Welcome you to Third Grade

1
Mrs. Moraitis
Welcomes you to Second Grade!
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A Teacher's Philosophy
I have come to a frightening conclusion. I
am the decisive element in the classroom. It is
my personal approach that creates the climate.
It is my daily mood that makes the weather. As a
teacher I possess tremendous power to make a
childs life miserable or joyous. I can be a
tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration.
I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal. In all
situations it is my response that decides whether
a crisis will be escalated or deescalated, and a
child humanized or dehumanized.
Haim Ginott
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Classroom Rights
I have a right to be treated with compassion in
this room This means that no one will laugh at
me or hurt my feelings.
I have a right to be myself in this room That
means that no one will treat me unfairly because
I am black or white, fat or thin, tall or short,
boy or girl.
I have a right to be safe in the room This
means that no one will hit me, kick me, push me,
pinch me, or hurt me.
I have a right to hear and be heard in this
room This means that no one will yell, scream,
shout, or make loud noises.
I have a right to learn about myself in this
room This means that I will be free to express
my feelings and opinions without being
interrupted or punished.
Conflict Resolution Program Bullying Policy
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Go Math Program
Our Go Math program is designed to enable
children in elementary grades to learn more
mathematical content and become life-long
mathematical thinkers. Multiple methods and
strategies for problem solving are integrated
throughout the program. Students are given a
toolbox of manipulatives to explore and use
during daily routines. This hands-on approach
makes mathematics meaningful to children through
real world problems and applications.
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Token System Class Store
In an effort to make your child more accountable
for his/her academic and social behavior, I have
implemented a token economy within my classroom.
Students receive 50 tokens per day (in theory)
for displaying positive classroom and school wide
behaviors. I keep a weekly record of token
totals. Through the use of this system, students
will practice mathematical and economic skills by
making a purchase from my classroom store. They
will have the opportunity to make monetary
decisions, utilize their purchasing power, or
save for a more expensive item. This
incorporates pertinent concepts that are
addressed in our math, social studies, and family
life (character education) programs.
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My policy is to assign homework on Monday
Thursday. It is checked on a daily basis.
Homework is posted on the Internet on a daily
basis. You can check assignments by going to
www.edgewaterschools.org. Choose GW School. Sign
in to our new website, click Classroom
Teachers, and then click on my name.
HOMEWORK

• All projects and reports are assigned well in
  advance. Due dates are posted on my Homework
  Board. Rubrics are provided in advance for most
  projects.

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We have a very challenging second grade
curriculum that is designed to help all students
reach their fullest potential. The goal of our
Language Arts Literacy Initiative is to help
students grow into independent, proficient
readers and writers. It is our belief that
strong readers and writers will excel in all
subject areas. Our approach to writing parallels
much of what the National Writing Project
proposes (http//www.nwp.org/) and our approach
to reading matches what Lucy Calkins from the
Reading and Writing Project at Teachers College,
Columbia University (http//tc.readingandwritingpr
oject.com/) articulates.

L.A.L. CURRICULUM
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GWs philosophy is to integrate differentiated
learning into the classroom. The concept of
differentiated learning is to focus on the needs
of individual learning styles by providing
instruction and assessment through different
modalities. This concept is enhanced by our math
series. This type of skills-based learning is
also highlighted in our Reading Program.  
Differentiated Learning
 
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Classroom parties are permitted during the school
year, (Halloween, before holiday break in
December, etc.) but we must keep in mind that
some students have food allergies and remember
that both EVG and GW Schools are peanut and tree
nut free school. Please let me know if your
child has any food allergy or any other
allergy.Birthday parties are also welcome in
our classroom if you follow the healthy food
policy. (A copy of this letter is in your Parent
Handbook.) All food items must be approved by
our school nurse. Please check in with the main
office and they will put you in touch with our
nurse. Invitations to out-of-school birthday
parties cannot be distributed from my classroom
Additional InformationI am only allowed to
give out class lists with first names
only.Birthday favor party bags should not
include gum or candy. I am not allowed to
forward a letter to another parent from another
parent.
Classroom and Birthday Parties

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Newly Revised Grading System
90 - 100 O
86 - 89 VG
80 - 85 G
70 - 79 S
60 - 69 N
Below 60 U
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Routines, Procedures, Projects
Test Folders
Working Snack
Dismissal
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Science
Social Studies
Family Life
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Parent/Teacher Communication
As partners in your childs education, it is
important that we keep our lines of communication
open. It would be very useful if you could
provide me with your e-mail address. Please feel
free to e-mail or call me with any questions or
concerns. Together we can make your childs
second grade experience positive and rewarding.
pmoraitis_at_edgewaterschools.org