2nd Grade Parents Page

Second Grade Information for 2005-2006

Curriculum Overview

Reading & Writing
A balanced literacy program is delivered with a variety of group sizes: daily small group guided reading instruction, whole class mini-lessons related to specific writing skills, and our individualized Writer’s Workshop program. Students are immersed in a literature-rich environment that addresses Colorado Content Standards for reading and writing, as well as extending the science and social studies content with the integration of language arts.

Spelling
The year begins with assessment of the 100 high frequency words Boulder Valley School District expects second graders to master. We use this information and incorporate it into the components of the First Steps Spelling Program. First Steps Spelling is an individualized program that emphasizes self-selecting words from students’ daily writing. Students engage in a variety of research-based activities that help them master words. We also integrate key vocabulary from our I.B units of inquiry and other content areas.

Math
We balance the traditional Scott Foresman Addison Wesley textbook with a math program called Investigations. Both programs contain skills that build upon each other throughout the year, and provide a hands-on approach to mathematics. They allow for children’s different abilities and learning styles. The goal is to have children become accurate, efficient, and flexible problem solvers. Through manipulative activities, children come up with their own methods to add, subtract, multiply, or divide and students share their mental processes with the group. This approach allows them to make sense of the traditional algorithms when we introduce them. Prior to each unit, a pretest is given to all second graders to determine each child’s level of proficiency. This determines which flexible grouping they will be in. Second grade math concepts include: patterning, number sense, computation, time, measurement, geometry, fractions, money, probability and statistics.

Units of Inquiry
The International Baccalaureate/Primary Years Program, (IB/PYP) dictates that Units of Inquiry be taught at each grade level. Generally, these units are found within the science and social studies content areas. This year, our units include studies of:
Who We Are (Who’s Who?)
Communities
Alaska & Australia (Above and Below)
Arthropods (Creepy Crawlies and Frequent Flyers)
Fairy Tales
Poetry (Roses are Red)
Field trips, guest speakers, and engaging activities give our students exciting, meaningful experiences.

Science
In second grade we study Solids and Liquids, Air and Weather, and Arthropods, with a focus on insects. We use the FOSS science kits to provide hands-on learning experiences for our students during these units of investigation.

Social Studies
In second grade, we look at the development of communities, beginning with who we are as individuals, and move to our own school and city. We progress into similarities and differences within communities throughout the world with in-depth studies of Alaska and Australia.

Homework Expectations
Second grade teachers will be sending homework on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with two expectations: that it is purposeful and connected to what we’re learning, and that students should be able to complete the work independently. Tuesday’s homework will be due Thursday, and Thursday’s homework will be due Monday. Nightly reading for 20 minutes is strongly encouraged. When a child is absent, or if in-class work is unfinished, the work will be sent home as additional homework. Children may be asked to complete unfinished homework during recess times. If a homework assignment proves to be too hard or frustrating for a child, please write a note indicating the situation. We understand that life is often busy, and appreciate your efforts supporting the return of your child’s homework. We’ll do our best to grade work and return it in a timely fashion.

Student Work
Every week, work will be sent home that has been done in school, with the exception of occasional pieces that will be kept in your child’s portfolio and shared at conference time. Additionally, we do keep all or most of your child’s IB work in an IB notebook during the course of the unit of inquiry. Please feel free to come by and look at this work whenever it is convenient. The contents of the notebooks will be sent home at the end of each unit.

Parent/Teacher Communication
We believe that we all benefit (students, parents, and teachers) when parent/teacher communication is open & direct, consistent, and productive. Friday folders, phone calls, and formal and informal conferences all help establish a healthy triad.

Friday Folders
We will be sending a second grade bi-monthly newsletter in your child’s Friday Folder that contains important information related to class and school activities. On alternating weeks, we will make every effort to write comments in your child’s folder. Please find time each weekend to go over the items in your child’s folder, read any comments we might have made, add any questions or comments you might have, and sign in the space provided. Your child needs to return the folder each Monday. This is a great way for them to establish responsibility between home and school and for parents and teachers to have on-going dialogue.

Phone & In-Person Communication
Because of the nature of teaching, the best time for us to talk to you is after school. Please feel free to call anytime (303-442-2282). You can either leave a message with the office staff (Laura, Wendy, or Christina) or you can leave a message on our voicemail. We will do our best to return your call as promptly as possible. We’re happy to set up informal conferences when needed. These can be very beneficial. We hope you understand that we are seldom available to chat at length about your child right before school or throughout the school day, unless a meeting has been previously arranged.

Conferences
Parent/Teacher afternoon and evening conferences will be held twice a year;
October 11th, 12th, 17th, and 20th
February 21st, 23rd, 27th, and March 1st
The February conference will be student led, where your child is an integral part of the conference procedure. During this time, portfolio work will be shared, goals discussed, and successes celebrated together.

Behavior
Whittier International School is an IB/PYP school with a clearly defined set of attitudes and character traits, which we hope students strive to exemplify. We address conflict resolution through Peace Place regularly throughout the year and students become excellent problem solvers. We feel very strongly that our job as educators is to teach your child to read, write, succeed in math, inquire about the world, and develop a love of learning with self-discipline. When behavioral concerns interfere with this process, we make a positive plan to redirect this behavior. For your information, guidelines for conduct can be found in the student handbook.

Snacks
We will have a short snack time each morning. Students are allowed to bring a nutritious, non-sugary snack from home. Please do not send sugar-filled, or unhealthy (i.e. cookies, candy, rice crispy treats), they do not help your child think, and play, and learn.

Volunteering
We value your support in the classroom, in whatever form works best for you and your schedule. We’d like to present to you a variety of ways in which you might be involved in your child’s second grade education.

*Being in the classroom on a weekly basis helping kids with spelling, math, literacy, writing, computer lab, library, science…
* Joining us on field trips
* Being a guest speaker
* Organizing class parties
* Doing “production” work at home, like curtains for Cathy’s room, or seat sacks for Mary’s room, cutting, gluing…

We won’t be asking for volunteers in the classroom for a few weeks, in order to establish our classroom community, our routines, expectations, etc. We’ll be sending home a sign-up sheet soon in the Friday folder, letting you know the type of help we envision, and when we need it. We know that some of you have knowledge or expertise to share with us on various subjects. See the 2nd Grade Parents Page for a brief overview of the year, so you can think ahead.