Thanks to everyone for understanding the decision to postpone the Harsens Island trip. It was evident by 10 AM that the right decision was made by Bob Williams. The postponed trip will take place this Friday. We will be mixing cars with busses, if you would like to come and can drive children please let us know.
Math groups are underway and will take place each day at 10:40 in the morning. Homework will come home each night Monday thru Thursday on most days. You will be contacted regularly by your child's math teacher. If you notice anxiety or other issues at home please let us know right away. There are times when adjustments need to be made.
The students have been working on questions to ask each other for student to student interviews this week. The students will be in charge of interviewing a classmate, recording the information, and presenting what they found to the class. It should be interesting to see what we learn about each other.
On Thursday we will be enjoying a day of library appreciation. We are going to spend the morning working around the stage on different projects, including, creating a story, decorating a reading pillow, making bookmarks and much more. The morning will culminate with an assembly in the CCB and a story from Dan Jacobs. Each student has been asked to bring a used book for donation to the book sale if possible. Please do not feel obligated.
Some clarification is needed on the Sukkoth celebration in October. We have come to see this as a sort of pot luck over the years but completely understand that many of you work and can not come to school at 3:00. Please know that school will end that the normal time for children who can not stay and we will make sure they get to the appropriate places. We always make sure that students who can't stay a little later are allowed a chance to participate in a way which lets them know they are included. We will be sure to discuss this with the children before the event.
Thank you and enjoy the week,
Scott and Dee
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Weekly Email 3
Dear Families,
We are having a great time in the classroom. We are really forming nicely as a community and it is a pleasure to watch the students grow and mature so quickly into the year. We have a few things to watch for this week.
Math Groups will begin this week and we are completing the assessment of our students and finalizing their placement in a math group which will best suit their needs as a mathematician. We are working together again this year with Mary and Matresa to create groups as differentiated as possible. This means that your student may have one of the four of us as a math teacher. You will be contacted soon by your child’s math teacher. We use the Singapore Math program as the basis of our math curriculum. We will explain this in more detail on Back to School night. Remember, homework will vary at times as to its difficulty. It is never our intention to frustrate a child with homework but to reinforce what has been explored in class. If your child’s homework is easy that is a good thing, if it is too difficult and you find that you have to help a great deal, then you must let us know. We are excited to have math groups up and running and look forward to the growth of our students as mathematicians.
Back to School night is Tuesday from 7 to 9 PM. An important note is that as Stage III parents you will have an opportunity to meet with special teachers after coming to the room. Please use this time to visit with special teachers, these teachers have incredible curriculums and it will be well worth your time to see what they are offering. One thing we do ask is that if you have questions about something pertaining to only your child you make an appointment with us for a discussion. Back to School night is best facilitated when we keep the conversation about the group as a whole.
On that note, if you have a topic you would like to have discussed at Back to School night please email Scott so that we can be sure to cover everything that needs to be covered. You can find a link to our classroom curriculum goals at the bottom of the classroom blog. Watch for a link to the blog at the end of this email.
Have you notice more pep in your kids? Dee has been leading the kids each day in a few minutes of Physical Exercise. We practice yoga, play games, work as partners, circuit train, and even run a kilometer every Friday.
Need an opportunity to advertise? Dee is selling ad space in this years year book. Why buy an ad? Advertising, a special well wish for a student, and most importantly supporting the year book program. There are many different packages to choose from so please see Dee with information on how to purchase your Ad.
Check this email out in Blog form at http://scottanddees.blogspot.com/.
Thanks and have a great week,
Scott and DeeQuestions to ask you kids:
How fast were you able to run your kilometer?
Did I pack you a good lunch?
Who did you play on the playground with this week?
What is your creative writing story about?
What was George like?Dates To Remember:Tues, Sept 21 = Back To School Night/7:00 p.m. (no childcare)Friday, Sept 24 = Harsens Island Field TripTues, Sept 28th = Late Start Morning/School Begins at 9:00 a.m./Watch for DetailsSun, Oct 3rd = All School Picnic/Noon-4:00/Bloomfield Hills CampusFriday, Oct 8th - Sukkoth celebration - all families invited at 3:00
Wed, Oct 13 = Parent/Teacher Conferences in the EveningThurs, Oct 14 = NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS/Parent-Teacher ConferencesFri, Oct 15 = NO SCHOOLMon, Oct 18th = NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS/Professional Development forStaffFri, Oct 29th = Halloween Extravaganza
We are having a great time in the classroom. We are really forming nicely as a community and it is a pleasure to watch the students grow and mature so quickly into the year. We have a few things to watch for this week.
Math Groups will begin this week and we are completing the assessment of our students and finalizing their placement in a math group which will best suit their needs as a mathematician. We are working together again this year with Mary and Matresa to create groups as differentiated as possible. This means that your student may have one of the four of us as a math teacher. You will be contacted soon by your child’s math teacher. We use the Singapore Math program as the basis of our math curriculum. We will explain this in more detail on Back to School night. Remember, homework will vary at times as to its difficulty. It is never our intention to frustrate a child with homework but to reinforce what has been explored in class. If your child’s homework is easy that is a good thing, if it is too difficult and you find that you have to help a great deal, then you must let us know. We are excited to have math groups up and running and look forward to the growth of our students as mathematicians.
