ANNOUNCEMENTS 10/14/01

• Wow!  Can you believe the first nine weeks is over already?  Now we're ready to begin the second term.  Our focus will be on energy, force, and motion. 
• Do you know how the new lab rotation works?  This year, we have the same lab for six days in a row.  Then we have a little over a week without any labs.  If you look at the schedule on this page, you'll see that lab weeks are very different from weeks without labs. 
• Is your child reading each night?  Please remember that your child is expected to read and write every night for homeroom.  In addition, he/she will usually have a math assignment to complete. 
• The COLONY PROJECT is due November 7!

*Treat others with kindness and respect.
*Keep your hands, feet, and other objects to yourselves.
*Remember to do your job each day.
*Listen carefully during lessons.
*Take care of your classroom and your school.
*Never give up! Always do your best.

Students in my class are encouraged to work in teams.  Each team tries to earn stars by working hard, being on task, and working well together.  When I see children making good choices, I give points to those teams.  At the end of the week, the team with the most points gets to eat lunch with me on the playground.  When they are finished their lunch, they may have free play.  The stars from that week are erased, and we start fresh after lunch.  (Teams change throughout the year.)

The focus in my classroom is on who is doing what RIGHT rather than on who is doing what wrong. I believe in creating a positive learning environment for my students.  If you would like to read more about how I manage my classroom, visit my classroom management page.

During this conference,  I have a private discussion with the child who is having a problem making the right choices.  I ask questions like, "How can I help you make the right choice?" and "Is there something I can do to help you succeed in this class?"

Usually, by communicating with a child at a conference, we can figure out what step to take next to solve the problem. However, at times, a consequence is needed.  Consequences in my classroom could be any of the following (in no particular order):

I never assign homework that isn't important.  Students have four assignments each night:

1. Read for at least 15 minutes.
2. Write in your journal for at least 15 minutes.
3. Do math homework.
4. Study spelling words.

There is no regular homework assigned on Friday.  NOTE: I do not assign specific spelling assignments for homework because children learn in different ways.  Some might learn them best by doing three times each, white others need something more hands-on such as typing them on the computer.  Each child needs to try different strategies in order to find out what leads to success on Friday's test.

Students may go to the bathroom without asking as long as we are not in the middle of a whole group lesson.  Individuals who abuse this privilege will lose it immediately and will have to raise their hands to ask permission for the rest of the week. One of the students is in charge of the bathroom passes each week.  If a student needs to go, he/she simply goes to that person for the pass. 

I use a non-traditional approach to spelling which incorporates the use of a word wall and individual spelling lists.  Each child's words for the week come from his or her own writing.  Therefore, the students are practicing words that they need to know and that are at their level.  Each child has a journal in which they write on a daily basis, and I find most of their spelling words in these journals and in other writing assignments.   I also test them on mandatory words such as the months of the year, math words, Dolch words, and so on.  During the week, they practice their individual lists with a partner by doing various spelling activities, and they are tested on Friday.  They are expected to use them correctly in their writing from that point on. 

"Accelerated Reader is a computerized reading management system. Students select a book to read from the library's collection of AR books. The AR system has assigned a point value to each book based on the number of words in the book and its reading level. This system considers the number of syllables in words and sentence complexity.  Once the student reads a chosen book, he or she goes to the computer and takes a test on the book he or she has read. The test consists of five, ten, or twenty objective questions about important facts in the book. The computer scores the test, awards the student points based on test performance, and keeps a complete record of results. The student must score at least 60% on the test to earn any points. This makes it extremely unlikely that a student can earn points without reading the book with some comprehension. AR points are therefore a fairly accurate measure of the quantity of words being read and comprehended, and therefore, an accurate measure of reading practice."

Taken from Patterns of Reading Practice by Terrance D. Paul

In order to receive a pizza certificate each month, your child must meet the following requirements:

1. The reading log and journal should be completed each day.
2. Each student must read every night and have a parent or guardian initial the calendar.
3. Each student must complete at least one "Book Club" for the month. 

A "Book Club" is simply a fancy name for a book report.  The children choose a book to present to the class.  Some children write TV commercials, some design book jackets, and some even write skits.  After the presentation, students are encouraged to ask questions and make comments about the presentation.