Post date: May 11, 2014 5:44:24 AM
Dear Parents and Students,
As I start each of these email newsletters each weekend, my first desire is always to convey my gratitude for the joy of yet another week. Instead of concocting another vague (but heartfelt) line about how lucky I am to be at DCS with y'all this year, I think I'll just list the first 10 that come to mind when I consider why I love my job and you people so much:
Five days worth of teacher-appreciation gestures, including gifts, cards, hugs, flowers, fruit -- some even from kids & parents of other classes.
An amazing room-cleaning session that was instigated and executed by the students one afternoon -- vacuuming and all!
Going on a student-planned trip to Laser Quest with the GPS class on Friday afternoon -- and they let me get third place.
Students and kids interacting about various books (and many other things) during our reading group sessions on Friday.
Louise, Hang, Ashok, Stacy, Muffie, Gina, David, Karen, and Amoreena doing whatever it takes to keep the paperwork and class running smoothly.
Kids in both classes caring about the quality of their work, the effectiveness of their learning, and the great fortunes they have at DCS
A middle school community that is open, inviting, and articulate to my 5th grade daughter who visited for a day.
Colleagues who help me to communicate well, temper my enthusiasm when needed, and continue to be a teacher that learns new things daily.
An principal who can run a first-year school and trusts this one to be fine in his absence.... and it is!
Students who are eager to help me with so many projects -- water fountains, pathways, aquariums, painting, and nursing sick trees back to health.
And last but not least, (couldn't stop at 10) a group of kids and parents that value some of my quirky ways, unfiltered humor, and loving honesty.
Recap of the Week:
Science: Most of the time in class was devoted to getting the most out of a frog dissection. I tried to set the stage for the experience by asking those who wished to participate, to do so with respect for the frog and to "honor" it by getting the most education possible from the experience. They, of course, responded by following instructions perfectly, watching demonstrations closely, and really engaging in the dissection with a curious and careful demeanor. Many who chose, initially, not go get too involved (ie. touch it), did relax their hands-off stance and engaged just slightly past their comfort zone. I've never been completely convinced that the frog dissection is 100% the right thing to do, but I do think that it has some great value if performed with the right attitude -- your kids lived up to that expectation.
English: In addition to the (hopeful) completion of their infographic, the class also spent two periods of ELA time working with their 4th grade buddies from Alisha Zare's class. The kids in our class wrote "mad lib"- type incomplete stories on Tuesday, and then filled them in and illustrated them with their buddies on Wednesday. We also spent parts of some periods watching and discussing the Bridge to Terabithia movie, which does an excellent job at demonstrating some literary tools. Much to the chagrin of some students, rarely does a few minutes of movie pass before ol' Heumann pauses it and elicits some (hopefully) lively discussion.
Coming Up:
Social Studies with me next week. Since room 19 is on their Walkabout Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of next week, Jennie and I have decided that the kids will just stay in homeroom for social studies on Monday and Friday as well. We will use that time to learn about the Aztecs, Inca, and Maya cultures, to plan out the camping trip, and (as homework) to finish their renaissance projects and (if they haven't yet) be well prepared to present to their class when they resume history lessons with Mrs. Hare on 5/19.
Ballet: Audrey and the Los Gatos Ballet will be performing Sleeping Beauty on 5/23 at the theatre in West Valley College. Some kids from room 25 and some from 19 are going with me and Amoreena to go see it. We are taking the bus both ways, so no drivers are needed, but it would be great to have another chaperone. Can you make it (here are details).
Camping Trip: Even though they have only had less than an hour of class time to work on it, the kids have made good progress in their various groups' tasks. You should receive a printed information/permission sheet by the middle of next week, but here are the bare-minimum basics: May 26, bring bags & gear to school. May 27, school until almost noon, then take light rail and buses to Scott's Valley & campground; play games, set up camp, make dinner, night hike, campfires. May 28, walk to river then to Felton, buses back to SJ and light-rail to Winchester (where parents pick up).
Calendar:
Room 19 Walkabout -- May 13, 14, 15
Sleeping Beauty Ballet (yay Audrey!) -- May 23
Memorial Day, no school -- May 26
Room 25 Campout -- May 27 and 28
Talent Show -- May 28; rm 25 misses it :(
Last Middle School Dance -- May 30
Step-Up Day -- June 2
Field Day & BBQ -- June 13
7th Grade Beach Day -- June 16
Last Day of School -- June 18
Sincerely,
Chris