Blast From The Past. (A peek into my past classrooms)
Why Praise Can Be Bad for Kids
How to Survive Second Grade (& Other Stuff)
August 26, 2010Warmest Greetings, & Welcome to Second Grade!
Are you ready for the new school year? I am (although this letter is a few days later than intended)!
I foresee many wonderful things happening in the months ahead. For one thing, the curriculum is interesting and challenging. You will also thrill in watching your child develop new maturity and independence. Second grade is an exciting time!
Room 15 will be a busy place. If you walk in, you might see a traditional lesson taking place in a formal setting. Five minutes later, you may see students sprawled on the floor, reading from books, working on a composition, or teaming together to figure out a problem they've been given.
I like a well-managed room and have high expectations for the children; students are expected to stay on task, even in loosely organized settings. Alternate settings will be provided for those who have trouble with a particular learning environment ... we all learn differently and those needs will be respected. The room environment will foster compassion, respect, and dignity for all.Back to School Night is Tuesday, August 31. Please make every effort to make it to Back to School Night… it is on this night that I explain my philosophies, teaching strategies, homework policies, and numerous other bits and pieces that help all of us make it through the year with the greatest of ease. I will cover curriculum and a number of parent how-to’s this night. All grades levels have demanding standards to reach, and second grade is no different. I will try to serve our lessons with enough spice to make them interesting and self-motivational. I will also do everything in my power to provide experiences that encourage students to perform at their highest potential.
Room 15 is open to those interested in the learning process. If you would like to visit, you are welcome. I would ask, however, that you call at least one day in advance to arrange for a timely entrance. Disruption to the regular routine must be kept at a minimum. If you would enjoy being a scheduled volunteer, I'll talk about volunteering in the classroom on Back to School Night.
Snacks??? Yes!! Children think and respond to harder tasks better after a nutritious snack or meal, so I hope they have something to eat during the 9:55 recess. A little snack eaten during afternoon recess does an amazing job at 'rejuvenating the spirits' too. The foods I encourage are: peanut butter, cheese, eggs, meat, nuts, breads, fresh fruits, vegetables... you know the stuff. Please don't send chips, candy, cakes, or fruit drinks (they are sticky, spill too easily, and have little or no food value). Remember that snacks act as a supplement for energy ... not a substitute meal or junk food session.
Ways you can help your child at home
1. Please don't let your child watch more than two hours of TV a day ... less is better. Some computer games are just as bad as TV and should be kept at a minimum. To relieve boredom, make interesting books available, and provide paper to draw on or to fold. Remember... boredom breeds creativity. Children should be learning (yes, this is a skill) how to entertain themselves. Give them the tools, but don't feel you need to figure out what they want to do. Please realize... it is not so terrible to let children simply sit and think. Now-days, we sometimes feel that we are not doing our duty as parents if the child is just sitting. But notice! They are rarely just sitting. Pretty soon an interest will be sparked by dust dancing in a sunbeam, or in a spider making a web.
We all need time to think, time to notice, time to relax... maybe we even need a little time to be creative enough to design a little mischief!2. Read to your children, they are never too old. Storybooks are great, but so are newspapers! It can be as casual as reading the comics together, or you can read a headline, sparking a discussion. Your children will be proud to be a part of your conversation and to have their opinion valued. Please relax and read together - the payoff is incredible!
3. On homework assignments ... you generally do not need to sit down with your child ... you do need to provide your child with the space and quiet time to successfully complete the homework, and assist them when necessary.
I encourage parents to check over their child's work, giving special one-on-one instruction when needed. Don't do the work for them.... a bit of a struggle is good for everyone (although this is sometimes more stressful for the parent than the child). I will modify assignments to match needs if necessary. Please keep the line of communication open.4. NEVER make your child feel "bad" for not knowing or understanding something. Take a deep breath and try to help them over that bump. Feeling "stupid" slows a child down ... it never speeds them up.
Home Stuff ...
Although at this moment in time I haven’t passed the paper out, please make sure that you keep a copy of "Brewbaker’s Words That You May Not Misspell" easily accessible to your child when they are doing homework. A Thesaurus is good to have also, although less important during the first half of the year. Other necessary supplies for home are: Pencils, Paper (binder paper & plain white ‘typing’ paper), Glue, Scissors, & Crayons. If you need help in obtaining these, please contact me and I will gladly supply you. Please make sure that all homework is done on regular sized, white, lined paper, or on special paper that I might send home. If you have pulled from a spiral notebook, neatly cut the fluff off before turning in.
