Handout from QAS Grade 2A Back to School Night 2016

1. Welcome
To
Second Grade!

2. Second Grade Overview
In second grade our students will engage in many different types of learning activities. While
individualized instruction is important, cooperative learning is emphasized and we will
frequently work in small groups. We will engage in a variety of learning experiences that enable
our students to incorporate many different learning styles. We will also strive to best meet the
individual needs of every student by adapting our instructional objectives and techniques.
Students will have opportunities to learn many skills, become inquirers, writers, readers and
better problem solvers.
Homework Policy
Each night students are to read for 20 minutes. These can either be books from their book bag or
books at home in their mother tongue. Math homework in the second grade will only be
assigned on an as needed basis. We suggest that homework assignments are completed at the
same time every day. It should be done in a quiet and well­lit place.
Reading Homework:
Your child should read at least 20 minutes every day, some of which should be aloud to you.
Books can be in English or any other language. The important thing is that they are reading.
This homework is provided to help improve your child’s reading ability, sight word vocabulary,
word attack skills and oral reading fluency. Please have your child read stories that he or she
can read with ease. It is appropriate for students to practice reading aloud. If you wish to read
together with your child, it would be appropriate for you to model what good reading sounds
like. This serves as reinforcement for them.
Ask questions while your child reads. Asking the following questions will help your child
improve his/her comprehension. Start by asking “wh” questions like “who,” “what”, “where”
and “when” to help improve and assess their reading comprehension (the answers can be found
in the text). It is important to ask “why” for your child to make inferences based on what is
going on in the story. “How” questions require comprehension and will encourage your child to
make personal connections to the story and to develop their own ideas about the text.
While reading together with your child, ask him/her to guess or predict what will happen next
when you turn the page. Many picture books leave the reader wanting to turn the page to find
out what happens next. Take this great opportunity to pause, predict and discuss with your
child.
Birthday Policy
We will celebrate birthdays in second grade. You are welcome to bring in healthy treats for the
class. Treats should be individual portions and easy to serve. Small juice boxes or juice cans are
allowed. Please contact the teacher with the details so that we can be better prepared. Please
note that goodie bags or other gifts for the class are no longer permitted by school policy.
Teachers are happy to distribute birthday invitations if everyone in the class is included. If as
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3. smaller party is more appropriate, please use the school directory to call/mail/email invitations.
Second graders take note of who is invited and who isn’t, causing feelings to get hurt. We
greatly appreciate your understanding and cooperation.
Primary Years Programme
Qatar Academy Sidra’s elementary school follows the Primary Years Programme (PYP) of the
International Baccalaureate Organization (IB). PYP is a curriculum framework that provides an
opportunity for learners to construct meaning through concept­driven inquiry.
PYP encourages students to build meaning and refine understanding through inquiry. There are
six transdisciplinary themes that are considered essential. They unify the curriculums in all PYP
schools. Students inquire into and learn about globally significant issues under the following six
transdisciplinary themes:
Who we are
Where we are in place and time
How we express ourselves
How the world works
How we organize ourselves
Sharing the planet
Units of Inquiry are guided by the six transdisciplinary themes, each one addressing a central
idea that is relevant to a particular transdisciplinary theme.
There are ten attributes of the Learner Profile. These attributes are taught through our Units of
Inquiry and subject specific lessons. They are also embedded in students’ everyday learning and
vocabulary. These attributes are achievable by all of our students.
We strive for all of our students to be:
Inquirers Knowledgeable
Thinkers Communicators
Principled Open­minded
Caring Risk­takers
Balanced Reflective
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4. Literacy
The many skills involved in competent reading, writing, speaking, listening and viewing are
acquired through using language for purpose and pleasure. The students have many
opportunities to practice these skills through:
● Rhymes, chants, songs, poems
● Big Books, charts, group compositions
● Picture books, small books, library books, PYP­related books, chapter books
● Stories, letter writing, journals, reflections, reports
● Labels, graphs, maps
● Murals, posters, designs, technology projects
● Dialogue, skits, plays
● Narration
● Imagination
Students are taught to read using a variety of cues – visual (pictures, words, shape, word size),
phonics, syntax and context clues (that give hints to students as they encounter new words).
Sometimes they will know some words as sight words because they have seen them many times
in their writing and reading.
Although the students are initially encouraged to use invented spelling (which is
developmentally appropriate), the transition to conventional spelling will continue as the
students become more fluent readers and writers. Learning patterns will play a critical role in
vocabulary development, reading comprehension, and reading fluency. Students will take part
in word study. The students will learn phonics sounds and word families.
Mathematics
The second grade team is using Aero standards for math. These math standards provide a solid,
research­based instruction with documented results to help all students reach their goals.
Embedded in the program are numerous activities to reach out to all learners (for visual, tactual,
kinesthetic and auditory learners), including hands­on activities, to ensure learning of new
concepts.
Throughout the year, students will be asked to share their answers or explain their thinking.
This is important because it helps the students form a deeper understanding of math concepts
instead of just memorizing facts. A strong learning environment based on mutual respect is
needed, as students are encouraged to be risk­takers when they share their thinking about math.
Many students find this difficult at first, but they will become more successful with guided
practice.
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5.
Specialist Teachers
Second grade students receive additional instruction during the week in the following areas:
● Art – Ms. Laura
● ELL – Mr. Jared
● Arabic – Ms. Ghada, Ms. Hadeel, Ms. Lama, Ms. Najla and Ms. Latyfa
● Library – Ms. Natalie
● Music – Ms. Merle
● Physical Education – Mr. Sandjis and Mr. George
We’re In This Together!
We look forward to a fun­filled, challenging and successful year. In order to ensure a
meaningful experience for your child, we invite you to be part of our classroom community. As
with any partnership, open and honest communication is important. We will be as informative
as possible so that you understand the curriculum, methods, and goals. We ask that you help us
by reinforcing what we are covering in the classroom. We also ask that you support your child,
as he/she becomes an active learner. Assist your child when necessary, but please allow your
child to develop his/her own strategies to solve problems as well as coming up with project
ideas and presentations. Please contact us if you ever have any questions. Visit our class
webpages as often as you can!
Mr. Marc
Ms. Sarah
Mr. Jacob
Ms. Jenna
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