Welcome to

High Ability
2/3
What a Bright Bunch!

Dear Parents,
Welcome to High Ability 2/3! I am looking
forward to working with you this year as we help your
child experience all the joys of learning. 2/3 will be a
year for your child to continue their love for learning
and to expand on their knowledge. Your child will be
encouraged to grow in curiosity, self-esteem,
independence and individual strengths in a positive,
safe and encouraging environment. In addition, your
child will be involved in experiences that integrate
their social, emotional, intellectual, and physical
development.
Teaching truly is my passion and it is a dream
come true for me. I am so excited about this year! I
have very high expectations for each student and I
expect them to always do their best. You play a major
role in helping your child reach the maximum of his or
her potential. Your involvement in your childs learning
experiences will have much to do with how well your
child succeeds in school and in later life. By working
together, we can help your child become the best
person possible socially, emotionally, and
intellectually. Together, we can make all the
difference!

Miss Becerra
Grade: High Ability 2/3
Brown Elementary
School Phone: 852-1498 ext. 1462
Email: lbecerra@brownsburg.k12.in.us
Website: becerrasbulldogs.weebly.com
If you ever have any questions, feel free to call, send in a note, or e-mail me.
Tests:

Rarely on Mondays I will always give plenty of notice of a test

so you can help your child study. They may take their books
home daily if you wish!
*Most common tests:
Weekly Spelling- Thursdays
Weekly Reading test & possible DOL/DOM Quiz-Fridays
Reading:

*Novels include: The Hundred Dresses, Chasing Vermeer, The

Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, and a variety of literature
circles.
*There are comprehension questions/activities that go along with
all reading assignments. Students will complete
sentences/thoughts or provide a detailed explanation and
supporting answer to go along with each story/novel. We will
also do a variety of activities with each novel (book report, play,
project). We will also use the reading basal when were not doing
a novel study. The reading tests from the basal are usually given
on Fridays.
*There will be various non-fiction magazines and literature
circles.
*Top 25 Reading Challenge!-Your 2nd grader is required to read 25
books this year of different genres. I have attached the genre list
at the back of this packet.

*Top 30 Reading Challenge!-Your 3rd grader is required to read 30

books this year of different genres. This is attached at the back
of this packet.
*High Ability 2/3 is when students are reading to learn.
Everything he/she reads is for a purpose-to build higher
knowledge.
Spelling:

*Spelling lists will be passed out on Monday. Spelling tests will

be on Thursdays. These tests will consist of dictation sentences
and spelling list words correctly. Students will be expected to
study their spelling words at home. They will have very little
time in class to study. You may use Spelling City to help your
child study.

*When we are in a basal, the words are already created. When we are
in a novel, we will study words based upon prefixes, suffixes, content
words, etc.

Morning Work: * Caught Ya-is grammar with a giggle! Some weeks,

students will write down a part of a silly story that is written on
the board. It is his/her responsibility to correct all of the mistakes
within that paragraph. Within each paragraph there are new
vocabulary words where he/she needs to use their context clues
to identify the meaning.
*During the weeks were not working on Caught Ya, students will
complete a DOL/DOM (Daily Oral Language and Math)
assignment. This is graded weekly. Students will complete and
grade DOL/DOM Monday through Thursday as morning work.
DOL/DOM will be sent home on Thursday so students can study
for DOL/DOM quiz on Friday.
*Other weeks, students will have an in class assignment of a
specific comprehension skill.
*As you can see, morning work changes weekly so be sure to
carefully read the Weekly Newsletter that I email you on Fridays
for the upcoming week.
Writing:

We will use 6 Traits writing students will work on the 6 traits:

Ideas, Organization, Word Choice, Voice, Sentence Fluency, and
Conventions.

Math:

*Everyday Math - Tests after every 8-12 lessons. Homework will

be checked and reviewed daily. Students must know their
addition, subtraction, and multiplication facts. The website for
Everyday math is: https://connected.mcgrawhill.com/connected/login.do

*Students in second grade will be using the third grade math

book, and students in third grade will be using the fourth grade
math book. This method uses a balanced approach where we
will be working on algebra, data and chance, geometry,
measurement, numeration and order, patterns, functions,
sequences, and operations each week instead of learning about
each concept in isolated chapters. Family Unit letters will be
given to you for each chapter. These letters are very
informational on how you can help your child at home. Students
will have nightly assignments that will go over the lesson we
learned in class. In addition, each student will have a log-in and
a password to use Everyday Math online. This is a great resource
for your family which includes games, reference material, and
family resources to use at home. These games are proven to
help children learn their math facts very quickly.
Everyday Math is changing this year. We are getting the newest
addition, so homework that you saw siblings have prior years will
change.
Science:

Not one central theme. Students will learn about many areas of
Science. This year weighs heavily on creations/ inventions.

Social Studies: Students will learn about Native Americans, Pioneers,

Presidents, and Cultural Awareness.
Health:

Life skills, bullying, caring, inviting environment.

Lunch:

You are always welcome to eat lunch with your child-be sure you
have a background check. Our lunch time is from 11:50-12:20.

