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Tuesday, November 03, 2009
Monday, November 02, 2009
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Monday, October 26, 2009
Newsletter 4
Newsletter 4 10/26/2009
Dear Families,
I'm sad to say that Alex S. and Carter will now be attending different schools. We'll miss them, and we wish them the best!
Halloween Party
This will be on Friday, October 30, from 11:30-12:30 in our classroom. Parents/families are welcome to attend. We'll be doing math with pumpkins and having treats.
Students are welcome to bring costumes to change into, but they do not have to. I'll give them time to change at recess. It would be helpful if they practiced doing it alone at home before trying it here. Please remind them that weapons are not allowed.
We need volunteers to help at stations, plates, cups, napkins, and treats. If you're able to volunteer to help, or contribute something, please contact me.
You'll now notice audio links as well as text. Students volunteer to read to the class, and before they can be recorded they must read to themselves, to a classmate, and to an adult. This is to ensure performance quality reading. Reading in public and being recorded can be highly rewarding, and it motivates some kids to read and reread texts. This can have a positive effect on fluency, punctuation usage, pacing, phrasing and intonation. These are all highly desirable qualities for readers to attend to, and the power comes from them doing so voluntarily. Even those who don't choose to be recorded benefit from hearing classmates practice, and from our discussions of what good readers do.
Math
Ok, so this is sort of in flux. I've been having kids keep the pages in their books, and now I'm thinking it may be useful to save them in case we want to talk about certain things at conferences, or if I need evidence of learning when doing report cards. This program is new, so I appreciate your patience as I figure out the best way to use it. Our lessons have included: listening to story problems, drawing pictures to help solve problems, addition facts, money, counting, skip counting, checking work, and explaining answers.
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 are still many opportunities, including coordinating some or all of our celebrations.
Snack
Thanks to those that are sending in snack. Seems like we have at least half of the kids eating what's here, and the rest bringing their own. We are again getting low, so this would be a good time to send some in.
Chapter Book
Our first chapter book was Junie B. Jones and a Little Monkey Business by Barbara Park.
Our current one is Ramona the Brave by Beverly Cleary.
Calendar
Friday, October 30—Joe's birthday
Friday, October 30—Halloween party, 11:30
Sincerely,
Jeff Kurtz
--
Jeff
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Newsletter 3
Newsletter 3 10/11/2009
Dear Families,
Wow! Six weeks in….it goes by so fast. Here is some new info.:
Calendar
We do calendar as part of our math every day. It would be helpful if we had a large, desk-size calendar to display and write events on, so if anyone has a spare they could donate, we'd appreciate it.
It's great that so many of you are able to use the Twitter site to stay in touch with what we do, and to spark conversations with the students. I'm trying very hard to make sure that our "followers" are appropriate for first grade, so if you sign up and think I might not recognize you, please let me know so I don't block you. This would apply to family members and friends, too—we love to have them as long as I know who they are. If I do accidentally block you, just let me know and I'll fix it.
Blog
Long ago I used room302.blogspot.com as a place to post information, and now that I have access from school again, I have revived it. It's the easiest way for me to give you online access to things like newsletters. I also put our Twitter feed there, and some links. It's just one more way for you to stay in touch.
If you ever notice anything here, or on Twitter, or on any of our internet sites, that seems questionable or not OK, please let me know ASAP. There should never be last names, and there should not be any names with photos. I try to filter it, but it's possible something could escape my notice.
Math
I'm going to start sending pages home once a week, in case we want to use them in our collaboration meetings. Sometimes we talk about how kids are doing, and ways to better meet their needs, so it's good to have evidence. Just a reminder: I do not try and correct every single thing on every single page, but we do have conversations about the lesson and what kids are learning. They know and lots that never shows up on the page, and doing it on paper is merely one way to demonstrate knowledge and understanding.
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 are still many opportunities, including coordinating some or all of our celebrations. See below….
Parties
I'd like a parent or parents who are willing and able to help me with class parties. If you're available to coordinate or help with the Halloween one at the end of the month, please let me know. We'll also need food and pumpkins that day, for those who like to think ahead.
Snack
Thanks to those that are sending in snack. Seems like we have at least half of the kids eating what's here, and the rest bringing their own.
Music and P.E.
We have P.E. 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. Please help students remember to bring books back. (I just noticed that last time I wrote pleas instead of please. Either is grammatically sound, I guess, but I hate to think we need to plead with the students to bring books back.) They can also bring back books any time and get new ones. They don't have to wait until Tuesday.
Birthdays
We'll celebrate birthdays in class, unless otherwise directed. We use the birthday as an opportunity for guided writing: Mrs. Huizenga teaches card writing as a special project during Writers' Workshop. It's perfect because there is a real audience and a real purpose—which are the two things that real writers always need for real writing. If you would like to send in a book for the class, or birthday treats, or something else, that would be great. If you can let me know in advance, fine. If not, we're flexible.
Show and Tell
I ask the kids to bring things in that they have worked on or earned. That seems to eliminate most of the toys and things like that they want to share. They are welcome to show those other things, but I'm reluctant to take class time for them, since time is so precious and I don't want it to just be about who can buy more. I'd love to see art work, stories, trophies, Lego stuff, food made from a recipes, etc.
Chapter Book
Our first chapter book was Junie B. Jones and a Little Monkey Business by Barbara Park.
Our current one is Ramona the Brave by Beverly Cleary.
Calendar
Thursday, October 8—PTA Dance
Friday, October 9—No school
Thursday, October 15—PTA Meeting
Saturday, October 24—Grace's birthday
Friday, October 30—Halloween party
I appreciate hearing your questions, concerns, comments. It's always good to know what you're thinking.
Sincerely,
Jeff
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Weekly Schedule 2009-2010
| Day | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
|
| Start 9:00-10:05 | Read Aloud / class meeting / word work | Read Aloud / class meeting / word work | 9:15 Music | Read Aloud / class meeting / word work | Read Aloud / class meeting / word work | |
| Read Aloud | ||||||
| 10:05-11:05 | Readers' Workshop snack | Readers' Workshop snack | Readers' Workshop snack | Readers' Workshop snack | Readers' Workshop snack |
|
| 11:05-11:20 | Bathroom Recess | Bathroom Recess | Bathroom Recess | Bathroom Recess | Bathroom Recess | |
| 11:20-12:30 | Writers' Workshop | 11:35 Library | Writers' Workshop | Writers' Workshop | Writers' Workshop | |
| Writers' Workshop | ||||||
| 12:35-1:25 | Lunch and recess | Lunch and recess | Lunch and recess | Lunch and recess | Lunch and recess |
|
| 1:25-2:25 | Math | 1:45 P.E. | Math | 1:45-2:45 PE/Music | Math Chapter Book | |
| 2:15 Math | ||||||
| 2:25-3:05 | Science | Science | Early Release |
| ||
| 3:05-3:10 | Jobs / clean up / pack up | Jobs / clean up / pack up | Jobs / clean up / pack up | Jobs / clean up / pack up |
| |
| 3:10-3:30 | Chapter Book | Chapter Book | Chapter Book | Chapter Book |
| |
| 3:30 | dismiss | dismiss | dismiss | dismiss |
|
--
Jeff
Newsletter 2
Newsletter 2 9/22/2009
Dear Families,
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!
Sincerely,
Jeff
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!
Sincerely,
Jeff