Communication is key.
Letters to parents and guardians
Welcome!
8/10/2016
Hello Everyone,
I think our first day in English class went fairly well, and I hope your child feels the same! As I'm sure you know, things are rather hectic the first day. As much as I would like to get into the flow of a typical day, there are so many interruptions and distractions on day one that make that impossible. I am sure your child still has questions about routines and procedures in English class, and well as questions about lunch, bathrooms, homework, lockers, and more. I will be taking the time during the next several days and weeks to address every question and concern they throw my way! What's to come? We'll talk about elements of fiction - characters, setting, plot, conflict, and theme through our study of short stories and folk literature. We will also write in our journals daily, planting seeds for published essays to be written later in the first nine weeks. Students will receive a letter about me soon, likely Monday, and they will write a friendly letter about themselves in return. Students will have several days to work on this and will receive a guide to the friendly letter format as well as a grading rubric to assist them. Monday is our first library day, and if you feel the way most students do, I'm sure many of you will be happy to learn there is no Accelerated Reader at the middle school level. The kids cheered when I told them today! I think someone even stood up while clapping! They will choose whatever books they like, and they will read EVERY DAY in class, but they will not be taking AR tests or competing to earn points. Instead we will celebrate the wonder and awesomeness of books through casual conversations, formal conferences, and book groups. We will read several novels together over the course of the year, I am hoping to read 4-6, and there will be assignments and grades associated with those. In the coming days, if students wish to, they may decorate the cover of their composition books, (the non-spiral one), with pictures of themselves, family, pets, hobbies, etc. This is a completely optional homework assignment but many students enjoy doing it. We will lovingly refer to this composition book as our Fun Book as it will house all of our English notes. When finished, I will cover the collage with clear packing tape to help it last longer. I don't have a set schedule for emails such as this one, but you will likely receive information about what we're up to once every few weeks. In the meantime, as we begin our year together, please don't hesitate to contact me with any questions you or your child may have. I look forward to getting to know each and every one of my darlings! Also, I am still working on my website, haslam.weebly.com so check in there when you can. Homework assignments, important events and dates, author and book resources can all be found there. Thanks to those of you who completed the survey I sent out before school began. I enjoyed reading your responses as they help me learn more about your child! Thanks for your support, Aimee
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |