Throwback Thursday: The Survival Guide to Second Grade

Super excited to link up with the amazing Cara at The First Grade Parade for Throwback Thursday!
That old guy is cracking me up!
I love this linky because I don't have any classroom-related pictures to show you since it's summer time. And while my children are ADORABLE, you're not following this blog to see them :) I posted this almost a year ago... when I had about 4 followers... two of them being the hubs and me :/ This post explains how I share curriculum and procedures with parents at the beginning of the year. Are you ready? Set? GO!
Originally posted July 18, 2012

A few days before school starts we have Open House.  I've heard of lots of ways of doing an Open House, but at my school, this is when the kids find out who their teacher will be for the upcoming year. Doors open at 5:00, and it's so fun to peek out the windows at 4:50 to see the crowd waiting to come in. I'm sure they are just as anxious to meet us as we are to meet them! They make their way down the red wing like a wave and split off to either the first grade or second grade side. And since my room is the last one on the second grade side, I get to see it all unfold. It's definitely an exciting time! The kids come with their school supplies to organize their desks, pick up their folder of information, meet me, say hi to their friends, and explore their new classroom.

Since we don't have a Back to School Night a few weeks into the school year (which makes me sad... I really wish we did!), I include a packet of information of what grown ups can expect during their student's second grade year. At first, it was a lovely boring 5-6 page Word document. Yes, I can only imagine that the parents were DYING to read it...  MAYBE they read a paragraph or two.... if I was lucky! I knew it needed to change. So I came up with this: The Survival Guide to Second Grade.

It's a flip book. I used the colors blue and white since those are my school's colors (Go Wildcats!). I hope this new format is more user-friendly and easier to read.


Each page is its own saved document. The bottom margin is 1/2 inch and size of the top margin increases 1/2 inch for each page. There really isn't a specific order that I give the information.  If I didn't have much to say about a topic, I put it on one of the smaller, first pages;  if I had a lot to say about the topic, then I put it on one of the larger, last pages.  There is info about all subject areas, plus how work is graded, classroom rules/behavior expectations, birthdays, snacks, etc.
One thing I forgot to mention in the post above is that I always make several extra copies in the event that I get a new student during the school year. The parents always look so relieved and grateful when I give it to them, like they're not missing out on anything. You all know how chaotic it can be when you get a new student :)

What do you think? I am super proud of this flip book! And the exciting thing is that these bad boys are already done for this upcoming year! I usually have a parent helper assemble them for me at the end of the school year (for the next year), that way I can spend my time in August decorating and making my classroom pretty, instead of scrambling to assemble the flip books. YESSS!!

Update 7-12: If you'd like me to send you my templates, leave a comment with your email. I'll send it out next week when I'm at school :)

One last thing... The winner of my Making Words for the Whole Year giveaway is...



37 comments

  1. This is SUCH a good idea. We just moved to Florida so I'll be starting at a brand new school in a brand new grade, so this would be an awesome idea as I won't know any of the parents. Thanks for sharing!

    Mandy
    The 4th Grade Journey

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  2. Great idea! It also introduces them to the concept of flip books, which their kids are probably already experts.

    I may have to see if my new partner wants to do one with me.
    Kristin
    Teachntex

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  3. The flipbook is a great idea - the parents must really appreciate that!
    Susanna
    Whimsy Workshop

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  4. I love the flip book for the start of the year! Such a great idea. Do you have the template that you used? I don't even know where to begin with trying to type a flip book up as when we use flip books the kids are always making them and writing in them.
    Rebecca
    rebcanteach@gmail.com

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  5. SUCH a GREAT idea! I am totally doing this! What a great throwback!

    Carly
    First Grade Fabulosity (2nd Grade)

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  6. I love that format of a flip book! I think it would be a useful tool for parents to find information quickly. I would love a copy of it if you wouldn't mind sharing. :) I am horrible with trying to format things in programs. Thanks!
    Jenny
    abc_teacher@yahoo.com

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  7. I also LOVE this idea!!! So smart!! Would you mind sending me a copy of the template also? Thank you sooooo much!!

    ~Wendy
    Sdwd727@gmail.com

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  8. I will be teaching 2nd grade this year and I am a first year teacher so I am trying to get all the ideas I can. This is a great idea to hand to parents with all the information at open house. I also would love the template if you would be willing to share? Thank you!

