August 5, 2008

Dear parents,

My name is Carol Beckwith and I will be your child’s second grade teacher
this year. I am very excited to be working with all of you and your children!
As you know, you are your child’s first and most important teacher. I am
looking forward to the partnership we will create in order to best meet the
needs of your child.

I am married to my best friend, Greg, and we have 2 precious children, Josh

and Lauren. Josh will be attending Lexington Middle School this year and
Lauren will be here at Oak Grove in the third grade.

I am certified in Elementary Education with a degree from The University of

South Carolina. Go Gamecocks!! I have 4 years of experience teaching third
grade, fourth grade and first grade. For the past 8 years I have stayed at
home to raise my children. During that time, I have been a medical
transcriptionist for a local hospital. I volunteered in numerous capacities in
our community, at local area schools and at my church. I also own a
children’s consignment sale and community outreach program here in
Lexington with a staff of 25 mothers. I am so excited to be back in the
classroom again and can’t wait for a wonderful year!

Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns. My e-mail is

cbeckwith@lexington1.net or you can call the school and they will put a
message in my box. I will return e-mails and phone calls as soon as possible,
but it will be at least 3 p.m. before calls are returned so that instruction is not
interrupted. You may also contact me by writing a note and placing it in your
child’s homework folder or agenda. Thank you in advance for your support. I
am excited about working with you to make your child’s second grade year
the best it can be!

Sincerely,

Carol Beckwith

Classroom Management

Classroom management is in place so that students learn

self-discipline and to take responsibility for their own actions.
Positive discipline is used in my classroom, which focuses on
the solution to the problem rather than the consequence.
On the first day of school, students will work with the teacher
to create our classroom rules. This will be combined with my
list of Behavior Expectations. We will practice proper
classroom etiquette, voice levels and school wide behavior
so that we all understand how we should act in each
situation. Consequences will take effect on the 2nd day of
school.

Failure to comply with these rules may result in the

following:
-Loss of tally (students must pay one “tally” for breaking a rule)
-Loss of privilege(s)
-Color red square on behavior graph
-Note or phone call home
-Referral to the office (only in severe cases of misbehavior)
Any serious behavior problems will be recorded in the
agenda. Please initial nightly.

When students choose to follow the rules, behavior will be

positively reinforced in the following ways:
-Whole class: When our class receives a compliment
from another adult (in the hallway, at related arts, in the
classroom, on a field trip, etc.) or when everyone in the class
is exhibiting excellent behavior choices, everyone in the
class receives one tally.
-Teams: Students also have a chance to work together
to earn a reward at their tables. Teams are rewarded by
working together, following directions, and showing
exemplary behavior. Each person on the team will receive a
“payout.”

10 tallies = choose reading location during the daily 5 first

20 tallies= learn “footloose” for a day (students may take shoes

off while in our classroom for the day)

30 tallies = sit anywhere in the room to do your work for the day

40 points = lunch with the teacher with special lunch treat

 -Individual: Students who make positive choices will be
given “payouts” and/or tallies.

**All behavior systems do not work with all classes.

The teacher reserves the right to change these
systems or any of their components at any time
throughout the year.**

Homework Policy

Homework is given 4 nights a week (no homework on Friday

—enjoy the weekend with family!). Students are responsible
for copying homework assignments in their agenda. I send
any math worksheets, etc. for the entire week on Fridays.
Students may complete these early, but they should be kept
in the homework folder until they are to be turned in.
Spelling is done with a “contract,” allowing students to
choose how they would like to practice spelling words that
week. Spelling contracts with attached work are due on
Friday. Homework is important to connect learning between
home and school, but it should take no more than 30
minutes at a maximum each night (please let me know if
your child is struggling with homework so I can help make
accommodations). Students who turn in homework
assignments each day earn a stamp on their homework
graph. When it is full, they will receive a “No Homework
Pass.”

Water

Students are allowed to bring a water bottle to school each

day, because hydration is needed for the brain to function at
optimum level. Students may only bring pop-top water
bottles (NOT bottles with a screw on lid) in order to prevent
spills. Water bottles must be kept on the students’ desks
and only refilled with teacher permission. PLEASE SEND IN
A SOCK FOR THE WATER BOTTLE TO BE WRAPPED IN
TO MINIMIZE CONDENSATION.
Communication with Parents

Other forms of communication include:

-Weekly newsletter
-Phone calls
-E-mail (cbeckwith@lexington1.net)
-Website
-Parent/teacher conferences
-Report cards
-Open house

Parents as Partners

Parents are welcome in our classroom, and I cherish parent

involvement. Opportunities include helping in the classroom
(making books, copying, laminating, tearing out math pages,
working with individual students, etc.), helping outside the
classroom (taking things home to cut out, etc.) and
chaperoning field trips, reading to the class, donating
supplies, and helping with parties.

If you would like to help in the classroom, please give me at

least one day in advance that you plan to come so that she
can have materials ready. You may then pick up the projects
to be completed in the volunteer basket by the door. I ask
that most projects be taken to the kindergarten hall
workroom to be completed, so as not to interrupt instruction
in the classroom.

A classroom wish list is posted in our room, and we greatly

appreciate any and all donations so that we can maximize
our learning! Parents are also included through student
projects that come up throughout the year.

Procedures for Non-Instructional Routines

The following is a list of daily routines that all of my students

are expected to follow during each school day:
 -In the morning, students come in and unpack, sharpen
pencils, use the restroom, and complete morning work.
Students are expected to work quietly while I check
homework and take attendance.
-Students are expected to be silent during the morning
announcements and afternoon announcements so that the
teacher and all students can hear relevant information.
-Students may sharpen pencils in the morning. If a
pencil breaks during the day, they should sharpen it at their
table or notify me so I can provide a new pencil.
-Students may use the restroom as needed during
independent work time. The restroom should only be used
during direct instruction in emergencies (the students and I
have a symbol that is used for these emergencies).
-Students may get water from the water fountain as
needed during independent work time. They are
encouraged to bring water bottles to minimize time out of
their seat.
- At the desks, students are expected to be seated on
their bottoms and keep the bottom of the chair on the floor
at all times. They may not leave their seat without
permission other than to get water or use the restroom.
Students should raise their hands when they wish to speak
or have a question, and should respect the person who is
speaking by using good listening skills. Students are
expected to transition from the desks to the floor (and vice
versa) without talking unless otherwise instructed.
-Homework Folders are to go home each day (and be
cleaned out/looked at by a parent) and be returned to school
the following morning. There will be a Keep at home side
and a return to school side in the folders. Please initial the
bottom of the agenda each night and let me know if you
have any concerns.
-Any change in transportation needs to be written and
placed in your child’s agenda or a phone call must be made
to the office before 2 p.m. on the day of the change. We will
not be able to change the way they get home without a
written note or a phone call from you.
 Daily Schedule

7:40 – 7:50 Morning Work

7:50 – 8:30 Intervention
Independent Reading
8:30 – 8:50 Calendar/Morning Meeting
8:50 – 9:30 English/Language Arts
9:35 – 10:20 Related Arts
10:25 – 11:00 Writing
11:00 – 11:25 Read Aloud/get ready for lunch
11:25 – 11:50 Lunch
11:50 – 12:05 Recess
12:05 – 1:05 Math
1:10 – 2:00 Science/Social Studies
2:00 – 2:15 Clean Up/Pack Up
2:20 Dismissal