Miss Thomass Second Grade

Dear Parents,

Welcome to our classroom! I am so excited to get to know each of you and to

be teaching your kids this year! I have created this handout to share some general
notes and many of our classroom policies. I hope this will help you understand what
to expect in our class this year and answer some questions you may have. Please
READ THIS WHOLE PACKET and keep it for future reference! Thank you!
Class Website
I have created a website for the class at http://msthomasclasssite.weebly.com/. On
this site will be much of the same information included in this packet, as well as up
to date information on whats going on in the classroom, helpful hints for parents,
educational websites for kids, and any other information I think you might need to
know. Please check regularly for updates and new material.
Parent- Teacher Communication
I strongly believe that communication between parents and teacher is necessary for
your child to have the best year possible! Please contact me if you have any
questions or concerns. In addition, please contact me if anything is going on at
home that you think might affect your childs behavior in class. Knowing about any
issues allows me to be sensitive to them.
The BEST way to contact me is by e-mail, [email protected] and I will
respond within 48 hours during the school week. If that is not convenient for you,
you can always send a note to school with your child or call me at school: 919-3880077 ext. 134
Please make sure that you call the school and talk with the administrative
assistant if your dismissal plans change during the school day!

A Few General Notes to Start:

VOLUNTEERS: From time to time there will be opportunities to help out in the
classroom. I will notify you in advance of upcoming events, and look forward to
partnering with you to make this a successful year. If you wish to volunteer in
any capacity where you will interact with the kids, you must have a
background check. Please see Mrs. Wood or Ms. Bell for additional information.
You will not be allowed back into the classroom without one, per school policy.

We collect Box Tops for Education, which are found on the Mills Products, Ziploc
bags, Kleenex brand tissues, Cottonelle toilet paper, and many other grocery items.
Each time we receive a box top, money is donated back to the school. Please watch
out for these box tops, cut them out, and return them to school.

Throughout the year, Scholastic Book Orders will be placed. I will send home flyers
when they are available, and if youre interested then you can order for your child,

and earn points and free books for our class too! The link to order online is
http://scholastic.com/readingclub and the one time activation code for our class is
P6WBK.
Homework
Homework will usually be a reinforcement of what we have done in class, and the
skills and concepts should be familiar to your child. Generally, there will be a
spelling and math assignment each night, as well as a reading log* entry. We
work on a different writing topic each week, and if your child doesnt complete it, it
will be sent home in the Friday Folder and the final draft is due the following
Monday. Occasionally there may also be social studies, science, or a long term
project to complete.
*Reading Log: Along with the specific assignments, your child should be engaged in
at least 20 minutes of pleasurable reading each night. This may include your child
reading to you, you reading to your child, and/or your child reading alone. There is
a reading log that your child is required to fill out for homework nightly. If a reading
book is sent home with your child, he/she should read this book as part of the
evenings homework. The Friday reading log is optional, but if completed,
students will earn 1 extra credit point for doing so. Reading logs will be
collected and graded each Friday.
I do check each assignment for completion the next day. Please make sure your
student is completing the homework on the day assigned, and it is
returned to school the next day.

Conferences and Report Cards

Conferences: Our school has scheduled parent teacher conference days a few times
during the year. In this class we will have student led conferences this year, and
you will learn more about those later. I will also be available to have a private
conference if needed, and scheduled.
Report Cards: Report cards will be issued at the end of each nine-week period.
They will be sent home with the children.
Dress Code
Students need to adhere to the school dress code. Please review the Student
Handbook or TMSA website with your child, to make sure he/she is following the
guidelines. If not, students will receive two warnings, and then disciplinary action
will be taken.
As stated in the handbook:

Shoes must be closed toed dress shoes, only solid black, solid white, navy blue, or
solid brown in color, or athletic shoes in solid black, navy blue, or solid white also
including any logos, trim, and shoe strings.

