Second Grade, Room 21

Email: gfrack@upsd.org

Telephone: 215.541.7251

https://youtu.be/Vh1__fMCuZE

The PTFS members work hard to provide a variety of services for the students at Marlborough School. Some of these services include: helping to pay for field trips, classroom books, assemblies, end of the year picnic lunch, Olympic Day T-Shirts. The PTFS is always looking for volunteers. If you are willing to volunteer your time, your help will be greatly appreciated. You can get more information about helping by calling the school office.

Please make sure you have your clearances in order to be at the walk.  More information can be found here.   

             https://upsdorg.finalsite.com/departments/human-resources/clearances

A website has been created to collect donations as well as to share using social media. Here is the link.

Other PTFS events:

          PTFS Trunk or Treat

          PTFS Book Bingo

          Joint PTFS Holiday Bazaar

          PTFS Daddy/Daughter Dance

          PTFS Coin Challenge 

          Scholastic Book Fair

          Redner's Save-a-tape and Box tops are still being collected. Please send them in at your convenience.

Second Grade 2023-2024

Dear Parents,

This is a list of subjects, special services, and general information concerning your child’s year in second grade. My goal is to help each child find success in all academic areas as well as growing as a kind and caring citizen through a safe and disciplined learning environment. If at any time you have concerns for your child’s academic or emotional growth, please contact me. I welcome your input and your ideas for future classroom activities. 

Thank you,

Mr. Gordon Frack Jr.

Reading

My primary goal is to foster a positive attitude toward reading and to encourage each child to read independently. Fluency is very important so your child should read for at least 15/20 minutes each night and I will encourage this to take place at least once on the weekend.

ELA Curriculum and Reading instruction is delivered through the use of mentor texts - Benchmark Literacy is also a resource and it is known for its research-proven literacy solutions.

Units 

First 30 Days - Establishing Routines and Rituals

Unit 1 - (about 6 weeks) - Story Elements

Unit 2 - (about 5 weeks) - Fix-up strategies and Making basic connections

Unit 3 - (about 3 weeks) - Predicting & Inferring

Unit 4 - (about 5 weeks) - Main Idea & Supporting Details

Unit 5 - (about 4 weeks) - Deepening connections & Making Meaning

Unit 6 - (about 4 weeks) - Summarizing & Compare/Contrast

Within the classroom, you will find:

• Assessment to drive instruction and monitor progress.

• Interactive read-aloud to model good-reader strategies.

• Shared reading mini-lessons to explicitly model comprehension, vocabulary, and fluency.

• Differentiated small-group reading that builds on shared reading instruction. It addresses the needs of above-, on-, and below-level readers, as well as English learners and special needs students.

• Independent reading to encourage the transfer of skills and strategies.

• Phonemic awareness, phonics, and word study to build strong decoding and word-solving strategies taught through FUNdations.

• Critically and appropriately written responses to a variety of texts.   

The writing block will look very similar to the reading block. Writing will also be taught through Collins Writing to create fluency as well as FCAs or Focus Correction Areas.

Narrative - Personal Narrative and Realistic Fiction

Informational - Research Report and a Procedural How-To

Persuasive - Persuasive Letter

FUNdations

Provides a research-based program that includes instruction and assessment.  Fundations provides an integrated systematic word study, spelling and handwriting curriculum.  Every lesson builds on prior knowledge while be taught and reviewed using multiple learning modalities.  In the end, we want children to learn to read and write for meaning, understanding and fun!

Mathematics

I encourage reinforcement of addition and subtraction facts through the use of xtramath or flash cards at home.

Science and Social Studies

Units are taught based on the UPSD Long Range Plan. Units include:

Please feel free to contribute to these units as we study them.

Classroom Management

Students may earn tickets for various good behaviors in any part of the school and earn rewards through a school store. PBIS will be in its fourth year of implementation. Please click on the PBIS tab for further information.

During the school day, a student may exhibit great behavior during our reading period and he/she may earn a "clip up". Once they reach the top "outstanding", they will get a ticket to used as cash at the school store. The class may receive cash for a great music class or a week of great cafeteria behavior.

