Welcome to
Back to
School Night
Second Grade
2015-2016
We Believe:
“The function of education is
to teach one to think
intensively and to think
critically. Intelligence plus
character-that is the goal of
true education.”
-Martin Luther King, Jr.
Daily Schedule
8:05-8:10
8:13-9:08
9:11-9:55
Homeroom
Math
Literacy Block
Writing, Grammar
9:58-10:42
10:45-11:29
11:32-1:05
Specials
Recess/Lunch
Literacy Block
Spelling, Reading
1:08-1:53
1:56-2:24
2:27-3:12
3:15-3:35
History/Science
Recess (snack time)
History/Science
Homeroom
Behavior Chart
Purple = Outstanding!
Blue = Great Choices!
Green = Ready to Learn
Orange = Warning – 5 minutes of recess
Red = Consequence – may result in loss of recess,
letter home to parents, possible meeting with
Ms. Bostick
Planner
* Will come home every day, please
return to school every day
* Check your child’s homework
* Sign in the designated spot to verify you
have checked your child’s assignments
* Write in the “notes” section if your child is
going somewhere different after school!
Homework Folder
* Red Folder
* Two Sides to the folder: Left at
Home, Right Back to School
* Leave the items on the “Left” side at home
* This is what used to be “Friday Folder”
* Return “Right” side back to school
* This is homework and items that need to be
returned to school
* Will come home every night with
(or without) assignments in it
* Complete work as assigned by
teacher (check planner)
* Return to school every day
Birthdays
* You are welcome to drop off (at the
office) or send in treats or goodie
bags with your child
* PTO’s Birthday Express is a great option!
* Store bought treats ONLY!
* NUT FREE ONLY!
* Pencils, stickers, bracelets, etc.
* Please make sure birthday goodies
are at school before 11:00!
* We will be celebrating during afternoon
recess and need time to get them from
the office!
AA Manners & Core Virtues
* 10 AA Manners practiced on a
daily basis
* Monthly Core Virtues
* We will be integrating our
instruction of the AA Core Virtues
into our subjects
Curriculum
* Language Arts Block: Reading,
Spelling, Writing, Grammar
- Core Knowledge Literacy
Use of Open Court (stories)
- Shurley English
- Spalding
- Step Up to Writing
* Math: Saxon Math
* Science: Foss Science
* Social Studies: Core Knowledge
Language Arts Block
Core Knowledge Literacy (Open Court Stories):
Students learn and focus on Fluency, Vocabulary, and
Text Comprehension.
Shurley English:
Students learn the parts of speech through repetition and
song.
Spalding:
Students learn about phonics and how it ties in with
spelling, decoding, and reading. Spelling is focused on
through phonogram sounds and spelling rules.
Step Up to Writing:
Students learn how to create a writing plan and turn it
into a paragraph or narrative.
Social Studies
Core Knowledge Curriculum:
Geography & Map Skills
Ancient India
Ancient China
Ancient Greece
Japan Today
Signs & Symbols of the US
Making the Constitution
The War of 1812
Americans Move West
The Civil War
Immigration and Citizenship
Civil Rights Leaders
Science
FOSS Science & Next Gen
Air & Weather
Balance & Motion
Insects
States of Matter
Earth Science
Science Notebooks- used to keep track of investigations
and vocabulary
STEM Units
Atmospheric Science: Fall
Lego WeDO: Spring
Saxon Math 3
Students learn through what is called “Incremental Development.”
Through this, topics are introduced in spaced steps allowing for
confidence before learning a new concept. Topics are never
dropped, they are continuously worked on and the topics may
grow in complexity.
Content is divided into five components:
Meeting, Lesson, Written Practice, Facts Practice, and
Assessments.
Homework:
* Will be easy first few weeks during review
* Check and assist with corrections as needed
* Initial top of your child’s homework
* Homework will be due daily
Assessments:
* Every Friday – all review from what has been done
* Assessments are worth 80% of math grade
Purpose of Homework
* Establish a routine which includes studying at home
** Set aside the same time every day for homework
* Develop good study habits
** Find a special, quiet place for your child to work
* Involve parents in their child’s learning
** Check in on your child, but do NOT do their work
* Provides practice and reinforcement of skills learned
** Want to know what we do in class?? Look at your child’s
homework! 
* Helps children to take responsibility for their work
** Have THEM put it back in their homework folder, and
pack their folder into their bag
* Not everyone will get A’s
Missed school/Missed Work:
Students have 2 days for each EXCUSED absence to make up
their work. Ex: If they were absent on Monday, work will be due on
Wednesday. Missing Assignment notification will be sent, it is not late!
Grading of Homework
Grading Deductions:
Students are responsible for their own work, including
turning it in on time as well as making sure their name
is on it. Points will be deducted for late or no name work.
Missing Work: 1 day – 10%; 2 days – 20%; 3 days until
test day – 50%
*** Missing Assignment Notifications will be sent
even if your child was absent ***
No Name Work: 10%
STUDENTS MUST COMPLETE AND RETURN
ASSIGNMENTS ON TIME TO RECEIVE FULL CREDIT!!
