Parents
Biography
Dear Parents/Guardians: 
My
name is Teresa Perry, and I will have the honor of teaching your child
for the 2012/2013 year. I have taught the full range of elementary
grades at several Fayette County Schools over the past 18 years,
including Picadome for the past eight years. I am thrilled to teach 2nd
grade again in the upcoming year. Children at this level have been
acclimated to school and remain enthusiastic, inquisitive, and primed
for further learning challenges.
Prior to becoming a teacher, I acquired an extensive background in both
business and education. I earned a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts
from Xavier University in Cincinnati, a bachelor’s degree in early
childhood education from U.K., and a master’s degree in early childhood
education from Georgetown College, with a special endorsement to teach
Reading/Writing at all levels, Pre-K through 12th grade.
Further, I received instruction from Marva Collins, a world-renowned
founder and educator, at her National Teachers Institute in Chicago,
www.marvacollins.com. Later, in 1990, as a Board Trustee, I
co-established a school in her name in Cincinnati, which has had many
years of success.
What I enjoy most about teaching is witnessing children’s increased
confidence and love of learning, and being able to serve and enhance
these. I’ve always had affinity for children, for learning and for
teaching. It is rewarding to have the opportunity to aid in the process
whereby children will become productive members of a global society.
Orientation Night is scheduled for Thursday, August 9th. If
you have purchased school supplies, you may bring them to school at this
time. In addition to the Primary Grade 2 school- supply list that you
have received, I have included a “Wish List.” You are not required
to purchase these items; however, any donation that you can provide is
needed and will be greatly appreciated. I look forward to working
with you and your child during the 2012-2013 academic year. It will be
a fun, rewarding, and productive year! Welcome to our learning
laboratory!
Your partner in education,
Teresa Perry ,
Primary Teacher
Second-Grade
Scholars Experience
Highlights of Curriculum Night, 2012:
Accelerated Reader:
Students are required to participate in the school’s AR program. As a 2nd
grader in my class, each student’s goal is to earn a minimum of 15
points per each 9-week grading period, for a minimum of 60 points for
the year. The cumulative
accuracy
rate should be a minimum of 85%. Data has shown that students who
regularly read AR books and take the quizzes greatly enhance their
reading ability; consequently, their reading scores and grades are
usually higher.
Parents
can access data online regarding their child’s progress, and books
included in the program. Simply go to the Picadome Elementary School
website. Click on the Parent tab; then click on the
AR Portal left-most on screen. In the “WELCOME” box,
provide the Username and Password that your child uses at school. The
Username is usually the initial letter of first name followed by their
last name; the first two letters are capital (for example: I’m Teresa
Perry, so my Username would be TPerry); the individual Password for most
students is Paws30. If your child has a different password, I will
provide it to you.
Homework
Policy:
Homework
is assigned on Mondays and Wednesdays, and is due on Wednesdays and
Fridays, respectively. I will send a Homework Sheet with the
assignments. Please check your child’s folder, including the Homework
Sheet daily, and sign the sheet to acknowledge that your child has
completed the assignment(s). There is also a space for comments.
Return the Homework Sheet every day, as this is an efficient way for us
to communicate throughout the week. Papers needing immediate attention,
or to be returned, are placed in the left pocket, and completed ones are
placed in the right. Please remove all completed work from the right
pocket each day. I have placed a Reading Log in each student’s
folder on which to record the daily reading assignment of at least 15
minutes. When it is completely filled in, I will keep it, and reward
the student with a mechanical pencil or a special book marker. I will
then replace it with a new Reading Log.
Make-up
missed assignments:
It is important that students complete missed assignments in a timely
manner. Homework is intended for Monday through Thursday, with Friday
(weekends) as the time to make up missed or incomplete work during the
week. Helping your child, if needed, is expected, however, doing the
work for your child could be detrimental to his or her independence and
success, ultimately.
Spelling Lists / Friday Quiz:
Spelling complements the reading, writing, and thinking processes as
students become very familiar with patterns of the American/English
language. Some children have a natural ability to spell, while others
struggle. Although, it part of my responsibility as teacher to instruct
students in correct spelling and proper grammar, I also believe that it
is a useful, efficient skill for students to use inventive or phonemic
spelling to communicate, so I support and encourage that as well. I use
a lot of phonics as well as whole-language instruction to support a
well-balanced language arts program.
Grading Equivalent of Classwork/Homework Assignment:
A =
B
=
 or
 +
C =
D =
-
Writing/Reading & Open Response:
4 Distinguished
3 Proficient
2 Apprentice
1 Novice
(Based on Scoring Guide or Rubric)
Behavior Management System:
This can also be found on Homework & Daily Progress Sheet. Using a
pocket chart, each student is assigned a pocket with three tickets
(green, yellow, red) each day. When a student violates a rule/guideline,
s/he will first be given a verbal reminder to redirect the behavior.
Further violations will result in student having to pull a ticket.
Consequences for pulling tickets range from: having to walk during
outdoor recess (5 minutes per ticket pulled, up to 15 minutes); having
to sit/work away from other students in a "time-out" for a brief period,
note or phone call to parent(s), referral to Student Assistance Team
(SAT) and/or Principal’s office.
