Post date: Nov 07, 2015 12:22:2 AM
Happy Saturday Everyone,
It was an amazing day today and I hope that this email finds you all in great spirits and rewarding endeavors. It is cleaning and winter-prep weekend here in our neighborhood and I'm enjoying time outside mending fences, cleaning gutters, and rainproofing sheds. Seven-girl sleepover is happening inside, so outside is a good place to be.
For this email I will, finally, limit myself to just two topics.
1. The Cal Coast Walkabout: From 10 days out, the weather forecast for the coast looks good, but things can certainly change so I'll be adding some cold/wet weather items to the packing list, which is one of the many documents embedded onto the walkabout page. The six chaperone parents and I have things planned out fairly well, which will allow us to be flexible and spontaneous as each situation presents its great possibilities. The kids have been preparing for their tour-guide job, Diann sent out messages about medication forms and payment, so I think that this is all coming together very well. This trip can be a timely and important trip for our class and, as odd as it may sound, I really am hopeful that the powers of our spirits and the blessings of nature can help us create the magic that is possible with a group like this in places like that.
Work Completion and Submission: (I wrote this part Friday afternoon, so take the tone with a grain of salt -- feeling better now). The problem continues. At turn-in time for the average assignment or project, about half of the class is ready with well-done work, about a quarter puts a bit of energy into last minute completion (therefore less-than-great quality), and the last quarter of the class protests in surprise ("wait, what?"), starts in on stories of busy life or obstructions ("I couldn't because"), or dodges response or accountability completely. This afternoon, in a bit of a fit of frustration, I crumpled up and threw away the "turned in or not turned in" progress chart that I have been using to make kids aware of anything that they were missing. It wasn't helping. The number of assignments missing on a due date was not decreasing nor were the excuses and promises. Being resistant to a situation in which the adults are putting more energy into a student-assistance strategy than the kids themselves are, I've decided to stop. To stop reminding the same half-dozen kids over and over to get work done (or even started), and to stop using class time to accomodate their procrastination. Although the "no one left behind" credo is popular and right, I will be leaving those behind who stubbornly indulge their lazy, disorganized, and/or irresponsible behaviors. This reallocation of my time, resources, and energy will benefit the majority of the kids in class, as it will give them the attention that they have been missing, and it will reaffirm the message that their efforts in completing work and contributing to the educational sociology of the classroom are valued and beneficial.
November 11: Veteran's Day (no school)
November 16 to 18: Cal Coast Walkabout
November 17: Family Game Night 4:30 to 7:30
November 17 to 20: Scholastic book faire
November 23-27: Thanksgiving Break
December 3 (Thursday): Exploratorium trip (tentitive)
December 4 (Friday): Middle School Dance
December 12 (Saturday): DCS alumni volunteering at Family Giving Tree
December 18 (Friday): Early dismissal
December 21 - January 10: Winter Holiday
January 18 (Monday): No School, MLK day
January 26 (Tuesday):8th grade class photo
February 5 (Friday): Semester 1 ends
February 6 (Saturday): DCS 10 Year Celebration
February 15 to 19: February Break
March 18 (Friday): Staff Development Day