Mrs. Stopa's Class
Skyline Elementary
Graded by the state as an "A" school in Cape Coral, FL.
We are STAR students !
Important Announcement !!!
The Edgate Web Site is updating but will still be discontinued by Lee County schools. I'll be looking for another site for my Web page.
I will be moving my WebPage to http://new.schoolnotes.com
Click on either the Students or Parents tab to search for my web page.
Visit again to get my new Web address!
Have a great summer!
Remember, readers are leaders!
Keep reading over the summer!
Keep writing too - keep a writing journal and practice writing, using those "spectacular" words!
On Awards Day I mentioned 2 great sites to enjoy summer reading online.
Bookflix -- kids can read online or have the books read to them.... Click here:
http://bkflix.grolier.com/
(username: skyes password: bookflix)
and Book Adventure (this one is like AR).... Click here:
http://www.bookadventure.org/
12 Tips For Summer Reading
Summer Reading and Fluency: Tips for Parents from Reading Rockets
Fun Summer Learning For Kids
Click here for spelling games: www.spellingcity.com
Renaissance Place:
The online Parent Connection to AR and Math:
By using your child's username and password, you can take a peek at your child's AR progress. Letters were sent home with all the info you'll need!
You can check their AR progress, see what tests your child has taken and the scores.
Math Facts in a Flash: Children can practice their math facts online.
Click here to get to Renaissance Place:
http://renplace.leeschools.net/renaissanceserver/HomeConnect/Login.aspx
NEW! Need the AR Reading Level or Quiz # for a book? Click into this website and type in the name of your book..............
Click here: http://www.arbookfind.com/default.aspx
Students in grades K - 2 were given the Stanford 10 Test in Reading.
Click here to learn about the Stanford tests.
Mrs. Stopa's Second Grade Class, where every student is a STAR:
Safety first
Tell the truth
Act responsibly
Respect yourself and others |
Skyline's Vision:
Respectful students - Responsible citizens
Skyline's Mission:
Together we will inspire each other to shine in attitude, behavior, and academics.
Our Class Mission Statement:
We are STAR students!
Our mission is to do QUALITY work every day so that we will be ready for third grade.
Questions To Ask Your Child
This link contains a list of specific questions to ask your child about his or her school day. Hopefully, it will spark some interesting and informative conversations about school.
Congratulations to Quarter 4 Renaissance students:
Gold students: Camryn, Aaron
Silver students: Morgan, Danielle, Erika
Bronze students: Trey, Nely
![Students And New Grads Congratulate and encourage your pals/ dear ones on their academic achievement/ graduation with these ecards ![ 16 cards ]](http://img.123greetings.com/thumbs/gen_congrats/1012-001-66-1027.gif)
Students are eligible for Renaissance when they receive their Report Card each quarter.
Criteria for Renaissance:
Gold Card: All A's, All S's and no class or bus referrals
Silver Card: All A's & B's (at least one A), All S's and no class or bus referrals
Bronze Card: All B's & C's (at least one B), All S's and no class or bus referrals.
A GREAT NEW DISCOVERY!!!!!!
Want to check out the COOLEST KID'S sites around? Lots of different sites on lots of different subjects:
Educational Sites Fun Sites Grown-up Sites
Click here for lots of sites: www.kidsites.com
More WEBSITES! Scroll down to the very bottom of this Webpage for LOTS more Websites.
MATHEMATICS
MATH FACTS IN A FLASH 
Children work on addition and subtraction facts on a computer program called Math Facts in a Flash. Addition problems appear on screen, along with 4 answers in multiple choice format. This is a timed test.
This program can be accessed through the Renaissance Place Website above!
All students begin at Level 1 - adding 0's and 1's. When they complete 40 math facts with 100% accuracy within two minutes, they move on to the next level. Students track their progress on a graph. This program can be checked out from the Skyline library for your child to practice at home.
