STEPHEN F.

AUSTIN
CURRICULUM NIGHT

Welcome to 2nd Grade

 Reading Assessment
Student reading levels will be determined each nine weeks
using the Diagnostic Reading Assessment (DRA)

Minimum independent reading level expectations have

increased (minimum expected level at the end of 1st grade was
14)

End of 1st nine weeks - Level 20

End of 2nd nine weeks - Level 24
End of 3rd nine weeks - Level 28* (Written response required)
End of 4th nine weeks - Level 30* (Written response required)

Additionally, students will take the Texas Primary Reading

Inventory (TPRI) at the beginning, middle, and end of the year,
as well as a district reading curriculum checkpoint at the end
of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd nine weeks.
 Reading Workshop
15-20 minutes - Whole group: Interactive Read Aloud/Mini-
lesson modeling reading strategies

45-50 minutes – Small group/independent reading and

responding/literature circles/teacher conferences

Students will be accountable for appropriate participation in

each part of reader’s workshop. Rubrics may be used to
evaluate participation and reading responses (oral or written)
for the purposes of assigning grades.
 Reading at Home
Please listen to your child read at least 20 minutes EVERY night. They
may read from a library book, textbook, or any book that is at their
reading level. Like most things, the only way to improve your child’s
reading ability and fluency is through continued practice.

Students should read a variety of genres and need to be able to “talk

about” (both oral and written) their reading. Encourage your child to
make connections to their own life, other stories they have read, or to
things happening in the world around them. When answering
comprehension questions students should be able to explain their
thinking and support it with text evidence.

Students will be able to check out 2 books from the library each week.
Additional books may be sent home from classroom or guided reading
libraries with a signed contract regarding book replacement.
 Reading Homework

Homework will go home the first day of

the school week (typically Monday) and
will be due the last day of the school
week (typically Friday). This gives
students flexibility to schedule around
extra-curricular and family activities.
 Accelerated Reader
Students read books and take comprehension quizzes
on the computer. Points/dog tags are earned based
on the length/difficulty of the book and their quiz
score. Students may read the books at home, but all
quizzes must be taken at school during school hours
(morning work, tutorial time, independent reading,
library time) and students may not take more than 3
quizzes a day.
 Spelling
Weekly spelling lists will focus on a phonetic pattern.

A list of words will be sent home for study; however,

assessments will also include a few words not on the list to see
if students can apply the phonetic pattern. Each list will also
include a couple of sight words.

Each spelling assessment may have words from previous lists.

All spelling assessments will be added together and averaged

for one daily grade each nine weeks.
 Writing
Writing is also taught in a workshop model with short mini-
lessons and extended time for independent writing/application
and student-teacher conferences.

Writing is a multi-step process that takes time and revision.

Students may work on the same piece of writing over the
course of several weeks.

A heavy emphasis is being placed on written responses that

reflect students’ learning and connections across all curricular
areas. Most assessments will have short answer response
questions (SARs).
 Math
• Morning math work – Math worksheet stays in
Take Home Folder all week

• Fact fluency – Practice daily, quizzes at the end of

the week

• Two and three digit addition and subtraction

• Problem solving – one and two step word problems

• Math homework will be assigned once or twice a

week and will be due the next school day
 Science and Social Studies
• All study guides will go home one week
before test
• Science
Matter
Forces
Life Cycles
Water Cycle

• Social Studies
Citizenship
Government
Timelines
Historical Figures
 Tardiness/Absences
- Students are considered tardy if they are not in
their classroom at 7:30 AM
- Tardy slips will be stapled to the behavior chart.
Please sign and return.
- After six tardies your child will need to stay after
school for Power Hour.
- Students must bring a note from home within 10
days after an absence.
- A form must be filled out for a prearranged
absence of two or more days.
 Transportation Changes
If you need to change the way your
child goes home, a note must be sent
from home or a call to the office
before 2:00p.m. If we do not receive a
note from you or notification from the
office, your child will not be allowed to
go home a different way. Teachers are
not always able to check their email
before the end of the day.
 Wednesday Folders
- Will be sent home filled with
important notes and other information
such as:
– Permission slips
– Any supplies that may be needed
– Notes from the principal
– Notes from PTO
– Graded papers
**Please remove papers and return
the folder on Thursday
 Take Home Folders
- Check behavior chart and return folder daily

- Initial behavior chart weekly

- Check for daily homework assignments

- Some pages (ex. Math morning work) will need to

stay in the folder for the whole week. All others
will be on the “Keep at Home” side and should be
removed daily.
 Discipline

• Students have individual behavior charts

in their take home folder. Marks will be
given for improper behavior. Behavior
charts will also be marked for no
homework.

• Any student who has 9 or fewer marks at

the end of the 9 weeks will participate in
the whole class behavior reward.
 Grades
All course subjects will have a minimum
of 8 daily grades (80%) and 2 major
grades (20%).

Reading, ELA, Science, Social Studies,

and Math
 Progress Reports

Will be sent home every fourth

week between report cards. Please
sign and return.
 Report Cards
- Go home every 9 weeks
- Report card conferences are required the
1st nine weeks. A Sign-Up Genius email will be
sent to schedule your conference.
-After the first nine weeks, report cards will
be sent home to be signed and returned in
the envelope.
-Per district policy, only major grades will be
reassessed and the highest grade will be a
70.
 PARENT/TEACHER
CONFERENCES
-Conferences will begin on the week of
October 29th
- At this time, your child’s behavior and
academic progress will be discussed
- Please be considerate about the time
schedule as each conference is only 15
minutes
 Birthdays
Please be considerate of food
restrictions/allergies and our
instructional time. If you send a
birthday snack it must be store
bought. Cookies are preferred.
Birthdays will be celebrated during
recess around 12:00. If your child
has food allergies, you might send an
alternate snack to be stored in the
classroom for these occasions.
THANK YOU
FOR COMING
TONIGHT!