Homework
There is too much to teach in the day. Homework will be assigned most days -- Monday through Thursday. There are days when it is difficult for me to prepare the packet on time, or for some reason I may say, "The assignment is canceled." Believe your child, relax, and look on these rare days as a vacation for your child (and you!).
Note: Homework is important, but it must not get in the way of socialization, sleep, prior commitments, or your family's sanity. A simple note that the homework is unfinished will do, although work still needs to be finished in a timely manner. Keep the line of communication open if you find that the work assigned is often overwhelming and needs to be modified.
Typical Homework:
MOST NIGHTS:
...Barnell Loft Reading Skill Exercises
... Basic Skills Practice such as handwriting, Spelling, memorizing basic facts or poetry, etc.
... Unfinished schoolwork (math, reading, writing assignments, etc.)MOST WEEKS:
...One compositional writing assignment
...Spelling/Vocabulary Practice and assignmentsMOST MONTHS:
Creative class presentation (puppets, drama, characterization, reading a favorite essay, etc.)YEARLY:
...One major report (subject to be determined)
...5 to 10 minor reports on various topics (this is how I teach organization and paragraphing skills)
Subjects Taught
Language Arts
I use multiple methods to teach Reading and Writing. I try to get in at least two of the following every day. Here is a brief run-through of my program.
Through Core Literature & Poetry, your child will experience rich language and writing activities. I hope that you enjoy, as much as I do, your child's essays and stories that will be a direct result of being exposed to quality poems, plays, essays, and stories. Readability and Comprehension levels are usually high and difficult, so learning is guided through special questioning strategies, vocabulary discussions, choral readings, etc.
Science and Social Studies materials will be used for basic skill development (reading for facts and detail, skim reading, note taking, sequencing, etc.). Children will also use "Barnell Loft" Skill Booklets, which are built on short, informational passages. These booklets have controlled vocabulary at designated reading levels, and students are given books at their own "instructional level;" the level where they read and comprehend at approximately 90% accuracy.
For fluency development, children will be matched up with a similarly leveled student to "partner read" with (oral reading to each other). Books are self selected and chosen for interest and "ease of reading." It is during "Partner Reading" that the child practices sentence phrasing, expression, and fluid reading. They also read for specific “devices” that authors use (techniques and styles of writing). These books are read at the child's "independent level"... where they don't need much help, except perhaps with vocabulary. We have a fairly large selection of books with multiple copies of most. It is my hope that children read many, many books by year's end. When reading-- "More is Better."
Math
Our district has adopted and supplied us with copies of the state approved Everyday Math series. It will be used and balanced, when needed, with other programs. Everyday Math encourages a deep understanding of math, and should keep the children on their toes.
Science
Hands on Science will be taught to the max! A lot of fun... a lot of learning. If there is a subject that is candy to me, it's Science.
Computers
For second grade, I will use computers for a few creative pieces (yet to be designed). Computers will not be a major focus for the class, unless there is a substantial objection from parents. There are many other things that I prefer to spend the time on. I say this with confidence because by fifth grade, most children have a pretty solid training in place (mostly happening in fourth grade).
Spelling
We will be having weekly spelling tests of words from their Wordly Wise booklets and/or from McCracken Phonics for Spelling. I will talk to you about it at Back to School Night.
I have high expectations for spelling in regular written work. Each student will receive a list of ~1000 words that they should try not to misspell. Children are encouraged to keep this list handy both at school and home. Misspelling of these words in daily writing will affect their spelling grade to some degree.Social Studies
We dive into Social Studies, Geography, and History during the second or third week of school. The Second Grade focus for the year is friendship and community building. I believe that the children will enjoy our studies.
Communications
Feel free to catch me after school if you have any questions (mornings and days -including recesses- are usually very busy). Try very hard not to come in with questions during regular class time. We can also schedule conferences any time you wish. I will be informally testing the children in reading, writing, and math, so if you want to know 'whereabouts' your child is, I'll be ready and happy to share that information with you within a couple weeks.
As far as communication, I prefer e-mail to voicemail since it can be pondered and replied to in an efficient manner.
My e-mail is ... cbrewbaker@mpcsd.orgRoom 15's web page will be up and running soon. This year's page will develop rapidly, and you will find homework, pictures, calendar, and other information here. I will let you and the children know when it can be accessed.
I look forward to meeting and working with all of you and your children. I will do everything in my power to make this a wonderful year for your children. Keep the line of communication open ... Best Wishes!
Caryl Brewbaker