Mrs. Biondi

Welcome to 2nd Grade!

I’m so excited to welcome your child to 2nd grade! I hope they’re as eager about this school year as I am—and that they come home each day ready to share what they’ve learned.  I believe to my core that learning should be fun, and I will do everything I can to ensure your child develops the same love for learning that I have!

A Little About Me:
I am a proud graduate of South Range High School, Class of 2009. I earned both my Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and my Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Malone University.

After college, I was blessed to begin my teaching career at Newton Falls Elementary, where I taught 1st grade for two years. Following a summer vacation to Marco Island, Florida, I fell in love with the area and thought, “Why not live and work in paradise?” I spent the next nine years living and teaching in Florida—an experience I truly cherished.

As life evolved—with marrying my husband, Cameron, and welcoming our son, Bennett—we felt the pull of home and the importance of being close to family. We made the decision to relocate, and I spent the past two years teaching Kindergarten at Crestview Elementary School.

When the opportunity arose to return to the district that raised me, I was incredibly honored to accept the position. It truly feels like coming home.

This year marks my 14th year as a full-time elementary teacher—a career I am deeply passionate about. When you love what you do, it doesn’t feel like work. For me, teaching is more than just a job—it’s a true calling and almost feels like a hobby because I enjoy it so much.

I’m looking forward to an exciting year ahead and to partnering with you to ensure your child has a positive and meaningful learning experience. YOU are an essential part of your child’s success, and I truly value your involvement and support.

If you ever have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to call, email, or send me a message on Class Dojo.

Here’s to a fantastic school year—Go Raiders!

Love, Mrs. Biondi

Whenever possible, please try to schedule appointments and family activities outside of school hours. However, I completely understand that conflicts can sometimes come up and cannot be avoided!  

Below is a general outline of our daily classroom schedule to help you get a sense of what we’re doing and when. (Please note that the schedule may occasionally change.) 

7:50 am         Welcome Routine: Students begin the day by unpacking, turning in any notes or forms, completing morning work getting ready to L.E.A.R.N., and listening   

                                      to office announcements and the Pledge of Allegiance. 

8:10 - 8:50 am Instructional Time (ELA: Phonics)

8:55 -9:35 am Specials

 Monday - Gym      Tuesday - Music     Wednesday - Library     Thursday - Art   Friday - Gym  (1st 9 weeks)

Friday Specials Rotate Each Nine Weeks:  1st Nine Weeks- Gym    2nd Nine Weeks - Music   3rd Nine Weeks- Library    4th Nine Weeks- Art 

*Additionally, please be sure your child has appropriate shoes for gym days and library books returned to school on the day they have library!*

9:40 - 10:50 am     Instructional Time (ELA: Vocabulary, Comprehension, Grammar, Writing)

10:55-11:25 am             Lunch

11:30 am - 12:20pm      Instructional Time (ELA: Intervention and Enrichment)

12:20 - 12:45pm        Recess          

12:50 - 1:40pm Instructional Time (Math CORE Instruction)

1:45pm- 2:15pm       Instructional Time (Math Practice Hands-On Centers) 

2:20pm Car Riders Dismissed 

2:35 pm Bus Dismissal

I believe in using proactive strategies to create a positive and structured learning environment where all students can thrive. I set clear expectations, explicitly teach routines, and consistently reinforce positive behavior. 

Our classroom uses a Color Clip Chart system as a supportive tool to highlight student successes, celebrate growth, and gently guide improvement when needed. Mistakes are treated as valuable learning opportunities, and students are encouraged to reflect and make better choices.

The clip chart also serves as a transparent communication tool with families that will come home in your child's assignment book/ binder.  Data drives instruction and the same is true for behavior data; the color clip chart helps me track behavior patterns. This data allows me to identify class-wide or individual needs and gives me the opportunity to hold one-on-one conferences with students to encourage personal growth.

I am fully trained in PBIS (Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports) and The 7 Habits of Happy Kids by Stephen Covey. These frameworks work hand-in-hand to foster a classroom culture rooted in kindness, accountability, and leadership.

At the school-wide level, we implement PAX, a universal preventive behavior program that fosters peace, productivity, health, and happiness. PAX teaches students important skills in self-regulation, self-management, and self-control. Through PAX, students learn to focus their attention, manage impulses, and engage positively with their peers.

In our classroom, we practice key PAX strategies such as:

• PAX Hands – keeping hands to ourselves and using them kindly

• PAX Quiet – using silence to listen and focus when needed

• PAX Voices – using appropriate voice levels for the situation

Together, we will develop a PAX Vision for our class—a shared agreement about how we want to work, play, and learn together. This vision becomes our guide to maintaining a calm, respectful, and joyful learning space. PAX promotes a calm and safe learning environment that supports academic success and positive relationships. It helps students feel safe, respected, and empowered to make good choices.

Our Classroom: My goal is to provide your child with meaningful and engaging learning experiences that help them grow into creative problem solvers and confident 21st-century leaders. My passion and my energy stem from making learning FUN and getting students EXCITED to learn.   I believe to my core that learning should be fun, and I will do everything I can to ensure your child develops the same love for learning that I have!  In our classroom, every child will feel safe, valued, and loved. We will celebrate effort, show respect for ourselves and others and grow both academically and personally. These important life skills are embedded into the 7 Habits of Happy Kids by Sean Covey, which we will practice daily. 

The 7 Habits: The 7 Habits help children take ownership of their choices, build positive relationships, and develop leadership from the inside out. These habits will become part of our classroom language and will guide us as we set goals, work together, and grow.

Here are the habits we’ll focus on throughout the year:

1. Be Proactive – I’m in charge of me.

2. Begin with the End in Mind – I plan ahead and set goals.

3. Put First Things First – I work first, then play.

4. Think Win-Win – I believe everyone can win.

5. Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood – I listen before I talk.

6. Synergize – We’re better together.

7. Sharpen the Saw – I take care of myself (body, brain, heart, and soul).

These habits will guide our classroom culture and empower your child to grow into a kind, capable leader—in and out of the classroom.

Growth Mindset: A growth mindset helps students understand that their abilities can grow with effort, practice, and perseverance. Your child will soon learn about “The Power of Yet”—the idea that learning takes time and effort, and just because they can’t do something now doesn’t mean they won’t be able to with practice. They’ll begin to understand that challenges are opportunities to grow, and that making mistakes is a natural and important part of learning. 

As a teacher, I believe in proactive, consistent communication. I view our partnership as an essential part of your child’s success. I will keep you informed through regular updates and private messages on Class Dojo and send a weekly class newsletter on what we are learning each week. 

Please never hesitate to reach out—I’m here to support your child and your family every step of the way!

📱 Class Dojo:  Class Dojo will be my primary form of communication with families this year. It’s a quick, convenient, and secure way to stay connected! You’ll receive a paper at Meet the Teacher (or when your child joins our class) with step-by-step instructions on how to connect. If you’ve used Class Dojo with a previous South Range teacher, you’re likely still connected! Please contact me if you’d like to connect another parent or guardian.

Once connected, please make it a habit to check Class Dojo often and turn on notifications. This is how I will share important updates, reminders, and classroom photos. Only approved parents of students in our class can view these posts, keeping everything safe and private.

You can also send me a private message through the Dojo app. I’ll do my best to respond as soon as possible, typically between the hours of 7:30 AM and 3:00 PM. 

📧 Email: K.Biondi@SouthRange.org

📞 Phone: 330.507.0365 (You may leave a voicemail or a message with our school secretary.)

📝 Notes from Home: You’re welcome to send in written notes placed in the clear pocket of your child’s assignment book/planner.