Welcome, I am very excited to be teaching 2nd grade this year!   Each student will be bringing home a hand book that will tell  you the procedures we will be following in the classroom.  In the handbook, I have included procedures for parents and procedures the students will be expected to follow.  By following these procedures, we will be able to establish an organized routine and the best learning environment possible.

I will be sending home a weekly newsletter on Mondays telling you about the upcoming week including units of study, tests, spelling words, and any other special events!  Your child will also bring home a daily planner.  This is designed to help your child become responsible for his or her school work.  We will be taking time each day at the end of the day to write all assignments down.  It is my hope that by giving the students responsibility for themselves and each other, we will create a community within the classroom.  I hope to develop leadership and teamwork skills.  By defining and following procedures, routines will be established that will make our classroom run smoothly.

Our daily routine:

Morning Routine

     *Enter the classroom quietly.                                                                                                                                                                                                 
     *Put your backpack and coat in your locker.
     *Put homework in the homework basket.
     *Sharpen 2 pencils.
     *Mark the lunch and snack chart.
     *Get started on your morning work.
     *When your morning work is complete, follow the procedure for turning in completed work.
     *If you finish your morning work before class starts, complete a fast finishers page or read quietly.

Turning in completed work:

     *Be sure that your name is on your paper and that your work is complete.
     *When you have checked your assignments, turn your work in to the appropriate basket.
 

When you finish early:

     *Double check your answers to be sure you haven't skipped any and for mistakes.
     *Read a book or complete a fast finishers page.

Fast Finishers Page:

     *A fast finishers page is not counted for extra credit or for a grade.
     *All required work must be completed first.
     *When the next task begins, fast finishers pages must be put away or the student looses fast finisher page privileges for 2 days.

Quieting the class:

     *When I need to get your attention, I will clap a rhythm.  You are to repeat the rhythm.
     *While repeating the rhythm, please stand without talking and face me.
     *I will lower my hands for you to know to sit back down.
     *Please be ready to listen because I have something to say.

Bathroom Pass:

     *A bottle of anti-bacterial soap will serve as the bathroom pass.  There is one for girls and one for boys.  One girl and one boy may use
      the bathroom at a time.
     *Take the bathroom pass, and wait for me to nod my head for you to go.  I need to know who is leaving the classroom.
     *When you return, bring the pass along.

Dismissal (At 2:50 we will begin packing up to go home):

     *Write all assignments in your planner if they are not already there.  I will be checking at least once a week.
     *When called, get the things from you mailbox and locker.
     *Wait quietly in you seat.  You may read or work on a fast finishers page.
     *After prayer and closing announcements, put your chair up.
     *At last bell, walkers may line up.
     *After walkers are dismissed, cars may line up.
     *After cars are dismissed, buses may line up.

If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to email me at jdill@evansville-diocese.org or leave a voicemail message for me at school.  I will get back with you as soon as possible.