Miss Look’s

nd
2 Grade Class
Welcome to 2nd grade!
I am so incredibly excited to be your child’s teacher this year. Your
child is now the “top dog” at MES. I am looking forward to the next ten
months of learning and laughter.

My contact information is provided below. If you have an important

message to get to your child before the end of the day, please call the
ladies in the office and they will get the message to me.

School contact: alook@dist102.org

382-3612 ext. 105
School hours: 7:45 a.m.—3:45 p.m.

I use class dojo for communication! It is the best way to contact me.

LANGUAGE ARTS—
Reading—
We will be using a combination Amy Lemons “Rooted in Reading”
and daily 5 (Listen to read, Read to Self, Buddy Reading, Word Work, and
Guided Reading).
What to expect each week—
  We will read several books throughout the week that focus on a
specific comprehension skill.
 Your child will complete different activities for the comprehension,
phonics, and grammar skills. All work will be completed in class. If
your child does not complete their work during the given time during
school, they may need to bring their work home to complete. We also
have study hall during recess, which is extra time provided to
students to complete their work.
 During Daily 5 time, the children will also meet in small guided
reading groups throughout the week. These groups will focus on
specific skills and build upon your child’s knowledge. These groups
are flexible and will change often. It is my time to work with
students one on one and in a small group.
 We will test on the specific skill that we are learning.

Spelling—
 We have 16-18 words each week.
 All spelling words are in the pattern for the week.
 All spelling words will be posted on weekly newsletters as well as on
the website.
 Spelling words will be sent home each Monday.
 Spelling choice board will be due back to school by Thursday of each
week. Students choose 3 activities to do. If the student does not turn
it in on Thursday, they will be in studyhall (even if they left it at
home).
 I give a pre-test on Monday. Your child will either be on regular or
super words. If they are on regular, the super words are extra credit.
If they are on super, the regular words are extra credit.
 Spelling tests will be held on Friday of each week.
A.R.—Accelerated reader—
 Your child will take the Star Reading test at the beginning of the
school year to determine their book level for the year. There are also
times that I will encourage students to look through books that are
both higher and lower than their book level to peak their interest in
reading many different types of books.
 Your child will be bringing home A.R. books each night to read.
Please have your child read and return the next day in their marked
baggy with the signed Book in a bag sheet. If your child brings back
the sheet filled with the book title and signatures, they will be able to
earn a small reward.
 Your child should be taking at least 3 A.R. tests each week. The
tests are to check reading comprehension. Most picture books are
worth .5. Chapter books are usually at least 1.0 point or higher. A.R.
Book Finder is available on our district website if you would like to
check any book you have at home to see if it is an A.R. book.
 Your child will not be able to look through their books for answers
while taking tests on the computer.
 A.R. Celebration Day—this is a celebration for each student who
meets their A.R. goal each nine weeks (4x’s a year). If your child
does not meet their goal, they will not be attending the celebration
and will read during the party.
 YES, A.R. IS A BIG DEAL IN 2ND GRADE!—I realize it may seem
that I am expecting quite a bit as far as A.R. but the students are more
than capable of meeting their goals each nine weeks. I do provide
time during class for A.R. reading but your child needs to be reading
their A.R. books at home nightly also!

Fluency Reads—
What is a fluent reader? A fluent reader is someone who has the
ability to read with speed, accuracy and uses proper expression. We will
be working on this each day in class but there will be a one minute
read to be completed every night. Be watching for this to come home
beginning in November.

Writing—
We will be doing a lot of writing in second grade. We will have
writer’s workshop where students will learn how to come up with ideas to
write about as well as conventions such as capital letters, complete
sentences, and sticking to one main idea. I know many children struggle
at writing but we will practice, practice and practice some more. This
is a long process but it is achievable for your child. At the end of second
grade, it is my hope that your child will have become a great little writer.
We will begin cursive writing in January.

Mathematics—
We will be using a combination of Engage New York and Amy
Lemons Magic Math curriculum. The series is common core aligned and
is teacher/student friendly. We will participate in a math lesson daily in
which I will model for students, we will complete guided practice
together, and the student will complete work on their own. We will not
have math homework each day, but there will be times your child will
bring work home. If you have any questions about the math assignment
and how it should be completed, please let me know.
Here is just a peek at what we will be working on this year in math . .
. (Please realize this in NOT the extent of what we will learn this year!)
 Addition
 Subtraction
 Words problems
 Telling time to the minute
 Counting money
 Counting on and back by 2’s, 3’s, 5’s, 10’s and 100’s
 Making and reading a graph
 Estimating and predicting
 Geometry, fractions and probability
  Measurement
 Beginning multiplication- arrays
 Beginning division

Behavior Chart--
Your child will be given a behavior chart each Monday. The behavior chart
coincides with our classroom “clip chart”. Each child has a labeled clothespin.
Depending upon behavior, your child will move their clip up or down the chart each
day. Everyone begins on green each morning—regardless of the prior day’s
behavior. At the end of each school day, your child will record where their
clothespin is located on the clip chart. This will be recorded in crayon or marker
and to be completed at school by your child. The sheet will then be placed in the
front of the purple folder and sent home. A parent/guardian needs to sign the
behavior chart daily. I do realize this may seem tedious but I have found it is
essential to keeping on top of behaviors in the classroom. The behavior report not
only recognizes poor behavior choices but also exceptional behaviors. Please return
the behavior report each day!