** T or Empty Box in Parent Portal means the assignment has not yet been
graded **
Grading of Homework
* Grading doesn’t occur instantly
* Please allow us time to thoroughly
grade your child’s assignments
* Different assignments will take longer
to be graded
* Homework and In-Class Work – 3
business days
* Assessments – 5 business days
* Large Projects – 10 business days
* Writing Assignments – 10 business
days
Parent/Teacher Communication
* ALWAYS check this power point, weekly
newsletters, and the website before emailing your child’s teacher with questions.
* E-mail your child’s teacher with questions
before going to someone else.
* Please be patient with e-mails. Remember
our #1 job is to teach your child, not
respond to e-mails. We will try to get back
to you by the end of the day, but please
allow up to 48 hours before contacting us
again.
* If you email us over the weekend, we will
respond beginning Monday morning.
Parent/Teacher Communication
* PLEASE be respectful in e-mails to your
child’s teacher.
* We may not respond to all e-mails. Some emails
from parents are simply informative and do not
require a response. However, if you feel your
email required a response and we have not
responded after the 48 hours, please just followup with us! 
* Where does Kate go after school?? Make
sure Kate knows! Write it in their planner,
make THEM responsible!
Parent/Teacher Communication
* Encourage your child to take
responsibility and e-mail their teachers!
* We can’t communicate with you, if you
don’t get our e-mails That being said…
* Make sure to add ALL of the 2nd grade
teachers
* Make sure to add the Parent Portal e-mail
(tends to go to junk folder)
* Make sure to check your junk folder for
potential e-mails from AA
*Make sure your email is correct in IC
Parent/Teacher Conferences
There are 3 scheduled conferences for
this school year:
October 8 & 9
January 14 & 15
April 7 & 8
These are the best times we will meet with you
regarding your child’s grades or work they can
do at home to help.
* Conferences are NOT Mandatory, but
encouraged.
** We will contact you if there is a concern on a child’s
progress that requires an additional conference
outside of these scheduled times**
Parent/Teacher Conferences
October 8 & 9
January 14 & 15
April 7 & 8
We will post a Sign-Up Genius link about
two weeks before each conference. Please
READ carefully, to know which of your
child’s teachers to sign up with (reading,
math, homeroom, etc.).
Volunteering
* Please continue to check the
teacher’s webpages for volunteer
opportunities
* When volunteering at school, please
refrain from bringing younger
siblings with you. It is a district
policy and a distraction to the
students in the class trying to learn.
Student Expectations
Responsibility
Children in our class are responsible for their own
actions, attitudes, behaviors, and work habits. We
(parents & teachers) will help the children become
more responsible. However, we will NOT take over
individual responsibilities. The students are expected
to return homework, planners, library books, etc. ON
TIME. They are responsible for taking care of their
learning tools and supplies.
Rules
At all times…….
Be respectful, responsible, and honest. Our class
has spirit! We work together, support one another,
and appreciate the uniqueness each member of our
class and learning community has to offer.
Second Grade Instruction Assistant
* Mrs. Schroeder is the IA for 2nd grade
* We support our IA 100%
* We communicate constantly and are
all working towards the same goal
* All students need to have respect for
Ms. Schroeder and follow her
directions, just like they would the
classroom teacher
Uniform Policy
*
American Academy has a uniform, not a
dress code. Make sure tops and bottoms are
from Dennis.
*
If your child is unable to tie their shoes
please help them learn how to do this.
*
Sweatshirts – send a sweatshirt or sweater
everyday. Any sweatshirt can be worn
outside for recess. American Academy
sweatshirts only inside school.
*
LABEL your child’s clothing!! It all looks so
similar!
Uniform Policy
*
Socks:
*
*
*
*
Shoes ~ Must be no higher than the ankle:
*
*
*
*
*
Navy, Red, White, Black ONLY
Girls may have the Dennis Plaid Trim
Tights – Navy, Red, White ONLY
Closed Toe Shoes ONLY
Casual/Dress – SOLID Black, Brown, Navy
Athletic – No glitter, characters, beads
Boots – NOT ALLOWED IN SCHOOL
View the School Uniform Policy here:
http://americanacademyk8.org/aastaffhome/
BOD/policies/StudentUniformPolicy.pdf
After School Activities
*
Please remind your child daily
where they are to go after school.
*
Sometimes we do not get a chance
to check our email to remind your
child where they go at the end of
the day.
*
Write in your child’s planner if they
need help remembering where to
go.
Just a few reminders about Parent Portal:
Please make sure your current email, phone,
& address are on Parent Portal!!
All of the information parents need to know is available under Resources – Portal
Information ( http://www.americanacademyk8.org/parentportal.aspx ). If you haven’t
already, please take a moment to look at this link as it contains relevant information
for both new and returning families (how to request password resets, change their email address, set messenger preferences, etc.).
Our goal as teachers this year is to
have your child grow in their
independence. 2nd grade is their job,
so we want them to be responsible
with their job!
American Academy 2nd
Grade Website
*Let’s take a few minutes to look
at our webpages