Mrs. Gross’ Handbook

For Second Grade

Discipline Plan

          Students will be expected to behave appropriately in the classroom and on school grounds.   Behaviors that disturb others will be discouraged.  The school-wide plan is based on Boys Town Social Skills as identified in the School Handbook.  Additional expectations are that second graders will strive to:

1.    Follow directions.

2.    Listen when someone else is talking.

3.    Raise their hand and wait to be called on.

4.    Work quietly without bothering others.

5.    Keep working until their work is done.

6.    Don’t tattle unless someone or something

       is being harmed.

Discipline Procedure

        Rewards:  Good or appropriate behavior in our classroom will be rewarded with both verbal and non-verbal praise.  The non-verbal praise will be the development of a “funny-buck” system where the children will earn play money to purchase items to be sold at an auction sale that will be held in our classroom with treasure chest items.  They will also be able to use the “funny-bucks” to purchase pencils and other school supplies in the classroom.  This reward program will help develop individualism within an “interactive society”.   Children will learn to work for themselves as well as for the group in developing their education.

“Funny-bucks” can be earned in three different ways: 

1.    They will be given as rewards for successfully completing assigned tasks/jobs in the classroom

2.  They will be rewarded randomly to students who         

     display hard work, good listening, or exceptional

     quality work.   This helps children to manage their own

     behavior based on their own ability level.  It also

     encourages children to monitor their own behavior in

     the classroom.

3.  Lastly they will be used as a tool to manage the entire

     classroom’s behavior.  If the classroom as a whole is

     noisy at a time that is inappropriate QU (because Q &

     U always go together in words) will be written on the

     board.  The letters I,E,T will be added for each outburst

     on inappropriate noise.  Once the T is written on the

     board the children will not receive a “funny-buck” for

     that day, but in turn they will be fined two “funny

     bucks” for that day.  If the word QUIET is not

     complete at the end of the day the children will each

     receive an additional “funny-buck” (or maybe two) to

     add to their “bank”.    We will learn to work together

     as a group as well as with the individuals in our

    classroom using the “Tribes” norms set forth in a

    program  that implements a process for social

    development and cooperative learning.

When there is a small number in a circle in the top right hand corner of papers that are brought home, it signifies that funny bucks have been paid to your child for this work.  

Consequences 

          If a student chooses to break a rule or behavior in a manner disruptive to others, consequences will occur.  Record of consequences will be kept on a daily basis, and not be carried over to the next day.  Children will first be given a verbal warning if displaying inappropriate behavior on the school grounds.  If the child’s behavior doesn’t change he/she will write his/her name on the board.  Should the child choose not to change his/her behavior at this point, he/she will get a checkmark by his or her name.  At this point the child will have to stay in from the next scheduled daily recess (not noon recess) for five minutes with his or her head down on the desk.  Two check marks by the child’s name means the child will stay in the whole recess, and he/she will fill out a form explaining to their parents what the problem is and how to “fix” it.  The child then brings the note home, parents sign it and then it is returned to Mrs. Gross the following day.  A third check mark means the child misses recess, writes the note, and then visits with the principal with the note before taking it home. 

          In the case of severe disruptions such as stealing, fighting, or destroying property the child will be immediately sent to the principal.

Classroom Management

          Our second grade classroom is designed to build self-esteem, responsible behavior and academic achievement through peer interaction.  Peer influence in a supportive environment will constructively manage behavior problems within the classroom. This process allows me as a teacher to spend more time teaching and less time managing behaviors.

          Rules in the classroom are posted as pictures to help remind second graders of appropriate behaviors in a learning environment.  The rules are founded in the fact that one goal of education is to help children learn to live their lives well in interaction with others.  The pictures present interaction strategies that foster and motivate learning, as well as focus on respect, responsibility, and relatedness.  These rules are:

1.     Attentive Listening

Good listeners listen with their eyes, ears, and hearts.  We will pay close attention to one another’s words and feelings, giving others caring respect and consideration.

2.    Give Put-ups or Appreciations Only

We will think of nice things to say to each other. The plan for creating a positive environment for learning and for developing mutual respect!

3.      No Put-Downs

We will avoid negative remarks, name-calling, and hurtful gestures.

4.    Right to Pass

Allows a student to share in a safe environment when he or she is ready to do so.

5.     Confidentiality

This honors the sharing happening in our class; it is based on the belief that sharing should include no gossip and no names.  May be referred to as “No names, no gossip” rule.

Grading Policy

          Not all paperwork will come home graded.  I will however attempt to check over most of the work.  In general as a teacher I believe that students should practice skills in attempt to master them before their work is graded.  For example in math, we will practice a skill in a math packet (or handout) until I feel the child has learned it well enough to attempt individually completing an assignment for a grade.  I feel all children should work at the level that they are successful and therefore not all children will be working on the same task at the same time.  However, I will expect all children to attempt and do their best work in the classroom.  Children will be told which tasks will be graded when the assignment is made. 

Graded work will have stars drawn on it.  Four stars mean that your child’s work is excellent (E).  Three stars means that your child’s work is above average (S+).  Two stars represents average work (S), and one star means this work needs more practice (S-).  The letter U (unsatisfactory) means that your child will need more help or needs to show more effort in doing his/her work. 

                       The Elementary Grading Schedule

Homework

        Second graders will be expected to do homework assigned on a weekly basis and it will be explained or attached to the weekly newsletter or explained. Spelling tests will be on Mondays unless noted otherwise.  Other homework assignments/attachments may include writing a book report, sight word practice /activities, math practice pages, and other spelling work.  If circumstances exist making it impossible to complete homework, please send a note explaining the problem. Children will be paid funny bucks upon completion of homework assignments.

Missed work due to absence or incomplete work may be sent home if necessary.  A form (that needs to be signed and returned) will be sent that states what work needs to be completed.

Weekly Newsletter

          A newsletter will be sent home weekly to help communicate what is or will be happening in our classroom.  It will include the spelling words, homework assignments, and other messages that are relevant to school and it’s activities.

Volunteers and Visitors

          Being involved in your child’s education is very important.  If you would like to volunteer to help or just visit the classroom, we’re more than willing to make arrangements to fit your needs the best we can!  Please send a note, call the office or even call me to get the details organized.  Volunteers and visitors are very welcome!

Parties 

          Volunteers will be greatly appreciated.  Reminders will be sent in the Weekly Newsletter in regards to party plans.   

Student Groups for Each Day of the Week

          A Student Helper Group will be chosen by the day name of each week during the school year.  The duties of the Student Helper Group are to do calendar, be the line leaders, paper passers, messengers, etc., for the assigned day of the week. 

Show-and-Tell

          There will not be an assigned time for Show-and-Tell in second grade.  If children bring show–and-tell they are encouraged to share it after the first bell in the morning at 8:25.  The children will be given many opportunities for verbally sharing with the class in other ways.  Children will however be encouraged to bring items to share that are related to the topics or themes we study in the classroom.

Handwriting

                Students will review proper formation of D’Nealian manuscript style handwriting and we will begin to learn cursive in second grade.   I encourage children not to practice the cursive letters on their own until they have learned them in the classroom.  Please encourage your child to be patient. 

          D’Nealian Handwriting style is more than likely different than the handwriting style that you learned as a child.  The D’Nealian style of manuscript writing seems difficult to learn, but it is a style conducive to cursive handwriting.  Cursive handwriting is quite easily learned when the manuscript style has been learned correctly.