For girls, pants, jeans, pajama bottoms, leggings or other apparel may not be worn
under the Capri/Pants/Scooter.
For boys, all pants and shorts must have belt loops, and a belt must be worn
through all the loops and fastened appropriately.
Henleys or long sleeve shirts are not permitted to be worn under the school uniform
at any time.
Every Friday students are allowed to wear jean pants, ONLY if they wear a TMSA
shirt of any kind (Math Kangaroo, Chess Club, Spirit Wear, Pi Day, polo with the logo,
etc.). They can also wear regular tennis shoes with the jeans.
Specials
Each week, your child will go to the specials with the following schedule:
Monday: Computer and Art
Tuesday: Music and P.E.
Wednesday: Art
Thursday: P.E. and Music
Friday: Computer
Please make sure your child has tennis shoes for P.E. on Tuesday and Thursday.
They will have the opportunity to change into and out of these for the class period,
but they still need to meet dress code. Please see Ms. Hood if you have questions
about this.

SAFARI Notebook
Students will bring home their SAFARI (Students and Families are Responsible and
Informed) binder every day. Inside will be their homework, their completed work,
resources for the current week, and handouts/notes home. The binder is their
responsibility to keep up with and to keep organized. We will use it in class as well,
so it needs to be carried back and forth from school daily.

Birthdays
Birthdays are special occasions! In our class, your child will get a special cover for
their chair and a birthday sticker so they can shine on their special day. We will also
sing to the birthday boy or girl! You are welcome to bring a treat for the class, a
small toy or token for the class, or a book to donate to the classroom. Please
contact me a day or two before to find out our current class size, allergies, and an
appropriate time to bring the treats for your child.
Snack Time

Since many of the kids stay after school for clubs, we will try to have snack at the
end of each school day, time permitting. Please send in a healthy snack. Some
good examples are sliced fruit, snap peas, celery sticks, etc.

Classroom Rules and Behavior

The rules for our classroom are as follows:
1. Follow directions quickly.
2. Listen when your teacher is talking or a classmate is talking.
3. Raise your hand to speak or stand. (Dont blurt out or randomly get out of your
chair.)
4. Respect yourself, respect others, and respect the school.
5. Make smart choices.
6. Come to class prepared and ready to learn.
We keep track of how we are doing using ClassDojo. An account has been set up for
your child, and they will earn or lose points based on various behaviors. The points
can be cashed in at our classroom store for reward tickets such as extra recess,
choosing their own seats for the day, and getting to eat with a buddy from another
classroom.
Students will write down their point total at the end of each day, and there will be a
spot for you to sign saying you reviewed the points. You can go online and create
your login with the information given on the ClassDojo handout that will be sent
home with your child the first week of school. Especially if you notice a decline in
points, please check online to see the infraction so you can talk with your child
about it.

Grades and Tutoring

During tutoring, students who are struggling in an area will get small group
instruction. If I feel your student needs to stay for tutoring on a specific topic, I will
notify you via email to arrange a day for them to stay.
Most things the students complete in class will be for a grade either accuracy or
completion, depending on the assignment. I will accept homework one day late for
half credit, and after that the grade becomes a zero. If the child is unable to
complete classwork in class, and it is something that can be done at home, then I
will allow them to take it home that night and return it completed for full credit the
following morning.
Students are responsible for any missed work from an absence. For activities that
cant be made up (such as labs and centers) they will be exempt. For assignments
that can be completed, they have the number of days they were absent to return
the completed make-up work (ex. if absent 3 days, work will be due 3 days after
they return to school).

Grading Policy

Math
Component

% of grade

Description

Tests

30

This will be a test on the

topic we are studying in
math

Homework

10

Anything given for

homework. This could be
graded or it could be
checked for completion.

Quiz

20

Quiz given on material

discussed in class. Given
before a Unit test. Usually
unannounced.

Classwork

20

Anything completed
together or independently
in class.

Morning Work

20

Weekly grade for work

completed each morning.
They keep the work but
credit is given.

Tests: A math test will be given based on the topics that have been covered in class, and
the homework that has been completed.
Homework: Any homework given will be collected. I keep a checklist to see who has
completed homework. A grade will be given each day for the homework completed the night
before, if it was assigned. The homework will be graded based on the point value. If there
are five questions, the assignment will be worth five points.
Quiz: Quizzes will be given to the children on their facts. Knowing the facts in math in a set
amount of time is crucial to the children progressing to the higher grades. Most quizzes will
be unannounced.
Classwork: This includes any work that is done in class. Classwork is a grade for the
participation and completion in class assignments.
Morning work: Morning work is given every morning to the students when they arrive at
school. Morning work is different every day. Sometimes I will give addition with regrouping,
subtraction with borrowing, coloring a picture, or writing on a given topic. I give morning
work in an effort for children to make an attempt at something new or build on what they
know. I always encourage children that morning work is not graded and that wrong

answers are part of the learning process. If a child at least makes an effort, then they
receive the credit for that morning.

