Welcome to Ms. Well's Classroom

• About My Life and My Teaching Experience

• How I Communicate

• Weekly Newsletter

• Second Grade Curriculum

• State Standards
• Grading Procedures
• Parent Involvement
• Homework Assignments
• Resources

Classroom News...

     Room 33 at Carrie Busey Elementary School is known as the city of Wellington.  The mayor of the city is Ms. Well.  She has been the mayor of Wellington for the last five years.

     Within the first two weeks of school the students in the city of Wellington will select the names for the six neighborhoods that make up the city.

     The beginning of the year is always an exciting time.  The room has shinny floors and desks are clean with a few books organized in them.  And we all come with such enthusiasm.  I'm hoping to keep that excitement of learning throughout the whole year.

     The first few weeks of school will be spent becoming familiar with the classroom procedures and routines.  We will work on using good manners to become a good member of our classroom community.   We will begin with many "getting to know you" activities to develop good friendships in our classroom community.

The Four B's

for the Classroom and the School

Be Ready:  Follow directions

Be Safe:  Keep hands, feet and objects to yourself

Be Responsible: Listen and talk at appropriate times

Be Respectful: Use appropriate words and actions (Be kind)

About My Life and My Teaching Experience   

   Champaign has been my home since the day I was born. The only time that I have not lived in Champaign is when I attended Eastern Illinois University for two years.  In 1992 I received my associate degree from Eastern Illinois with an endorsement in Social Sciences.  I then decided to substituted for both the Champaign and Urbana School District for several years.  In 1992 I earned a Masters Degree in Special Education from the University of Illinois.  After receiving my Masters degree I began teaching at Carrie Busey Elementary School.  I taught special education for one year before taking a second grade position at Carrie Busey.  This will be my eighth year teaching second graders at Carrie Busey.

     I enjoy reading a good book because they can take me to some wonderful places.  I also like to ride my bike or roller blade at night.

     I have two nieces that spend a lot of time with me.  DeAnna is the oldest and she will be a eighth grader.   Victoria just turned five  and is in kindergarten at Carrie Busey.  They are a joy to spend time with.

How I Communicate

         A weekly newsletter will be send home every Monday.   The weekly newsletter will inform you of what skills we will be working on for the week, upcoming important dates that you should be aware of, and any special information that you should be aware of.

    I would like to have open communication with you.  I arrive at school about 7:15 in the morning and leave about 4:00.  Please feel free to call me with any concerns that you may have.  The number here at school is 351-3811.

Second Grade Curriculum 

State Standards

My lesson plans are aligned to the Illinois Learning Standards. 

                                 Click here to view these standards.                              

Grading Procedures

    In second grade we work a lot with helping students understand that they are responsible for their own work and their own actions.  Many assignments in my room are on-going.   The students are responsible for keeping  track of their own work.  Each student will given a folder for the different subjects.   The folder will be kept in their desk and clearly labeled with the subject on the cover.  I will remind them to store their work in that folder until it is completed. 

    Each student will have a blue work folder.  Completed assignments will be placed in this folder on the right hand side that is labeled Work to be graded.   Assignments that are not completed goes on the left hand side that is labeled work to be corrected or finished.  Students that have more than four assignments on the left hand side will loose a recess.  The students will turn in his/her blue folder each night for me to grade.

Academic Development Score Descriptors for K-3

     4     Exceeding Grade-Level Standards:  Students exceed expectations of the standards and perform significantly above grade-level expectations.  A "4" is not attainable in all areas of the progress report

    3      Achieving Grade-Level Standards:  A "e" indicates that a student has mastered a given concept or skill.  Students regularly meet the standards and grade-level expectations.

    2      Developing Grade-Level Standards:  Students are developing skills needed to meet grade-level expectations.  Performance indicates inconsistent application of grade level materials.

    1     Performing Below Grade-Level Standards:  Students are not meeting the standards or grade-level expectations at this point in time.  Performance indicates significant difficulty with grade level materials.

Parent Involvement

Have a buddy/buddies that read to you.                                                                 

Bring in party supplies for our publishing parties at the end of each quarter.                           

Cut out materials at home.

Make games that support our reading and math curriculum.

Be a PTA liaison.

Resources                   

                              
www.aaamath.com - math game website           

www.funbrain.com - math game website

www.aplusmath.com - math game website

www.timeforkids.com - TIME for Kids                      

www.champaignschools.org  - district website

www.ajkids.com - ask Jeeves for Kids

Homework Assignments

          Each night your child should bring home his/her homework folder.  The homework folder should contain an assignment sheet that lists three items to complete that night for homework.  I ask that each night the student reads for approximately ten minutes, study their spelling words for the test on Friday, and complete one worksheet that reinforces skills being taught in the classroom.  On the weekend students are expected to read the poem of the week to two people.  Those two people should initial that the poem was read to them.  The student should return the page to school on Monday and put it in his/her poetry binder.

Week of June 2nd

Home Reading

    Encouraging daily home reading activities will help your child be a more enthusiastic and successful reader.  It will demonstrate to your child that you value reading.

    Our school has a home reading program called Galaxy of Readers.  Students are expected to read at home.  Each time a student reads at home he/she (or a parent) should record the date and the amount of time read on the Galaxy form.  Once 120 minutes has been read, the Galaxy form should be returned to school.  Students are expected to turn in two Galaxy forms a month to earn an S on their report card for home reading. 

     Once a month, a student who has returned a Galaxy form will be drawn to select a book for the school’s library and a book for themselves from the Galaxy Book Store at Carrie Busey School.

Galaxy Winners                                                    

              October:       Destiny                                            

               November:    Savannah                                                                                                  

            December:    Lela                                          

            January:   Mason

               February:  Lanence

                                                      March:  Marley

                                                     April:    Josh 

                                                     May:         

Students Earning

Book It Certificates for Reading

These students turned in at least three Galaxy forms each month

October:  Destiny, Josh, Mason, Marely, and Adam

November:  Marely, Adam, and Destiny

December:  Lela, Destiny, and Chris

January:  Mason, Valencia and Adam

February:  Marely, Ada m, Valencia, Laence

March:  Marely, Lela, Adam, Destiny

Students who have turned in over 25 Galaxy Slips for the year!

Golden Pencil Winners

                     October:   Savanah and Adam

                     November:  Liam and Lela

                     December:  Shakierra and Aleecia

                     January:  Marely and Trestina

                     February:  Destiny and Josh

                                                     March:

                                                     April:

                                                     May:

       Thanks for coming to The Wellington Website!

Now go relax by reading a good book!