Mrs. IsaacsonMrs. IsaacsonSyracuse ElementarySyracuse Elementary

22ndnd Grade Grade

Mrs. Isaacson• I have been teaching for 26

years in many capacities: sixth grade, reading intervention, instructional coach. But 2nd grade is my favorite!

• I have four children, and all their names begin with “K”.

• Reading, scrapbooking, doing crafts, and watching my kids’ sporting events are some of my favorite things

to do.

Since going back to a traditional school schedule, beginning & Since going back to a traditional school schedule, beginning & dismissal times have changed slightly. Also, two longer recesses dismissal times have changed slightly. Also, two longer recesses will replace the three shorter recesses each day.will replace the three shorter recesses each day.

8:408:40 11stst bell rings bell rings8:508:50 Late bell rings, school beginsLate bell rings, school begins11:55 – 12:35 211:55 – 12:35 2ndnd grade lunch & recess grade lunch & recess 1:50 – 2:151:50 – 2:15 22ndnd grade recess grade recess3:253:25 School dismissed (Monday – Thursday)School dismissed (Monday – Thursday)

School will be dismissed at 1:25 on School will be dismissed at 1:25 on Fridays.Fridays.

Mrs. Caldwell – PrincipalMrs. Caldwell – PrincipalMs. Fredericks – Administrative InternMs. Fredericks – Administrative InternMrs. Dickson – SecretaryMrs. Dickson – SecretaryMr. Gorringe – CustodianMr. Gorringe – CustodianMrs. Preston – LibrarianMrs. Preston – LibrarianMrs. Stephenson – Computer Prep-Time Mrs. Stephenson – Computer Prep-Time TeacherTeacherMrs. DeVries – P.E. Prep-Time TeacherMrs. DeVries – P.E. Prep-Time Teacher

Mrs. Gray – Music & Art Prep-Time Mrs. Gray – Music & Art Prep-Time TeacherTeacher

The other 2The other 2ndnd Grade teachers are: Grade teachers are:Mrs. OsborneMrs. OsborneMrs. Roper & Mrs. ByersMrs. Roper & Mrs. ByersMs. Dean & Mr. Law (Chinese Immersion) Ms. Dean & Mr. Law (Chinese Immersion)

Our Classroom Rules:Our Classroom Rules:

• Listen carefully.Listen carefully.• Follow directions.Follow directions.• Work quietly. Do not disturb others.Work quietly. Do not disturb others.• Respect others. Be kind with words Respect others. Be kind with words andand

actions.actions.• Respect school and personal Respect school and personal property.property.•Work and play safely. Work and play safely.

Grading is done on a 1-2-3 rubric, just as Grading is done on a 1-2-3 rubric, just as the DESK report card is. However, I mark the DESK report card is. However, I mark their papers with a plus sign (+), a check their papers with a plus sign (+), a check mark (√), or a minus (-) sign.mark (√), or a minus (-) sign.

85 – 100% = +85 – 100% = + 70 – 84% = √70 – 84% = √ 69% and below = - 69% and below = -

Every Monday, a homework packet consisting Every Monday, a homework packet consisting of a reading passage with questions and math of a reading passage with questions and math review pages will be sent home. Your child review pages will be sent home. Your child needs to complete it and return it to me by needs to complete it and return it to me by Friday of the same week. Not only does Friday of the same week. Not only does completing the homework packet help review completing the homework packet help review important concepts, but it also teaches your important concepts, but it also teaches your child the importance of responsibility and child the importance of responsibility and completing work.completing work.

The weekly spelling list is also attached to The weekly spelling list is also attached to the the packet. You and your child may use this packet. You and your child may use this to to practice the words at home for the practice the words at home for the spelling spelling test on Friday. test on Friday.

