The ABCs of

Miss Paulsons Classroom

ABSENCES
Please call the school (605-983-5597 ext. 221) and let us know if your child will be absent.

ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES

School starts at 8:15 a.m. and dismisses at 3:15 p.m.

BACK TO SCHOOL
The first few weeks of school will be spent getting to know each other and becoming familiar with new routines. As a class we will discuss classroom rules, behavior management and our Bonus Bucks reward system.

BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT
The behavior sheet called Peek at My Week is used for communication between you, the guardians, and me to allow you to see your childs behavior and homework completion in class. This sheet will be sent home periodically to update on how your childs afternoon/day/week has gone.

BIRTHDAYS
Goodies are allowed in order to celebrate your childs birthday, however Id appreciate it if youd let me know a few days in advance. You can drop the goodies off in the classroom between 7:45 and 8:10 a.m. Anytime after that, please leave them at the office to avoid disruption. We will have snack around 10:15 every day, so that would be a great time for the birthday snack to be shared. Also, please be sure to bring in the necessary amount of treats and supplies (plates, forks, cups, etc.) (16 children). I will allow your child to pass out treats to other teachers, but not to other classes. Lastly, I do ask that your child bring in only store bought or packaged treats to avoid allergies. (No peanut products please) If you wish to celebrate your childs birthday after school hours, and are planning on sending the invitations to school to be handed out, I ask that you do this only if you plan to invite all the girls/boys or both. I would like to avoid hurt feelings.

BONUS BUCKS
Bonus Bucks (classroom money) are what I call my motivational and behavioral rewards system. I wanted a system to reward your child for making a good decision, or assisting others without being asked. When your child is caught displaying a positive b ehavior, he/she will be rewarded with a Bonus Buck. Your child can earn an unlimited number of Bonus Bucks, and will be able to spend this money at the end of every other week. One of the catches to this system is that it requires your child to be responsible for his/her own money. My rewards system can take away the bonus buck if needed. I will not take away a bonus buck from your child for not completing an assignment or homework, but I will take away for behavioral matters. My behavioral system will be made with the input and ideas of entire class. I want your child to fully understand that his/her actions do have consequences.

BOOK BAGS/BACKPACKS
Your child should bring a book bag to school every day.

BOOK ORDERS
I will send home book order forms for you and your child throughout the year. These clubs offer wonderful books at reduced prices and are a great way to build your own home library.

CHANGE IN TRANSPORTATION
Please send a note or call the office if your child will be going home a different way than what is listed on the enrollment card.

CLOTHING
Students need to wear appropriate, comfortable clothing to school. Please put names on coats, sweatshirts and books bags. Sandals are permitted, but remember that your child will be out for daily recess and/or specials. Your child will need tennis shoes for P.E. every Monday and Thursday.

COMMUNICATION
Should you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to write a note, email or call. I can be reached at 983-5597 ext 288. My email address is hope.paulson@k12.sd.us

Explicit Oral Language

Every morning as a part of our literacy time the students will pair up and practice oral language skills. They will also practice their listening skills when asked to comment on what their partner shared.

ECONOMY
In our classroom, students will learn the value of earning and saving money as they get paid for their behavior, responsibility, organization, and good deeds. The students are to keep track of this money, and they may save up for different prizes/rewards.

EMAIL
If you need to contact me during the day, it is better to call my classroom phone instead of sending an email. I am unable to check my emails until after school on most days.

FIELD TRIP
We will take one field trip at the end of the year. You will receive more details as the field trip nears.

GUIDED READING
During our reading centers each morning a group of students will join me for a guided reading lesson. This gives me the opportunity to work with a small group of children and track their reading progression throughout the year. There will be 3-5 students in each group and every student will meet with me once/twice a week.