Our Classroom Rules

1. Be responsible
 Accept responsibility for your actions
 Follow directions quickly
 Be a problem solver
 Be prepared for class
2. Be respectful
 Respect others, respect yourself, respect your school
 Raise your hand
 Wait your turn to speak
 Be honest
 Cheer on your classmates
3. Be a learner
  Be a good listener
 Give 100% at all times
 Ask for help when needed
 Complete your work in a timely manner
4. Be kind
 Encourage others
 Say “please” and “thank you”
 Make good choices even when no one is looking

Consequences
 Reminder of rules
 Sit away from the group with head down
 Teacher’s choice
 Note home to parents
 Phone call to parents
 Sent to principal’s office to talk with principal about behavior

Please note the consequences of behaviors are not in any numbered order. As
your child’s teacher, I may use any consequence at any time for inappropriate
behaviors

Fuzzy Balls- Each group has an opportunity to earn a fuzzy ball for
being the quickest and quietest group. If I notice that a group is working
extremely well together I will also give them a fuzzy ball. The group at
the end of the week with the most fuzzy balls will win a prize. It provides
students the opportunity to work together as a team.

Class Gumballs- The gumball machine is a chance for the students

to work together as a group to earn a reward. If the students are all
working hard on an activity I would give them a gumball. If the students
all line up quickly and quietly without having me remind them, they
would earn a gumball as a class. When the students earn all of their
gumballs, they would receive a class reward. For instance, the class may
bring in a small favorite stuffed animal for the day. I will be sending
home a note when the students have reached their gumball goal and
receive a reward as a class.

P.B.I.S— Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports

District 102 implemented P.B.I.S five years ago. The program is
district wide and your child is should already be very familiar with how
the program works. The program teaches the students the expected
behaviors of the school environment (classroom, library, hallway,
bathroom, lunchroom, playground, and bus) and rewards those students
who meet and exceed those expectations. The students earn paws for
meeting/exceeding the expectations. There is a school wide celebration
for those students who have met a minimum number of paws each nine
weeks. Those students who do not meet the minimum number of paws
will review the expectations at Marquette School during celebration time.
See attached PBIS Expectations list. THIS IS NOT THE SAME
CELEBRATION AS MY CLASSROOM A.R. CELEBRATION!

EXTRAS—
Weekly Folder- At the beginning of the week, I will be sending home a
weekly folder containing each student’s graded work. In the folder there
is a sheet for a parent/guardian signature. I found that many students were
misplacing graded work that was placed in their mailbox in their desk.
This provides a way for you to continue to monitor your child’s progress
and lets me know that you saw and reviewed their graded work.

Tiger Folder—
 Your child will transport all school work/notes in a tiger folder.
 The tiger folder MUST be brought to school every single day!!
 Please make sure your child cleans their folder out each night.

Grading Scale—
 The grading scale used in our district is as follows
93 – 100 = A
86 – 92 = B
78 – 85 = C
70 – 77 = D
0 – 69 = F

Lunch Money—
 Please make sure when sending in lunch money that you mark your
envelope with your child’s name, the money amount and 2L. If you
do not mark your money, it may not be posted to your child’s
account.
P.E.— Music
 We have P.E. every day!!!!
 Your child needs to have a pair of tennis shoes AT school for P.E. If
your child does not have shoes, they will not be allowed to participate
in P.E. and will be required to sit out during P.E.
 PLEASE MAKE SURE YOUR CHILD HAS A PAIR OF
SOCKS TO WEAR WITH THEIR SHOES. OUR
CLASSROOM BECOMES QUITE STINKY SMELLING IF
SOCKS ARE NOT WORN!!!!! SOCKS MAY BE LEFT IN
YOUR CHILD’S LOCKER!
 Music class will be held twice a week.

Recess/Study Hall—
 The children are given recess each day. As far as the weather, if the
air temperature is above 20 degrees we will be outside. Please dress
your child for the super cold weather once it gets chilly outside.
  FLIP FLOPS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO BE WORN AT ANY
TIME! This is for safety purposes on the playground.
 Study hall is available for students who did not complete their
classroom work in the morning or return homework from the night
before.

Weekly Newsletter—
 Your child will bring home a weekly newsletter every Monday.
Please read through the letter carefully. The spelling words will be
posted on the note along with any important dates/info for the week.
Spelling words will also be posted on my district website.

Star Student—
 Each student will be given an opportunity to be the Star Student
friend of the week. The Star Student friend will display their poster
(completed at home and returned on Monday) and share their
information with peers. They will also be to bring a few small items
from home that are special to them that can be displayed such as their
favorite stuffed animal.

Birthday Celebrations—
 Birthdays are celebrated one time each month. There will be one
designated day per month for the celebration of birthdays. This day
will be posted on the calendar. You are welcome to send store
bought treats to school but this is not required.
 Your child will receive a small birthday treat from the class.
 Summer birthdays will be celebrated in May.
 Birthday invitations—as per the district handbook—if you are
sending party invitations to school you may either 1) invite the entire
class, 2) invite all the boys in the class if your child is a boy or 3)
invite all the girls in the class if your child is a girl. Individual
invitations to just a few students will not be allowed.

Website--
 We are a paperless district (minus me at times however) so you will
not be seeing any breakfast/lunch menus coming home each month. You
can find whatever you need on the district website which is
www.dist102.org.

Dismissal—
 If your child needs to change their regular dismissal routine, YOU
MUST WRITE A NOTE TO INFORM ME OF THE
CHANGE!!!!!!!! If there is no note or a phone call, your child will
not be allowed to leave the school grounds.