Newsletter - Sept. 14

Friday, September 14, 2012

Ms. Ford’s Welcome Back Newsletter

Begbie View Elementary                                 Grade 2, Rm.111                     Ph. 250.837.3085

Dear Families,

Now that I’ve had the opportunity to meet the students who will make up this class, I know we are going to have a great year!   

           

To help you stay informed about our classroom activities, I will be preparing a classroom newsletter, electronically and on paper, every two weeks throughout the school year.

           

We have enjoyed a wonderful first full week and I am really excited about spending the year with this lovely group of students.  I will strive to build a safe, positive and effective learning community for everyone in my classroom and to provide your child with the strategies and tools they need in order to effectively explore the world around them.

Classroom–Management Procedures

Classroom Expectations

Throughout the first week of school we brainstormed and discussed what we wanted our classroom community to look like, sound like, and feel like.  We have narrowed it down to the following list of classroom rules:

            1.  Quick, quiet transitions

            2.  Use kind language

            3.  Take care of our room and each other

            4.  Co-operate with others

            5.  Work independently

            6.  Stay in our own space

These rules are posted in our classroom and will be reviewed regularly.  

Consequences

Consequences in our classroom will be logical and democratic and will, whenever possible, follow the process of least intervention.  Most importantly students will be given opportunities to practice and learn expected behaviours.  If I have concerns I will be in contact with parents as soon as possible.  If you have questions or concerns about your child’s school experiences, please contact me.

Routines

Classroom routines are essential for an effective learning environment.  From day one, the students and I have been working to become familiar with our classroom routines, and those of the school.  Below is a list of routines that I would like parents to be aware of:

Ø  Our library day is Wednesday, so please have books returned to school the day before (Tuesday) in order to get them signed back in before our book exchange the next day.

Ø  Indoor shoes are to be kept at school.

Ø  Spelling words for the week will be assigned on Monday and our weekly test will occur each Thursday.  Spelling will be starting next week.

Ø  If your child is absent from school, a “While I was away…” folder will be placed on his/her desk, and any handouts, marked work and notices will be placed in this folder.

Ø  At the end of each day, I will write homework and/or any reminders on the board and students will fill in their own agendas.

Ø  Each day we will have one student who gets to bring something for “sharing” (show and tell).  Your child will get to be “share” about 8 times throughout the year.  I’d like to add these topics to sharing:           
           -something I found
           -things I (we) collect
           -something old
           -something I can do
The other 4 times your child is “sharing,” the topic is open.

Units/Topics of Study

We will begin our year with a focus on setting up daily routines and structure, becoming familiar with classroom expectations, and building respectful relationships in our classroom. 

For Language Arts we will be kick starting our literacy routine called The Daily 5, which includes Read to Yourself, Read to Someone, Work on Writing, Listen to Reading, and Spelling/Word Study.

Our first Math unit will be on patterns.  Alongside this unit we will be having daily discussions and activities around number sense with a focus on mental math strategies (doubling, making 10, one more, one less, etc.)

Kendra Von Bremen and I will be teaching our Physical Education this year.  She will teach PE Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday afternoons.  On Friday, we will be having buddy gym with the Grade 2/3 class.

During Science we will be studying the properties of matter!  We will spend time exploring all that is solid, liquid, and gas!

Parent and community involvement can be a powerful tool for enriching the learning experience for students.  If you have any special gifts or talents to share or any ideas for enhancing our studies, please let me know.

Important Reminders 

The following is a list of important reminders for you and your child:

Ø  If students wish to distribute any sort of invitation/cards, every student in our class must receive one.  Otherwise, please do so outside of the school setting.  Attached to this newsletter is a list of first names of every student in our class.  In the case of a new student, I will send home a revised list. 

Ø  If you wish to speak/contact me, please come and see me after school, or I can be reached by email at naomi.m.ford@gmail.com, by phone at school 250-837-3085, and at home 250-837-3443

I look forward to getting to know you all.  Have a great weekend!

                                                                                                                       

Naomi Ford