HOMEWORK
Homework is assigned typically on Monday & Friday. I will send home a math sheet on Monday that focuses on the math concept for the week. I do grade these, but the purpose of these worksheets is to reinforce the math concept. Math quizzes are on Thursdays in class. On Friday, the spelling list is sent home with your student. In the case that homework is not completed on the day its due, the student may be asked to stay in at recess to finish it. What does not get completed during recess is additional homework that night. If there is a valid reason why the homework cannot be completed in the time given, parents are to write a note to the teacher and an extension will be provided. If your child has trouble with his/her homework that night, please write me a note at the top of the homework page, so that I can spend some additional time with your child. If youve written me a note, I will count their homework as complete for that day, even if the assignment isnt completed entirely.

JOURNALS
Your child will write a journal response relating to their week. This is a great way to have them think back to what they have learned or accomplished throughout the week.

LUNCH
A letter will be sent home to inform you when your childs lunch balance is low so that it can be replenished.

If you would like to join your child for lunch, please write or note or call me before 8:15. We love to have guests!

MATH
We are in the process of beginning a new math series this year. This new series, Investigations, teaches children to show and explain the steps of how they figured out the problem. The teacher encourages the students to solve problems in a way they understand best.

POSITIVE REWARDS
BONUS BUCKS: Each time a child is caught in an act of kindness, they are rewarded with a Bonus Buck (classroom money). They can save up for things such as a No Homework Pass, a prize from the prize box, lunch with Miss P, stickers, and more!

READING BAGS
Each student will be given a reading bag that they will be transporting between school and home. The reading bag will contain books from our guided reading time and various books they borrow from the classroom.

SCIENCE
We will be incorporating our science units in with the weekly story from our Basal Series. The science units are: dinosaurs, rain forests, solids/liquids/gases, magnets, heat/light/sound, planets, weather, plants/seeds, and health.

SNACK
Please provide your child with a healthy snack every day. If your want to send a drink with your child, please send a water bottle- no juice. If your child has a food allergy, please let me know. (Please no candy bars, suckers, skittles, etc.)

SOCIAL STUDIES
Our social studies will consist of five units throughout the year. They are: geography (maps), natural resources, citizenship & rules/laws, Native Americans, and holidays around the world/cultures.

SPELLING
We have weekly spelling tests of high frequency words on Thursdays. At the end of each month, we will take a test to review all of the words. Each week, we focus on a specific sound or word pattern as well. (example: words that end in ly, -ing)

STUDENT OF THE WEEK

Every child will have an opportunity to be the Student of the Week. Each day of the week brings something special for that child. I will send home a special poster and parent letter explaining what needs to be sent to school the week before the child becomes the Student of the Week. The child and parents will have to do a little preparation for the week ahead.

SUPPLIES
If your child runs out of one or more of his/her supplies, please replace them as soon as possible. Please do not forget to label all supplies.

TAKE HOME FOLDERS

Take home folders will be sent home on a daily basis. The left pocket is labeled stay home and the right side is labeled bring back. I will send home corrected papers, important notes, reminders, etc. Please note which pocket they are sent home in.

TARDIES
If your child is late for school (arriving after 8:15), please sign them in at the office before sending them to the classroom, or call into the office.

TOYS
I recommend students do not bring toys to school, as they can be lost or damaged. We are not responsible for a childs toy if they choose to bring them.

VISITORS
Arlington Elementary School has a policy that ALL GUESTS (including familiar faces) are required to check in at the school office. However, I frequently welcome and encourage family involvement, and you may come in at any time!

VOLUNTEERS
I feel that it is very important for a child to know that his/her parents support their education. We will try to provide many opportunities for parents to volunteer and visit our classroom. Your support can be exhibited in a number of ways. These can include helping with parties, assisting with special projects, sending in treats or party goods, chaperoning field trips, reading to the class, helping out in the classroom, or preparing materials at home. Your involvement in our room, and at our school helps tremendously! Please sign up on the volunteer sheet if you would like to help in our classroom.

WATER BOTTLES
The students are allowed to have water bottles in their desk as long as we dont have many spills. If spills become a problem, that privilege will be taken away.

Zzzzz!
Make sure that your child gets plenty of rest. Setting and keeping a bedtime is a wonderful gift you can give to your child. It will help them to be their best at school and at home!

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------I,____________________________________, have received and read the classroom policies for (parent signature) second grade students. ___________
(Date)

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