Things are going well. We're taking things slowly, getting to know routines and each other. I'm intentionally repeating some stuff in this newsletter, just to make sure information is out there.
Curriculum Night and Open House
This is your chance to come to school and hear me talk about what I do and why. We'll meet in the gym, you'll leave your kids there while you come to our classroom. After I'm done, you'll go back to the gym, get your kids, and then your kids can show you around the classroom and school. We all start in the gym at 6:30 and we're all done at 7:30. I hope you can make it.
Math
You'll notice math pages from the workbook coming home many days. We do the pages, I look them over, and then send them home. My intent is not to get every page perfect for every student before sending them home. Even if I wanted to, I couldn't catch and correct everything. I don't try. I catch what I can that seems relevant for that child at that time.
What I'd like from you: Notice what was done well and celebrate. That's all. Ignore the rest, unless your child asks you about it, just like you celebrated first steps and ignored all the falling down when they first learned to walk. Wisdom dictates taking this approach for all learning. If you feel the desire to "teach", please teach the joy and love of math, and the many practical uses of math, which may not be evident on the worksheets, but which will be key in making the students into lifelong mathematicians.
Classroom Visits and Volunteering
I welcome visits and volunteers, any time, no need to call first if you want to drop by. If you want to help on a regular basis, that would be great. There will be a sign up sheet at parent night, on September 17, or just send me an email if you have a specific day or time and we'll make it work. If you think you'd like to be in the classroom, please make sure you have all the volunteer forms and paperwork filled out. Those are available in the office, and I'll have some at parent night, too. If you filled out forms last year, we still need you to do it again (although I think we need fewer the second time).
Snack
We'll have snack every day, for those who want it. You can either send a separate snack for your child, or you can send in a big bag or box for everyone to share. The kids who bring their own will eat that. The ones who share will take turns eating what people send. Do what it easy for you and your child: either remember every day or just once in awhile. THANKS to those who have already sent snack.
Music and P.E.
We have physical education on Tuesdays and Thursdays this year, and music on Wednesdays and Thursdays this year. Please help the students remember to have appropriate footwear for physical education.
Library
Our library day is Tuesday. Pleas help students remember to bring books back. They can also bring back books any time and get new ones. They don't have to wait until Tuesday.
Email List
Every year I create a class email list to contact people quickly, send newsletters, things like that.Please send me your email address as soon as possible. The easiest way is for you to use my email address at the top of this note.Send me an email asking me to add you to the list, and I'll reply when I do it.
Web Site
There are two ways for you to access information about us on the internet. One is the district web site at http://swift.enumclaw.wednet.edu/bde/jkurtz/index.php. A second is our Twitter site at http://twitter.com/room302. We'll use the Twitter site throughout the day, throughout the year, to document what we're doing in class. If you go there, you can also read our "tweets" and access audio and video that we posted last year. If you want to know more about how I use Twitter to teach writing, there is even a link to a magazine article I wrote about it (I just hope it doesn't crash their servers, with all of you trying to access the article at once. ☺) For me to use student pictures and work on the internet, I need a permission slip signed by each family. Please ask if you have questions about that.
Questions?
Starting in a new classroom can be confusing, so please let me know right away if you have questions or concerns.The parent meeting will be more for general questions, and I'm happy to take questions about your child any time.
Here's to a great year!
Sincerely,
Jeff
-- Jeff
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Newsletter 1
9/20/2009
Dear Families,
It was a great first day! The children are wonderful. We spent some time reading, writing, doing art, and getting to know each other. Here is a brief rundown on some items of interest.
Classroom Visits and Volunteering
I welcome visits and volunteers, any time, no need to call first if you want to drop by. If you want to help on a regular basis, that would be great. There will be a sign up sheet at parent night, on September 17, or just send me an email if you have a specific day or time and we’ll make it work. If you think you’d like to be in the classroom, please make sure you have all the volunteer forms and paperwork filled out. Those are available in the office, and I’ll have some at parent night, too. If you filled out forms last year, we still need you to do it again (although I think we need fewer the second time).
Snack
We’ll have snack every day, for those who want it. You can either send a separate snack for your child, or you can send in a big bag or box for everyone to share. The kids who bring their own will eat that. The ones who share will take turns eating what people send. Do what it easy for you and your child: either remember every day or just once in awhile.
Music and P.E.
We have physical education on Tuesdays and Thursdays this year, and music on Wednesdays and Thursdays this year. Please help the students remember to have appropriate footwear for physical education.
Email List
Every year I create a class email list to contact people quickly, send newsletters, things like that. Please send me your email address as soon as possible. The easiest way is for you to use my email address at the top of this note. Send me an email asking me to add you to the list, and I’ll reply when I do it.
Web Site
There are two ways for you to access information about us on the internet. One is the district web site at http://swift.enumclaw.wednet.edu/bde/jkurtz/index.php. A second is our Twitter site at http://twitter.com/room302. We’ll use the Twitter site throughout the day, throughout the year, to document what we’re doing in class. If you go there, you can also read our “tweets” and access audio and video that we posted last year. If you want to know more about how I use Twitter to teach writing, there is even a link to a magazine article I wrote about it (I just hope it doesn’t crash their servers, with all of you trying to access the article at once. ☺) For me to use student pictures and work on the internet, I need a permission slip signed by each family. Please ask if you have questions about that.
Questions?
Starting in a new classroom can be confusing, so please let me know right away if you have questions or concerns. The parent meeting will be more for general questions, and I’m happy to take questions about your child any time.
Here’s to a great year!
