quickly
