Room 111 Newsletter
Room 111 Newsletter
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Hello families!
We had a great second full week of school last week. Below again are some reminders, as well as updates on what’s been going on in class. The kids have been really getting into the groove of thingsJ
Please remember to complete the First Day Packet and return it to school, as the office needs these in case of an emergency.
Also, please complete the driver/background checks information as soon as possible. This way, we won’t have to worry come time for field trips and driver/chaperones.
Blue Folder
Please help your child keep track of their blue folder and its contents (keep it in their backpack when not in use, put it in the same spot every night before bed, etc). This is the most important tool for my correspondence with families, and it helps the children practice personal responsibility and accountability for their work.
Late Arrivals and how your child gets home from school
Please make sure that your home routines facilitate getting your child fed and to class on time by 8:30. I believe it is essential for every child to begin the day at the same time as their classmates to help them feel more a part of the community, and to start the day on the right foot.
Also, please make sure your child knows specifically how they will be getting home prior to getting to school whenever possible (bus, red zone, office, classroom). If you will be picking up your child after school in the hallway outside the classroom and you are later than the 2:35 dismissal time, your child will be asked to wait in the office for you, as I may not always be nearby after the bell rings.
Homework
Homework will usually come home on a Tuesday, to be turned in that Friday. Your child’s first reading home reading log went home. Last year I decided to add a grading component to help families understand the importance of nightly reading. Weekly reading logs (20-30 minutes per night) will be given on Thursdays, due the following Friday with any and all other homework. Please make sure your child fills in the reading log as a part of their homework responsibility. The reading log grading is simply a way for students to demonstrate good work habits and self-responsibility.
Library before School Starts
At 7:55, your child may go to the library as an alternative to AM recess before school. Please remind them that this is the case. They must remain there however for the duration until the last AM bell rings.
Math
We have continued working with number sequence and patterns in number, and have begun playing math games like addition top-it, number grid game, number grid difference game, and roll to one hundred.
Literacy
I have now determined which word sorts the kids will use for about the next week. I hope to begin sending home some word sort homework in the near future. I may also begin sending home a packet of the handwriting pages we have been working on. The kids have been working on their silent reading from 8:30 to 9:00 Tuesday through Thursday and periodically just prior to lunch during readers workshop. Additionally, the kids have begun generating ideas for our personal narrative writing unit.
Social Curriculum
Anthony completed his second lesson from the Connected and Respected curriculum around learning about different classmates by surveying them on specific questions.
Field Trips
I am beginning to get more field trips lined up (including at least one to Seattle Children’s Theater… The Adventures of Frog and Toad), but would welcome recommendations/ suggestions if anything strikes you. We will most likely take a trip or two to Thistle Theater, and I am also hoping to take the kids to Seattle Center for Dia de los Muertos.
I welcome adults with special talents that you can bring into the classroom and demonstrate to the kids. This helps us better understand the outside community, and builds on our own classroom community. Please let me know if this is something of interest to you.
Contacting Me
If you would like to contact me, I am available by work phone (252-1751) or email (drmiddleton@seattleschools.org), and will get back to you within 24 hours, usually much sooner. If you have an urgent message, please drop me a written note, or contact the office directly, as I am generally unable to answer calls and check email during the regular school day.
- Also, though it may seem convenient to have an impromptu conversation about a subject of concern during the school day, or even immediately before or after school, please know that this is not the case. Should you urgently need to speak with me, you can email me, write me a note, or leave me a phone message, and we can schedule a phone meeting, or a personal meeting as necessary, and I will be happy to assist you. Thank youJ
Snack Sign-up: Thank you to all whom have signed up for snack, and are remembering to bring it in on your assigned weeks… it is really helpfulJ For those whom have not signed up, please do so for a week or two. You may also email me to let me know what will work for you.
AM/PM Student Drop-Offs and Pick-Ups
This is a reminder to please be as efficient and safe as possible with this.
- Children may be dropped off no earlier than 7:55 AM, as we DO NOT HAVE ANY adult supervision before that time.
- All drop-offs and pickups are on 18th Ave NW ONLY. Please ENTER FROM THE NORTHso that your child exits your automobile on the west side of the street, avoiding the need to cross the street with lots of traffic.
Mark your calendars:
Wednesday, September 28th (tomorrow) –2-hour early dismissal!!
Thursday, October 13th –Curriculum night 7:00 PM – please bring your questions
Monday, October 31st –Elementary Halloween Costume Parade
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES!!!
- Auction Coordinator– one-time job
- Adult Buddy Readers (TBD based on reading assessments) - ongoing job once to twice per week with a developing reader (at 8:30 AM until 9:00AM) except Fridays. Once our reading assessments are complete, I will get this program started.
There will be other one-time and ongoing jobs as well. Please email me your availability should you like to take on one or more of them.
Thank you!
I hope you have a wonderful rest of the week, and see you soon!
Sincerely,
Dave
Room 111
Salmon Bay School
252-1751
