Welcome To Ms. Brekke’s

Second Grade

Curriculum Night

A Little About Me

• Grew up in South Dakota• Undergraduate from Moorhead State

University in 2000• Master’s degree in Curriculum and

Instruction in June 2006 from NAU• SEI Endorsement in 2006• Early Childhood Endorsement in 2006• DIBLES coordinator, CATS Liaison, CATS

testing for district, social committee chair, student teacher partnership

Schedule8:25-8:45—Unpack, attendance, pledge, morning work8:45-9:30—Reading/Common Core9:30-10:45—Guided Reading Groups10:45-11:25—Recess/Lunch11:25-12:20—RTI—enrichment and remedial11:25-12:55—Specials1:00-2:00—Math2:00-2:15—Recess/snack2:15-2:50—Writing2:50—pack up3:00--dismissal

Common Core State Standards

Forty-seven states across our country including Arizona have adopted the Common Core State Standards. Please go to this website to learn more about the standards that will be taught to your child this school year.

http://www.azed.gov/standards-practices/files/2011/10/2ndgradeefeb4.pdf

Reading

• More non-fiction and informational text including science and social studies

• Regular practice with complex text and its academic vocabulary

• Guided Reading—Leveled groups• Harcourt Reading Series• Shared Reading• DEAR Time• Book comes home on Thursdays!

Assessment

• DIBELS/Burst/Progress Monitoring• RTI—enrichment and intervention• Weekly comprehension/vocabulary

tests• Spelling test• SAT 10• DRA reading test

Ways to Help at Home

• Provide time and space for your child to read independently free from distractions.

• All children need to be reading on grade level by the end of third grade.

• Model reading by allowing your child to see you reading at home.

• Make sure your child has a library card.• In every day discussion, encourage your child to explain

his/her thinking and support reasoning with facts.• Encourage your child to write: thank you letters,

journals, pen pals, personal stories and poems, etc.

Spelling

• Words Their Way• Test on Fridays• Word list will come home Monday—

15 words• Challenge Words--optional• Sentence Dictation

Writing

• 6 Traits of Writing• Journals• Squiggle Books (kids love these)• 4 Square• Step up to Writing

Math

• More time on fewer skills• Link major topics from grade to grade• Connect Math to real world problems• Math journals, buddy talk, math packets,

small group, whole group, Marcy Cook

• Part of Common Core Reading Program• Harcourt• Leveled Books—Reading groups• Class Experiments• Science Fair in January

• Part of Common Core Reading Program• Leveled books• Pioneers, Pilgrims, 13 colonies, Revolutionary War

(field trip), Map skills, Communities, Immigrants, Asian Culture and so much more!

Homework

• DOT binder—Everything you need!• Independent reading log • Spelling• Do homework in pencil• Unfinished work will come home Friday to be

returned on Monday• All homework is a review of what we are doing in

the classroom.

Behavior System• Clip It Up!-- Students who clip up and earn 20 punches will be

able to write their name on the King/Queen of the Jungle! They will also get to choose an activity out of the behavior catalog.

-- Students who clip down will first receive a warning, then receive a consequence decided by the teacher and finally at the lowest level I will contact you personally about your child’s behavior.

-- At the end of each day, students will bring home a behavior report in their DOT Binder. Please review this daily with your child.

• Whole Class—Bucket Fillers• Behavior Plans if needed

Pride in the Pack

• P—Positive• A—Achieving• C—Compassionate• K—Kids

--Wear your Basha T-shirts on Friday!--Pack awards

Communication

• Weekly Newsletter-online!!• Scheduled Conferences• Email--brekke.heather@cusd80.com • DOT Binder—the best communication!!

General Information

• Birthdays• Star of the Week• Book Orders• CEF--$1 per child• Tax Credits—this helps us pay for field

trips!!• Snacks—bring your own• Volunteers—Room mom/dad, daily

volunteers, website, JA, Art Masterpiece

Partnership