Mrs. Ross’ ABC’s

for second grade success!

 

ABSENCES

          Please consult the office in the event of an absence.  You may contact me for make up work.  I expect it to be done in a timely manner. If you go on a trip please have your child write in a journal daily.  If the student is sick they have the same amount of time they were out to complete the assignment.  Please contact me in any situation.

ACCELERATED READING

        Accelerated Reader Program is at Fulbright.  This is a reading program that encourages children to read a book and then take a test on it individually.  The tests are on the computers throughout the school.  PLEASE NOTE, this program will not be a part of their reading grade; it is only a supplement to encourage the students to read. We want you to encourage your children to accumulate points.  There will be an AR store at the end of each nine weeks where they can use these points to purchase these items.  They must have a minimum of 5 points and above 85% accuracy to attend the AR store.

ASSESSMENTS

          Your child will receive assessments throughout the grading periods based on guidelines in the district curriculum maps.  Some are in the form of pencil and paper and some are in the form of observation.

 BEHAVIOR

          The classroom rules are the same as those for the school.  They are as followed:

           1. Follow Directions

           2. We shall keep our hands, feet and bodies to ourselves.

           3. We shall raise our hands to speak in class and listen while others

are speaking.

 

          4.   We shall walk quietly in the building at all times.

          5. We shall respect all school and personal property.

          6. We shall be courteous and respect the rights of others.

Positive behavior will be expected in the classroom and throughout the school at all times.  If there are problems with behavior then see the discipline section for further details.

 CALENDAR

          A LRSD calendar can be found at www.lrsd.org .  You may also consult the Fulbright website for school events.

 CONTACTING MRS. ROSS

          If for any reason you must contact me, you may do so by the following: Leave a message on the classroom phone 447-4739, notify the office at 447-4700 and leave a message with the office or email me at Laura.Ross@lrsd.org . Email or a note is the two best ways to get in touch with me.

  DEVELOPMENTAL READING ASSESSMENT / WRAP

         An assessment of your child’s reading skills will be taken that first couple of weeks and the last month of school.  It will continuously be monitored throughout the year in reading groups and recorded on the report card.   I will be happy to disclose your child’s scores to you at any time after the testing is complete.  The district is now requiring only those new to the district to be tested at the beginning of the school year.  We will be using the scores from last spring as our bases of assessment for those who have been in the district.  All will be tested in the spring. 

DISCIPLINE

 

The consequences for breaking the rules mentioned above are as followed:

          If the student pulls this card:

Green: 1st warning     Yellow: 2nd warning     Orange: Phone Call to Parents    

 Red: Behavior Document*

 *If a card is changed after this they are removed from the classroom and sent to the principal’s office.

The procedures are cumulative for one day and will begin each day.  Repeat offenders will be required to appear before the Pupil Service Team.

FOLDER—PARENT/STUDENT/TEACHER COMMUNICATION

I cannot stress enough how important this folder will be for all of us.  The student’s folders are our ways of communication.  Please view this with your child every night.  This will contain homework, notes, book orders, behavior monitoring, etc. The children are expected to do their homework every night (Monday-Thursday).  Math and reading are the two main subjects for homework along with studying for weekly tests.  It is their responsibility to return it to school the very next day and place it in the homework basket.

 HAPPY TRASH

          “Happy Trash” is items that the class would like in order to make small creative projects to supplement our work in class.  Please consult the “Happy Trash” and “Wish List” items on the website occasionally to help out our classroom.  These items are not part of the classroom supply list; however, we appreciate what ever you can donate.  Card stock, yarn, tissue paper (any color), spray glue/craft glue, small boxes (cereal, detergent, shoe, etc.), paint brushes, and other craft supplies.

 HOMEWORK

          Monday through Thursday your child will bring home homework.  It will mainly be reading/language arts, math, writing, and spelling.  I believe that an hour an evening is a good amount.  I ask that you read with your child for 20 minutes a night.  Work on math facts for 15-20 minutes a night.  You also need to work on spelling words, sight words, and vocabulary words.  Then each assignment should not take longer than 20 or so minutes.  All assignments that are not completed at school are considered homework.  This work is due first thing in the morning or the student will remain in at recess until the assignment is turned in.

 LANGUAGE

          Language will begin the first nine weeks.  Language includes the study of opposites, plurals, ABC order, capital letters, ending punctuation, sentence structure, punctuation, nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, pronouns, possessives, verb tenses, subject-verb agreement, contractions, abbreviation, and compound words.

LUNCH

            Lunch this year is from 11:30-12:15 if you are wanting to come spend a little time eating with your child.

 MATH

Math will begin the first nine weeks. It is becoming more focused and more in-depth with the new State Core Standards.  The focus will be an in-depth understanding in number sense, building fluency in addition and subtraction, understanding units of measurement, and describing and analyzing shapes.  There will also be fast facts test which is the student’s responsibility to study for.

