Post date: Aug 16, 2016 10:49:1 PM
Hello Parents and Kids of Room 25.
We made it through our first (half) week, and whatever typical trepidation I may have felt before meeting this group has fallen by the wayside. After only 3 days of various activities and conversations, I am quite sure that this will be an excellent year -- one that can honor its position as the kids' capstone year at DCS. The diverse personalities in our class and the dynamics within the group(s) are strong and I intend to take advantage of the tremendous potential that I am seeing.
Recap of the Week
The activities for the week all revolved around team building, sharing things about ourselves, and having a bit of fun being together. We did a lot in only three days, and some of the visible signs are graffiti-style cubby labels, charts of common and differential characteristics, the beginnings of a "My Name" essay, personality word clouds, and the trash cans full of popped balloons. Communication, camaraderie, confidence, and a bit of competition are all factors that I'm seeing grow as we play games together and learn to work together, educe creativity, and solve challenges.
Academic Calendar for Eighth Grade
The 8th grade schedule is a combination of homeroom time during which a variety of academic topics are explored, interspersed by a series of 6 intensives (two taught by each teacher) through which all kids rotate. Bonnie Malouf will run a 3-week poetry & censorship intensive and a 5-week Civil War intensive, Dan Dowling will teach the 5-week chemistry class and a 3-week stories & grammar, and I will lead a 5 week intensive physics intensive (focussing on forces and motion) and a shorter Constitution and government intensive. I created this document as a way to visualize the year for all 8th grade, and this document with information about just our class. During the sessions between intensives, each homeroom will be working on curriculum as well as student-initiated projects and a variety of other educational endeavors. The idea here is that each homeroom have a opportunities to be independent but that there is a core curriculum that is learned by all 8th graders. We'll talk about this much more at our first parent meeting (Wednesday, August 31).
Work Shifts
This is my 7th year at DCS and one of the things that is most unique and powerful about the school is the parent involvement and work shifts. It is really important to me that we find you a workshift that appeals to you, utilizes your talents, fits your schedule, and serves the classroom and student needs. Missie Huh, our Class Coordinator and I met last week to discuss the various ways that I think parents can do their workshifts, and this page is intended to explain them. The types of jobs and the timing of the shifts is quite different from the typical scenario, but I am pushing the boundaries in order to create the best match between what you can offer and what the kids and I can benefit the most from. We will explain the details and make a draft workshift chart at our first parent meeting (Wednesday, August 31). :)
Parent Presenters for September
Ok, here's a more detailed explanation of that odd (but important) request that I mentioned in my last newsletter: would you each be willing to teach/demonstrate/discuss/play something with our class for 45-60 minutes anytime during the next five weeks? While I could probably keep the kids engaged and busy for a month of "all-homeroom" days (no selectives), it would be fantastic if a bunch of you could come in and do something with/for the kids. There are no constraints on the possibilities and so take a minute and let your imagination fly and let me know what you come up with. Check out this outdated/incomplete list of ideas and then, if at all possible, sign up for a spot on this editable chart -- there are 100+ possible times to come in!
Website Resources & Homework Page
In 1994 I built my first classroom website and, although the technology and ease-of-authoring has increased, the basic purpose hasn't -- I try to have all necessary information available and user-friendly. My current site is the current culmination of abundant content perhaps a bit overwhelming unwieldy, but there are a few spots that you should visit. The "Daily Schedule" page shows the detailed agenda for each day and the "assignments" page shows the homework for each night. There are pages about projects, trips, procedures, curriculum, assessment, calendars, and lots of other stuff (too much, actually) from previous years. I would suggest that once per night, parents and student look at the assignment list together to confirm that things are getting done, and that once a week you take a few minutes to read and discuss these "Coupla Things" newsletters. Deal?
Upcoming Events (subject to change):
-August 22 (Monday): Math and PE classes start (our class has PE on Monday & Thursday from 2:10 to 2:35)
-August 25 & 26 (Thursday & Friday): Chris driving daughter to college -- Debbie Garcia teaching class
-August 31 (Wednesday): Middle school selectives assembly
-August 31 (Wednesday): Parent meeting 6:30 to 8:00 (all 8th grade by stage then to homerooms)
-September 5: (Monday) No School (Labor Day)
-September 10 (Saturday): PSC Event TBA
-September 12 (Monday) Parent 101 at Westgate Church or TBA (7 to 9)
-September 20 (Tuesday): Picture Day
-September 23 (Friday): Teacher Learning Day (no school for kids)
-September 26 (Monday): Selective & Parent Workshifts start
-October 3 (Monday): Room 25 to Ropes Course
-October 21 (Friday): Teacher Learning Day (no school for kids)
-October 24-28: Fall conferences
-October 29 (Saturday): Fall Festival
-November 11 (Friday): Veteran's Day (no school)
Quick Recap:
Great first few days
Kids do most subjects in homeroom but have a 5-week intensive and a 3-week intensive with each of the 3 8th grade teachers
Parent workshift jobs are varied and flexible.
Please consider teaching something to the class sometime soon
My website has lots of information.
Check the assignment sheet each night with your kid just to confirm completion.
Thanks for having such awesome kids and please click reply if you have questions, concerns, or comments.