The following sites offer great ways to help your child learn their math facts:
OUR READING SERIES !
The MacMillan-McGraw Hill Reading Series is available online and YOU can access stories and activities.
Vocabulary games, spelling activities, comprehension checks, slide shows, MUCH more! Click on STUDENTS, then the 2nd Grade book. Click the UNIT and story and you're all set. Click here:
treasures.macmillanmh.com/florida
The STUDENT textbooks of our Reading Series is available online. Click to read our stories:
www.mhln.com Click STUDENTS. Enter class code Stopa123. Click GO.
________________________________________________
We wrote letters to President Obama and received a letter from the White House along with a signed photo of the president.
How would YOU like to live in the White House? Take a tour to see where the First Family lives.......
Click: http://www.whitehouse.gov/kids/tour/
Just For Parents (click here)
The Lee County School District Website offers tips for parents:
* Tip of the day * Weekly Quiz * Ask the experts
* School success *How to help your child
READING TIPS!
Click here to see the Skyline Home Page and lots of helpful links: A Great School
Here are five ideas to help your child read and write.
Reading and Fluency: Tips for Parents from Reading Rockets
Dolch Word Study
The Dolch Basic Sight Word List has 220 words that cannot be learned through the use of pictures. These words have been divided into 11 lists . Click here to download sight word lists 1-11.
To improve reading fluency, we will review from the lists of Dolch phrases. The phrase cards can be downloaded from the following link: Dolch Phrases
We will be stressing the vocabulary words from our new reading series, but we'll also be supplementing with the Dolch phrases as needed. I will be monitoring the progress of each student.
Phonograms
The phonogram program is introduced in kindergarten and reviewed throughout first grade until all 70 sounds are learned. Through these sounds we teach reading, language, writing and spelling. The following sites will be helpful in learning and reviewing phonograms.
1st Grade Spalding Phonics Mini Cards
Phonograms -- Practice the phonograms we've been working on in class.
Here's a PHONOGRAM VIDEO!.
The following phonogram sites include a video which shows the motions for each phonogram:
Spalding DVD (Windows Media Player)
Spalding DVD (QuickTime)
( Click the picture.)
Learn the basics of phonics, what research says, and how you can help your second or third grader with phonics.
Reading Activities
Fry's 500 Most Frequently Read Words
This program systematically increases a student’s ability to recognize the words which most frequently occur in written English. Students must gain the ability to recognize these words very rapidly in order to become fluent readers.
Word Families
This activity introduces 20 word families, with six examples provided for each word family. Learning word families is a fast way to increase a students reading vocabulary. It also helps the student learn that the ability to decode one word can assist in decoding other words with similar alphabet letter patterns.
Letter Recognition
The letter recognition activity provides students an opportunity to practice learning both the capital and lowercase letters of the alphabet. Voice assistance is provided for those students who are unable to name the letters independently. Five to six letters are covered in each lesson. After the student is taught the letters with voice assistance, they move to the practice list to independently name the letters.
Consonant Digraphs
Consonant digraphs are consonant letters that appear together and represent a single sound that is different from the sound of either letter.
Vowel Digraphs
Vowel digraphs are two vowels together, the first is pronounced and the second is silent.
Consonant Blends – Reading Words
Three letter blends are three consonant letters that appear together in words and represent sounds that are smoothly joined. Each of the sounds can be heard.
Vocabulary Words
Vocabulary words from our reading series are listed in the box at the top of this page. Just click on "Flashcards" and our current vocabulary words will appear each time you click. Have fun practicing!
Assessments:
These subject areas have a numeric grade:
Reading: weekly story tests, phonogram tests, unit tests, Show What You Know tests
Language Arts: grammar, spelling
Math: Chapter tests, addition & subtraction tests,
District Assessments
All other subject areas are assessed with S, N or U.
Effort Grades are also assessed in each subject as "S, N or U".
.
