Welcome to Second Grade



                             Tell me, and I might forget. Show me, and I
                             might remember. Involve me, and I will
                             understand.

Friday, September 10, 2010                                                 1
Open House Overview
                                              Shanghai American School
                                 Jeanette Dixon, Sanna Robinson, Jackie Speece

                             ● Introduction
                             ● Expectations
                             ● Core Subject and Material
                             ● Interdisciplinary Units
                             ● Grade Level Assessments
                             ● Homework Information
                             ● Visit Classrooms
                                                  September 8, 2010


Friday, September 10, 2010                                                       2
Goal
                             Our goal is for each student to
                             experience success in an enjoyable and
                             challenging educational atmosphere.
                             We view education as a partnership
                             between the teacher, student and parent.


Friday, September 10, 2010                                              3
Reader’s Workshop
                             Our balanced literacy program includes read-aloud,
                             shared, independent, and guided reading
                             opportunities in different genres.
                                   Each student reads at their independent level
                                   Each student selects ‘just right’ books for classroom and home reading.

                                   It is important to understand the focus is not the level of
                                   reading, but on gaining meaning from reading to prepare
                                   students for a future academic life of interacting and
                                   understanding all texts.




Friday, September 10, 2010                                                                                   4
Children will ...
                                     Not just decode text, but learn strategies that help
                                     them:
                                                  Think
                                                  Interact
                                                  Reflect
                                                  Infer
                                                  Synthesize
                             To obtain these strategies children need to slow down and become thoughtful readers.
                               This slowing down gives children time to refine strategies learned and become more
                               active, fluent readers.


Friday, September 10, 2010                                                                                          5
Writer’s Workshop
                             Our writer’s workshop is an exciting program designed to teach students
                             the love of writing while incorporating prewriting, writing and revision
                             skills. We encourage our students to learn that process of writing is as
                             important as the end product and that writing is a useful, everyday tool
                             to communicate.
                             Units we teach
                                       Small Moments/Personal Narratives
                                       Realistic Fiction
                                       Non-fiction/Research
                                       Poetry
                                       Persuasive

Friday, September 10, 2010                                                                              6
Everyday Mathematics
                                             Learning Corporation University of Chicago School Math Project

                             This is an enriched mathematics curriculum that empowers students to understand
                             mathematical content far beyond simple arithmetic. The emphasis is to develop more
                              meaning to math by integrating data gathering, analysis, probability, geometry,
                             patterns and algebra. Mathematics becomes part of the ongoing classroom routines,
                                  outdoor play, and the spare transitional moments that occur every day. 
                                                   What you will see being sent home!
                                 Family Letters - at the beginning of each unit
                                 Home Links - four nights of the week
                                 Family Math Games – pick up in teacher’s classroom
                                 Assessments - sent home at the end of each unit
                                 Challenging math games are posted on classroom blogs

Friday, September 10, 2010                                                                                        7
Word Study
                             Each student will work at their own level on learning words through
                             meaningful and enjoyable discovery activities. Activities call for active
                             problem solving, encouraging students to discover what they know about a
                             new word and how it is similar to words they already know.
                                                   Monday: Open sort
                                                   Tuesday: Closed sort
                                                   Wednesday: Looking for words
                                                   Thursday: Word practice
                                                   Friday: Review and assessment




Friday, September 10, 2010                                                                               8
Science and Social Studies
                              Me as an EAGLE (All about me and how I am an EAGLE)
                              Our Cool School (School Community Unit)
                              Wonderful Weather (Air and Weather Unit)
                              Continents and Oceans (Geography Unit)
                              Celebrations Around the World (Culture Unit)
                              Gravity in Motion (Balance and Motion Unit)
                              Spectacular Solar System (Planets, Stars, Moon Unit)
                              Plentiful Plants (Plant Unit)
                              Market (Goods and Services Unit)



Friday, September 10, 2010                                                           9
Assessments
                             Rubrics
                             Peer Assessments
                             Self Assessments
                             Ongoing Anecdotal Notes
                             Checklists
                             Independent Work
                             Group Work
                             Common Assessments
                             Tests and Quizzes
                             Oral and Visual Presentations


Friday, September 10, 2010                                   10
Homework
                             Homework Folders:Students are responsible to return blue folders to school every day. All
                             homework, home reading books, and papers from home should be placed inside each folder.

                             Student Responsibilities: Students are responsible for completing reading and math Monday
                             through Thursday. Homework should take 30 minutes. Sometimes collaborative homework will be assigned
                             on weekends.

                             Suggestions:
                                      Designated Time:With your child, decide on a specific time for homework to be
                                          completed everyday.

                                          Designated Space: With your child, decide on a quite, comfortable spot for
                                          homework to be completed everyday.

                                          Supplemental Homework: Family field trips, board and card games, activities
                                          posted on classroom websites, cooking together, practice workbooks, etc.




Friday, September 10, 2010                                                                                                          11
Parent Information
                                  Parent Volunteers:
                                                 Class room parties and activities
                                                 Helping teacher with the preparation of materials
                                                 Field Trips
                             We encourage parents not to work directly in their child’s classroom on a normal day.
                             Previous experiences have shown that children whose parents work directly in their
                             classroom often times become distracted and rely on their parents for assistance.
                                  Lunch with Parents
                                                 You are welcome to have a special lunch with your child, but you may only
                                                 take your child to the big cafeteria. If your child wants their friends to join,
                                                 please enjoy lunch in the small cafeteria.




