Thank you for making the time for the Portfolio Conferences last week. Please let individual teachers or administrators know if you had any suggestions, compliments or concerns. If you still have the Who Am I Essay and the Vocabulary Rewrite activity, please return them to me to store in the classroom portfolio.
This week in Language Arts students are using prefixes to create a science fiction or fantasy story. They received a handout that lists elements of these genres, hopefully giving them ideas to create something new, in addition to a sample. This week we will also explore a short (SHORT) story and its elements. The vocabulary quiz will be on Thursday, when the writing activity is due. There will be a quiz on Short Story elements on Friday.
Please help and encourage your student by having him/her read written activities out loud to you. You can offer insight and learn a lot about your student. I hope that you have put the Family Literacy Night on your calendar - December 1.
Thanks for your support.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Student Led Portfolio Conferences This Thursday
Student Led Portfolio Conferences are this Thursday. School ends at noon on both Thursday and Friday.
If you are meeting with me as the conference facilitator, you should have received a confirmation of your time slot by email, letter or a phone message. Please email me if you think you are meeting with me but have not heard back. Please let the conference teacher know ASAP if you are unable to attend.
Please remember that the conference is STUDENT led, and it is a wonderful opportunity for your student to reflect upon/share both strengths and weaknesses. Core teachers (Ms. Maionchi, Mr. Gates and myself) are unable to meet with you privately due to our conference schedules, although you are welcome to meet with elective and math teachers in their classrooms as your schedule permits.
Please come at least 15 minutes PRIOR To your conference time so that you may view the contents of your student's portfolio. Then, you and your student will meet in a classroom with a teacher who will help facilitate, but not give a formal report on his/her class.
I appreciate that you are viewing the online gradebook once a week for all classes. Please request a login from Mr. Dennis LeValley in the main office if you have not received one yet by mail.
On Monday students organized their portfolios with work, overview and progress reports from all classes. In Language Arts we are working on an individual activity using suffixes as well as a new grammar packet. It Literacy Skills students are reading from their choice book all week.
If you are meeting with me as the conference facilitator, you should have received a confirmation of your time slot by email, letter or a phone message. Please email me if you think you are meeting with me but have not heard back. Please let the conference teacher know ASAP if you are unable to attend.
Please remember that the conference is STUDENT led, and it is a wonderful opportunity for your student to reflect upon/share both strengths and weaknesses. Core teachers (Ms. Maionchi, Mr. Gates and myself) are unable to meet with you privately due to our conference schedules, although you are welcome to meet with elective and math teachers in their classrooms as your schedule permits.
Please come at least 15 minutes PRIOR To your conference time so that you may view the contents of your student's portfolio. Then, you and your student will meet in a classroom with a teacher who will help facilitate, but not give a formal report on his/her class.
I appreciate that you are viewing the online gradebook once a week for all classes. Please request a login from Mr. Dennis LeValley in the main office if you have not received one yet by mail.
On Monday students organized their portfolios with work, overview and progress reports from all classes. In Language Arts we are working on an individual activity using suffixes as well as a new grammar packet. It Literacy Skills students are reading from their choice book all week.
Friday, October 9, 2009
Friday update
Today I am thoroughly enjoying receiving the typed, final draft of students' revised vocabulary stories, and I look forward to being entertained by them all weekend. I hope you had a chance to review it with your student before it was turned in today.
In order to ensure that you are receiving information from me by email, please let me know if you are receiving a duplicate email on the same day or if you have NOT received an email from me... Please send me an email directly stating either issue. Please include your student's complete name as well as yours and the correct email address(es) I should use.
Thank you for helping to keep communication lines open to support student success. I hope you and your family have a marvelous holiday on Monday when school is not in session.
In order to ensure that you are receiving information from me by email, please let me know if you are receiving a duplicate email on the same day or if you have NOT received an email from me... Please send me an email directly stating either issue. Please include your student's complete name as well as yours and the correct email address(es) I should use.
Thank you for helping to keep communication lines open to support student success. I hope you and your family have a marvelous holiday on Monday when school is not in session.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Week of October 5
Hello again, (updated 10/6)
Thank you for checking here! Class activities are available to the right of this blog. Click on the week you wish to view (Example: CA 100509 is current).
If you have not had a chance yet, please return the Conferences Night form immediately to your student's specific conference teacher (or adviser if you are unsure). If you no longer have the form, please email that teacher directly to request a spot. Please give three different times you are available between 12:45 and 7:30 PM.
In Language Arts this week students are revising a previous Vocabulary story. The final proofread and polished version is due on Friday, and it must be typed and double-spaced. If your student does not have access to a computer outside of school, he/she can use the ones in the Media Center during lunch or before school. Students will also continue to master the Frequently Misspelled Words list and grammar packet this week.
All students at Brooks will take an ISAT writing assessment on FRIDAY (updated as of 10/6). Students were given two handouts to review about writing a formal essay, and they should read over these on Monday night. Students should report to their advisories at 9 AM, and then they will go to their testing area. They should have two sharpened pencils with them.
To prepare for Family Literacy Night coming up in December, students are filling out a GBMS-O card (to the tune of BING-O). Please encourage your student to fulfill their Literacy Skills activities and to get the sheet signed. You can help your student with one of the requirements by signing the box regarding reading at home and summarizing.
In my Literacy Skills class, students are being given their Independent Reading Goals for the midterm and trimester. These goals are based on the STAR test taken at the beginning of the year. Please review your student's current reading level and goals for AR. Every student should try to read every night for pleasure and at least three times a week at home. Please sign and return the Lit Skills progress report, and ask that your student write down their reading level and goals in the notebook.
Thanks for asking your student to show you his/her work and to read it OUT LOUD to you.
Thank you for checking here! Class activities are available to the right of this blog. Click on the week you wish to view (Example: CA 100509 is current).
If you have not had a chance yet, please return the Conferences Night form immediately to your student's specific conference teacher (or adviser if you are unsure). If you no longer have the form, please email that teacher directly to request a spot. Please give three different times you are available between 12:45 and 7:30 PM.
In Language Arts this week students are revising a previous Vocabulary story. The final proofread and polished version is due on Friday, and it must be typed and double-spaced. If your student does not have access to a computer outside of school, he/she can use the ones in the Media Center during lunch or before school. Students will also continue to master the Frequently Misspelled Words list and grammar packet this week.
All students at Brooks will take an ISAT writing assessment on FRIDAY (updated as of 10/6). Students were given two handouts to review about writing a formal essay, and they should read over these on Monday night. Students should report to their advisories at 9 AM, and then they will go to their testing area. They should have two sharpened pencils with them.
To prepare for Family Literacy Night coming up in December, students are filling out a GBMS-O card (to the tune of BING-O). Please encourage your student to fulfill their Literacy Skills activities and to get the sheet signed. You can help your student with one of the requirements by signing the box regarding reading at home and summarizing.
In my Literacy Skills class, students are being given their Independent Reading Goals for the midterm and trimester. These goals are based on the STAR test taken at the beginning of the year. Please review your student's current reading level and goals for AR. Every student should try to read every night for pleasure and at least three times a week at home. Please sign and return the Lit Skills progress report, and ask that your student write down their reading level and goals in the notebook.
Thanks for asking your student to show you his/her work and to read it OUT LOUD to you.
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