Transportation: During the school day, our classroom phone will be on

DO NOT DISTURB. If you call, you will be immediately connected to my
voicemail. Please leave a message and I will get back to you as soon as
possible. If there is an emergency, please contact the main office. If you
are calling in regards to a change in your childs transportation you
must contact the office by 3:00 pm OR send an email to Maggie
Gregory: maggiegregory@brownsburg.k12.in.us. I will not always be
near my email to check this.
Grades:

*Grades can be checked anytime on Power School. Call the

office for username and password information.

*Many students may be used to receiving all As on every report

card in their school endeavors prior to entering our classroom.
Some may be shocked to see some lower grades during this
school year. For many students, this class will require much more
out of them than has ever been expected. Although the class is
certainly not geared to lower student grades, some may have to
learn to study if things have always come easily. That may sound
obvious, but some students have really never learned that skill
and may need extra guidance in this area. It is okay for your
child to have to really work at some assignments. Dont be too
quick to help your child with homework. When help is needed,
it should be limited to making sure the child understands what is
being asked and gently guiding him/her to a correct approach to
solve it, stopping short of actually solving it together. Learning
how to work through difficult problems independently will be a
valuable tool throughout his/her life! Please do be sure to go
over all graded papers with your child at home and discuss why a
problem or question was missed.
STAR folders: Students will have a STAR folder for daily homework, notes,
and
assignments. You may also check your childs behavior on the
left side of this folder. This folder will come home & return to
school daily.
Assignment Notebooks: Should be filled out (by your child) and checked
daily at home by you. Look for daily assignments, future test dates,
assignment due dates, etc. The class website will also list any homework as
well.
High Expectations: Academically and Behaviorally- Students are expected
to act appropriately every day, respecting others feelings, thoughts, and
comments. Students should feel safe at school and in the classroom.
Turning work in on time, being responsible, and being honest are the keys to
being successful in our class.
Classroom Plan Overview: Darts are given for poor behavior choices in the
classroom, hallway, specials, and lunch/recess. If a child earns 3 darts in a
day they receive a demerit and will be seen by Ms. Patterson. Tallies are
given for breaking responsibility rules.

*5 tallies and/or 5 darts in a week will result in a detention that must be

served the following week!
Late Work: Work is due on its due date. Please call/email me if there is an
emergency and your child cannot get his/her work due on time. If
there is no contact, then after two days I will assign a zero so that we
may move on to the next assignment. Please keep up with
PowerSchool and your childs grades. If zeros are becoming a
habit for your child, please contact me.
*Allergies/Classroom Parties: PLEASE note that we have severe NUT
allergies. There will be NO nuts and no nut by-products in this
classroom, especially during classroom parties! ALL outside food
(specifically for classroom parties) must come from Brownsburg Food
Services ONLY! Please refer to the school handbook.

Communication is the Key. Check my website, call,

send a note, e-mailwhenever you have a question about anything.

Brown Elementary
2015-2016 School Schedule
School Hours: (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday)
8:30 am

First Bell (buses and cars unload/breakfast begins)

8:45 am

Tardy Bell (instruction begins)

3:40 pm

Dismissal Bell (for all students)

School Hours: (Wednesday)

8:30 am

First Bell (buses and cars unload/breakfast begins)

8:45 am

Tardy Bell (instruction begins)

3:10 pm

Dismissal Bell (for all students)

2-Hour Delay Schedule

10:30 am

First Bell (buses and cars unload no breakfast served on 2-hour delays)

10:45 am

Tardy Bell (instruction begins)

3:40 pm

Dismissal Bell (for all students)

Lunch Schedule

Recess Schedule:

Grade 3 and 2/3 HA 11:50-12:20

12:20 12:45

Special Schedule
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday- 9:35-10:20
Monday: Computer Lab
Tuesday: Music
Wednesday: Art
Thursday: P.E.
Friday: Media Center

Many thanks to you in advance for your cooperation

and your hard work! With positive, open
communication, we are going to make an excellent
team this year. In the end, you will be amazed at how
much your child will learn and grow!!! Please, always
tell your child to Reach for the stars

-Miss Becerra

S.T.A.R. Folder
is an acronym for

Student Take And Return Folder

Behavior Slip- Your child will have their behavior slip located on
the left side of the STAR folder. You will be able to see any
tallies/darts for that day. Please sign/initial the behavior slip
EVERY FRIDAY so that I am aware that you have seen your childs
behavior for the week.

Left side of binder- Return to school side. Please return any

homework or notes on this side.

Right side of binder- Take home side. Please take out any
papers on this side and you may keep them.
Assignment Notebook- PLEASE refer to this for any extra
homework assignments/projects that are not located in your
childs STAR folder! Your child should bring this home daily.

Comments/Questions- Please put any comments/questions

that you may have on the Return to School section of the STAR
folder (left pocket of the folder). PLEASE INFORM YOUR CHILD

THAT THERE IS A NOTE IN THE STAR FOLDER SO THAT (S)HE CAN

GET IT TO ME.

My STAR Folder
Student Take And Return Folder

Name:________________________
Number:____

Grade: 2/3

Teachers Name: Miss Becerra