-please text "@DCSrm25" to 81010 to join my text distribution list (FT arrival info, help requests, etc)
For Thought:
Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself. They come through you but not from you, And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.
You may give them your love but not your thoughts, For they have their own thoughts. You may house their bodies but not their souls, For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams. You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you. For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.
You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.
Class of 2017
Parent Meeting #1: September 10, 2016
6:30 to 6:45 All 8th grade classes by the stage
-Dan, Bonnie, Chris introductions & intensives taught
Walkabout 1 used up $65 of the $150, and the SF addition (train, overnight, meals) will add another $50 donation request.
Need 2-3 parent chaps, 1-2 support-van drivers, and 5-6 pick-up drivers
Day 1: CalTrain to SF then walk to Yerba Buena Gardens, Union Square, Grace Cathedral, Cable Car Museum, Chanatown, North Beach, Coit Tower, Embarcadero, Wharf, and overnight at Fort Mason Hostel
Day 2: Walk Marina, Crissy Field, Palace of Fine Arts, Presidio, Ft. Baker, Bridge, then trail to Headlands (overnight)
Day 3: Rodeo Lagoon and Beach, Bluffs and Batteries, Marine Mammal Center, then Miwok & Springs Trails to Tennessee Valley (pick up)
Sharing Strategies:
Getting our kids to do for themselves, that which has been done for them.
Levels of "release of responsibility"
1. They're not ready and we all know it.
2. They've taken on a little, but I often/always have to remind, prod, assess, re-task, motivate, incentivize, etc.
3. They usually do it, but I sometimes have to remind, consult, question, assess
4. They do it all on their own.
5. They took it on, and it works, and the benefits/growth are extending beyond the task itself.
Transfer of responsibility, control, and consequences to students
A gradual process that takes practice, for them and for us.
Facilitate it. Start small and soon. Allow (or set up) situations where their actions yield consequences (+ & -).
Verbalize it before, (maybe) during, and after. Multiple examples make for better big-picture learning
When and how to rise above egos, expectations, quality control, and history?
Write a plan... what can you let go of now, soon, and sometime (before HS), and how will you do it?
Parent Meeting #1 (BTSN), September 9, 2013 7:00 to 8:00
Classroom Coordinator (Roseanne)
Three topics for tonight: curriculum, jobs, trips.
A Bit About Me
-where I've been, why I'm here, and what I bring.
-my defaults: organization, student autonomy, candor, accountability, and humor
Overview of the Curriculum (ppt)
-Science: life science units and the guided tour vs deep investigation -English and the KSA triangle & reading, writing, speaking, listening
-Social Studies: current events & social issues, medieval history, geography
Class & Website Organization
-the wall and the website... -daily schedule, assignments, all sorts of other stuff
-request for a nightly site-check and weekly PowerSchool checks
Three Videos as Curriculum & Climate Overview
The Greater Purpose of Science
Commentary on the Over-casualization of English
Taylor Mali on Conviction
Reasons to Learn History
Parent Potluck (and Curriculum Recap)
May 14th, 6:30 to 7:30, Room 25
Please get some food, chat a lot, and write your thoughts to each of the white papers
Be as specific and brutally honest as possible.
Thank you for investing in improving my teaching,
and the experiences that my future classes will have.
-Chris' quick discussion topics
1. The breadth-depth debate (scheduled vs. flexible pacing)
2. Grades and packets (constant stream of point-earning papers and cumulative packets)
3. Textbook issues (value and/or pitfalls of the reading-notes-test-QAR cycle)
4. The communication conundrum (inbox flooding & emails unread)
5. Other comments or issues
February 6th, 7:00 to 8:00
Meet in our homeroom at 7:00! Planned agenda:
- 20 min teacher overview/plans - 10 mins classroom updates - 10 min review of field trips - 5 min overview of graduation - 15 min Q &A - meeting over at 8:00
Getting our kids to do for themselves, that which has been done for them.
