Monday, September 28, 2015

Dear 3C Parents,

Today I received the survey results from the homework survey that you completed.  Two things I noticed were that about half our our class filled out the survey and that there were some very different opinions from the parents in our class.  I really appreciate the survey data that I received.   I will now respond to the comments that I received.  If you have further questions or comments, please feel free to reach out at any time!

While homework is extremely important, as it helps solidify the information Archway Arete’s curriculum provides your student with, I wish to lessen homework time, particularly for the students who are spending more than 90 minutes a night.  Of course there will be nights where there is more homework than other nights.  This is due to the natural course of our curriculum and calendar.  However, if your student is doing more than 90 minutes of homework on a regular basis, please reach out to me and we will do our best to find a solution.  Although our curriculum is intentionally rigorous, I do not wish to overwhelm the students with a lengthy homework process. I also wish to provide assistance to the families who feel more homework guidance is needed.  It is my hope that the following steps will be helpful:

1.    Instructions for large projects will be sent home at least 3 weeks prior to their due date.

2.    I will begin starting math homework in class (brief 5 minutes) for students to ask questions and review particularly difficult problems. 

3.    I have added some Singapore math links to my blog, I have also separated the math links from the other important links so they are easier to find.  I will continue to send home keys for bar models periodically.
  
5.    Students will be reminded to take their notebooks and folders home regularly to aid them in the homework and study process. This comes with added responsibility on their part to ensure all class materials are returned to class the next day.  Please do assist your child in this process, as it is very difficult on students to take part in class without the necessary materials.  I do not have extras to lend them.

6.    I did receive concerns on the survey regarding weekend homework. We assign homework on Fridays at Archway Arete because we feel our students need as many opportunities to review class material as possible. A good strategy may be to have your student complete homework on Friday evening to allow the rest of the weekend for relaxation.

7.  For those of you who expressed desire for more difficult homework, I will be sending out extra math practice as soon as the extra practice book that we ordered arrives.  As students should be reading for 20 minutes every night there is no reason homework should be less than 30 minutes with the other subjects on most days.  Please reach out to me if that is you!  The survey was anonymous so I do not know who you are!

8.    Finally, my plan is to adjust this process as needed.  Please reach out to me if you’re seeing a struggle at home, this kind of contact is so very helpful to me to best meet student needs.


Again, I thank you for your responses and support. Please keep in mind that I am only an email away if you have a question or concern about your student.  I firmly believe that open communication between parent and teacher is the key to student success.

Appreciatively,

Ms. Caro

Saturday, September 26, 2015

Blog Post 9/25

Hi Parents!

Thank you so much for all of the sign-ups we received to help with the Prairie party! We can’t wait.  If you are volunteering or sending items, this is just a reminder that the event will start at 10:10 and go until 11:25.  Thank you for all of the volunteers.

On that note, I am still searching for parent volunteers for math.  Thank you to the two parents who heled out this week- the students loved it.  We would love 4 volunteers, but if I can get two per week that would be wonderful.  This allows us to differentiate more for your students (i.e. giving challenge problems to the students that need it and reviewing old concepts for those that need it).  The time is Wednesdays from 12:35-1:45. If I can get 2-4 committed volunteers then I will be able to have a mini training.  Every week I will supply a plan and a key to help you all feel comfortable.  If you are able to volunteer (I know your students would love it!) please let me know.  If you are dying to volunteer, but that time is not available, please let me know!  If I get enough parents that can come at another time and/or day I might be able to switch things around.  Please let me know.  Thank you!!

Upcoming for the LAST WEEK OF QUARTER 1!  (I really can not believe it is the last week of the quarter.)  I am so lucky to have such a wonderful class and to be able to work at such an amazing school.  Thank you all for making the beginning of the year so wonderful.

Assessments/Projects:
Monday- None
Tuesday- Canada Project Due
Wednesday- Little House Test & Volunteers for Poetry Recitations
Thursday- Canada Assessment & Finish poetry Recitations &Spalding Assessment
Friday- no school (HAPPY FALL BREAK AND R&R)
*This is a busy week as we wrap up the quarter.  Please have students finish their Canada project and be ready for poetry recitations over the weekend so that they can focus on Little House and History during the week.