 MONEY FROM HOME

          It is strongly advised that ANY money that comes to school be in an envelope/baggie.  Please label it with your child’s name, teacher, purpose and amount.

 NOTES FROM/FOR PARENTS

          Please check your child’s folder every night for any notes from school.  Important information is constantly being placed in that folder.  It is your child’s responsibility for getting it to you but it is your responsibility to read it.  I will check the folder each morning for any communication you may have for me.

 OFFICE PROCEDURES

          It is school policy that you visit the office before coming to the room for any reason.  The office will let me know that you are coming.  You will need a visitor’s sticker before entering the classroom.  If you enter the classroom without one you will be asked to obtain one from the office.  This allows the children to have a safe learning environment with little interruptions as possible.  Please go to the office to check your child in or out before coming to the classroom.  The office will have to notify me that the correct procedures have been completed before the release of your child.

 PTA

          I encourage everyone to join and be involved in the many activities.  Our PTA does many great things for our school, children, and teachers.  Student’s relatives may join the PTA also.  They also offer the Kroger card.  This card is a refillable gift card that a percentage of what you buy with it goes to the school.  Please purchase one to help Fulbright.

 READING

          Reading will begin the first nine weeks. We are excited to have a new program to explore and learn from!  It will coexist with materials to comply with the new State Core Standards.  It includes sequencing, comprehension, recognizing details, describing events, consonant and vowel review, recognizing character, setting, plot, categorizing, comparing/contrasting, drawing conclusions, cause/effect, predicting, fact/opinion, and making inferences to name a few.

 REPORT CARD GRADES

          Report cards will be sent home within the first week or two after the end of the quarters.  Our card is standards based.  Please keep the report card, but send the signature slip along with the envelope back to school.  Interim reports are sent home 5 weeks into each grading period only for students with concerns.  Do not hesitate to conference with me about these grades.

 REWARDS

          Rewards come in several different forms for various accomplishments.  I like to use lots of rewards such as verbal/written praise, stickers, treats, happy grams, marbles and homework passes.

ROUTINES

It is very important for our class to follow a routine.  Please be on time to class.  Your child’s day is full.  He/she will be counted tardy after 7:40am.  Children will put all items in the necessary places and sit quietly at their desks writing in their morning journals when coming into class.  Please refer to the attached schedule to view each day’s schedule.  The same courtesy is expected at the end of the day.

 SCIENCE

          Science will be taught through our science texts and curriculum.  We will continue to you past Investigation resources but mainly focus on the new materials from the district.  There will be a lot of hands-on and investigative opportunities.

SOCIAL STUDIES

          Social Studies are taught through our text. We will have fun exploring map skills, community, national attributes, economics, geography and Arkansas history. 

 SPELLING

          Spelling will begin the first nine weeks.  Spelling pretests and test will be held each week. The pretests and tests will be passed out either the day the test was given or the day after. The words will go out in the Monday mail on Ross’ Ribbits and will be posted on the web.  There will be some work in class but it is mainly parents’ responsibility/homework for the child to become successful in spelling the words correctly.

 SUPPLIES

          Ask your child periodically if they have the necessary supplies.  You may always look on our website, look in the Fulbright Handbook or ask me for a supply list.

TARDIES

            See tardy policy.

 TEACHER SUGGESTIONS

Teacher suggestions for individual subjects as well as succeeding in the second grade tips are given upon request.

VOLUNTEERING

          I welcome parents to come help with tutoring, reading, teaching, running off copies, decorating, etc.  Please set up times with me at your earliest convenience.  Parents are also encourages to help in other are such as, classroom parent, party coordinator, art teacher, etc.

WATCH DOG DADS

            There is a program, started in 2010, to get males figures in our student’s lives involved in the school.  They can be a father, grandfather, uncle, or a family friend who can sign up to volunteer a day to help the school.  They duties will vary from helping out on the grounds, in the building, and in the classroom to the student they belong to.  If you or you know someone who might be interested please inquire with the office.

 WEBSITE

Please visit the website www.fulbrightelem.org often to view what is going on at Fulbright and in our room.  You can find student work, pictures, supply list, spelling words, assignments, lists of materials and other activities.  A copy of Ross’ Ribbits should be posted on the webpage weekly.

 WISH LIST

          “Wish List” items would help around the classroom.  These items are not part of the required classroom supply list; however, we appreciate whatever you could donate.  Construction Paper, 1st-3rd grade books, Gift certificates to Knowledge Tree, Mardels, Office Depot, Barnes and Noble, Happy Trash and other great stuff.  Keep an eye on the Wish Trees (when offered) and our website!