Building on a Great Start

Dear Families,  

I am so excited about how our year together has started. We have a warm classroom community (not to mention a warm classroom) and passion for learning and creating. We have reestablished some solid work routines and developed some fun ways to do school.  

In the following weeks we are going to really focus in on the getting work done in a timely way and making sure that it is the best it can be.  We talked as a class about checking in with yourself to make sure that you are fully present.  We practiced checking in with our minds and our bodies to make sure that we were ready and engaged. Next week we will practice some self-coaching strategies to work through challenging moments.

Thanks for supporting your kids in writing fantastic reading reflections last week.  I am thrilled with the level of thinking and effort that went into them.  

HOMEWORK THIS WEEK:   Due Friday 9/18

• MATH: Number Visuals activity
• READING: Daily reading and one Reading Journal Response.
• SCIENCE: Peripheral Vision science experiment.

Check out these websites for some helpful resources on the math homework.

http://www.datapointed.net/visualizations/math/factorization/animated-diagrams/

http://mathlesstraveled.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/f8d01c2c511da904ae6f094ed04d1066.png?w=640

Another New Homework Element

This week we are adding a new piece to our homework routine: reading journals.

This is a place for your student to write about what she or he is reading.  Writing in this way can be scary but it is the best way to discover how smart you actually are.  When a young reader understands that they are in conversation with the writer to make meaning, their reading comprehension and critical thinking blossom.

We will support our young readers intentionally, starting with simple techniques to summarize their reading.  This will be the groundwork for our year long comprehension strategies work. Tools for writing summaries are included in the journal, along with a family checklist you can use to support your child.

I am asking that each child write one meaningful writing response in their new reading response journal per week.  You can adjust based on the amount of time you have and your expectations for your child.  We can plan together during conference times to set individual student goals. One strategy is to break up the writing of the response so that your child writes a few sentences a day.

Please return the journal to school on Friday.    We will look over the work together as a class and students will share their thinking with each other.  I will look over the work but may not have time to respond to each child each week. Journals will come home again on Mondays.

This is a big new step and it will take our students some time to master the process.  We will be working on this same process in class, so everyone should be up and running soon!

In the journal you will find:

• Tools for summarizing what you read (We use these same tools in class).
• A model response that shows expectations for how students should be writing by December. Note that the first few entries might be shorter as we build skills and endurance.
• Topics for responses.
• Reading strategies and “sentence starters” that match them.
• A checklist for making sure writing is the best it can be.

These tools are new to our students.  I do not expect them to use them independently yet.  We will be studying them and practicing over the next few weeks so they should be clear on everything soon.  I am sending them home so you can use them to support them until they are independent.

HOMEWORK THIS WEEK:   Due Friday 9/25

• MATH: a Math challenge activity
• READING: Daily reading and one Reading Journal Response.

Moving right along

New Homework Element

Looking over your feedback about homework, one thing that stuck out is that families want Science homework.  So, this week I am sending home a Science activity that you can do with your student.  This is a classic experiment.  How much weight can you float on a boat made out of a bit of aluminum foil?  You can use whatever weight you have handy but the classic unit is a penny.  Feel free to mix it up or use what you have on hand.  

There is a data table for your child to use for making predictions and tracking results. Also, please help them write some reflections on the process.

I am still fine-tuning the homework so please send me feedback in the comments section and extend or adapt the homework in any way that you find meaningful. My goal is for each student to have a meaningful  and fun school-to-home set of activities every week.

REMEMBER: Return any remaining paperwork!  Back to School Night is Tuesday, 9/15, at 6PM.  Wednesday, 9/16, there is a two hour late opening for staff development.

HOMEWORK THIS WEEK:   Due Friday 9/18

• MATH: a Math challenge activity
• READING: Please read daily with your kids.  I am not sending home a reading log.  Twenty minutes is a good base amount.  I will send home some strategies for supporting your child and talking to them about their reading.
• SCIENCE: The aluminum boat exploration.

Thanks, families! And some words on homework.

I want to start by thanking you for all of the supplies.  We are well stocked for the year because of your generosity.   Thanks also for returning the school paperwork and for responding to my questions about homework.  If you haven’t had a chance to get that stuff in, please take a moment to return those items. If the homework note did not make it home, just let me know and I will send another along.

In order to make our home school connection strong and meaningful for each student, I am assessing their current strengths and needs.  Once I have that, I’ll try to create a routine that fits your responses. Until then we will have a weekly set of short activities for you to enjoy together.  

The key for this part of the year is laying the groundwork for seamless connection between our class and your home.  The main thing to practice is getting paperwork home and then back to school! Please check your child’s backpack and folder daily.

HOMEWORK THIS WEEK:   Due Friday 9/11

• MATH: To start off our home-school connection, I am sending home one of the greatest math games - Tic Tac Toe sums.  This is a fun way to practice math facts and to think strategically.  The sheet is attached.
• READING: Please read daily with your kids.  I am not sending home a reading log.  Twenty minutes is a good amount, but feel free to adjust.  I will send home some strategies for supporting your child and talking to them about their reading.