(updated 9/14/24)

Information for 2nd Grade with Ms. Bark

2024-2025 School Year

Positive Behavior Management Plan

      To help encourage and maintain a safe, caring, and successful learning environment that promotes Farragut Elementary School's mission statement, each classroom is to develop and follow a set of expectations that offer each child the opportunity to develop intellectually, socially, and responsibly.  The following are the expectations developed to provide a learning environment in room 25 that promotes this philosophy and provides the opportunity for each person to have a positive experience that guides them to reach their fullest potential.

                 In this class, we will be…

caring,

cooperative,

courageous,

honest,

respectful, and

responsible.

We will also...

participate

                   in our education so that...

we will LEARN!

      To reinforce these expectations, I will be following a behavior management plan that uses pink colored tags/laminated strips of construction paper (referred to as “pinks”) that students can earn throughout the school day for making appropriate choices, transitioning quickly and quietly, listening attentively, contributing to classroom discussions, focusing during lessons, showing kindness, taking responsibility, helping others, etc. Students can also lose a pink but, depending on the circumstance, they can earn the lost pink back by adjusting their behavior and/or attitude and showing their desire to do the right thing.  Examples of how a student can lose a pink is explained to students while the program is being introduced and implemented.  Ideas from other years have included: not following our class expectations, inappropriate behavior in and/or out of the classroom, being disrespectful to classmates and/or adults, interfering with their learning or the learning of others, etc.  Throughout the year, we will have ongoing discussions/conversations about the earning and losing of pinks and adjustments may be made based on student input and experiences.

      At the start of the week, each student will receive two pinks to get the week started.  When a student is absent, they will receive two pinks for each day they are absent to make-up for the pinks they may have earned on the day they missed.

       On Fridays, just before "Choice Time", students count the pinks they've earned for the week and, once totaled, we count down from the highest number and the person having the most pinks will be the first to get to choose an activity for their "Choice Time". Then the next highest total gets to pick an activity, etc.  Having more pinks means that you have a better chance of getting your most preferred activity.  Some of the choices have a limited number of students that can do that activity.  For example, only two students can use each of the two bins of Legos.  Only two students can build with the Wooden blocks or Tinker Toys.  A third student can be added to some of these activities if the students involved work out an agreement to work cooperatively and appropriately together.  There are also a variety of activities that allow for many participants - play doh, puzzles, marker art, reading, computer time, water coloring, etc. There’s pretty much something for everyone to choose from no matter how many pinks they have earned. I keep a record of the number of pinks each student earns each week so that I can monitor behavior and praise those doing well as well as inspire students to make better choices in the future to earn more pinks.

      Please note: Regardless of the number of pinks earned, students must have completed all required work for the week and consistently turned-in their weekly reading minutes.  If a student hasn't completed their work, then they work on it during choice time. If a student has not turned in reading minutes for two or more weeks, they will be reading during choice time.

      In addition to the above, other consequences may occur depending on the situation.  These consequences will be logical and relate to the situation.  Conflict resolution is taught and modeled and students are encouraged to use these skills when they have disagreements with others.  Writing an apology letter is an example of a consequence for being disrespectful to an adult, classmate, etc.  Students have also been assigned to write out an explanation of what happened and how they will handle a similar situation if it happens again.  In more severe situations, like the use of cuss words, making threats, and/or any kind of inappropriate and/or volatile physical contact with someone, a referral will be made to the principal/assistant principal and the child's parents/guardians will be contacted.  Continued misbehavior or failure to make improvements over a period of time will result in an email to the child's parents/guardians and/or the scheduling of a parent/guardian conference.

Birthdays

        In my class, we celebrate student birthdays a little differently.  When a student has a birthday, that is their day.  The other students in the class write letters and draw pictures to celebrate their classmate's special day.  These letters are put together as a book that we present to the birthday child at the end of the day when we sing to them.  Sometimes the birthday child decides to bring a little something to give out in remembrance of the day.  A special pencil, a decorative eraser, a gel pen, stickers, a cute pad, etc. are examples of the “little something” that students have brought in the past.  No food products or candy are allowed in accordance with our school's "Wellness Policy”.  If your child has a summer birthday or their birthday occurs during a break or weekend, we will celebrate their special day on a date close to their birthday, on their half birthday, or on a day of their choosing - usually sometime during the third trimester.

Lunch/Snacks

       We have a snack time daily around 10:00, right after P.E.  We have snacks inside the classroom, outside on the back patio, or on the steps in the front of our classroom.  In order to foster healthy choices, children are encouraged to bring foods low in fat, sugar, and salt for their snack and lunch. Candy, soda, and chips do not belong at school.  Lastly, please remind your child not to share or trade food with other students.

Field Trips

       Typically, the second grade classes go on one or two field trips a year that will enhance and reinforce the learning taking place in the second grade. If we are unable to go on a field trip, we may participate in a virtual field trip or have an "in-school" field trip (like we have done with the Star Eco Station; the Fire Department/Police Department; the Dairy Council; etc). Families will be informed of all field trips or activities and are welcome to be chaperones as long as they have been "cleared" to be a school volunteer.

Library (Weekly on Wednesdays, 8:50-9:20)

        Second grade students get to check out two books from the library each week. Students can keep their library books at school or take them home.  Please encourage your child to be responsible for returning their books on time each week. If you are interested in helping out in the library on our library day, please contact me at [email protected]. (You must be "cleared" as a volunteer to help out in this capacity.)

Art & Innovation Lab (Biweekly on Thursdays, 10:30-12:00)

       Students in my class have Art & Innovation Lab (AIL) with Ms. Pottinger in room 8 every other week on Thursdays, 10:30-12:00.  If you are interested in helping out in the Art & Innovation Lab at any time - not necessarily when your child has class - please contact Ms. Pottinger at [email protected]. (You must be "cleared" as a volunteer to help out in this capacity.)

Vocal Music (Weekly on Tuesdays, 10:15-10:45)

        Students in my class will have Vocal Music with Ms. Gallagher every Tuesday.  During Vocal Music, Ms. Gallagher teaches students a variety of songs, play music related games, have a chance for a variety of movement activities, and listen to stories related to the songs and activities learned in class.

Sharing Special Information

        Please share any special information that does not show up on various school forms (example: child gets motion sick on buses, child is afraid of dogs, child has an aversion to paint, etc).  I would also appreciate being informed of any significant changes that may occur during the school year that may distract your child from learning (example: a close relative has died, family upheavals/changes, a sick pet, change in residence, divorce or separation, etc.).  Even the slightest change at home can affect a child’s learning and/or behavior at school.  Working together, we can help make these times less intrusive on your child’s learning and/or behavior.

Contact

        If you have a question or concern, please feel free to send a note with your child or call the school office at 310-842-4323 and leave me a message. I will do my best to return your call within 24 hours. I can also be reached via email at [email protected]. I check my email regularly and I will respond as quickly as I can or let you know when to expect a reply if I’m unable to answer at that time.  (My preferred mode of contact is via email.)

       I look forward to working with each of you to make this a productive, meaningful, and memorable year for your child!

Sincerely,   Ms. Margaret Bark