Parent Packet
Welcome to Second Grade!
How exciting the beginning of a new school year is! You are probably wondering
about this person who will be spending so much time with your child. I am married
to my talented husband David and the mother of two sons (and daughter-in-laws).
No- no grandchildren, just grand pets. I am originally from Ohio where I graduated from Kent State University in 1975. Yikes! This is my second year teaching
second grade though I have taught at Oak View for 21 years. While I am teaching
your children, they will be teaching me. They are still "little", but able to take on
more of their own academic responsibility. Together we will work to give our children the tools to become responsible citizens and successful people. I look forward to getting to know your children and helping them find adventure in each new
day.
Following is information that should be helpful in introducing you to our curriculum
and procedures for the year.
Reading
Last year our corporation adopted a new reading series published by Houghton
Mifflin Harcourt Company entitled Journeys. It is a comprehensive series covering
reading, spelling, language and writing. I am organizing our language arts block using the Daily 5, which allows the children to make personal choices of work involving
Reading to Self, Word Work, Working on Writing, Listening to Reading, and Reading to Someone. Leveled books will be used to instruct each child at their reading
level. Leveled readers that your child is reading during Guided Reading groups may
be sent home. Please have your child read it to you and return it to school the next
day. Your child may also bring home a chapter book he/she is reading in class. This
is an opportunity for a “book study” for you and your child. Concepts such as characters, plot, sequencing, and conflict resolution might be discussed. 
Spelling
Conventional spelling becomes important in second grade. They should be transferring their spelling knowledge to their daily writing. The children are given a pretest on Friday. The first five missed words out of 12 are your child's words for
the week along with 5 high frequency words from the First 600 Most Frequently
Used word list. Spelling lists are sent home on Monday. Should your child not miss
any words from the list they will be assigned words from a Challenge list. Your
child is responsible for his/her 10 words. While the children will be practicing
their words during Working with Words at school I recommend that they practice
their spelling words at home every day. The Post Test will be given on Friday.
Writing
Northwest Allen County students use the 6 + 1 Writing Traits to develop their
writing abilities. We will strive to improve ideas, organization, word choice, voice,
sentence fluency, conventions and presentation. Many of our writing pieces will be
added to the children's Writing Binders. What a nice compilation of their writing
progress through the years!
Math
We use the enVision Math series. Concepts taught in second grade are addition
and subtraction strategies, place value to 1,000, mental math, adding and subtracting 2-digit numbers, 3-digit addition and subtraction, geometry, money, measurement, time, graphing and data. And, as if that's not enough, they have to recall
math facts quickly! Your support at home is crucial for your child's math success.
Please discuss the homework with him/her. Most often it will be review of a previously taught lesson.
Science
Our science curriculum is the Foss science kits. Second grade curriculum covers
Balance and Motion, Air and Weather, and Plants and Animals.
Social Studies
We will be using the Macmillan/McGraw-Hill People and Places series.
Handwriting
We use the Zaner-Bloser Manuscript. Please encourage your child to use their
Personal Best printing on all work.
Birthdays
Birthdays are a special day. Your child's day will be recognized at school. Birthday
treats are allowed, but not necessary. Think healthy. Thank you. Summer birthdays will be celebrated in May.
Daily Planner and Take Home Folder
Daily assignments and sometimes teacher notes are written in the planner. (Sometimes we may not complete something that is on the planner because something
else may have taken longer especially at the beginning of the year. Not to worry.)
I will write an HW for Homework on the planner, so you will know what it is. Please
check and sign this planner each day. Notes and checked assignments will come
home in the Take Home Folder. This also should be checked and emptied each
day and any notes/lunch money coming to school should be put in this folder. Your
child is responsible to empty this folder at school each day.
E-mail
E-mail is a quick way to get in touch with me. My email is daona.shakley@nacs.k12.in.us. I will also be setting up a class e-mail so that I may easily contact you. If
you did not convey your e-mail address on the registration forms, I would appreciate you letting me know yours. My school phone number is 637-5117 ext. 5014
should you be unable to reach me via e-mail. Call me anytime! Thank you!
Homework
Second graders are expected to read at least 20 minutes each night and practice
spelling words and math facts. They will also have math and/reading/language
homework most Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesdays. Sometimes they may need to
finish daily assignments. This homework needs to be returned the next day.
Please monitor the quality and accuracy of their work. As I said, second graders
are learning independence, but need to be taught how to do that and what our ex-
pectations are. Should your child be absent they have as many days to complete
the work as they were absent.
Discipline Policy
Please see the separate Discipline Policy page.
Snacks
Our lunch is at 11:15-12:00; therefore the children can get hungry in the morning.
They may bring a small snack and also a sport water bottle.
Book Orders
The Scholastic book clubs offer affordable quality books. Judging from what I've
observed so far, this class loves to read! I have sent home a letter introducing
this program.
Special Classes Schedule
ComputerMusicP.E.LibraryArtThank you so much for coming this evening. Stay tuned for more coming events.
Sincerely,
Daona Shakley