Troy Bunch
Mr. Bunch's Second Grade Class
I have been at Carolina International School since it opened in 2004. I am currently teaching second grade. I graduated from East Carolina University with a bachelor’s degree and recently earned my master’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. This is my 28th year in education and my 23rd year at CIS.
Welcome to Mr. Bunch's Classroom
- 2026 - 2027 Second Grade
- Classroom Supplies
- Homework
- Class Schedule
- Field Trips
- Assessments and Grades
- Fine Motor Friday Ideas
2026 - 2027 Second Grade
Welcome Second Grade Families,
I am very excited about this upcoming school year and am looking forward to teaching your children. In order to make this a great year, please read and review the following points:
1. Class Rules - We follow the school’s core values of being respectful to all, responsible for our things, our behavior, and our choices, finding helpful solutions to our problems, and serving those that need help. All rewards and consequences will be based on following these rules.
2. Classroom Supplies – A supply list is posted on the CIS website. Please ensure your child brings all items requested with their name.
3. Snack/Water Bottle- Please send in a nutritious snack daily. I recommend carrots, an apple, orange slices, crackers, cheese, etc. Please do not send in unhealthy snacks such as doughnuts, cupcakes, etc. Also, a water bottle labeled with your child’s name is helpful when we go outside in the heat. The only liquid allowed in the water bottle is WATER. Please do not send soda, Gatorade, Kool-Aid, etc. in the water bottle. It makes a mess when spilled and will only be used when at PE or recess, and water is the best choice for hydration.
4. Class Connection- You will receive an email from me each Friday with reminders and information about what your student will be learning for the upcoming week.
5. Labeling- Placing your child’s name and the teacher’s name on all items you would like to come back home. This will better your chances of it being returned rather than forever lost. I suggest you label anything you do not want to have to replace. Jackets, sweatshirts, bottles, lunch boxes, utensils, hats, and gloves are a few items you may want to consider labeling.
6. Dress Code: Dress code is strictly enforced. Please review the Student/Parent handbook.
7. Folders- Folders come home each night. Please check your child’s folder, review any graded assignment that comes home, and return the folder to school the following day.
8. Behavior: This year Class Dojo will be used to track behavior. Please follow the directions on your child’s Dojo sheet that will come home with directions on how to sign up and log in.
9. Grading: Grading is based on a 1-3 score. A 3 is equivalent to 80 <, a 2 is equivalent to 60-79, and a 1 is equivalent to a 59>. If your child scores below a 3 on any assignment that is NOT a test or project, they can review it at home and turn it back in for regrading.
10. Birthdays – As you know, birthdays are an exciting time for the kids. Please contact me before sending/bringing in treats for your child’s birthday to arrange an appropriate time for this. Please also make sure that any treats are store bought. Invitations may only be passed out in class if there is one for each student.
The Student …
· Should be at school on time with the necessary materials for the day.
· Are to be in the correct uniform as per the CIS dress code policy.
· Should always give 100% and are to follow our CIS core values.
· Should NEVER bring toys, electronics, stuffed animals, or outdoor equipment to school unless earned in class.
The Parents…
· Be sure that your child is present at school each day. If your child will not be at school, please let me know ahead of time so that I can send any missed assignments home (if applicable).
· Have your child pack a healthy lunch and snack. Healthy foods allow the brain to work to its maximum and will help ensure your child’s attention and focus in class.
· READ through my update each work and familiarize yourself on upcoming events, opportunities,
and expectations.
· Check your child’s folder each night. Review/Rework any work that scores below a 3.
· Consistently check your child’s Class Dojo to support our behavior and reward system in class.
· Ensure any projects or homework assigned are turned in on time.
I look forward to working with everyone. Let’s make this an amazing year together!
Classroom Supplies
Homework
Class Schedule
Field Trips
We are planning several field trips for the 2026 - 2027 school year. As schedules change so may the dates for our trips. We will ask that you pack your child's lunch in a disposable bag along with a disposable water bottle. Trips are chosen to correlate with our given curriculum.
Payments for field trips can be made once parents receive a QuickBooks invoice from the school.
Assessments and Grades
Assessment has two purposes: to measure a child’s progress in order to gauge how much has been learned and to inform the teacher on how to plan instruction and activities that are tailored to a student’s needs. While assessment has always played an important role in education, its significance has grown considerably during this era of increased accountability. Both formal and informal assessments are essential components of the education process.
Dolch Sight Word Assessment
Students are given a Dolch sight word assessment at the beginning, middle, and end of the year. We would like for students to know the pre-primer and primer sight words by the end of kindergarten. Students are given up to 4 seconds for each word. Attached you will find a Dolch sight word list for K-2.
Letter and Sound Identification
Having the ability to match letters and sounds helps children develop an understanding of words and
spelling patterns. In establishing instructional priorities in the use of words and conventional spelling
knowledge for each child in the early stages of literacy development, the teacher will use the letter/
sound identification assessment. This assessment identifies what individual children know specifically
about letter/sound identification. Letter/sound identification is recognizing upper and lower case letters and identifying appropriate sounds for each letter symbol.
One point for each correct letter name. Total possible 54
Score one point for any one letter sound that is acceptable for that letter. Total possible 26
Book and Print Awareness
Book and Print Awareness tasks assess the kindergartener’s concepts about print and how written language is used by readers and writers. These concepts are necessary foundational skills that facilitate learning to become an independent readers and writer. Most students learn these concepts before the end of the kindergarten year.
Assessment of Book and Print Awareness is done individually within the first days of school of the kindergarten year for early emergent, and/or emergent readers, and during the last month of the school year to provide documentation of the student’s achievement level and information which may be useful to the first-grade teacher.
Running Record
A running record is designed to be used alongside our language arts program to provide reading samples at each
level. This can provide a test reliability measurement to help ensure proper identification of the student’s reading level and a reliable assessment of the students’ abilities. These assessments can identify the following for each student:
• Instructional reading level;
• The ability to read for meaning;
• Integration of meaning, structural, and visual cues;
• The usage of self-monitoring systems;
• Knowledge of print conventions;
• Rate of learning; and
• Level of reading independence.
Your child will be tested several times a quarter informally and once a quarter formally. Reading levels are from 1 – 30, whereas level 1 is the lowest reading level and level 30 is the highest. Students must be able to read at or above a level 4 in order to be promoted to first grade.
Powerschool
Categories for grading: participation, homework, tests/quizzes, projects, class work.
All Categories are graded 1-3.
Each is weighted equally.
- 3: Mastery- meets expectations
- 2: Partial Mastery- demonstrates partial understanding or can perform with assistance
- 1: Little or No Mastery- cannot demonstrate mastery, even with teacher assistance