We will be learning these (and lots more!):We will be learning these (and lots more!):• Types of sentencesTypes of sentences• Parts of a sentenceParts of a sentence• Friendly letter writingFriendly letter writing• Informative paragraphsInformative paragraphs• Persuasive writingPersuasive writing• Possessive nounsPossessive nouns• Common and proper nounsCommon and proper nouns• Plural nounsPlural nouns• AdjectivesAdjectives

• VerbsVerbs• ContractionsContractions

Some of the reading skills & strategies we’ll be Some of the reading skills & strategies we’ll be emphasizing this year are:emphasizing this year are:

• main idea and detailsmain idea and details• parts of a storyparts of a story• comparing and contrastingcomparing and contrasting• sequencing and transition wordssequencing and transition words• summarizingsummarizing• predicting outcomespredicting outcomes

• inferencinginferencing• fact and opinionfact and opinion• reading genresreading genres• fluencyfluency

Areas we will be focusing on are:Areas we will be focusing on are:

• Numbers and operationsNumbers and operations• Mental strategies for addition & subtractionMental strategies for addition & subtraction• Place ValuePlace Value• MeasurementMeasurement• TimeTime• MoneyMoney

• Graphing dataGraphing data• FractionsFractions• Geometric shapesGeometric shapes

MathMath

Some of the areas we will be studying Some of the areas we will be studying are: are:

• WeatherWeather• Moon and StarsMoon and Stars• RocksRocks• GravityGravity• Living ThingsLiving Things

You are a welcome presence in the You are a welcome presence in the classroom! If you’d like to volunteer on a classroom! If you’d like to volunteer on a regular basis or even just once or twice a regular basis or even just once or twice a

year, please fill out a volunteer form in our year, please fill out a volunteer form in our classroom at our Back-to-School Open House classroom at our Back-to-School Open House

and give to Mrs. Isaacson. There are and give to Mrs. Isaacson. There are opportunities to listen to students read, help opportunities to listen to students read, help

them with their math facts, supervise our them with their math facts, supervise our class store, or help with class parties.class store, or help with class parties.

We appreciate your help!We appreciate your help!

We already have pencil boxes, crayons, and colored We already have pencil boxes, crayons, and colored pencilspencilsfor each student in our class, but it is important to for each student in our class, but it is important to have have a backpack or bag to bring papers home in every a backpack or bag to bring papers home in every night. We use lots & lots of supplies in 2night. We use lots & lots of supplies in 2ndnd grade, so it grade, so it would be very appreciated if every child could donate would be very appreciated if every child could donate these items:these items:

• 8 – 10 small gluesticks8 – 10 small gluesticks• a 4 oz. bottle of Elmer’s Gluea 4 oz. bottle of Elmer’s Glue• a regular box of tissuesa regular box of tissues

If you’d like to donate anything else for our If you’d like to donate anything else for our classroom, check the “Wish List” in our classroom, check the “Wish List” in our classroom for items like Lysol Wipes, hand classroom for items like Lysol Wipes, hand sanitizer, paper towels, paper plates, etc.sanitizer, paper towels, paper plates, etc.

Fun Friday – Every Friday , each student who has completed Fun Friday – Every Friday , each student who has completed their their work in class will get to participate in a “Fun work in class will get to participate in a “Fun Friday” Friday” reward activity for the last half-hour of the reward activity for the last half-hour of the day.day.

Star of the Week – Each child will have the opportunity to be the Star of the Week – Each child will have the opportunity to be the Star Star of the week. A paper will be sent home the week of the week. A paper will be sent home the week before, before, along with a posterboard to decorate about along with a posterboard to decorate about themselves. themselves. They’ll share their poster the following They’ll share their poster the following Monday and it will Monday and it will be on display in our classroom be on display in our classroom during the week.during the week.

Birthdays – You are welcome (but not required!) to send a small Birthdays – You are welcome (but not required!) to send a small treat treat for the class on your child’s birthday. In keeping with for the class on your child’s birthday. In keeping with district district policy, they must be store-bought. We will celebrate policy, they must be store-bought. We will celebrate summer summer birthdays on the child’s half-birthday (June birthdays on the child’s half-birthday (June birthdays in birthdays in December, July in January, & August in February.)December, July in January, & August in February.)

Communication is the key to a successful Communication is the key to a successful school year. We’re all in this together – school year. We’re all in this together – parents, teachers, and administrators parents, teachers, and administrators

working together to help your child reach working together to help your child reach their full potential.their full potential.

It’s going to be a great year!It’s going to be a great year!

Mrs. Isaacson’s email: Mrs. Isaacson’s email: jisaacson@dsdmail.netjisaacson@dsdmail.net

Syracuse Elementary phone: 801-402-2600 Syracuse Elementary phone: 801-402-2600