Welcome to Mrs. Gardewine's Second Grade!
Homework-
*Spelling tests will not be on a set day of the week. Our spelling is a component of our phonics. We will have a phonics and spelling assessment every five lessons. We will not have a spelling test on a Monday. We need to instill good study habits. Please go over their spelling words each night. If spelling comes easily for your child please do not skip the routine of practice. It will serve them welll in the future. If you click on the Spelling Words tab on this page I have all the spelling lists with the date of their test.
*Phonics will usually consist of reading and spelling our High Frequency Words. Eventually they will be using the High Frequency Words in a COMPLETE sentence. As second graders I require a minimum of five words per sentence. This encourages detail such as adjective, adverbs, and prepositional phrases. This will help them develop as a writer. Your child will complete the coding page with comprehension at school. No phonics homework on Fridays.
*Math will usually be the Homework side of the both math worksheets. I do expect them to practice their facts using XtraMath. I will be sending home details along with your child's login and password. There will not be math homework on Fridays.
* Your child should read 20 min. a day. I expect your child to take an A.R. test every day. If your child is ready for chapter books I realize they will need more days to read before taking a test. Epic is a great app that has a huge number of books for your child. There might be times your child forgets to bring a book home or you have read all your backup books at home. Epic makes sure there are always reading options.
*Your child will also have an IXL login and password. IXL is designed to target your child's weaknesses and gives them opportunities to strengthen them.
Spread the homework out. It doesn't have to all be completed in one sitting. Give you and your child breaks throughout the evening. As a parent, I would have my kids complete their math and phonics after school. Spelling would be practiced after supper and we read before bed. Reading before bed was a great way to wind down each night.
PLEASE CHECK THEIR FOLDERS EACH NIGHT AND CHECK YOUR E-MAIL FREQUENTLY. I TRY TO E-MAIL WHEN THERE ARE CHANGES OR IF REMINDERS ARE NEEDED.
Monday-Music
Tuesday- PE/Health
Wednesday- PE/Health and Library
Thursday-Mass and Art
Friday- Computers
About me:
I have been teaching since 1986 ( Please do NOT do the math!) I have taught at Sacred Heart, Our Lady of Lourdes, St. Michael, and Teutopolis Grade School. I have worked with kinder-8th. I started at St. Anthony in 1998. I have been teaching second grade ever since. Second is the perfect grade!
I am married and have four children. My husband Todd works in Effingham as a letter carrier for the USPS. Our daughter Avery is a Social Work and works for Davita Dialysis and is one of the owners of Lara of Dance. Avery and her husband, Cole Braunecker are the parents of our first grandbaby, Sloane. Our son Zachary is currently back in school studying to be a nurse anesthetist. He is enrolled at SIUE. Our son Andrew recently accepted a position with High Voltage Software in the Chicago area. He is a game designer. Morgan is an occupational therapist working at a variety of hospitals and a nursing home. Morgan and her husband, Austin Hartke were married Sept. 2022. . We have two dogs. Finn is a mini goldendoodle and Tillie is a cockapoo. They make our empty nest not so empty.
I am a graduate of St. Anthony Grade and High School. My children are the 5th generation of my family to graduate from St. Anthony Schools. We have a proud tradition and I am honored to be a part of it.