• Our Schedule 

    Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays 

    7:50 AM-8:00 AM      Attendance/Lunch Count/Wonders-Math Wake Up Work 

    8:00 AM-9:50 AM      English Language Arts 

    9:50 AM-10:03 AM      Recess 

    10:03 AM-10:40 AM      ELA continued  

    10:40 AM-11:20 AM      Math 

    11:20 AM-12:00 PM      Lunch 

    12:00 PM-12:20  PM      Math continued  

    12:20 PM-12:45 PM      Social Studies/Science 

    12:45 PM-12:58 PM      Recess 

    12:58 PM-1:20 PM      PE 

    1:20 PM-2:15 PM      College Prep: Strategic Intervention-ELD or AR/Dreambox/Learning Apps 

    2:15 PM-2:30 PM      Closing 

    2:30 PM        Dismissal          

    Minimum Days/Tuesdays 

    7:50 AM-8:10 AM      Attendance/Lunch Count/2nd Step 

    8:10 AM -9:25 AM      English Language Arts 

    9:25 AM -10:05 AM      Math 

    10:05 AM -10:35 AM      Snack Lunch 

    10:35 AM -11:05 AM      College Prep/Strategic Intervention/ELD or AR/DreamBox/Learning Apps 

    11:05 AM -11:20 AM      Closing 

    11:20 AM      Dismissal 

    Extracurriculars Tentative Schedule 

    Music- 10:10 AM–10:40 AM (Mondays) 

    Library- 10-10 AM–10:40 AM (Thursdays) 

    ELEVO PE- 10:05 AM-11:05 AM (Fridays)  

     

    Communication 

    To strengthen and further support home-school communication, I have implemented some forms of communication:   

    1- Howard Cattle communication folder: The Howard Cattle communication folder will be sent home on Mondays (or the 1st day of the week) with information from the school office. The folders are to be checked every Monday evening (or the first school day of the week) and returned the next day, Tuesday, (or the next school day of the week). Please pay careful attention to items intended to stay home and any items requested to be returned. Those items should be returned on Tuesday, (or the next day after the first school day of the school week.)  

    2- Student agendas: Student agendas will be sent home daily with recorded homework, long-term assignments, behavior, and any communication from the teacher. Please sign and have your student return this daily. 

    3- Class Dojo: Once you join, Class Dojo will be my main form of communication. I will be posting your child’s “points” as well as using it to send information/reminders about general classroom things. You can also message me through Class Dojo and I will get back to you as soon as possible. 

    In addition, you can email me at eric_dennard@chino.k12.ca.us , call (909) 591-2755 and leave a message, or feel free to send a note with your child. 

    Absences/Leaving Early 

    Please remember to contact the office to clear up all absences. Also, please contact the office and send me a message through Class Dojo if your child needs to be picked up early because I will need to get their work together and give them any important tests before they leave. In addition, please let me know as soon as possible and give me a few days' notice if you would like me to prepare work for your child for the time that they miss. 

    Behavior Management System 

    The students and I have agreed that the teacher has the right to teach, and the students have the right to learn. No student has the right to interfere with this process. For this to happen in the same classroom, the following rules have been established. 

    1. Come to school prepared to learn. 

    1. Follow directions the first time given. 

    1. Be a good listener. 

    1. Raise your hand and take your turn. 

    1. Stay in your seat until you are given permission to get up. 

    1. Keep your hands, feet, and objects to yourself. 

    1. Be respectful. Treat others the way you would like to be treated. 

    1. Try your hardest at all times. 

    We will be using a 2-tiered system that focuses on positive reinforcement.  One tier will involve using the point system on Class Dojo. Class Dojo points are fluid, so they can gain or lose points based on their behavior throughout the day. Here is the link to an introduction video that you can watch at your leisure that provides examples of how I will be using Class Dojo this year. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rzzb5cmNoc0 (Note: I will be using Class Dojo mostly to message you about any concerns and or celebrations that I have regarding your child.)

    Another tier is a color coordinated clip system to monitor our classroom behavior (which will be used more than the first tier. Every day, students will start on yellow/X Wing Pilot Luke.)  

