Classroom Policies 2023-2024
Important. Please Read.
Cell Phones, Toys, and Electronics
According to the KES Student Handbook:
Cell phones may not be used while school is in session. This includes the Cell Watches-Gizmo Gadgets, Gizmo Pal, etc. Students may wear the watches, but not use them during school hours. Students need to use the school phone when making calls. Phones may be confiscated, given to the principal, and only returned to a parent or guardian. Electronic devices such as game devices, iPods, iPads, mp3 players, are a distraction to the educational environment. If students bring these devices to school, they must remain in backpacks in quiet mode. Toys should also remain at home as they are a distraction to learning, unless the teacher has allowed items for show and tell. The school is not responsible for any lost or stolen items.
Cell phones may not be used while school is in session. This includes the Cell Watches-Gizmo Gadgets, Gizmo Pal, etc. Students may wear the watches, but not use them during school hours. Students need to use the school phone when making calls. Phones may be confiscated, given to the principal, and only returned to a parent or guardian. Electronic devices such as game devices, iPods, iPads, mp3 players, are a distraction to the educational environment. If students bring these devices to school, they must remain in backpacks in quiet mode. Toys should also remain at home as they are a distraction to learning, unless the teacher has allowed items for show and tell. The school is not responsible for any lost or stolen items.
Birthdays
We love to celebrate birthdays! Please let me know in advance if you plan to bring treats to share with the class Please remember that school policy is that treats need to be store bought. In order to not hurt any child's feelings in our classroom, please do not distribute birthday party invitations in class unless EVERY child is invited.
When your child's birthday gets close, I will send home a poster that he/she can fill out. Have fun decorating it! Return is to school on, or near his/her birthday so it can be shared with the class. For students who have a birthday that lands in a summer month, we will have Un-Birthday parties so they will also have a chance to bring in a treat and decorate a poster. I will keep you posted on the date Un-Birthday parties will be celebrated.
When your child's birthday gets close, I will send home a poster that he/she can fill out. Have fun decorating it! Return is to school on, or near his/her birthday so it can be shared with the class. For students who have a birthday that lands in a summer month, we will have Un-Birthday parties so they will also have a chance to bring in a treat and decorate a poster. I will keep you posted on the date Un-Birthday parties will be celebrated.
Classroom Handouts
In an attempt to save paper and make less copies, I will be keeping send-home-papers to a minimum. You will have access to spelling lists, reading logs, math work, policies and so forth on this class website. I also use ClassDojo to get information out to the parents (please see more about this below under the Teacher-Parent Communication).
Attendance
The following is from our KES Attendance Policy:
"Attendance is the key to your student’s success. Schools are responsible for teaching your children but schools can’t do their job if your child is absent. Learning builds day by day. A child who misses a day of school misses a day of learning. Regular, daily attendance is essential if maximum academic achievement is to be expected. As instruction increases in intensity and time your child’s ability to excel and achieve will depend largely upon his/her presence in the classroom each day. Absences because of illness are acceptable. Absence because of neglect, laziness, or family needs such as babysitting will be acted upon, using proper legal channels, if necessary. Teachers will report daily absences to the office where an attendance log will be kept. Habitual patterns of absence will be followed up on immediately and firmly".
"Attendance is the key to your student’s success. Schools are responsible for teaching your children but schools can’t do their job if your child is absent. Learning builds day by day. A child who misses a day of school misses a day of learning. Regular, daily attendance is essential if maximum academic achievement is to be expected. As instruction increases in intensity and time your child’s ability to excel and achieve will depend largely upon his/her presence in the classroom each day. Absences because of illness are acceptable. Absence because of neglect, laziness, or family needs such as babysitting will be acted upon, using proper legal channels, if necessary. Teachers will report daily absences to the office where an attendance log will be kept. Habitual patterns of absence will be followed up on immediately and firmly".
Classroom Management
My classroom management style is all about positive reinforcement. Through-out the school year I will provide different opportunities for the students to earn class parties, extra recess, treats, and so forth. Students earn Class Cash by following the classroom rules which are:
1. Follow Directions Quickly
2. Raise your hand for permission to talk
3. Raise your hand for permission to leave your seat
4. Work Hard, Be Kind
I use a simple class points system to track positive behavior and reward points to individuals, rows and the class as a whole. Students earn Class Cash by following class rules as well as reaching academic goals.
1. Follow Directions Quickly
2. Raise your hand for permission to talk
3. Raise your hand for permission to leave your seat
4. Work Hard, Be Kind
I use a simple class points system to track positive behavior and reward points to individuals, rows and the class as a whole. Students earn Class Cash by following class rules as well as reaching academic goals.
Teacher - Parent Communication
It is very important to me that we (teacher and parents) have open communication. As mentioned above, I use ClassDojo in my classroom as my parent communication resource. I will help everyone get set up so that we can send and receive messages to each other. Because I don't send a lot of paper notes home, it is VERY IMPORTANT that you signup and check your ClassDojo account often (if you allow push notification for this app you'll be notified when I post something new). Most of you are already set up in ClassDojo from last year, but for those of you not yet set up, I will give you the details on how to do this at our Back-To-School Night or you can click the ClassDojo link at the top of the class website (or this CLASSDOJO LINK) for a link to connect. If you ever have questions regarding the use of ClassDojo please contact me.
Homework Policy
Research shows that 2nd grade students should spend no more than 30 minutes of homework each night. Homework for my class will be as follows:
- Read at least 20 minutes, five days a week. Students will receive a reading log at the beginning of each month (the reading log is also the monthly calendar). Please initial each day that your child reads at least 20 minutes and return at the end of each month.
- Occasionally, I will send a math page home for practice, but most math is done in class.
- Read at least 20 minutes, five days a week. Students will receive a reading log at the beginning of each month (the reading log is also the monthly calendar). Please initial each day that your child reads at least 20 minutes and return at the end of each month.
- Occasionally, I will send a math page home for practice, but most math is done in class.
A spelling list will be posted on the class website each week as well as a paper copy send home each Monday. Students are encouraged to write their words twice each night; plus, read the words. Spelling practice does NOT need to be turned in. Power Spelling is also a fun way for students to practice their spelling words using a computer or handheld device.
Math work will be done in class with myself or a classroom aide. By completing math work in class I'm provided with data that helps me know what skills students need extra help on, or who has mastered certain skills and is ready to move on to the next step. This will allow me to differentiate the work that each student receives. If you would like your student to practice math at home you have several options.
1. Print the Math Practice Page found on Go Math Website.
2. Play math games on Go Math that align with our classroom work.
3. Practice math facts on Reflex Math.
4. Play math games on Prodigy
Math work will be done in class with myself or a classroom aide. By completing math work in class I'm provided with data that helps me know what skills students need extra help on, or who has mastered certain skills and is ready to move on to the next step. This will allow me to differentiate the work that each student receives. If you would like your student to practice math at home you have several options.
1. Print the Math Practice Page found on Go Math Website.
2. Play math games on Go Math that align with our classroom work.
3. Practice math facts on Reflex Math.
4. Play math games on Prodigy
Water bottles in the classroom
I allow students to bring a water bottle to school. This helps prevent a loss of time while waiting for everyone to drink from the water fountain after recess and also encourages drinking plenty of water during the day. My rules for water bottles in the classroom:
- They can ONLY be filled with WATER
- They have to be a spill proof container
- Water bottles need to be shatter resistant (no glass)
- The water bottle will be kept at their student cubby.