Welcome

Welcome to 2nd grade! If you don’t already know me, my name is

Wyatt Earling and I am your child’s teacher. I was born and raised right
here in Star Valley. I received my Bachelor’s degree in Elementary
Education, with an emphasis in Physical Education at BYU and Utah State
University. This is my sixth year, as a full-time educator, and I couldn’t be
more excited.
I am married to my wonderful wife, Elizabeth, and have four children.

Contact and Communication

Parent/Teacher communication is so important! I need your help in
order to make this a successful year. I always appreciate comments and
questions from parents. Feel free to contact me at the following:
School: 885-2380
Home: 886-9430
E-mail: wearling@lcsd2.org

GOALS

Thayne Elementary Goals:

1. All students will view themselves as writers and improve their writing skills.
2. All students will improve in reading comprehension.

2 nd Grade Goal
To help each student become more responsible for his/her academics and
behavior.
 Students will work hard
 Students will learn a lot!
 Students will have fun!

Discipline
My philosophy of discipline with love and logic provides an atmosphere
that is conducive to learning. It consists of mutual respect for both teacher
and students. Students learn to become responsible for their own decisions.
Students will also receive positive rewards for good behavior and academic
work. Warnings, loss of recess, refocus forms, parental contact, and behavior
contracts will also be used as disciplinary measures.
Our school is also utilizing a management program called, Time To Teach,
which is explained in the Thayne Elementary Handbook. Again this year, our
school will highlight eight personal values: Respect, Trustworthiness,
Responsibility, Fairness, Caring, Citizenship, Cooperation, and
Safety.

Friday Folders
Friday Folders go home each Friday afternoon. The purpose of the Friday
Folder is for the parent and teacher to communicate your child’s progress on a
weekly basis. It will contain your child’s homework for the following week and
any important information from the school. The folder is expected to
come back on the following Thursday morning with homework
completed.

Reading Calendar Homework

Each child is required to read 20 minutes per day, 5 days per week, of
at-home reading. This usually amounts to approximately 400 minutes per
month. They can accomplish this in several ways. Some students read 20
minutes per night for five nights, while others read most of it during the
weekend. You will find a reading calendar in your child’s Friday Folder. This
calendar needs to be filled out, signed by the parent, and returned to the
school by the first of the next month. If your child reads more than 100
minutes per week they may record those totals as well.
Home reading is an important time for parent/child interaction. If you
read to or with your child, I will accept those minutes on their reading
calendars. Additionally, I will accept reading of newspapers, magazines, poetry,
etc. My only condition is that the students are reading or being read to and
NOT simply looking at pictures. Please discuss your child’s reading together; it
is a large portion of your child’s Reading Grade.

WORD-A-DAY
“Word-a-Day” is part of the students’ homework for our class. The
new vocabulary word for each day will be at the bottom of that day’s
homework. The students need to write down the definition of the word on the
homework paper. They can find out what the word means by looking in a
dictionary or reference book (or on the Internet), asking a parent or sibling,
or asking another adult or friend.
Additionally, the students can do any of the following optional ideas
called SPECIALS: draw a picture at home, bring in a photograph or
magazine picture, make a snack item that goes with the word, bring in a
model of the word, make a diorama, share a poem (either written by the
student or a published piece of work), bring in a video that refers to the
word (cued up to the right spot), or any other creative thought that
represents the word or relates to the word in some fashion. If you think
that some idea is questionable, please feel free to call. This activity is done
for vocabulary enhancement, public speaking, and parent/child interaction.
On Fridays, students may bring one “special” for any of the four new
vocabulary words from Word-a-day on their homework. Every child will have
a chance to share the SPECIAL item brought to class. Please encourage your
child to bring SPECIALS for Word-a-day. It should be fun homework!

Spelling
Your child will receive their spelling list for the following week in their
Friday Folder. The spelling list will consist of a minimum of five new core words
and a minimum of five words for review. Please help your child study the
words. On Fridays a word test in a story format, called a cloze test, will be
given. We will practice the spelling words with a variety of activities during
the week.

Homework
The homework I give on a weekly basis is to: study spelling words daily,
read 100 minutes per week, a vocabulary “Word-of-the-day,” and a few daily
math problems. All homework is to be returned in the Friday Folder the
following Thursday after receiving it. I also may be sending home a weekly
writing sheet. This sheet will also be due on the following Thursday as well.
The reason for this writing homework is to help students get writing ideas and
to help them organize their thoughts before writing. Please help your child to
enjoy and have fun with writing.

Reading
Our school is involved in a wonderful reading/phonics program called
Reading Mastery. This program is individualized to your child’s needs and has
been a great success thus far. The reading aides, we have been fortunate
enough to have, make the reading instruction your child receives first-rate.
We are also going to be implementing Renaissance Reading (AR), Guided
Reading, and Basal Readers.

Math
Our math series is Harcourt Math. Harcourt Math is a research-based
program that ensures success. It includes daily intervention strategies and a
wide variety of activities. The program is divided into six units with several
chapters in each unit. This program is great!!! In addition to Harcourt Math,
we will do daily math fact practice (addition and subtraction). Help your child
succeed by practicing the basic facts at home. We’ll all be mathematicians
when we’re done!

Writing
Our writing program will consist of primarily, “Writer’s Workshop.”
During this time students will also receive Six Traits Writing instruction and
come to understand the writing process. Students will practice writing
creative pieces as well as poems, letters, and non-fiction stories. Some of the
writing may also be science or social studies related. Your child will also be
writing in a daily journal.

Science/Social Studies
This year we will be focusing on social studies and science concepts with
some hands-on experiences. We will also study science and social studies
concepts using Scholastic News, non-fiction AR books, and our Guided Reading
books.

Art
This year we are privileged to have Mr. Jason Neilsen as our Elementary
Art Teacher again. He will be at Thayne Elementary twice a month all year
long.
Furthermore, will be doing art on a regular basis with Mrs. Crittenden’s
class. Our art projects will reinforce the concepts learned in our reading. We
will also use art to illustrate books that we write.

Volunteers
If you would like to help in our class, I need parents to volunteer during
our AR time (see daily schedule). If you could help regularly at that time,
please let me know which day(s) you can be here. If you would be interested
in helping at any other time please let me know. I’m sure we could use your
help. Thanks!
Additionally, we will need store-bought treats or other items provided
for class parties. I’ll be sending a volunteer sign-up sheet home with your
child. I appreciate all of the help you give, not only to me, but everyday to
your child!

We are going to have a SPECTACULAR year!!