    First Step/orange/Anakin Skywalker a couple of Verbal Reminders/Warnings 

    Second Step/blue/Darth Vader                Caution- Student will be separated from their table group to consider positive behavior choices. 

    Third Step/white/Chancellor Palpatine    After repeated warnings, the student will spend time in a rethinking area or another classroom, a rethinking letter will be filled out (must be discussed with parents, signed, and returned the next day). 

    Fourth Step/White/Darth Sidious            Student will receive an office referral, will be detained in the office, parent will be phoned, and the consequence will be determined by the administrator.

      

    In addition, students can move up to:  

    Jedi Luke* 

    Young Obi-Wan** 

    Old Ben*** 

    Master Yoda**** 

    Super Fhatuwani***** 

    If a student gets to “Super Fhatuwani”, I let them choose a “treasure box.” 

     
     

    The system is fluid, so the students can move up or down based on their behavior throughout the day and their daily Class Dojo points will correspond with their clip movements. Soon, I will message you via Class Dojo when I will be having the students write the name of their clip placement at the end of the day in their agenda. At that time, please check and initial their behavior score in their agenda daily.  

    Note: In the future, I am hoping to set up a program using Class Dojo points involving a system with rewards that students can use to redeem their Class Dojo points 

     

    Curriculum 

    We use the Common Core curriculum for English Language Arts and Mathematics. (The English Language Arts Program is McGraw Hill Wonders, and the Math Program is Savvas Easybridge, which are both accessible in ClassLinks). We use the Reflections Series for Social Studies and our science program is called Twig Science. Students will have the opportunity to go to the School Library and Music Class once a week. In addition, we will have a weekly schedule for P.E. as well as an hour of P.E. each Thursday morning. 

     

    Online Resources 

    Please check out our school home page https: www.chino.k12.ca.us/Domain/20 under the “student” and find ClassLinks to see online resources that you can use to help your student reach their full academic potential. 

    Google Classroom: I put assignments and game links on Google Classroom from time to time for students to work on in class after essential standard instruction and for home when possible. If I put something on Google Classroom, I’ll let you know via ClassDojo. 

    McGraw-Hill Connect Ed:  This is a site that parents/students can use to review current English Language Arts curriculum as well as learning games to help check for understanding. 

    Accelerated Reader Book Finder: This is a site that parents can use to find books and check to see if specific book titles are AR books as well as their levels/point values. 

    Renaissance Home Connect: This is a site that parents can use to help check their child’s AR progress. Students can earn school awards through earning AR points. 

    Savvas Easy-Bridge: This is a site that explains our 2nd grade math program and it’s units. 

    DreamBox Math: This is a leveled/paced program to help encourage students to improve their math skills. They can earn school awards for completed lessons and growth throughout the school year. 

    Xtra Math: This is an online program that we use to support their flash card practice to help kids improve their math fact memorization speed. 

    Typing Club: This is a program that will teach your child beginning/basic typing skills.  You can find it at www.typingclubcom. 

    Nitro Type: This is a program that helps increase your child’s typing speed through interactive races. You can find this site at www.nitrotype.com/race 

    Flocabulary:  This is a program that will help your child with grade level English language vocabulary as well as other ELA skills. 

    Epic Reading: This is a program that students use in class to find online reading resources for AR. If you are interested in using it at home for finding and reading AR books, I will send you login information. However, I believe the site charges a nominal fee. 

    Technology/Help Resources:  If you are having trouble with logging into ClassLinks or using any apps with your personal device, you can try the following site: 

    ...or contact me/the office and someone will try to help you as soon as possible. 

     

     

    Grading Policy 

    Please see insert A. Not all work will be graded. For further information, you may go to the following link:  https://www.chino.k12.ca.us/Page/15737 .  Not all class work will be graded. 

     

    Homework/Assessments 

    On Friday (or the last day of the school week), I will be sending home a schedule/reading log for the next week. You will find a weekly schedule for homework, tests, and anything else scheduled for that week. On the back of this schedule, you will find a daily reading log. Please fill out/sign the reading log every day and return it on Fridays (or the last day of the week) with the homework. In addition, you will find pages that summarize what we will be doing for the week in English Language Arts and Math. Homework must be assigned/returned daily, although some assignments will be assigned/completed online.     

