Week 13

I've been putting the final touches on progress reports. This has led me to tweak my teaching just a little. I realize that some students are ready to soar while others are finding it difficult to get off the ground. This trimester I'm designing lesson plans and assignments that will enable the students to work at their own pace and at their individual level. The students will work independently a good deal of the time, and so it is crucial that they develop positive habits in order to be successful. I expect that when students turn in an assignment, they are turning in what they consider to be their best work. Some students are already doing this while others are rushing through the assignments, not following directions, and sometimes not doing the work at all. I promise to never assign a task that I do not believe is of value. But they need to put the time and effort into learning in order to receive that value.

With all that said, here are some important points about this upcoming trimester.

• Starting tomorrow, every student must have an independent reading book at school. The classroom library is overflowing with excellent choices. They need to be reading a book now and finishing it over Christmas break. They will have a light assignment to do over the holidays.
• All assignments are expected to be finished and turned in on or before the due date. The turned in product should be an example of the student's best work. Mrs. Troyer and I will help any student that might be struggling or not understanding any assignment.
• When there is homework, students will take a homework slip home. Please sign this and return to me the following school day. If I don't get a returned slip, I will call you to make sure you were informed of the homework.
• Please, please, please have your child show you their assignments on Google Classroom. This is a wonderful tool that Mrs. Troyer and I use everyday. It makes it possible to teach to all learning styles - visual, auditory, and kinetic. By accessing the classroom calendar and clicking on the assignment, students not only see exact due dates, they also are directed to precise instructions and necessary attachments.

Here's the line up of study between now and Christmas:

1. Mock Trial of the Boston Massacre

    Skills - reading comprehension, persuasive techniques, public speaking, collaboration, critical thinking, organization, listening skills, and examination of original documents.

2. Cell Mitosis

    Skills - memorization, spelling, reading comprehension, and outlining.

3. "Paul Revere's Ride"- Longfellow, "The Gift of the Magi" - O. Henry, and "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas" - Dr. Seuss

     Skills - close reading, paraphrasing, compare/contrast, writing, listening skills, and literary analysis.

4. Family holiday traditions

     Skills  - prewriting, topic sentences, transition words, concluding sentences, and paragraph organization.

I'm looking forward to returning to a refreshed class ready to progress; always being wild and free.