Second Step

Second Step Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) is a Tier 1, universal, classroom-based curriculum for teaching foundational social-emotional and self-regulation skills to all students.  Lessons will be presented/taught weekly, usually Monday's at 11:00 starting around Oct. 10th.  

Strategies/Skills for...learning, empathy, managing emotions, and solving problems.  

                              ...focusing, listening, staying calm and in control.  

Cafeteria

Breakfast and Lunch are NOT free this year unless qualified.  Breakfast will cost $1.55 and Lunch $2.80.  

Special Services

These services are available through our school district.

Special Classes - 11:20-12:00

Day 1 - Music with Mrs. Sarah Goslin

Day 2 - PE with Mr. Luke Pinto - Please wear sneakers

Day 3 - Library with Mrs. Beth Avanzato - Please remember your books.

Day 4 - Art with Mrs. Maria Conway - Smock

Day 5 - FLITE school with Mr. Matt Lippincott

Report Cards and Conferences

Report cards will be distributed three times a year and can be accessed through Skyward. Fall conferences will be held on November 20 & 21, 2023. Conferences may also be scheduled as needed throughout the school year. I will use signup genius to communicate times, but if you wish to schedule a different day and time, please let me know. I can and will adjust the schedule to accommodate families with multiple children in the building or for other reasons.

Trimester 1: Ends Nov. 30th, Progress Reports available on Skyward 

Trimester 2: Ends March 6th, Progress Reports available on Skyward

Trimester 3: Ends June 5th, Report Cards available on Skyward 

The Report Card Evaluation System is:

A 90% - 100%

B 80% - 89%

C 70% - 79%

D 60% - 69%

Homework will usually consist of a few math pages that will be due at the end of the week and to read nightly 15-20 minutes. Every third week, a reading assignment will be given. Please provide assistance as your child reviews skills taught in school. Please communicate any homework concerns.

Homework is graded in this way.

O 0 – 2 incomplete homework assignments

S 3 – 5 incomplete homework assignments

N 5 or more incomplete homework assignments

Birthdays

Due to an increase in allergies, we are no longer allowed to accept and distribute treats. Please consider small “Dollar Store” items as pencils, erasers or notebooks. Currently, there are 21 students enrolled in our class.

Classroom Snacks

Our recess/lunch is scheduled from 12:10-1:10 so we may take a few minutes for a snack in the morning. I also allow students to have a water bottle on his/her desk, but water only. It may be taken if it becomes a distraction. Your child may keep a light jacket here at school for comfort. Please write your child's name on any item brought to school.

Book Orders

Book orders are sent home throughout the school year a few times. If you choose to pay by check you may send one check to cover the cost of the books from all book orders. Please make your check payable to Scholastic Book Clubs. On-line ordering will be available as well. Our classroom activation code is H6KX7.

Attendance

Daily attendance is essential for success in second grade. If an illness should occur parents are asked to contact the nurse at 215-541-7209 in the morning before school to register all absences. On the day your child returns to school, please send an absentee form stating the reason for the absence. If you need absentee forms, please ask. A doctor’s note is needed for your child to remain inside at recess.

Volunteers

Stay tuned for a Guest Reader program.  A signup genius will be sent for at some point for an in-person or zoom read aloud, if interested.  

https://upsdorg.finalsite.com/departments/human-resources/clearances

After School Pickup

All children not riding home on their assigned buses are to be picked on the side of the building using the south/lower entrance. A note must be received by 9:00 am indicating that they are not riding the bus and that other arrangements have been made for them. Please make sure that the name of who is driving is on the list or note.  Please make sure that I, as the classroom teacher, am aware of this. If no note is received all children are required to ride home on their assigned bus. 

Thank you for visiting my teacher page.  I am looking forward to an exciting year in second grade with your child. Remember your support and encouragement is vital to their continued success in school. Please contact me at school 215.541.7251 or at gfrack@upsd.org if you have any concerns about your child’s education.

Read for at least 15/20 minutes each night and I will encourage this to take place at least once on the weekend.

Math packet - Due each Friday