    Megan
    poohm12@hotmail.com

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  9. Another awesome idea!!! LOVE this - a flip book for parents! Sets the tone early. Thank you so much for sharing this simple, yet creative idea!

    Lindalouhoo
    piccolal@bellsouth.net

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  10. Another awesome idea!!! LOVE this - a flip book for parents! Sets the tone early. Thank you so much for sharing this simple, yet creative idea!

    Lindalouhoo
    piccolal@bellsouth.net

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  11. What a great idea! I would love a copy of your template please! It looks great and so easy to read.

    Paula

    jjohns1313@aol.com

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  12. This is a great idea! I would love a copy of your template. I am not good at figuring out things like that.
    Lisa
    lisaadams@charter.net

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  13. I am new to 2nd grade and would love to put together a book like this. Could you send me your templates. Thank you.

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  14. What a great idea! This mom would love to have a resource like this to easily find all that back to school info!

    Megan
    I Teach. What's Your Super Power?

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  15. Absolutely adorable and useful. I'll join the list in asking if you will be sharing? Love it! and this is my first year teaching second grade yet my nineteenth teaching overall. Thank you!

    Sheri
    sherii at cfl dot rr dot com

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  16. I am about to start my first year teaching in a little over a month and would absolutely love it if you could send me your templates!
    Thanks SO much!
    -Aly
    alyseedman@yahoo.com

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  17. I love this! I would love it if you would share your templates with me at toriannhayes@gmail.com

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  18. I love this! I would love it if you would share your templates with me at toriannhayes@gmail.com

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  19. This is my first year teaching 2nd grade and I would love to have this resource to help me get things together for our registration night before school starts! My e-mail is elizabethalee01@gmail.com.

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  20. OH yes please I would love a template!! I have been thinking about this all week! I just got moved from K to 2nd. This would be huge!! BTW... I am one of your newest followers :)

    Chelsea
    cloneal1973@gmail.com

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  21. What a cute and great idea! Can you please send me the templates? My email is aslater@phoenixcsd.org! Thanks so much:)
    Amanda Slater

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  22. Awesome idea! :D I'm new to 2nd grade this year (coming from intermediate 4/5) and would love to take a peak at your template!

    daymona@manateeschools.net

    Thanks so much!

    Ashley Daymon

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  23. What a great idea! I would love a copy if possible. Thank you.

    g8tr410@yahoo.com

    Courtney Shiffrin

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  24. What a great idea! I would love a copy if possible. Thank you.

    g8tr410@yahoo.com

    Courtney Shiffrin

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  25. I love the Flip Book! I would love a copy of the template.

    angiaselin@gmail.com

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  26. This is so amazing! I would love a copy if possible.....amybettes@hotmail.com

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  27. This is a wonderful idea! I would love the template if possible.
    Thank you!
    delaneyvalerie@gmail.com

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  28. Great idea! I would love your template! Thanks!
    colleennelson12@yahoo.com

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  29. I'd love a copy. This is my first year in second and this looks great!!
    Kimberlymsmith@me.com

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  30. I would love a copy of your templates. The flip book looks much more parent friendly. Thanks!
    mwhenke@gmail.com

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  31. I would love a copy of the templates. This is such a great idea! MeghancLittle@gmail.com

    Thanks for sharing!

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  33. I am trying some new things this year in second grade and I thought your parent info flip book looked very helpful. Would you send me a copy of the template? I would really appreciate it.
    Pamela Carnine
    srateapot@aol.com

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  34. This looks great! I am trying to change some things up in my classroom and I would love a copy of the template as well!
    Thanks so much!
    Maureen Moreland
    m.moreland@stbens.net

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  35. What a great idea! I would like to totally revamp mine! I would love a copy of the template! Thanks for your willingness to share!
    LeeAnn Steele
    leemar76@frontiernet.net

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  36. I would love a copy of your templates. I am new to second grade and have looped with some of my students from last year. I want to make sure those repeat parents aren't bored by the same Open House routine. Thanks for sharing!
    Tina
    trud192@aol.com

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  37. This is great!!! This is my second year to teach but first year in second grade...I am so nervous!!!
    keriann100@hotmail.com
    keri.baker@founderschristian.org

    ReplyDelete

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