WELCOME TO THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR  Your child is going to have a wonderful school year!

1. WELCOME TO THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR  • Your child is going to have a wonderful school year! • I love to involve the children in exciting activities through out the year to help them grow as students and succeed as learners. My goal is to develop your child’s ability to acquire knowledge, utilize that knowledge, and further extend that knowledge while having a great time! • I hope they leave our classroom curious for more and eager to talk to you about what they learned. • It really is ALL ABOUT …

2. Communication from Please feel free to contact me with questions or concerns. By phone… After 2:30, calls will be sent directly to our classroom. Between 7:30am and 2:30pm , you will speak with someone in the office, and they will relay the message. By email… You can email anytime. However, if your message is urgent, please do not email after 7:30am. I often do not get a chance to check my emails until after 2:30pm. By Note… I will try to respond via note or email as quickly as possible. If the response requires detail or gathering materials, please give me until the next day.

3. Newsletter I will send home a weekly newsletter on Fridays. The newsletter will include information about what we are studying, study ideas, up coming activities, and West Manheim information. You will also find the newsletter linked to my website.

4. Monthly Calendar A monthly calendar will go home to announce school and classroom activities. Please check your child’s folder for the calendar prior to each new month. At times, I do have to wait for the West Manheim calendar to be posted before I can finalize our calendar. If West Manheim does post a new event, I will include that event in our classroom newsletter. You will also find the calendar linked to my website.

5. Webpage • My webpage includes a copy of our newsletter, anthology homework, calendar, and student work or quotations. To check all of these selections, follow these easy directions: • Open your internet. • Type http://www.swsd.k12.pa.us • Right click on West Manheim listed under Schools. • Right click on Building Contacts. • Right click on Mrs. Noble • Right click on your selection.

6. It is very important to notify me by note or the office by phone when there is a change in your child’s afternoon transportation. Please call the school or send a note in the morning. Do not email that day after 7:30am– I often do not have a chance to check my email until after dismissal. If your child’s transportation changes during the course of the day – call the office. For your child’s safety, we cannot send your child home without proper notification.

7. Star Student One month or more prior, you will receive a letter and an All About Me poster informing you when your child will be Star Student. The letter will also give directions for activities to make that week special for your child. Sample

8. Birthdays Birthdays are very special events for children. Many children like to send in a healthy birthday treat to share with the class. If your child would like to do this, please let me know ahead of time. Birthday baskets are available through our cafeteria. If your child’s birthday occurs over the summer, they may choose a school day to celebrate with the class. Your child may donate a book for our classroom library in honor their birthday. A bookplate will be completed and placed inside the book. This is a great way to share a good book with the class and future classes.

9. Book Clubs are a great way to inspire your child to read. They offer great books at reasonable prices. • I will send home book orders so you may choose the right selection for your child except in the month of November when the PTO holds the Book Fair. • Please follow these guidelines: • Make checks payable to Scholastic Book Club. If you are ordering from more than one book club, only one check is necessary. • If you prefer to pay in cash, please try to send exact change. Be sure your child’s name is on all order forms. • Send checks in a sealed envelope with your child’s name on the front. Book Clubs

10. Good News Around the World Each student is encouraged to look through the newspaper weekly for positive articles or pictures. Parents are welcome to help their child with this task and to offer feedback to any of their child’s questions they may have about the news items. Students are to bring in one article or picture weekly to share with the class for discussion. All articles and pictures will be added to our bulletin board throughout the year. I think this is a great way to polish reading skills and to be reminded of all the wonderful things that happen in our world.

11. Homework Policy • Homework is assigned to help students develop good study habits at an early age and to practice skills taught in class. Homework teaches students to work independently and gives parents a chance to encourage their children to succeed in school • Students are expected to do as much of the work as they can on their own. They should ask for help when they feel they need it. When they do ask for help, first check to see if they understand the directions. • Please help your child with homework assignments if needed. • Daily Homework: Assignments will be given out daily Monday through Thursday. Homework assignments are recorded in a planner. • Please keep this form in your child’s folder so they can record their next day’s assignment. • Homework assignments are not graded, because they are for practice only. • DAILY HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS ARE DUE THE FOLLOWING SCHOOL DAY

12. Reading Log • Students are required to read at least 10 minutes per evening. • Reading may include a variety of materials including: anthology, small reading group assignments, intervention assignments, library books, magazine and newspaper articles… • I have included your child’s first reading log in the Parent Folder. • A new reading log will be given when your child completes each one. When your child completes a reading log, they may choose from the prize box.