Social Studies
Component

% of grade

Description

Tests

30

Projects

20

Quiz

20

Classwork

30

This will include tests on

the unit we are currently
studying in Social Studies
These will include both in
class and take home
projects. There will be
rubrics provided for
guidelines and grading.
Quiz given on material
discussed in class. Given
before a Unit Test. Usually
announced.
Anything completed
together or independently
in class.

Tests and Projects:: A social studies test is generally given at the end of a Social Studies
Unit. If we are at a good stopping point or assessment point in the unit, we will have multiple
tests for one Unit. Social Studies tests will have a study guide that will be sent home prior to
the test to allow parents the opportunity to study with their child. In place of a test, some of
our units will have a long term project. A grading rubric will be sent home with the project
so expectations are known.
Quiz: Quizzes may be given during a unit of study to gauge student progress. Any quiz
given will be unannounced as I am hoping to get an idea as to what we need to review for
the final test at the end of the unit. The quiz will only be a review of information already
learned; there will not be any new topics discussed in the quiz.
Classwork and Participation: Students will be graded on their participation in class
activities and assignments. This includes their willingness to participate and effort on any
work that is done in class. Most classwork assignments will also be graded, based on
accuracy and knowledge of information learned in class.

Reading/ Language Arts

Component

% of grade

Description

Tests

30

This will include reading

tests on our chapters, and
any grammar tests given

Homework

10

Anything given for

homework. This could be
graded or checked for
completion.

Writing Prompt

25

Each week children are

assigned a writing
assignment. The process
leading up to the finished
writing assignment is
included in this grade
(graphic organizer, rough
draft, etc.)

Classwork

10

Anything completed
together or independently
in class.

Spelling Test

25

Given every Friday.

Tests: Tests are given on grammar or any targeted reading skill we are covering. They will
be every Friday unless otherwise noted.
Homework: Any homework given will be collected. It will be graded based on the points I
feel the assignment deserved.
Writing Prompts: Each week the students are given writing prompts. They are guided
through how to complete them, but have to brainstorm and complete the process
themselves. Work is checked during writers workshops final drafts are due no later than
Monday of the following week.
Classwork: This includes any work (reading, writing, grammar) that is done in class and
chosen to be graded. The basis for this will be the same as homework.
Spelling Test: Spelling test are given on Friday, or the last day of the school week if we are
out on holidays.
Spelling Work: There are monthly spelling calendars given with fun and engaging ways for
students to study for their tests. They are expected to complete one choice nightly MondayWednesday, and take a practice spelling test Thursday.

Science
Component

% of grade

Description

Tests

30

This will include tests on

the unit we are currently
studying in Science.

Projects

20

These will include both in

class and take home
projects. There will be
rubrics provided for
guidelines and grading.

Quiz

20

Quiz given on material

discussed in class. Given
before a Unit Test. Usually
announced.

Classwork

30

Anything completed
together or independently
in class.

Tests: There will be four major unit tests during the course of the year. This will be graded
for completion and not for correct or incorrect. The final tests are graded for number correct.
Projects: Some of our units will have a long term project. A grading rubric will be sent
home with the project so expectations are known.
Homework: Science homework will be given as needed. Most everything is completed in
class since we do the experiments there. There may be a time when I assign the children
assignments to do at home.
Quiz: Quizzes may be given during a unit of study to gauge student progress. Any quiz
given will be unannounced as I am hoping to get an idea as to what we need to review for
the final test at the end of the unit. The quiz will only be a review of information already
learned; there will not be any new topics discussed in the quiz.
Classwork: This includes any work that we complete in class. The basis for this will be the
same as homework. Classwork also includes their participation in class activities and
assignments. This grade will be assessed by the teacher on the willingness to be involved in
the activities and their efforts, not on their academic performance.

I know this year will be an exciting journey in which you will see much growth
in your child in many areas. I am looking forward to a great year of working
with your child. Thank you in advance for your support throughout the
year!
Sincerely,
Ms. Eliza Thomas
[email protected]
*Please sign and return the bottom portion of this page
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I have read and understand the class syllabus.

Parent signature: