Welcome to 2nd Grade!

Welcome to 2nd Grade!

Welcome to Second Grade! Welcome to 2nd Grade in Ms. Groce’s Class!

Communication My email address (resend/call after 36 hrs.) cortney.groce@humble.k12.tx.us My phone number (281) 641-3431 Humble ISD Website http://www.humble.k12.tx.us/ Fall Creek Website: Humble - Fall Creek – Teacher Websites – Groce, Cortney

All About Ms. Groce My background: Houston, TX BA in Early Childhood Education from the University of Houston Master’s Degree in School Counseling from the University of Houston, August 2011 My experience: This is my 9th year teaching

My Goals Students’ Social and Academic Success Student and Parent Communication Let’s HAVE FUN!

Arrival & Dismissal School hours are 8:00 a.m. – 3:20 p.m. TARDY at 8:05 a.m. If there is ever a change in how your child is going home, please send a note! Any walker or biker in K-2 must be accompanied by an older sibling or adult Absences – All students who miss a day of school are required to return with a written explanation of the absences within 48 hours.

Absences • Please remember that student attendance is a key factor in student success! • Compulsory attendance requires that students between the ages of 6-18 attend school (exemptions include religious holy days, required court appearances, etc…) • A court complaint may be filed against parent if the student is absent without excuse for 10 or more days within a six-month period. • State law requires that to receive final grade in a class (promotion) a student must attend at least 90% of the days the class is offered (equating to less than 18 excused or unexcused absences for the school year). • Please remember that documentation for an absence must be recorded within 48 hours upon the student’s return to school

Red Take Tuesday Folders Distributed EVERY Tuesday Things to look for –Conduct form and “graded papers” Tuesday Folder - Important information from District, School, PTO, or Faculty

Orange Daily Homework Folders • Students complete homework packet • Read EVERY NIGHT! (Complete Reading Log in homework packet) • Place all homework materials and reading log in folder to be returned DAILY!

Student Expectations at Home Students complete homework packet Read EVERY NIGHT! (Complete Reading Log in homework packet) Place all homework materials and important forms in the red take home folder each night and return to school the following day.

Classroom Community Our school is a community. In our community, we have rules to help us get along with each other. Our Cardinal Creed (school AND classroom rules) are: Be Safe Be Respectful Be Responsible

Dress Code • Dress and Grooming Code is found on page 33 of the Humble ISD Parent/Student Handbook. • Highlights for elementary students include: • Hair should be neat, clean, & non-disruptive. • NO hats, sunglasses, makeup, tattoos, excessively loose or tight clothing. • For boys: NO earrings, sleeveless shirts. • For girls: No “spaghetti” straps • NO “short shorts” (must be at least to mid-thigh) • Jeans should be free from holes • Foot wear should be appropriate for physical activity (recess etc…). Tennis shoes are required on P.E. days.

Lunch in the Cafeteria You are welcome to have lunch with your child in the cafeteria (Our lunch time is 11:20-11:55-a.m.) We have special tables for parents and their child on the stage in the cafeteria. (Student/Parents only) Please remember to sign in at the front office. Monthly menus can be downloaded on Fall Creek’s Website Cafeteria Prices: Breakfast - $1.30, Milk 40 cents, Lunch - $2.00, Meal Ticket for a week $10.00 Snack accounts for ice cream may be “frozen” at parents’ discretion.

Birthday Treats We are encouraging parents to take advantage of our frozen treats through the cafeteria. Treats may be ordered at a discounted rate in advance. Fall Creek Policy – No Treat Bags. If you have party invitations you would like given out, we can only pass them out if there is one for each classmate.

C.A.T.C.H. Break Coordinated Approach to Child Health We will have a snack break each morning in the classroom. Please send nutritious snacks such as fruit, crackers, cheese, etc… Water bottles with a sport top are also encouraged.

Daily Schedule 8:05-10:00 a.m. : Literacy Instruction (Reading Lesson, Just Right Reading, Reading workshop/Workstations, Interactive Read aloud (C.A.T.C.H. Break) 10:00- Math 11:15- Everyday editing 11:25 a.m. -12:15 p.m.: Lunch/Recess 12:15 – 1:15 p.m.: Writer’s Workshop 1:15 – 2:05 p.m.: Specials 2:05-2:30- Word study 2:30 – 3:00 p.m.: Science, Social Studies, Health 3:20 p.m.: Dismissal

Class Subjects The subjects we cover during second grade are: Reading Written Composition Grammar/Capitalization/Punctuation/Handwriting Spelling/Word Study Math Science/Health/Social Studies Music, Art, PE, Computer Lab, Library

Specials Schedule • We are on a six day rotation this year. The 2nd and 4th nine weeks we will have art instead of a second section of computer. • Our Specials Schedule will be available in your child’s Orange Homework folder on their monthly calendar.

Reading Balanced literacy approach: Read-Alouds Poetry Just Right Reading Shared Reading Guided Reading Groups Reading Workshop

Science/Health/Social Studies The Scientific Process Seasons, matter, weather, living things, and our environment Social Studies- How things work together (communities, citizenship, government, natural resources, and economics)

Spelling/Word Study Phonetic principles for spelling words areworked on and high frequency words will be emphasized Spelling lists usually come home every other Monday List will show phonetic PATTERN (CVC),(CVVC) Test will be given at the end of two weeks The test will look for application of the phonetic principles being studied

Written Composition Writer’s Workshop held daily that incorporates: The writing process Writing exercises Written responses Everyday editing Handwriting

Math Investigations Word problems Logical thinking Math processes and reasoning Memorization of basic addition facts with sums to 18

Examples… • Unknown Change… Stonewall had 30 dog bones. He gave SOME to his brother. Now Stonewall has 16 dog bones. How many did he give away? • Multi-step Situation… The Boy Scouts were selling coupon books. Their goal was to sell 85 coupon books. In April, they sold 30 books and in May they sold 45 books. What is the difference between the number of books sold and their goal?

FCE Things to Remember • FRIDAY IS SPIRIT DAY!!! Show your school spirit by wearing red or an FCE spirit shirt. • Wear your favorite college shirt on the fourth Thursday of each month. FCE students are college bound! • LABEL ALL JACKETS, LUNCH KITS, ETC. with student name. • Helpful Hint: Keep a jacket or sweater in your backpack. Sometimes it is chilly in the classrooms. • Lost and Found is located in the back of the main hallway (although small items such as glasses are kept in the office). Please check in at the office if you’d like to check the lost and found. Items will be sent to charity if not claimed. • We will collect an Activity Fee for our field trip, class projects, etc. that can be paid online. We will inform you when this becomes available.

Discipline Plan • Behavior Chart • Classroom • consequences • Class incentives

Tutoring A phone call will be made informing you when tutoring is necessary. Tutoring begins promptly at 7:25 a.m. in the classroom. (Reading – Mondays and Wednesdays, Math – Tuesdays) TBA

Questions

Welcome to 2nd Grade!