Second Grade Second Grade Curriculum NightCurriculum Night

Welcome!• Welcome to Pond Springs and to the

2nd Grade!• Conference periods are 2:00 – 2:35.• Phone is on cover during teaching

hours. • Make appointment to conference

about child.

Absences & Tardies• Attendance is taken at 9:00. Anyone who is not present

at 9:00 is absent. If your child has an appointment, please bring a note to Mrs. Long in the office and she will change the status of the absence.

• Anyone arriving after 7:45 is tardy. Students must be inside the room to be counted on time. Please get your child to school on time to establish good work habits!

• Religious Holidays: Please send note prior to the holiday.

Snack • Students may bring a healthy snack daily.

Please do not send items that need to be refrigerated or heated up.

• Water is the only beverage allowed for snack.• Students are hungry in the morning and get

hungrier when they see their friends eating.• Silverware will not be provided.

Lunch• Students may bring a lunch from home or buy lunch. • There are 3 or 4 choices on the menu. Please review

menu with your child BEFORE school. Once a selection is made, it cannot be changed.

• Students who are tardy will automatically get a Choice #1.

• Free/Reduced lunch forms must be filled out every year.• REMEMBER—Extra items are an additional cost. You can

choose to block items from your child’s account. Please talk to Sandy Redding in the cafeteria.

Birthdays• Texas Public School Nutrition Policy limits what

children can eat at school.• Birthday treats may be consumed after 1:30.

Please send something easy that does not have to be refrigerated or sliced. You do NOT have to send anything. Please DO NOT send drinks.

• Birthday invitations may NOT be passed during school hours UNLESS there is an invitation for every child in their class. The teacher is not allowed to give out addresses or phone numbers. School directories can be purchased.

Expectations• 2nd Grade promotes independence and

responsibility. • All students will build independence as the

year progresses. • All students will enter the room, hang up their

backpacks, and begin morning jobs, independently. Parents, please say “goodbye” outside of the school or door.

• Routines are established quickly; we want students to be productive and learn to use time efficiently.

Behavior• Learning is better accomplished in an environment conducive

to cooperation.

• Students and parents are expected to follow Pioneer Pride procedures at all times.

• Each teacher has their own behavior system in place. Your child’s teacher will discuss it with you in their classroom.

• Positive Reinforcement is Essential. Praise and classroom rewards will be given for good behavior.

• Office Referrals for persistent misbehaviors or other significant concerns. You will be called by the Principal or Asst. Principal. For additional information, please see the district handbook.

Grading• Grade cards come out every nine weeks.

Second grade report cards are similar to K and 1st grade report cards. It is developmental and a rubric is used to determine whether a child is at a stage 1, 2, 3, or 4. A stage 2 means that a child is working toward end of year mastery. Most children will score 2’s at the beginning of the year. Number grades and rubrics may be used on some student work, as well as the check system listed below:

• Grading Equivalences: √+ Excellent √ Acceptable Work √- Needs Improvement q(Anything below a √- will be re-taught

and redone).

Curriculum

• Texas Education Agency• Go to www.tea.state.tx.us to view

the Second Grade TEKS in detail.

Reading• Increase accuracy, fluency and

comprehension• Read longer books• Enjoy reading!!• Still learning to read but realizing

that we read to learn• Multisyllabic words• Students are on different levels• Spelling will be taught during the

reading/writing block using Words Their Way. There will be no spelling list sent home.

Writing• Students are expected to

learn the writing process using the Six + 1 Traits.

• Students learn about sentence structure, capitalization, punctuation, compound words, contractions, and more!

• Students will improve their handwriting skills.

Math• Money• Time• Regrouping• Fractions• Number Comparison• Patterns• Concept of

Multiplication and Division

Science• Living/Nonliving• Changes• Animals• Plants• Moon & Stars• Force• Safe Practices• Tools• Natural Resources• Water Cycle• Measurement• Sound

Social Studies• Maps & Symbols• Government• Community• Landforms• Celebrations &

Landmarks• Timelines• Famous Americans• Weather• Goods and Services

Tests• There will be some tests from

Round Rock ISD benchmarks and OLSAT.

• There will be common assessments for most subject areas.

Library & Computer• Library: We attend once a

week as a class. Students may check out 2 books.

• Ms. Cook will periodically teach a lesson that coincides with what we are studying.

• Computer: We have access to the computer lab and netbooks.

Website• Each teacher will have her own

schedule and other classroom information listed on her website.

Homework• Math and Reading homework will be assigned. • Occasional projects will be assigned.• Homework and behavior will be communicated

through student planners. • Homework may be modified by parent.• Homework should be completed by the student.• Homework in primary elementary school creates

good habits for years to come. The purpose of homework is for practice and reinforce skills taught in class; it is not meant to be a challenge.

How Do I Modify Homework?• If homework is taking too long . . .

– You may modify math by doing only even or odd numbers.

– Reading must take place! You can take turns reading with your child if reading is difficult. Make reading time a bonding time!

– If you modify, please make a note on the assignment and sign it.

Tuesday Folders• Tuesday folders are our lifeline. Check your

child’s backpack every Tuesday.• Information from the classroom teacher is

transmitted via the Tuesday folder. • If you elected to participate in the E folder

program, your information will be available on the Pond Springs website and you need to check it weekly. Otherwise, your information will come home with paper copies.

• Student work is sent home weekly. Please look over what your child has done.

• Please review your child’s work and other information. Send back the empty folder on Wednesday.

Planners• Planners will come home daily.• Communication may be written by

teacher, so please check everyday.• Children will color their conduct in the

signature box.• Parents need to sign or initial the box.• Return the next day.

Communication• Please contact your classroom

teacher if you have questions or concerns!

• Please see website for contact information.

• If you need to get an urgent message to the teacher or your child, please call the office at 464-4200.

Forgotten Items• Please leave any

forgotten items (money, lunches, coats, homework, etc.) in the office if school has started. The office staff will take care of it.

Traffic• Please remember that traffic flow is

one lane only when dropping off and picking up.

• Staff parking is for teachers. Please do not park in those areas.

Thank you for coming!• We look forward to a fun year of

learning and growing! • Please go to your teacher’s

classroom for more information.