Education is an experience in how to learn; it is an exploration and an expansion of what it means to be human in the world. It is practice in the construction of meaning with others. — Jeffrey Wilhelm
Well, at this point we may be wondering where the summer went. Some kids and parents are probably ready for the school year; others are clinging to every last minute of summer that they can. As for me, I am super excited about the new school year and meeting the new "crop" of 7th graders who will soon be working with me in Room 105 for the next nine months or so.
Please, explore my website to find out more about me and how I approach learning with my students. You'll find information about ICU, my schedule, the grading scale I use, and some general information about English language arts as well as a bit of personal information. For example, I grew up in a small town; I mean, I graduated with only 10 other kids, so my initial career ambitions were to stick to teaching in smaller schools. However, I enjoy the diversity of the larger school district and the fact that I am able to collaborate with other teachers instead of being the only person in the English department.
So that I can learn more about your children, please complete the parent letter-writing "assignment" that students take home to you next week. (If you'd like to get a head start, you can also find the activity right here.) : ) I realize that you've probably shared your contact information numerous times with various school personnel already, but if you could also include that information for me, I'd greatly appreciate it, just so that I know the best way to reach you. You can email your message to me at [email protected] or send a hand-written message with your child.
One final but hugely important item: reading at home will be an consistent expectation for my students. Students will have lots of choice in what they read and will have access to books in my classroom library as well as our school library, which also has digital books the kids can read on their iPads. If your child has a library card for the public library, their options will be even greater - with both traditional books and digital books, so please consider either getting a card for your student or encouraging your student to use the public library. If you're not sure what kids are reading these days, check out my reading page. At home, talk to your kids about what they're reading on a regular basis, and if you have the time, read with them (nope, they're not too old for this). Before you know it, your kids will be in high school, and the bonding time of reading together will become obsolete!
I absolutely look forward to working with your kids this year. I love my work at the middle school, and I know that the 7th graders and I will have a great year together. If you have questions or concerns at any time, please don't hesitate to contact me. Here's to a terrific year of learning and growth!
Well, at this point we may be wondering where the summer went. Some kids and parents are probably ready for the school year; others are clinging to every last minute of summer that they can. As for me, I am super excited about the new school year and meeting the new "crop" of 7th graders who will soon be working with me in Room 105 for the next nine months or so.
Please, explore my website to find out more about me and how I approach learning with my students. You'll find information about ICU, my schedule, the grading scale I use, and some general information about English language arts as well as a bit of personal information. For example, I grew up in a small town; I mean, I graduated with only 10 other kids, so my initial career ambitions were to stick to teaching in smaller schools. However, I enjoy the diversity of the larger school district and the fact that I am able to collaborate with other teachers instead of being the only person in the English department.
So that I can learn more about your children, please complete the parent letter-writing "assignment" that students take home to you next week. (If you'd like to get a head start, you can also find the activity right here.) : ) I realize that you've probably shared your contact information numerous times with various school personnel already, but if you could also include that information for me, I'd greatly appreciate it, just so that I know the best way to reach you. You can email your message to me at [email protected] or send a hand-written message with your child.
One final but hugely important item: reading at home will be an consistent expectation for my students. Students will have lots of choice in what they read and will have access to books in my classroom library as well as our school library, which also has digital books the kids can read on their iPads. If your child has a library card for the public library, their options will be even greater - with both traditional books and digital books, so please consider either getting a card for your student or encouraging your student to use the public library. If you're not sure what kids are reading these days, check out my reading page. At home, talk to your kids about what they're reading on a regular basis, and if you have the time, read with them (nope, they're not too old for this). Before you know it, your kids will be in high school, and the bonding time of reading together will become obsolete!
I absolutely look forward to working with your kids this year. I love my work at the middle school, and I know that the 7th graders and I will have a great year together. If you have questions or concerns at any time, please don't hesitate to contact me. Here's to a terrific year of learning and growth!