Welcome to 2nd Grade! Find your student

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Welcome to 2nd Grade!Find your students desk
and read your special letter. Use the piece of
binder paper to write a fun response.

• Ms. OConnor
• Mohr Elementary
• 2012-2013

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About Me

• Grew up in Pleasanton. Go Dons!
• 2nd Career
• Taught 2nd - 5th grades in Pleasanton and
  Livermore
• Family

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Philosophy

• Teaching and learning is what occurs when
  teacher, learner, and content meet and connect.

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Goals for the Year

• Independent learners
• Critical thinkers
• Excited seekers of knowledge!

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Curriculum

• Based on California State Standards for Language
  Arts and Math http//www.cde.ca.gov/
• CA Curriculum Standards for PUSDs 2nd grade
  booklet. http//www.pleasanton.k12.ca.us/Educatio
  nalServices/Curriculum/Downloads/thi
• rdgrade.pdf
• These sites describe what students should know
  and be able to do by the end of the school year.

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Reading

• Fluency, Comprehension, and Expression
• Houghton Mifflin Anthology Text
• Guided Reading
• Independent Reading

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Writing

• Mechanics (grammar, capitalization, punctuation,
  spelling)
• Daily Oral Language
• Spelling words
• Writers Workshop
• Rhetoric (expressiveness)
• Writers Workshop

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Mathematics

• Numeric Operations, Math Concepts, Problem
  Solving
• Scott Foresman
• Multiplication Math Facts
• Math Enrichment
• Sunshine Math (at home work)
• Hands on Equations (taught by Parent Helpers)

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Science

• Standards skills in 3 branches of science --
  Physical Science, Life Science, Earth Science
• Houghton Mifflin Series
• Investigation and Experimentation standards
• Classroom experiments in Lab with Mrs. McCarthy
• Science Fair

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Social Studies

• Introduction to types of social organization
  (government) and notable people (biographies).
• Houghton Mifflin Text
• Time For Kids
• Nonfiction reading

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Speaking

• Monthly Speech
• 2 minutes
• Focus on oral presentations with attention to
  pitch and eye contact.

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Assessment

• School level -- Fall, Winter and Spring
• Standards Based Report card
• District level -- Fall and Spring
• Class size reduction assessments
• Writing sample
• State level -- Spring
• Statewide standardized multiple-choice test in
  language arts and math

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Tribes

• Mohrs approach to character education, based on
  four principles
• Attentive Listening
• Mutual Respect
• No Put-Downs
• The Right to Pass
• I Messages

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Supporting Your Child

• Encourage daily practice
• Assist with remedial math concept work
• (www.onlineintervention.com)
• Pose higher-order questions about what your
  student reads (inferring)

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Nuts and Bolts

• Scheduling
• P.E. (Monday and Tuesday), Science (Wednesday),
  Music (Wednesday)
• P.E. Please make sure that your child wears
  socks, tennis shoes and appropriate clothing on
  these days. On the really hot days you want to
  make sure they have sun screen on and a hat to
  protect them.
• Policies
• Snacks and drinks
• Behavior
• Absences
• Ways to Support the Classroom
• Classroom Fund, Volunteer, PTA, Script, donate
  supplies

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Friday Homework Folders!

• Friday Folder These folders will be sent home
  on Friday with newsletters, homework, school
  information and your childs work from the week.
• Homework is designed to reinforce class
  instruction and should take on average about 20
  minutes per night. In addition, your child should
  be reading at least 20 minutes every night,
  either independently or with you (hopefully
  both!) By supporting your childs homework, you
  send the message that learning is important.
• Homework website http//teachersites.schoolworld.
  com/webpages/Mperkins1/index.cfm

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Star of the Week and Book Orders

• Star of the Week Each child will have a week to
  be the Star of the Week.
• Book Orders Highlights I will send home book
  club order forms with the homework. Ordering
  books through the club is a very inexpensive way
  to build your childs library. If you would like
  to order books please order your books through
  the scholastic website. Its super easy!

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Birthdays

• Birthdays Please send in a book to donate or
  share with the class.
• This year we have several students with nut
  allergies.

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Field Trip Fund

• Field Trip Fund The second grade team requests
  a field trip contribution of 30.00 per child.
  Please return the donation, in either cash or
  checks made out to Mohr Student Body.
• If you think you might drive on a field trip
  please make sure your Volunteer Form has already
  been turned in as well as your Car Insurance
  Permission Form. These items sometimes takes
  weeks to clear so please turn them in ASAP.

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Ways to Contact Me

• Email (moconnor_at_pleasantonusd.net)
• Schedule a meeting
• Class website (found on the Mohr website under my
  name)
• Drop by AFTER school

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Parent Homework

• Please turn in tonight or tomorrow morning
• 30 Field Trip Donation
• In a million words or less tell me about your
  child
• Leave a nice and positive note for your student
• Mention the classroom.
• A memory from your 3rd grade experience
• What you hope they will accomplish this year.
• Emergency Bag (snack, drink, picture and note)
• Please donate 1 Kleenex Box

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I am looking forward to a wonderful year!