Dear Parents,
It’s always an adjustment to come back to school, and
to get to know new teachers and their expectations. My primary
focus this week was on clarifying my expectations for the students.
Clear procedures and policies help the school day go smoothly.
We have worked on developing useful procedures. I value the
students’ input for these ground rules, as they are, ultimately,
the ones in charge of their learning.
We began math and science explorations this week. In math,
we explored probability and whether sample size affects outcomes;
we made predictions about drawing our own names from a hat,
and looked for patterns in outcomes. The students also worked
on a pre-course math assessment, which I will review closely
for baseline skill indicators. These results will be useful
in mapping our curriculum, to tailor instruction to individual
needs, and to assess future progress.
In science, we explored scientific processes, and put them
to work in observing leaves, describing them (without drawings),
and having fellow classmates identify which leaf was described
based on the first student’s description. We discussed
how observation, classification, communication, and inference
were scientific processes in use. We will begin our study of
matter and its properties in the coming week, and will review
lab safety procedures before we set foot in a lab.
I look forward to an exciting year with the students, and learning
about each individual. To help us in this process, please answer
the questions on the attached form, and return it to school
by next Tuesday, September 5.
I welcome your input and look forward to partnering with you,
your child’s most important teacher. Please feel free
to drop in or contact me with any questions or concerns you
have. My email is mkelly@faithhope.org,
and I am willing to meet any morning by 7:15 a.m. with one day’s
notice.
Here’s to a great year ahead!
Best,
Monica
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