Second grade is a special year to learn and grow. I am beyond excited to spend this year learning and growing together each school day with your child! Having a growth mindset to allow our brains to flourish is a theme in our classroom this year. Everything we learn starts as a tiny seed and blossoms into knowledge over time. We all blossom in various ways and at our own pace!

I am currently entering my 21st year in education.  I am a Canfield graduate.  I earned my Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from Youngstown State University, my Master’s degree in Elementary Education from Appalachian State University, and an additional 36 credit hours from Augustana University.  I have eleven years of experience teaching kindergarten, four years of experience teaching second grade, and four years of experience teaching fifth grade ELA.  I also served as a reading interventionist for one year.

I began my teaching career in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in North Carolina. My husband, Adam, and I decided to return to Ohio to raise our beautiful children, Lyvia and Sara, near their extended family nine years ago. South Range School District has been a beautiful place for my girls and I to blossom and grow each school year!

My outside of school interests include spending time with my family and friends, spending time in nature, staying physically active through exercising and finding outdoor adventures, and creating art! I am so excited to share some of my interests with your children while learning about your child’s passions and interests in life!

Let’s plant seeds, grow together, and watch this year bloom!

Our Classroom Schedule: 

7:40-8:10       Morning Routine- Unpacking, Getting Started  

8:10-8:50              Phonics/Start ELA    

8:55-9:35       Specials (Monday: Library, Tuesday: Gym, Wednesday: Music, Thursday: Art, Friday- Alternates each 9 weeks) 

9:40-10:50            ELA (whole group-vocab/comp/grammar/writing)

10:55-11:25          Lunch

11:30-12:15          Finish ELA/Start Math 

12:20-12:45          Recess

12:50-1:50            Math

1:50-2:20              Science/Social Studies

2:25                       Car Rider Dismissal 

2:35                       Bus Rider Dismissal

Classroom Behavior Expectations:

Our classroom goal is to create a positive learning environment where all children can learn, grow, and reach their full potential. Positive behavior choices will be taught, modeled, practiced, and encouraged through helping students learn to love and respect themselves and others. Positive behaviors will be reinforced verbally and through earning punches on a punch card. Once a punch card is filled, students will have the opportunity to trade it in for a reward.

Our classroom will use a clip chart system as a visual reminder for students to strive to make positive behavior choices. Students will begin each school day on “Ready to Learn.” If your child makes an exceptionally positive behavior choice, he/she may be asked to move to “Glow.” If your child needs a reminder about making a positive choice, he/she will be asked to move to “I Can Make Wise Choices.” If your child continues to need reminders, he/she will be asked to move to “Grow.” If a child makes a choice that hurts another child, he/she will move directly to “Grow.”

If your child clips down, he/she always has the opportunity to move back up by making positive behavior choices and demonstrating appropriate behavior.

I will communicate with you through Class Dojo or by phone if a behavior choice requires further communication. I believe strongly in working together as a team to help all children learn, grow, and reach their full potential.

Some behaviors may require a paper to be completed and sent to Mr. Matos. If this occurs, I will communicate with you to discuss the behavior and work together to determine the best way to support your child.

Class Dojo

Class Dojo will be used as my main form of communication with you this school year.  If you used Class Dojo with your previous year’s teacher at South Range, then you are already connected!  More information on how to connect to our classroom will be provided at Open House. 

Class Dojo will be used to provide weekly updates, important dates, pictures of what is taking place in our classroom, and more.  Group messages will be found under the "Story" link and private messages will be sent and received under the "Chats" link.  

If you have important information to communicate during school hours, such as a change in how your child will go home, please call the school office.  Class Dojo cannot be relied on for these changes during the school day.  I will reply to Class Dojo messages within a twenty-four hour timeframe. 

Email: kmcmurray@southrange.org (Please use Class Dojo as your first form of reaching out to me.  Parent emails often land in the spam folder and are not found right away.)

School number: 330-549-5578  (Please call the school office to communicate important information regarding your child.)

Notes: Notes may be sent to school clipped inside your child's planner.  I will have a basket for your child to deliver notes on my desk.  If you are concerned an important note will not make it to me, please communicate with me through Class Dojo to inform me a note was sent.