ABC's of Second Grade
ATTENDANCE: Good attendance is very important to success in school. If your child has to miss school, please remember to write a note to the office telling why your child was absent.
ACCELERATED READER: Accelerated Reader is a reading program where students read a book on the Accelerated Reader list and then take a comprehension test on a computer. Students earn points based on the percentage of correctly answered questions. Each child will take a STAR test on computer, to determine his reading level and AR "colors". Each child will bring home three AR library books. Encourage your child to check out Fiction and Non-Fiction books. Practicing reading is essential to becoming a better reader!
ARRIVAL TIME: Students will benefit most by arriving between 7:30 - 7:45am. The extra minutes will allow them to unpack, get organized, view TV announcements, and be relaxed and ready to start a great day.
BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT: Skyline will continue with a program called PBS, Positive Behavior System. With this program we will strive to create a school environment that allows all students an equal ability to learn in an academic, respectful, acceptable, and creative manner.
To view a video on Positive Behavior Support in Lee County Schools, click here.
STAR students have these behavior expectations:
S-Safety first
T-Tell the truth
A-Act responsibly
R-Respect one another
S-Support one another
EMAIL: SharonES@leeschools.net 
EMERGENCY MEDICAL INFORMATION PAGE AND CODE OF CONDUCT PAGE: Please fill out the first two pages of the Code of Conduct book and return them to me. If there are any changes throughout the year, please send the updates to the school.
HOMEWORK: Written homework will be assigned Monday through Thursday, and should be returned the following day. Written homework should take 15 to 20 minutes. Children should be reading an additional 20 minutes a day. Reading logs will be checked each Monday. Homework is included under the Personal Development section of the report card, as "S, N or U".
MONEY: I encourage children to keep lunch money in their bookbags, not in their pockets. Any money sent to school should be labeled with child's name and the purpose (book fair, lunch, etc.).
RENAISSANCE THEME: This year our theme is
" The Oscars "
Second graders are eligible for Renaissance when they receive their Report Card each quarter. The criteria is as follows:
Gold Card: All A's, All S's, and no class or bus referrals.
Silver Card: All A's and B's (at least one A). All S's and no class or bus referrals.
Bronze Card: All B's and C's (at least one B), All S's and no class or bus referrals.
LIBRARY: As a class, we will go to the library every DAY 5. Children are allowed to check out 3 books. Renaissance students may check out more. Individual students may go to the library more often, as long as they have taken the AR tests.
SKYLINE'S HOME PAGE-Please click here: SKYLINE HOME PAGE
SPECIALS: Skyline is on an 8-day rotating schedule. A monthly calendar is sent home labeled for our specials which are from 8:15 to 9:00 daily. Four second grade classes will take PE together.
Our Special Area Teachers Are:
Music: Mrs. Nash Art: Mrs. Souppa
Science: Mrs. Winitzer PE: Mr. Banbury
Librarian: Mrs. Fenske
PE will be taken on even days: DAY 2, 4, 6 & 8
Music, Art, and Science and Guidance will be on odd days.
ACADEMICS
READING: We will begin a new reading series this year. This includes vocabulary words, comprehension, and stories from the basal reader. Language Arts is closely tied to reading but more specifically includes phonograms, spelling, and grammar.
COMPUTER: The children work at Soliloquy and Starfall.com sites. Starfall is also available from a home computer. These and other websites are listed at the bottom of this webpage. We go to Computer Lab twice a week.
READING HOMEWORK: Every Monday students will receive a homework newsletter with the week's spelling and vocabulary words, phonograms, daily homework assignments, helpful tips.
READING LOG: The Log is part of our reading homework. On the reading log, please indicate the book that was read, along with the number of minutes your child read, then please initial it. On the report card, the reading log will be included under Personal Development as "S, N or U".
