Welcome
Welcome to second grade! You can find us in room 100,101 and 103. You and your child are part of a dedicated team. They either have Math and Content in the morning with Mrs. Ortiz or Language Arts with Mrs. Daves. In the afternoon the schedule switches. They will often work with Miss Wineburg and Miss Drake in all subjects. We are a group of committed professionals who encourage positive discipline and hard work at all times! Please feel free to visit us at any time! Thanks for your support.
Coming Up
April 14th-Welcome Back
April 18th-Report Cards go home
April 23rd-Math Night and Book Fair AND PTA meeting
April 29th-Volunteer Reception-THANKS for all you do
May 9th-Progress Reports Issued
May 26th-No School-Memorial Day
June 5th-Young Author's Night
June 12th-Adjusted dismissal
June 13th-Last day of school-adjusted dismissal
Phone # 648-2360 ext. 56617
Email: jcortiz@vbschools.com
Mrs. Ortiz
Second Grade Teacher
I have been asked many times what "Everyday Math" is. I hope this brief explaination will clear up any "gray areas" you may have and help you believe in this inovative and exciting program as much as our team and VBCPS does.
"What is Everyday Math and why are we involved with it?" Everyday Math is the elementary component of the University of Chicago's School Mathematics Project which is a long-term project designed to improve mathematics at all grade levels.
For years there has been a need to provide a richer math curriculum. Reports from other international studies show U.S. students learn much less math than students from other countries. Several large corporations and organizations (General Electric, Exxon, Ford Motors, to name only a few) saw the need for reform in mathematics and grouped together to fund this project.
The Everyday math program is designed for all students. It has build-in extensions and flexiability that allow it to be tailored to the needs of any student. A spiral curriculum, which teaches each concept at least five times in a two year cycle allows many opportunities for children to grasp key ideas. Children have many exposures to concepts before mastery is expected.
Basic facts are as critical to the study of mathematics as the alphabet is to reading. Everyday Math presents a multitude of strategies to successfully develop an understanding of basic mathematical facts. Paper-and-pencil review is only one framework for practing basic facts. Students use games and other routines throughout the program and are regularly assessed in these formats.
While sharing ideas through discussions, children gain important mathematical insights by building on descoveries. Children are constantly talking about how they solve a problem and what they are thinking mathematically.
The math classroom has changed dramatically. We no longer just teach arithmetic skills. Our focus is much broader than just 2+2=4. Children are inolved in activities focusing on numeration, counting, operations, relations, problem solving, mental arithmetic, data collection, analysis, geometry, measurement, money, rules, and patterns.
Internet Resources
Check out these sites for math, science, and social studies games and info:
Don't forget to check out the school home page for exciting sites also! They're all free to use and relevent to what we do in class!