13. WM Folder - Take Home and Bring Back sides. • Absent cards in folder pocket. • Keep homework assignment sheet in folder. • Spelling list may be kept at home. • Weekly Folder – Students will bring home a weekly folder on Mondays. This folder will contain graded work and other completed assignments. • Please return the folder the next day.

14. Classroom Procedure : • Schedule posted on front board with Essential Questions • Lunch Choice • Cubbies • West Manheim Folder • Homework Tray • Parent Communication Tray • Papers ready to go on student’s desk • Sharpen pencils • Morning Work/Math Box • Teacher Helper • Water Fountain • Behavior Policy • Lunch Recess/Learning Lunch

15. Mrs. Noble’s Snack Policy • Students may bring in an individual nutritious snack for the morning. We will not stop instruction for a “snack break” rather students will be permitted to keep their snack in their desk until after Reading Intervention (around 10am) at which time they may snack while working independently or during instruction. With our very late lunch of 12 noon, I strongly recommend your child have a snack available to help them maintain their focus. • Here are some guidelines: • The snack must be in a sealed bag or container. • No snacks that need refrigeration. • It must be a non-messy/non-sticky snack (for example, no cheese curls, dipping cheese, Bar B Q chips, fruit roll ups…) • No candy, cookies, brownies, or other sweet treats. • Good choices might include: • Vegetables: carrot sticks, celery, peppers… • Fruits (already cut and/or peeled): oranges, apples, grapes, bananas (can remain peeled), apple sauce, fruit cups, raisins, dried fruits… • Crackers or crackers and cheese combos • Pretzels, goldfish, potato chips( without messy seasonings) • Granola bars (no chocolate or marshmallows) • Shelled nuts • Popcorn (no messy seasonings) • Cereal (no marshmallows, frosted or chocolate) • Poptarts (no marshmallows, icing or chocolate)

16. Anthology (Whole Group/Core) • As a class, we will all read stories from the Houghton Mifflin Anthology Series. This book will go home for reading and discussion. • Anthology books will go home for a shared reading with someone at home. Comprehension Checks can be found linked to my website for further practice with written responses or used for discussion at home. . • Vocabulary Bookmarks – Lists the story’s vocabulary words for studying. Lists should be kept in the book and returned to school. Students are expected to recognize the words and their meanings. These are not spelling words. • Assessments – Upon completion of the story, students will be assessed on their comprehension of the story based on written responses. Students will highlight the part of the question that should appear in their answer. • Book Clubs: From time to time, our class will use other reading materials or books in place of the anthology. These materials should be handled with care and returned to school the very next day.

17. Guided Reading Groups (Small Group) • Procedure – students will be placed in reading groups according to reading level and needs within our class . • Folder – students will have a folder to keep their reading book safe. Students will use this folder to bring home reading materials. • Vocabulary Journal – students will write vocabulary words from the story being read. • Vocabulary Cards – Sometimes students will have vocabulary words written on index cards for a variety of activities. • Materials – students will be exposed to many different reading materials including trade books, magazine articles (National Geo), newspaper articles, websites, Reader’s Theater… • Homework – Students will have home reading assignments. Please check their Guided Reading folder for the assignment which should be signed by a parent upon completion.

18. The Daily Five Read to Yourself: The best way to become a better reader is to practice each day, with books you choose, on your just-right level. It soon becomes a habit. Read to Someone: Reading to someone allows for more time to practice strategies, helping you work on fluency and expression, check for understanding, hear your own voice, and share in the learning community. Work on Writing:Just like reading, the best way to become a better writer is to practice writing each day. Listen to Reading: We hear examples of good literature and fluent reading. We learn more words, thus expanding our vocabulary and becoming better readers. Spelling/Word Work: Correct spelling allows for more fluent writing, thus speeding up the ability to write and get thinking down on paper. This is an essential foundation for writers.