Subjects:

Reading: We will be finishing up some final activities for Little House.  Our final assessment is on Wednesday. Please expect the study guide to come home on Monday.  The students are so excited for our Prairie day celebration.  After fall break we will be starting Pinocchio, so please have students start bringing them to school.

Grammar/Writing: We will continue working on summaries and practice classifying sentences with adjectives!

Spalding:  Please note that Spalding will only have 20 words next week.  We will learn ten new words on Monday and Tuesday, review on Wednesday, and test on Thursday.

History: We will finish up our unit on Canada!  Look for the study guide on Tuesday night.  We will complete the study guide in class on Tuesday.

Science:  We just began our unit on ecology.  We will continue learning about the interesting area of science.


Math:  We are beginning multiplication.  This exciting unit begins with lots of pictures to represent these problems visually.  It would be appropriate and encouraged to begin basic flashcard multiplication with your student within the next week.  You can start with 2,3,4,5, and 10.  Once we have covered 6,7,8, and 9 then feel free to work those facts in.  If your student is ready you may practice all of the facts for 1-10.  You won’t see multiplication bar models for a few days, but don’t worry they are right around the corner! 

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Dear Parents,
 
Please join us tomorrow night to celebrate the beauty of the curricular pieces that your scholars experience each day in the classroom. This is a wonderful opportunity for you to learn more about Spalding Phonics and Singapore Math from our school's Spalding Consultant and our administration.
 
This event will be held at the school on Thursday, September 23 from 6pm - 8pm.
 
We ask that students not attend the event, thank you for your understanding.
 
Best,

Ms. Caro 

Thursday, September 17, 2015

Hello Parents!

I can not believe that it is already the middle of September.  We only have two weeks until fall break.  This fall is going so fast.  I think there is a saying for that: time flies when your having fun! 

Please look out for an email from Mrs. Offret about our Prairie day celebration October 1st.  We need supplies and volunteers to make this a fun day of celebration for our scholars!

We are also in need of more math and reading volunteers. I sent out an email this week.  Please contact me if you would like to volunteer and have not received the email or if you have any questions!

Wish List:  I don’t know how we go through tissues so quickly!  Please send a tissue box in if you are able. J

Important Dates:

September 24th (Spalding/Singapore night @ 6pm) Please come out to this event to learn more about our Spalding and Singapore programs. 

September 25TH is a half day, students will be released at 12:05.  Prep siblings can be picked up at 12:25.

Week of September 21-25:

Assessments:

Monday: none
Tuesday: Science quiz
Wednesday: none
Thursday: Math quiz
Friday: Spalding quiz

Looking ahead…Assessments/Projects for week of September 28-October 1st
Monday:
Tuesday: Canada Project due
Wednesday: Little House Assessment
Thursday: Canada quiz, Poetry recitations
Friday: no school

Week of September 21-25th

Math:  We will continue working on two-step word problems with bar models and review for our assessment on Thursday.  We will then begin our next unit on multiplication on Friday! Please look for the email sent with a key for this weekends math homework (September 17).

Science:  We will review animal classification and take our assessment.  Please look out for the study guide coming home today (Thursday September 17th).  We will then begin our next unit on ecology!

History: We will continue learning about our neighbor to the north, Canada!  This week we will be learning about the history of Canada and begin to learn about the different provinces/territories in Canada.  We will do an activity to create our own totem poles.  Please continue to work on your Canada project at home- it is due on Tuesday September 29th.

Poetry:  We will continue working on our poem, “The Song of Mr. Toad”.  Recitations are Thursday October 1st.  Please continue practicing with your scholar at home!

Grammar:  In grammar we will be working on sentence blueprints and power words/adjectives!

Writing:  In writing we will continue reading and summarizing the Story of the World text.  We will be summarizing stories on “The First Writing” and “Making Mummies”.

Literature:  In Literature we will continue reading the Little House on the Prairie.  We will be starting Pinocchio after fall break, so please make sure your students has his or her copy by October 12th.