Welcome to Second Grade with Mrs. Lanford 
I would like to take this opportunity to tell you that I am very excited to be your child’s
second grade teacher. Your child is very important to me and I will do everything I can to make
sure that both you and your child have a great year. You are going to be amazed by the
academic growth that you will observe throughout the year. There are many wonderful things
to learn in second grade!
I know that with each new school year, comes a new class, a new teacher, and all new
procedures to get used to. My hope is to make the transition a little easier for you by
explaining most of my procedures so that you can have a reference to keep on hand throughout
the year.
Arriving at School
Upon arrival at school, students should eat breakfast in the cafeteria if breakfast was not
provided at home. Students then come directly to the second grade hallway where they
will sit quietly (by class) in the hall and read until 7:35. Teachers will come and take
students into the classroom. The students will unpack, make their lunch choice, write
down homework assignments in the planner, and begin working on morning work
practice.
** School begins promptly at 7:45. The tardy bell will ring and any student not in their
class will need to report to the office for a tardy pass. You will be contacted if your child
reaches 5 tardies.
Morning Work
Every morning, as part of the morning routine, your child will complete Morning Work.
The morning work will consist of ELA and Math Practice, as well as Science and Social
Studies. We will go over it together as a class to ensure your child has the correct
answers. We will do Morning Work Friday- Wednesday. The packet will be sent home on
Wednesday. There will be a short quiz each Thursday.
Planners
Each day your child will write down his/ her homework and upcoming projects, tests or
quizzes or events in a Planner. Please check your child’s planner each day to make sure
they are doing their homework and fulfilling their responsibilities. Please also make
sure to sign/ initial in the planner each night.
Folders
Communication/Homework folders are sent home daily. Please be sure to check this each
night and return to school each day. Homework sheets will be in the folder each night.
Each Friday, you will receive a weekly 2nd grade Newsletter to see what skills we will be
covering the following week and keep track of any important dates. Please note the
pockets in the Folder as some of the papers are to stay at home and some are to be
returned to school.
Each Friday when the Folder comes home, you will see your child’s weekly graded papers
stapled in a packet from the previous week. Please look through the graded papers, go
over them with your child, sign the sheet on top of the packet, and send them back
at your earliest convenience.
Money
If your child needs to bring money to school for any reason, please be sure that it is
placed in a sealed envelope or baggie and labeled with the student’s name and purpose.
This is for your protection and to ensure the money goes to the right place. You may send
in the money in your child’s Homework Folder.
Homework
Your child will have homework Monday- Thursday that usually consists of reading,
spelling, and math. There may be times when other assignments will be added- please
make sure to look in your child’s planner each day. Their homework will be brought
home in the Homework Folder that will also serve as a school/ home communication. In
this folder, you will find any important messages and homework/ class work to complete.
It is very important that this folder is brought to school every day. It is your child’s
responsibility to complete and return their homework each day. I understand that they
may forget their homework. If it becomes a habit, they will have to complete it during
part of their recess. Your child will still have many opportunities for physical activity
during P.E or our brain breaks (a mini-recess). Each student will begin the 9 weeks with a
Homework Grade of 100. Each time homework is missing there will be a 5 point
deduction off that grade.
Please help your child find a consistent, organized place to complete homework. The
purpose of homework is for the students to practice skills independently that we have
covered in class. Please let me know if your child has difficulty completing the homework
independently.
Reading Homework and Log
As we often say here at Anderson Mill, “readers are leaders” and this is so true. The more
opportunities children have with reading, the better they will become. Each day, your
child will be required to read for a minimum of 15- 20 minutes. If they want to read
more, that is FANTASTIC!! The reading will be recorded on a Reading Log included in
your child’s Homework Folder. The log also includes a short comprehension activity to be
done after reading. Please remember to sign the log each night indicating that your child
read at home. Attached is a letter with more information about Daily Reading.
Accelerated Reader
Each nine weeks your child will be assigned a book level and point goal. Keep in mind
that the goal for average correct is always 80%. The book level and/or point goal may be
adjusted throughout the nine weeks based on the average correct score. There will be
opportunities during the day for Students to take AR tests in our room. A printout will
come home every two weeks so that you can see the tests that were taken, the scores, and
the average. There is a link on the school’s webpage where you can find a complete list of
AR books.