Back to School night is Tuesday from 7 to 9 PM. An important note is that as Stage III parents you will have an opportunity to meet with special teachers after coming to the room. Please use this time to visit with special teachers, these teachers have incredible curriculums and it will be well worth your time to see what they are offering. One thing we do ask is that if you have questions about something pertaining to only your child you make an appointment with us for a discussion. Back to School night is best facilitated when we keep the conversation about the group as a whole.
On that note, if you have a topic you would like to have discussed at Back to School night please email Scott so that we can be sure to cover everything that needs to be covered. You can find a link to our classroom curriculum goals at the bottom of the classroom blog. Watch for a link to the blog at the end of this email.
Have you notice more pep in your kids? Dee has been leading the kids each day in a few minutes of Physical Exercise. We practice yoga, play games, work as partners, circuit train, and even run a kilometer every Friday.
Need an opportunity to advertise? Dee is selling ad space in this years year book. Why buy an ad? Advertising, a special well wish for a student, and most importantly supporting the year book program. There are many different packages to choose from so please see Dee with information on how to purchase your Ad.
Check this email out in Blog form at http://scottanddees.blogspot.com/.
Thanks and have a great week,
Scott and DeeQuestions to ask you kids:
How fast were you able to run your kilometer?
Did I pack you a good lunch?
Who did you play on the playground with this week?
What is your creative writing story about?
What was George like?Dates To Remember:Tues, Sept 21 = Back To School Night/7:00 p.m. (no childcare)Friday, Sept 24 = Harsens Island Field TripTues, Sept 28th = Late Start Morning/School Begins at 9:00 a.m./Watch for DetailsSun, Oct 3rd = All School Picnic/Noon-4:00/Bloomfield Hills CampusFriday, Oct 8th - Sukkoth celebration - all families invited at 3:00
Wed, Oct 13 = Parent/Teacher Conferences in the EveningThurs, Oct 14 = NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS/Parent-Teacher ConferencesFri, Oct 15 = NO SCHOOLMon, Oct 18th = NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS/Professional Development forStaffFri, Oct 29th = Halloween Extravaganza
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Week 2 9-12
This will be our first full week of school and the beginning of our first sign up. Hopefully at this point you will have seen your child's individual schedule which came home in back packs this weekend. It is very likely that there will be some changes in the next couple of days so stay tuned. As the first sign up begins afternoon for the students will begin to look different. They will no longer travel as a class to special classes but as individuals. This would be a great time to have a conversation about appropriate travel behavior on campus. We ask the students NEVER to travel alone and always go directly from point A to B.
Picture Day is tomorrow! Please note that we are scheduled for pictures at 10:30 in the morning, however this is a very loose appointment. If the weather rains us out we will have a make up day. We do not know when the pictures will be ready and will let you know as soon as we do. If you would like to send a change of clothes that may be a great idea.
Reading groups which are often referred to as book clubs in our room will begin tomorrow. We have put a great deal of thought in to the placement of the students and will be happy to discuss the groupings. Groups will meet in the afternoons and are quite personal. Reading groups take on different looks throughout the year from adult like book clubs to nitty gritty phonics work. We will keep you posted with what your child is reading and doing in their groups.
Math will continue with measurement in small groups then we will end the week putting what we learned into application. It has been a lot of fun moving the kids through all the teachers and we have enjoyed getting to know them. This approach to beginning the year is sure to aid in the assessment and placement process of each child as we move to fixed math groups.
We wanted to share a great website with all of you pertaining to our featured author. Please take a minute to check it out with your kids, they can probably teach some things about the amazing author Patricia Polacco.
http://www.patriciapolacco.com/books/junkyard/index2.html
Thanks and have a great week,
Scott and Dee
Picture Day is tomorrow! Please note that we are scheduled for pictures at 10:30 in the morning, however this is a very loose appointment. If the weather rains us out we will have a make up day. We do not know when the pictures will be ready and will let you know as soon as we do. If you would like to send a change of clothes that may be a great idea.
Reading groups which are often referred to as book clubs in our room will begin tomorrow. We have put a great deal of thought in to the placement of the students and will be happy to discuss the groupings. Groups will meet in the afternoons and are quite personal. Reading groups take on different looks throughout the year from adult like book clubs to nitty gritty phonics work. We will keep you posted with what your child is reading and doing in their groups.
Math will continue with measurement in small groups then we will end the week putting what we learned into application. It has been a lot of fun moving the kids through all the teachers and we have enjoyed getting to know them. This approach to beginning the year is sure to aid in the assessment and placement process of each child as we move to fixed math groups.
We wanted to share a great website with all of you pertaining to our featured author. Please take a minute to check it out with your kids, they can probably teach some things about the amazing author Patricia Polacco.
http://www.patriciapolacco.com/books/junkyard/index2.html
Thanks and have a great week,
Scott and Dee
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