S.T.A.R. Book: The importance behind this book is that everything the student needs to take back and forth from home to school is in the STAR book. This 3-ring binder serves as an organizer for students. It contains a homework folder, a parent-teacher communication folder, the STAR-STUDDED papers area, and the Reading Log. Planners are also in the STAR book. All important papers such as the weekly homework assignment page, Home-School Connection page, vocabulary lists, snack schedule, and monthly calendar should stay in the STAR book.
PHONOGRAMS: We'll review all 70 phonograms taught in First Grade and learn how to apply them to reading, vocabulary, spelling words, and everywhere!
MATH: Math Facts in a Flash, is an addition and subtraction facts program done on computer. Children work in this program usually two to three times a week.
WRITING: We will keep a journal for creative writing.
SOCIAL STUDIES AND SCIENCE: While studying these areas, we incorporate THEMES throughout the year. Mrs. Winitzer will continue to teach science to our classes.
Our Daily Schedule:
7:30 First Bell
7:50 TV News and announcements
8:00 Late Bell
8:15 Specials
9:05 Reading and Language
10:55 Snack
11:00 Math
11:48-12:13 Lunch
12:30 AR / Language Arts / Writing
1:00 Writing / Social Studies / Science
1:50 Prepare for dismissal
2:05-2:15 Dismissal
TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL YEAR!
Always praise your child with positive comments. Check your child's homework folder and planner daily for class notes, corrected work, school newsletters, etc.
Develop a Homework Routine; sit near him/her in case help is needed. Check for accuracy before signing your child's planner. It doesn't help your child to do their homework wrong so please take the time to help them.
Read daily with your child. Your child needs to develop fluency while reading so listening to them read orally for 20-30 minutes a day is imperative. Reading to them is also beneficial so they hear good role modes...read with expression! Ask your child questions about the story such as who is the main character in the story, where does the story take place (setting), what is the story mostly about (main idea). Practice vocabulary words, spelling words, phonograms, and math facts on a regular basis.
Ask your child specific questions about their day.
Each step, although it may be small, is progress in the right direction.
10 Ways to Raise a READER!
Read to your child every day. It's never too early to start--even newborns respond to hearing you read.
Continue reading together even after your child learns to read. Older children still enjoy listening to others read.
Make stories come alive for your child when you read. Be animated and use different voices.
Be patient--let your child read aloud at his or her own pace. Offer help only when needed.
Discuss what you read together. Ask questions, and listen attentively to your child's answers.
Make reading time special. Cuddle up in a quiet, comfortable spot. Your child will associate reading with feeling secure, relaxed, and loved.
Encourage your child to read at least 15 minutes a day, either to you or independently.
Take along your child's favorite books wherever you go. Read on the bus, in line at the store, or in waiting rooms.
Take your child to the library often and check out a variety of age-appropriate reading material.
Be a role model--read on your own. By seeing how much you enjoy reading, your child will learn that it's a great source of information and fun.
REMEMBER-
By encouraging your child to read, you are helping to ensure school success.
Homework Philosophy
The purpose of homework is:
1. To help your child become an active participant in his/her own learning.
2. To understand the responsibility to practice and get ready for the next
day and return to school prepared THE NEXT DAY.
3. To develop the habit of reading nightly.
Homework assignments will be discussed in class the following day. Your child is responsible for listening carefully to be able to follow directions. There will be times when your child may need your assistance to dictate spelling works or reinforce the directions. Please review your child's homework nightly for accuracy and completion.
We encourage you to provide a quiet space free of distractions and limit the working time to approximately 20 minutes. Work should be done in pencil with attention to best quality of writing and with the addition of color where appropriate. Please have a box of crayons, scissors, pencils and a glue stick available to your child.
There will be occasions when you have a special family event or your child is ill and missed a night. Please write me a note, explaining why your child has not been able to complete his/her homework. A missed night can easily be made up.
Click here for lots more MATH links
12 Tips For Summer Reading
Summer Reading and Fluency: Tips for Parents from Reading Rockets
Grade 2 Summer Reading Tips!
Fun Summer Learning For Kids
