Dear Parents or Guardian,
I would like to welcome you and your child to second grade at Eagle Ridge Academy. I am very excited about working with each and every one of you this year. This letter is to inform you of several policies and procedures you and your child will be faced with this year.
My goal for this year is to help each child grow and learn to his or her highest potential. I want each child to strive to be the best they can be. I will accept nothing less. I too will strive to be the best I can be. I know you would not accept anything but the best for your child. I do know that children learn at different rates and in different ways. I will use many teaching methods to address every learning style present in our classroom.
Classroom Rules
I do expect the children to show respect for their teacher, classmates, and everyone at Eagle Ridge Academy. We will be reviewing the rules listed in my classroom and the students will copy them on paper and sign that these rules have been reviewed. Please go over these with your child this week. The discipline policy enclosed with this letter will be used in my classroom throughout the year. Please sign the last page and return it to me when you have reviewed our classroom rules with your child.
Homework
Homework is an important part of learning. The homework assigned is designed to review the skills taught in class. It also gives you an idea of what we are doing in class. The white binder labeled “Daily Binder” will be your child’s notebook. The students will be given assignments and recording their reading log minutes in there. I cannot stress the importance of getting the homework done and turned in on time. I will not accept late homework for any reason except absence from school due to illness. Homework will be checked each Friday. I do not count off for each mistake, but I do check to see that the homework packet is complete and that the student put forth effort on the assignments that were given. There will be deductions for incomplete homework assignments. Please check your child’s daily binder each night for important information.
Reading Log
Reading minutes are a must. Please record the minutes each night. I will check these on Friday when homework is turned in. This is a part of your child grade and is very important to your child’s success. Please keep the reading log sheet updated on a daily basis. Please add your child's reading log minutes for the week before Friday when I check homework. The reading log will also be a part of the overall reading grade at the end of the nine weeks grading period. Remember the reading log should average at least 80 minutes per week!
Accelerated Reader
Accelerated Reader (AR) is a great tool to motivate students to improve their reading skills. AR is a computer program which tests a student’s comprehension after he or she reads a book. Students can earn a certain number of points depending on their score on the Reading Quiz. The students will first be tested on the STAR (Standardized Test of the Assessment of Reading) Program and assigned a “ZPD”. This is their reading zone where they are most comfortable reading and comprehending. I will encourage the students to read books that are within this zone and then take an AR Reading Quiz that goes along with each book. The AR program will give the students instant feedback as to how well they understand the book that they read. I ask that you encourage your child to work toward meeting (and ever passing) the AR goal each nine weeks. Our goal is to read and take a test on one book a week on your child’s reading level. The goal will not be met if there is no passing grade or test taken for the week.
Daily Binder
Communication between a parent and a teacher is very important. It is crucial to the success of your child. To help keep this communication going your will find a Daily Binder folder coming home with your child every day. This binder is a way for you and me to communicate. I will check these daily for communication from you and I would like for you to do the same.
Each week I will send home graded work and a conduct sheet inside the “Daily Binder” please review the papers and behavior report with your child and keep them.
Daily Binder Continued
Please send all money in a sealed envelope, labeled with your child’s name and what the money is to be used for. The lunch room will not accept check this year. Please make payments by cash or on line. If your child will be going home by different means of transportation, I need a note stating this change. This is important to the safety of your child. I cannot send them home a different way without a note from you, the parent. Children will not be allowed to ride home with other children unless the person is on their check-out sheet and I have a note from you. Children will not be permitted to ride the bus home with a friend unless that friend rides the assigned bus for your child. This is a rule the Department of Transportation has established. It will not be broken for any reason.
I look forward to working with you and your child this school year. We are partners in helping a child to succeed to be his or her personal best. We are learning new things each day and we will be making many special memories as we share experiences in the second grade this year! If there is anything I can do to help you, please do not hesitate to call. Your help with your child’s education is essential. Let’s work together to help your child be the best that he or she can possibly be!
Thank you,
Mrs. Sheffield