Please remind your child daily of the importance
of learning and of having good behavior at school. Thank you for your
ongoing support!
Incentives/rewards provided for class, table, and individual for
responsible behaviors:
CLASS: If the class receives a compliment for responsible
behavior in public places, i.e., in hallways, cafeteria or special-area
classes, a marble will be placed in the "compliments" jar. When 25
marbles have been accumulated, we will have an ice/cream celebration on
a Friday. Each day at lunch, the class will receive a PAWS pleaser
ticket for responsible Cafeteria behavior. When we accumulate 100,
Principal Hutchison will provide pizza for the class.
TABLE: Group efforts represented by table members who act
responsibly to clean their area, sit quietly and transition smoothly to
the next activity will have a chain link added to their respective
shape. Tables with the most links will be permitted to choose indoor
game/activity for the class.
INDIVIDUAL: Students that keep remain on green for four of
five days, or more, will receive a "prize" from the "Prize Box" on
Friday. These students are also privy to the preferred classroom jobs,
such as Line Leader, Girls or Boys Room Monitor, and Teacher Helper.
They are also the prime candidates for "Top Dog" title, status, and
privileges, recognized every month by the Principal. Additionally, they
are paving the way for many other opportunities, and successful futures.
Guidance
Counselor:
Diane
Starnes is available for group and individual counseling for a wide
variety of topics. If you feel that your child would benefit from
individual counseling, you can inform me and I will arrange to have her
talk with your child, or you may contact her directly, through the main
office—381-3563.
Scholastic Book Orders:
Frequently, I will send home Scholastic Book catalogs, from which you
may order online. At the end of every month, I will confirm the
placement of the orders parents have made, and they will arrive to our
classroom within a few days. I will send the items home with your child
on the day they arrive. To order online, go to the website
www.scholastic.com/bookclubs,
and use Activation Code: GYYKY.
Each
time a student order is placed, our class earns points toward books.
If
you do not have access to a computer, simply
fill out the order form, include your check made out to Scholastic
Books, and send them to school with your child in the homework folder.
However,
I will have to hold the order until I have a $20 minimum order, to avoid
having to pay shipping and handling costs.
Field
Trips:
The Second Grade Team of teachers has planned two fieldtrips so far, for
education and entertainment. The first one will be Aesop’s Fables
performance at Lexington Children’s Theatre on December 14, 2012. The
second one will be The Hundred Dresses performance also at the Lexington
Children’s Theatre in April 26, 2013. Detailed information will be
provided in advance of each field trip, as parents are required to fill
out a permission slip in order for their child to participate.
Snacks:
Since lunch is scheduled four hours after arrival time, the students
tend to get hungry before lunch. Therefore, I have made up a Daily
Snack Schedule for students to take turns bringing in a snack for
classmates. I have also provided a list of suggested healthier snacks
from which to choose. If you prefer to provide your child a snack every
day, and not participate in the rotating snack schedule, let me know so
that I can re-adjust the schedule.
Sweet
Treats/Snacks:
On occasion, I will provide students, particularly the table of students
that has earned the privilege to have lunch with me in the classroom on
Fridays. Usually, I will offer Fruit Rollups or Rice Krispy bars, but
sometimes, candy, e.g., Ring Pops, Pixie Sticks. Let me know if you
prefer your child not to have candy, or any other dietary restrictions
that I may not be aware of that your child has.
Share
Day:
Your child’s day on which s/he may share something of his/her choice
with the class will be the same day that s/he brings a snack for the
class. Unless it is your child’s Share Day, please forbid your child
from bringing toys, silly bands, etc, to school, which can be a major
distraction to the learning environment.
Wish
List:
Our class is always in need of tissues, paper towels, hand sanitizer,
dry-erase markers, and small toys for our Prize Box, e.g., cars,
mechanical pencils, novelty items, jewelry, stuffed-animals, etc.
Volunteers:
Adult
volunteers are always needed for assisting in the
classroom with writing assignments and A.R. tests, chaperoning field
trips, parties, reading to class, sharing of cultural information, Field
Day, and activities planned by the PTA. You may sign-up to be a
volunteer at the school through the PTA or Picadome Main office.
Parties:
We are
permitted to have two official class parties during the year. Usually,
I plan for a Winter Holidays party in December and a Valentine’s Day
party in February. However, instead of the Valentine’s Day party,
several classes have an End-of-the-Year party for their second one. So,
our class voted to have an end-of-the year party as our second one. On
Valentine’s Day, we will still be able to exchange cards with
classmates, and we will also schedule our pajama reading jam on that
day.
Academic Challenge
Team:
A
copy of the ACT registration form will be available on the Picadome
Website, and parents can download it from the Parent Portal. Parents
may print it out and return it to school with your child. If you need
it in Japanese, let me know, as it has been translated, and you can
obtain it for from Ms. Ebonee Brown, Family Resource Center Director.
______________________________________________
Suggested websites:
50 Ways Parents Can Help Schools. Ideas for parent involvement
in schools.
Promote Reading at Home.
Eight ways you can help your child become a better reader.
Tips for Involved Parents. Suggestions to promote communication
with your child.
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