19. Literacy CAFÉ Menu Comprehension: I understand what I read Accuracy: I can read the words.. Fluency: I can read accurately and with expression, and understand what I read. Expanding Vocabulary: I find, use, read accurately new and interesting words.

20. Reading Intervention • Pony Power Time • Students will grouped based on needs and ability into small reading groups. Some students will receive additional reading support outside of the classroom with qualified reading instructors. • During intervention, and depending on the students’ needs, the focus is on phonics, sight words, comprehension, fluency, and vocabulary. • Reading intervention begins in October . A letter will come home from your child’s reading intervention teacher giving you the details of their program.

21. The Text Structure is: Let’s Get Ready to Read With Our Reading Warm Up Organizer problem/solution compare / contrast question / answer time order / sequence list description cause/effect Genre: Fiction Non-Fiction Realistic Fiction Poetry Author Purpose: Persuade Inform Entertain

22. FAB. FOUR READING HELPERS

23. PRICILLA THE PREDICTOR CLARA THE CLARIFIER QUINCY THE QUESTIONER SAMMY THE SUMMARIZER

24. Comprehension Strategy: Connecting to Text • Readers better understand what they are reading when they connect to the text. • Let’s focus on three ways to connect to the text. • Connect what you read to your life: Text to Self • This connection allows the reader to connect the text with their own life. • Readers connect with the text via their own personal experiences or life. • They relate to the literature by a specific experience in their life. • Children have been creating life experiences since birth, therefore it is easy for them to activate prior knowledge. • Connect what you read to other stories you have read: Text to Text • This type of connection allows readers to connect what they are reading with • something else that they have read. It could be a newspaper article, book, • short story, or anything else. This is usually more challenging for readers so • a variety of other reading material will make it possible for them to be more successful. • Connect what you read to the world: Text to World • This would be a connection that links the text with a world event. • Readers connect to the text in relation to the world. • They no longer connect with only personal information or experiences. • Media such as newspapers, magazines, television, Internet, or movies • are a great way to introduce text to world.

25. Spelling – Words Their Way • Students will be assessed and given a spelling list that addresses their phonetic needs. There will be several lists for each category of phonetic characteristics. Lists will not necessarily be given out on Mondays. Lists should remain at home for home assignments. Lists will be available in class for addition practice. Spelling assessments are given when a student has completed the series of lists and practice assignments for a phonetic category. More information will follow. • Wise Old Words: Students will be exposed to challenging words to enhance their vocabulary. These are not spelling words.

26. Writing:My Creative Writing Action Plan • This binder includes a writing notebook, Writing journal, writing process ideas, transition words, spelling words, and a Quick word dictionary. • Students will be using a variety of writing processes including: • 4 Square Method • 6 + 1 Traits of Writing • Free Write • Topics will correlate with reading literature, poetry, seasonal events, social studies, science, personal experience…. • Students will write personal narratives, biographies, poems, research reports, friendly letters…

27. Everyday Math • Some of the concepts your child will study…. • Addition and Subtraction Algorithms • Mental Math • Word Problems • Money – Counting Coin Combinations • Making Change to the dollar • Telling time to the 5 minute, quarter hour, and elapsed time • Fractions • Measurement • Geometry • The expectation of the Everyday Math program is that grade level goals are mastered (able to apply accurately) by the end of second grade. • All other skills presented in the series this year are either developing (needs support or review/reteaching to apply..)

28. Content Animal Kingdom – Classification, Characteristics, Survival Adaptations, Habitat, Diet… Weather Unit Matter Unit Nutrition Unit Social Studies – Maps, Globes, Geography, Ecology, Hanover, and Communities American History and Government

29. Technology Microsoft Word Powerpoints Photostories Turning Point Study Island Internet Research World Book

30. Ticket Home Throughout the day, students will have the opportunity to complete a Ticket Home. Using the Ticket Home, students will record at least one thing they have learned. We hope this not only help your child summarize an element they learned, but also provide you with the chance to be engaged in your child’s learning. Ticket Home Today I learned…. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

31. We would like to invite you to join us in making this an stimulating and rewarding year for your child. If there is anything during the school year that you would like us to know, please do not hesitate to contact us. Working together is very important.