Hello 2C Families,
I would like to share some notes about our class, expectations and routines that I would usually have talked about at Meet the Teacher night. *I will keep these posted on my Google Site to refer back to later as needed.
First, I am excited to be teaching grade two and to get to know your child this year. (It’s year 17 in grade 2 for me!) I think that families and teachers working together is one of the best ways to help students have a positive and successful year. Please reach out with any questions, concerns or information that you think would be helpful for me to know.
My Contact Information:
The best way to contact me is by email: epkilfoil@edu.pe.ca. I try to check my email throughout the day; though I may not always be able to do so. I can also be reached by phone between 2:45 and 4:00 pm most days. The school number is 902-569-0550. For time-sensitive matters during the day, please call the school and leave a message with the office.
*Notes from home: I recommend putting any notes for me in your child’s lunch bag as they will be sure to find them at snack time. I will likely not see notes put in their homework bags or written in homework logs as these are not necessarily checked daily.
Expectations:
During these first weeks, students are learning expectations in our classroom and school. Be kind and respectful. Do your best. This means thinking of others, putting in our best effort - not necessarily getting a correct answer - and showing responsibility.
We also talk about the benefits of listening the first time we are asked. These expectations tend to cover most situations that come up in school.
Homework:
Nightly Reading: Each week, students will bring home their homework bag with a selection of reading materials. They are only expected to read one passage/book per night. Please have them record the name of the book they read in their homework log and the adult who listened to them can initial and leave a small comment. Homework book bags and logs should be packed in their school bags each evening and brought to school each day.
It is early in the school year and I am just getting to know your children as readers. Therefore, I am taking their grade one information and my own observations so far as I select reading material. Their homework reading may be too easy or too hard, but we will get them figured out with help from your comments and as I get a chance to read with them more. Their homework books are different from the books they will be reading in class and are intended to be read quite fluently with limited solving.
We are making the transition to using decodable books more often in grade 2. Decodable books are texts that use specific phonics skills students are learning to allow practice looking through words and blending the letter sounds and word chunks. Grade 2 currently has a limited selection of decodable books available for students to take home, so you may see books or decodable stories on paper. These will be sent home intermingled with traditional leveled texts and library books. Students will practice choosing “good fit” or “just right books”, an important skill we learn in grade 2. It can take some time to build independence in this area and they will continue to receive support as needed.
Math: I will share the concept or strategy we are working on in class on my site each week. Please spend some time reviewing these at home as math fact mastery provides an important foundation for later math learning. Practising math facts and strategies at home will help support your child mastering them. Home practice is intended to be fun and can be done on paper, whiteboard (My own kids loved using whiteboard markers on our patio doors.), with sidewalk chalk, chanting, singing, matching games and with quick questions in the car, while you pass in the hall or in response to a question – “Could you please pass the potatoes?” … “Sure. What is 6+6?” 🙂
*A note on homework: Homework should only take about 20 minutes. If it takes longer or becomes challenging, please let me know and we can work together to find a way to make things smoother.
Please send with your child each day:
A full water bottle. (Clearly labeled with your child’s name.)
Indoor sneakers that stay at school. (Labeled with your child’s name.)
***If your child’s shoes (indoor or outdoor) have laces, please ensure they can tie them independently. Students change their shoes six times during the day and we want them to feel confident doing so. There are different types of laces available that don’t require tying, including coily laces and expand type laces. Shoes with velcro or similar closures are also very common in grade 2.
A change of clothes to remain in their backpack - just in case (ex. a spill or a fall on wet days)
Utensils - When packing your child’s lunch, please include any necessary eating utensils. This includes days when they have ordered from the provincial food program. Disposable utensils are not provided by the lunch program vendors and there are limited supplies available in the office.
Food containers/items they can open independently.
Examples of some items that can be tricky for students (and their teachers!) are Kool Aid jammers with paper straws. The straws bend making it difficult to poke a hole and the pouches spill easily. Also, the plastic fruit cups with the plastic pull off seal are very challenging to open without a spill. In past years, some parents bought larger cans of fruit and put it in their own smaller sealed reusable containers to send in lunches.
Weather appropriate outdoor clothing. The weather can change quickly and sometimes students don’t think of sweaters, jackets and boots on warmer sunny mornings.
**Please do not send items that are delicate or very special to your child. It can be difficult if these items are misplaced or broken. Toys are generally not permitted in the classroom as they can be distracting during work times. They can be used at recess or in the classroom on indoor days.
Lunches:
Note: Our class does not have access to a microwave. Please send hot items in a thermos. Preheating the thermos with hot water helps keep food hot longer.
Food programs: Ordering is available through PEI School Food (peischoolfood.ca)
Or through the school vendor: https://glenstewartprimary.hotlunches.net
Allergies: We are a nut free and seafood free school. This includes any nut butter substitutes to avoid confusion or anxiety for children with life threatening allergies.
For students who are dropped off in the mornings:
Please ensure drop offs happen before 8:20, so students have time to get into the building, get ready for the day and be prepared to begin learning at 8:30. We all feel our best when we start our days off feeling prepared and less rushed.
Changes in after school plans during the day:
Please contact the office (902) 569-0550 before 2:00 pm if your child’s after school plan changes during the day. I may not get the message in time if it is sent by email. Also, emails wouldn't be accessible if there happened to be a guest teacher in for me that day.
Sickness:
Please keep your child at home if they are sick.
I hope this information is helpful as we start the school year. Please see my google site for regular updates about class information, units and concepts we are covering in class. I will send along links to new posts in group emails to 2C families using the email addresses provided at the beginning of the year.
Thank you in advance for your support at home. I am looking forward to a great school year!