Your child’s AR average is more important to me than the number of points they
accumulate. As a general rule, I would like for each student to try a minimum of 3 tests a
week. Since each child will be reading on his/her on level this should be easily attainable.
Your child will be checking out 5 books each week from the library. They will be kept in
the classroom, in a special library bag, until ready to be returned for 5 new books. They
will be allowed to bring home 2 books each night from the bag. When those 2 books are
returned 2 more may go home. This is to ensure that each child always has books on
their level at home and in class. Students are allowed to read books from their library bag
in class and take AR tests. If your child is not bringing books home, please let me know.
Spelling
Each week, your child will have Spelling Words that follow a given pattern. The students
will practice these words in class and they will need to practice them at home as well.
They will have homework on these words during the week and will be tested on these
words on Friday. They will also be tested on 5 additional words that follow the pattern
for the week. These 5 words are not sent home. So it is very important to not only
practice the 10 words on the list, but practice the pattern being studied. It is always a
good idea to see how many words with the pattern your child can spell.
Your child will also have 5 high frequency words that will be sent home to study. Spelling
lists will be adjusted as needed for each individual student.
Testing Schedule
Wednesday~ Morning Work Quiz
Friday~ Spelling and Reading Test
** Other tests will be assigned as needed –Check Planners Nightly!!
Water
We have a water fountain in our classroom that students may use throughout the day if
water is needed. Water bottles are allowed but have to remain on the floor due to spills.
Please make sure they are bottles that can be sealed.
Restroom
We do have a restroom located in our room. Students are welcome to go when needed. I
do ask that they wait for a time when I am not directly teaching unless there is an
emergency, and that it doesn’t interfere with their work/learning. We will have several
specified times throughout the day to go as a class as well.
Snacks
Students are allowed to bring a small individual snack from home each day to be eaten as
they choose. We do not have a set snack time in class. We do not provide snacks. Please
send snacks that will not disrupt class.
Supplies
I am sure that each child has their own set of supplies for the most part. I also have extra
supplies in the classroom if needed throughout the year. It would be a good idea to have
an extra set of sharpened pencils and crayons at home for homework. I will send a note
within the year if extra supplies are needed. Donations are always greatly appreciated! 
Lunch
Our lunch schedule will be from 11:20- 11:45. Parents and/or guardians are always
invited to have lunch with their child.
Transportation
If your child is to go home a different way than normal, I must have a written note or
phone call. Please do not email me during the day as I can’t assure you that I will receive
the email in time to make the change.
Absences
Please make sure to send in a written excuse whenever your child is absent. If you know
your child will be out ahead of time, please let me know so that I can put together their
work. You will be notified when your child has 5 absences.
** Please make sure to label your child’s personal items (coats, book bags, lunch boxes,
pencil boxes). Our Lost and Found is always overflowing with lost items.
Rules, Rewards and Consequences
Rules
We will have several class meetings where we will go over the rules, procedures, and
expectations. Attached is a note with more information about rules, rewards, and
consequences. Please read, sign, and return this note.
Rewards
We will have individual, group, and whole class rewards for positive behavior. Individual
students may earn money to use at the school store on the last Friday of each month.
Please see the detailed letter attached.
Students are placed in groups. Throughout the week, the groups will have an opportunity
to earn points. On Friday, the winning group will be announced and will win a prize.
Consequences
Sadly, there are consequences when rules are broken. On each child’s desk, they have a
pocket with different colored paws inside. Each student will receive 1 verbal warning
and then time will be taken off recess in 5 minute increments. If a student loses recess
time, he/ she may walk laps for the amount of time lost.
Throughout the year, please do not hesitate to contact me for any reason.
You are welcome to call me at school or on my cell. I am here to help you and your
child. Please know that I will always try to do what is best for your child and
treat him/her as I would my own. I am looking forward to an awesome year!!! 
School- 576-6539 ext. 308
Cell-723-0693