Friday, September 10, 2010                                                                                                          12
SAS Informational Websites
                                                Principal
                               http://teachers.saschina.org/espudong/
                                             Mrs. Dixon
                                 http://teachers.saschina.org/jdixon/
                                           Mrs. Robinson
                               http://teachers.saschina.org/srobinson/
                                             Mrs. Speece
                                http://teachers.saschina.org/jspeece/


Friday, September 10, 2010                                               13
Please go to your child’s classroom
                               Mrs. Speece Room 136 (behind this board)
                               Mrs. Robinson Room 120 (across from this board)
                               Mrs. Dixon Room 121 (diagonal from this board)




Friday, September 10, 2010                                                       14

Open House

  • 1.
    Welcome to SecondGrade Tell me, and I might forget. Show me, and I might remember. Involve me, and I will understand. Friday, September 10, 2010 1
  • 2.
    Open House Overview Shanghai American School Jeanette Dixon, Sanna Robinson, Jackie Speece ● Introduction ● Expectations ● Core Subject and Material ● Interdisciplinary Units ● Grade Level Assessments ● Homework Information ● Visit Classrooms September 8, 2010 Friday, September 10, 2010 2
  • 3.
    Goal Our goal is for each student to experience success in an enjoyable and challenging educational atmosphere. We view education as a partnership between the teacher, student and parent. Friday, September 10, 2010 3
  • 4.
    Reader’s Workshop Our balanced literacy program includes read-aloud, shared, independent, and guided reading opportunities in different genres. Each student reads at their independent level Each student selects ‘just right’ books for classroom and home reading. It is important to understand the focus is not the level of reading, but on gaining meaning from reading to prepare students for a future academic life of interacting and understanding all texts. Friday, September 10, 2010 4
  • 5.
    Children will ... Not just decode text, but learn strategies that help them: Think Interact Reflect Infer Synthesize To obtain these strategies children need to slow down and become thoughtful readers. This slowing down gives children time to refine strategies learned and become more active, fluent readers. Friday, September 10, 2010 5
  • 6.
    Writer’s Workshop Our writer’s workshop is an exciting program designed to teach students the love of writing while incorporating prewriting, writing and revision skills. We encourage our students to learn that process of writing is as important as the end product and that writing is a useful, everyday tool to communicate. Units we teach Small Moments/Personal Narratives Realistic Fiction Non-fiction/Research Poetry Persuasive Friday, September 10, 2010 6
  • 7.
    Everyday Mathematics Learning Corporation University of Chicago School Math Project This is an enriched mathematics curriculum that empowers students to understand mathematical content far beyond simple arithmetic. The emphasis is to develop more meaning to math by integrating data gathering, analysis, probability, geometry, patterns and algebra. Mathematics becomes part of the ongoing classroom routines, outdoor play, and the spare transitional moments that occur every day.  What you will see being sent home! Family Letters - at the beginning of each unit Home Links - four nights of the week Family Math Games – pick up in teacher’s classroom Assessments - sent home at the end of each unit Challenging math games are posted on classroom blogs Friday, September 10, 2010 7
  • 8.
    Word Study Each student will work at their own level on learning words through meaningful and enjoyable discovery activities. Activities call for active problem solving, encouraging students to discover what they know about a new word and how it is similar to words they already know. Monday: Open sort Tuesday: Closed sort Wednesday: Looking for words Thursday: Word practice Friday: Review and assessment Friday, September 10, 2010 8
  • 9.
    Science and SocialStudies Me as an EAGLE (All about me and how I am an EAGLE) Our Cool School (School Community Unit) Wonderful Weather (Air and Weather Unit) Continents and Oceans (Geography Unit) Celebrations Around the World (Culture Unit) Gravity in Motion (Balance and Motion Unit) Spectacular Solar System (Planets, Stars, Moon Unit) Plentiful Plants (Plant Unit) Market (Goods and Services Unit) Friday, September 10, 2010 9
  • 10.
    Assessments Rubrics Peer Assessments Self Assessments Ongoing Anecdotal Notes Checklists Independent Work Group Work Common Assessments Tests and Quizzes Oral and Visual Presentations Friday, September 10, 2010 10
  • 11.
    Homework Homework Folders:Students are responsible to return blue folders to school every day. All homework, home reading books, and papers from home should be placed inside each folder. Student Responsibilities: Students are responsible for completing reading and math Monday through Thursday. Homework should take 30 minutes. Sometimes collaborative homework will be assigned on weekends. Suggestions: Designated Time:With your child, decide on a specific time for homework to be completed everyday. Designated Space: With your child, decide on a quite, comfortable spot for homework to be completed everyday. Supplemental Homework: Family field trips, board and card games, activities posted on classroom websites, cooking together, practice workbooks, etc. Friday, September 10, 2010 11
  • 12.
    Parent Information Parent Volunteers: Class room parties and activities Helping teacher with the preparation of materials Field Trips We encourage parents not to work directly in their child’s classroom on a normal day. Previous experiences have shown that children whose parents work directly in their classroom often times become distracted and rely on their parents for assistance. Lunch with Parents You are welcome to have a special lunch with your child, but you may only take your child to the big cafeteria. If your child wants their friends to join, please enjoy lunch in the small cafeteria. Friday, September 10, 2010 12
  • 13.
    SAS Informational Websites Principal http://teachers.saschina.org/espudong/ Mrs. Dixon http://teachers.saschina.org/jdixon/ Mrs. Robinson http://teachers.saschina.org/srobinson/ Mrs. Speece http://teachers.saschina.org/jspeece/ Friday, September 10, 2010 13
  • 14.
    Please go toyour child’s classroom Mrs. Speece Room 136 (behind this board) Mrs. Robinson Room 120 (across from this board) Mrs. Dixon Room 121 (diagonal from this board) Friday, September 10, 2010 14