Post date: Aug 20, 2017 4:28:33 AM
Hello Parents and Kids of Room 25.
We made it through our first (half) week, and after only 3 days of various activities and conversations, I am becoming confident that this will be a valuable 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. I've had to be a bit more stern than I am used to, and got into conversations with them about behavior & accountability issues on just day 2, but I feel that it is easier to "lighten up" later as they earn it than it is to start of too relaxed and put the learning efficiency at risk. I had them play some games that were designed to build energy control and following directions. As I wrote in my letters each of the kids individually, my priorities for the year (in order of importance) are to "Learn lots, be good, and have fun".
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 a map assignment, charts of common and differential characteristics, drafts of their name in fancy writing to be put on a magnet nameplate for their drawer, personality word clouds, and the trash cans full of popped balloons. Communication, camaraderie, confidence, self-control and a bit of competition are all factors that I'm trying to 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 including U.S. history, physical sciences, and high-school preparatory reading/writing/speaking. Those homeroom topics are supplemented by a series of two 6-week intensives through which all kids rotate. Bonnie Malouf's topic is historical research and writing, Dan Dowling will teach a chemistry class (and I will lead a Constitution and government intensive to the other two homerooms). 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 (Monday, August 28).
Trips
There are two trips planned already. The first is the Ropes Course trip which will probably be Monday, October 16, 2017. The second is the CalCoast Walkabout on November 27, 28, and 29 for which we'll need 5 or 6 driver-chaperones. Let me know if you could possibly be involved in either. More details at the meeting on Monday the 28th, of course.
Work Shifts
This is my 8th 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 job that appeals to you, utilizes your talents, fits your schedule, and serves the classroom and student needs. Teresa Fiss (our Class Coordinator) and I met Thursday to discuss the various ways that I think parents can do their workshifts, and this page is intended to explain them a bit. 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 (Monday, August 28). :)
Parent Presenters
Ok, here's a more detailed explanation of that odd (but important) request that I mentioned in my last newsletter: I'm hoping that a parent from each family is willing to teach/demonstrate/discuss/play something with our class for 45 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, so if you are one of the 11 parent(s) who haven't signed up yet, please check out this outdated/incomplete list of ideas and then, if at all possible, sign up for a spot on this editable chart.
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 and/or take a quick look at PowerSchool. Deal?
Upcoming Events (subject to change):
-August 21 (Monday): PE starts (our class has PE on Monday & Thursday from 2:10 to 2:35)
-August 22 (Tuesday): Math classes start
-August 25 & 26 (Wednesday & Thursday): Chris taking daughter to college -- Elizabeth Lewis teaching class
-August 28 (Monday): Parent meeting 6:30 to 8:00 (all 8th grade by stage then to homerooms)
-September 4: (Monday) No School (Labor Day)
-September 6: (Wednesday) Buddy classes start (we're with Jimmy Kim's 5th grade class)
-September 19 (Tuesday) Parent 101 at DCS (7 to 9)
-September 14 (Thursday): Picture Day
-September 22 (Friday): Teacher Learning Day (no school for kids)
-September 23 & 24: 8th grade camping trip
-October 2 (Monday): Selective & Parent Workshifts start
-October 16 (Monday): Room 25 to Henry Cowell Redwoods and Mount Hermon Ropes Course
-October 13 (Friday): Middle School Dance
-October 20 (Friday): Teacher Learning Day (no school for kids)... and Amy's birthday!
-October 21 (Saturday): Fall Festival
-October 23-31: Fall conferences
-November 10 (Friday): Veteran's Day (no school)
Quick Recap:
Great first few days
Kids do most subjects in homeroom but have a 6-week intensive with each of the other 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.
Drivers needed for ropes course and chaperones for CalCoast Walkabout
Thanks for having great kids and please click reply if you have questions, concerns, or comments.