Levels of "release of responsibility"
1. They're not ready and we all know it
2. They've taken on a little, but I often/always have to remind, prod, assess, re-task, motivate, incentivize, etc.
3. They usually do it, but I sometimes have to remind, consult, question, assess
4. They do it all on their own.
5. They took it on, and it works, and the benefits/growth are extending beyond the task itself.
Parent Meeting (PA 102) September 25, 2012 6:30 to 8:00
Class Coordinator(s) Announcements (6:30 - 7:00)
1. Unfilled positions
2. Field trip overview
3. Fall Festival?
4. Age of Sail & Exploratorium
Science Assistance Positions (7:00 - 8:00)
1. The greater purpose of learning science (video)
2. Experiencing a sample activity (measuring rice) & reading scales
3. Learning the "hmmm" technique
4. Managing the desk space, the wall, and my online stuff (for parents)
-the daily schedule
-the projects page
-the correcting page
Back to School Night
September 12, 2012
7:15-8:15 starting at homeroom and then rotating at 15 minute intervals through your child's schedule
Agenda for Science Sessions:
A Bit About Me (4 min)
-where I've been, why I'm here, and what I bring
-my defaults: organization, student autonomy, passion, candor, and humor
-my talents, tendencies, and limitations
Overview of the Curriculum (4 min)
-physical science course outline and the road-trip analogy
-book process... reading & doing reviews on their own (mostly)
-class process... experiments, applications, and extensions
-the wall and the website...
-address, daily schedule, assignments
-curriculum pages and sample online items
7:35 to 8:00: Mr. Heumann to 26 (ELA), Ms Stuart to 22 (Sci), and Ms Leftwich to 25 (History)
Parent Meeting, February 15, 2012
This meeting will start, for all 8th grade parents, in room 25 for general announcements/tasks, then move to homerooms.
Room-Level Things to Discuss:
Class "basket" for FAD (Family Dance and Auction)
Are there any general (concern everyone) pressing issues?
Student-organized trip to downtown San Jose
Possible trip to Salinas Valley (Steinbeck Museum, and other activity). Your thoughts?
Spring Overnight... Mt. Hermon again, Friday afternoon to Saturday mid-day. Your thoughts?
Transfer of responsibility, control, and consequences to students
A gradual process that takes practice, for them and for us.
Facilitate it. Start small and soon. Allow (or set up) situations where their actions yield consequences (+ & -)
Verbalize it before, (maybe) during, and after. Multiple examples make for better big-picture learning
When and how to rise above egos, expectations, quality control, and history?
Write a plan... what can you let go of now, soon, and sometime (before HS), and how will you do it?
What would you like the Spring conferences to be like and result in?
Groups Meeting Items
Parent Meeting Agenda Feb. 2012.docx
Parent Meeting, October 18, 2011. 6:30 - 8:00
6:30 Arrivals and Sign-in
6:35 Status Report -- group discussion of how things are going so far...
for me, for them and for you
6:55 Classroom support positions: Book group, writing coach, office support, and short-notice
7:10 Conference schedule, agendas, the unrealistic sweet-spot, and the strength of the triad
7:20 Goal setting and strategy lists (yours)
7:45 Nature of the Teenage Brain article as springboard for discussion (ppt)
8:20 Planning for the next meeting
8:25 Closing Quote:
Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.
You may give them your love but not your thoughts,
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow,
which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them,
but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.
You are the bows from which your children
as living arrows are sent forth.
The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite,
and He bends you with His might
that His arrows may go swift and far.
Let your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness;
For even as He loves the arrow that flies,
so He loves also the bow that is stable.
Back to School Night 2011
5:20 to 6:30: Math classes in various rooms (see signs on doors)
6:30 to 7:00: Classroom and Field Trip Coordinators (Roseanne, Maria, and Stephanie @ 10 min/ea)
6:50 to 7:35: Introducing myself, and orientation to the class content/operations/atmosphere
A Bit About Me
-where I've been, why I'm here, and what I bring.
-my defaults: environmental organization, student autonomy, candor, accountability, and humor
-my talents, tendencies, and limitations
Overview of the Curriculum
-physical science course outline
-book process... reading & doing reviews on your own
-class process... experiments, applications, and extensions