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Welcome to 2 Grade!
The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places youll go. ~Dr. Seuss

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A letter from Miss Barker

Dear Parents/Guardians, Hi! My name is Katelin Barker, and I am very excited to be your childs second grade teacher this year. In addition to getting to know your child, I look forward to meeting and working with you and your family. I am a graduate of the University of Illinois and this will be my first year teaching at ___________. There are many things we will learn together, but the most important thing I want you to know is that I will support, encourage, and care for your child each and every day. Over the course of this year, I will collaborate with the administration, my fellow teachers, and you, the parents/guardians of these wonderful children, to guarantee that every student receives a high quality education. I encourage you to contact me anytime and I will always keep in contact with you to ensure that your child is succeeding, staying motivated, and loving their second grade year. Sincerely, Katelin

Save the Date!

Open-House
[Date]
This is a chance for us to meet and discuss what to expect in the upcoming year!

First Fieldtrip:
[Date]
We will be going to the _______. Parent/Guardian volunteers are welcome!

Parent Teacher Conferences:

This is a time for us to discuss your childs progress in our classroom!

[Date]

One of my most important goals in the first weeks of school is to create a classroom community in which all students feel safe, respected, and motivated to learn and take risks. This community will respect and value all cultures, ethnicities, and socio-economic statuses. All students come to school for the same purpose to learn and grow together, with their peers. In order for this to take place, students must learn that they can count on each other for support and guidance. To build this classroom community, students will engage in all types of group work and discussion so that they can learn from each other. I would appreciate your help in building this community by stressing the concept of acceptance and tolerance to your child. This will help them see the importance of being respectful and accepting others both in, and out of the classroom.

Our Classroom Community

THE LOREM IPSUMS Fall 2012

FALL 2016 Page

Classroom Procedures
These are the procedures that we have set for our classroom. In order to have a successful year, it is essential that both you and your child understand the procedures below.

Student Expectations

Students are expected to come to class prepared and ready to learn. The students must have their supplies at school and on their desk at the appropriate times. Each student must follow the classroom rules that were created together on the first day of school and the school wide rules. Both sets of rules listed below.

School-Wide Rules PAW Rules

1. Please follow the directions the first time given. 2. Always keep hands, feet, and objects to yourself. 3. Walk inside the building. 4. Speak Appropriately.

Classroom Rules
1. Respect yourself, others, and property. 2. Follow directions. 3. Be on time and prepared for class. 4. Show kindness, respect, and forgiveness to yourself and others. 5. Turn in homework on time. 6. Raise your hand before speaking. 7. Always do your best!

Homework Policy
Students have their own homework folders. The left pocket is returned papers and notes to parents. The right pocket is completed and to-be-completed homework. Each day, the students drop off their homework folders, with their completed homework in them, to the basket on the table by my desk. I collect the papers in the folders and add in the new homework and papers to be sent home. At the end of the day, the folders are passed back. Students are expected to bring these back the following day and place them in the homework folder basket first thing in the morning. I assign homework so students can practice what they have learned and so I can gauge their progress. Students will have time in class to begin their homework so that I can check for understanding. Unfinished work must be turned in by the due date; if not, there will be a 10% penalty for each day it is late.
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THE LOREM IPSUMS Fall 2012

FALL 2016 Page

Classroom Management
I believe that children learn better in an environment that is filled with authentic praise and constant feedback. Therefore, I have implemented a variety of management strategies to ensure that students take responsibility for their actions and stay involved in and dedicated to our classroom community.

Classroom Clip Chart

Our classroom behavior system will be based on the Clip Chart you see to the left. Each student will have a clothespin with their name on it. Every day, students will start off with their clothespin pinned to Ready to Learn. Their clothespin will move depending on their behavior for that day. Clip Up! If they behave positively, they move up 1 level. Students who move beyond outstanding are now Off the Chart! and I will clip their clothespin to my shirt so that I can see their name throughout the day and brag their good behavior to anyone I see. Students who remain Outstanding! or Off the Chart! at the end of the day will receive a jewel to glue to their clothespin. Once their clothespin is completely jeweled, it will retire to the Clothespin Hall of Fame and they will receive a prize from the prize bin. Clip Down. If they behave inappropriately, they move down 1 level. Think About It: Student should stop to think about their actions and what they can do to fix them. Teachers Choice: I will choose an appropriate consequence for the misbehavior. Parent Contact: I will personally contact the parent or guardian of the student to discuss the students actions. *Students will fill out their behavior chart and take it home to their parents/guardians so they know how their child behaved that day. Students receiving anything less than Ready to Learn must have these signed and returned the next day.

Marble Jar
Whenever students receive a compliment from me or another teacher, they will add a marble (or marbles) to the marble jar. Once the jar is full, we will celebrate with a class party. The students will vote on the type of party (ex: pizza party, pajama party, movie party, etc.)

Caught You Being Good!

If a student catches a classmate being a good citizen, they may place their classmates name in the bucket. Once a week, I will draw someones name from this bucket, and they will get to eat lunch with me.

Job Board

Each week, a group of students will be assigned a classroom job. These jobs will be posted on the job board, which lists the job and included responsibilities. Some of the jobs include line monitor, paper passer, and pencil sharpener.

Other Management
I do not believe authentic praise and feedback should rely solely on extrinsic rewards. Throughout the day, I will provide students who are on-task with verbal and nonverbal praise. Students who are off-task will receive verbal and nonverbal reminders to correct their behavior.

THE LOREM IPSUMS Fall 2012

FALL 2016 Page

Additional Information
Embracing Diversity in the Classroom
Embracing diversity is one of the greatest goals we have for this year. We will all make the effort to accept one another for our similarities and differences. To make this possible, there will be differentiated instruction to meet the needs of each student. Students will learn to work with each other and respect all students, regardless of ethnicity, gender, or socio-economic status. To broaden our cultural perspectives, we will discuss backgrounds and cultures. Parents/Guardians and students are invited to talk about their backgrounds and cultures.

Absence from School

Your childs attendance at school is essential to their success in the classroom. However, if your child must be absent from school, please notify the office as soon as possible. The office will then notify me of the absence so that I can gather the necessary materials for make-up work. These materials can be picked up at the end of the day, or your child can get them when they return to school. The due date for this make up work will depend on the reason and length of the absence, leaving it up to my discretion.

Classroom Volunteers
Parent/Guardian volunteers are always needed and appreciated in our classroom. Please contact me if you would like to volunteer in our classroom. Visits are also always welcomed. I ask that you notify me first before visiting, so that I can ensure we are in the classroom at the time of your visit. Both the students and I appreciate volunteers and visitors!

Star Student of the Week

Every Friday, I will select one student to be the Star Student for the following week. I will send home the Star Student Poster and ask that you fill this out over the weekend. This will be hung up on our Star Student bulletin board along with any photos your child brings into class. The student will also receive a friendship poster from their classmates. Students will write comments to the Star Student on this friendship poster, which the Star Student keeps at the end of the week!
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Always feel free to contact me!

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If you ever have questions, comments, or concerns please feel free to contact me! My contact information is listed below. I will respond quickest to email. If you would like to speak over the phone, I am available before or after school or during my prep time, which is ___________. You are one of the greatest resources I have in getting to know your child, so dont ever hesitate to contact me. I look forward to a wonderful year with you and your child!

Katelin Barker

Contact Information: Katelin Barker

Email: k.barker328@gmail.com
(Available Throughout the Day and Evening)

School Phone: XXX-XXX-XXXX Ext. XXXX

(Available before or after school, or during prep time: _________)