     Any class work done during the week and graded tests will be sent home on Monday (or the first school day of the week) with the Cattle Folder. (Note: Some assessments may not be prepared for dispersal right away.) Please look over all their papers and review any mistakes they may have made. Be sure to praise them for all their hard work.  

     

    Daily Reading 

    As we all know, reading is important to academic success. Therefore, students are required to read 20-30 minutes a day nightly throughout the week. Again, please initial the reading log every day/night that your child has read for 20-30 minutes and return it on Friday (or the last school day of the week. I will be recording the reading logs, and they will comprise part of the reading and homework grades as well. Please help me by establishing reading as a daily/nightly habit. This is a major part of their homework each week, and I need your support.  

    Students will be able to take AR tests on books at their reading levels regularly at school to develop a love of reading and earn great school awards. For more information about 2nd grade AR Awards, please go to the bottom left corner of the Howard Cattle website. 

    In addition, if you are interested in ordering books from the Scholastic Book Club, I will be sending home order forms monthly for you to order online. The web address for my classroom is https://orders.scholastic.com/P7DP2. I will notify you through ClassDojo when I send out orders. 

     

     

    Daily Math 

    In addition to daily reading, your child should do daily math practice outside of homework.  It is important for them to memorize their math facts, so they should be practicing their +/- flashcards daily when we send them home and or practicing their +/- speed on IXL.  Students should also be using the DreamBox online program daily to help them with their math skills. 

     

    University Day/Spirit Day 

    With the goal of encouraging students’ interests in science and technology, we have adopted Caltech (California Institute of Technology) as our university. Our colors are orange/white, and our mascot is a beaver. On Mondays (or the first day of the school week) we have University Day and on Fridays we will have Spirit Day. For University Day, children are to wear Caltech colors and/or a Caltech shirt. You may purchase shirts through the PFA or you may purchase clothing/paraphernalia directly through the Caltech bookstore website at www.bookstore.caltech.edu. On Fridays, children are to wear school colors, red and denim, and/or their Cattle t-shirts/sweatshirts. PFA also takes orders for Howard Cattle t-shirts. 

     

    Birthdays 

    You may send individually packaged/bagged items for the students to celebrate your child’s birthday and there is a school wide birthday policy now in place, so refer to your parent handbook for more instructions. Also, please contact me a few days in advance so that I can adapt my lesson plans accordingly. 

     

    Parent Volunteers 

    Any parent volunteers who would like to work at home or here at school are always appreciated. If you are interested in helping me out in any way, please let me know. (See insert B and make sure that you sign/turn-in the Volunteer Compact form to the office. 

     

    Student Supplies 

    Each student needs to have a pencil box to hold supplies. They need one box of crayons, pencils (non-mechanical), and a block eraser at the beginning of the year. Please keep your child prepared with these items as needed because they may need to be replenished as the year progresses. The school supplies, paper, scissors are for students’ use. Please have your child bring in three pocket folders to school, so they can carry their papers back and forth to and from school. I provide several activities for the students if they happen to finish their assignments before the others. However, I suggest that your child bring a workbook to keep at their desk, so they have more of a choice of what they would like to do. You can find great learning aids for students to practice newly acquired concepts at most stores (bookstores, Target, teacher supply stores, etc.); these workbooks also help prepare them for standardized tests they will be taking this year. 

     

    Class Supplies 

    Due to budget cuts, we will not be receiving many supplies from the district for our classroom and will need some class supplies. If you could donate some of the following items, it would be greatly appreciated. 

    • White copy paper 

    • Baby wipes 

    • Black and assorted color white board markers 

    • Black sharpies 

    • Colored pencils 

    • Bottles of 8 oz. white glue 

    • Sticky notes 

    • Hand sanitizer 

    • Stickers/”Treasure box” items 

    • Band aides 

    • Disinfectant 

    • Treasure Box prizes from the Dollar Store.