What's Going On?

Dear Families,

Life in our classroom is moving along and when I think about the biggest issue right now it comes down to classroom behavior. Many of my current students are observing the quiet signal and many are not. This is making it difficult for me to finish assessments in order to form groups and be the best teacher I can be for your children. Your children know if they are being appropriate. Please take a moment to discuss with them the following:
1. The quiet signal means quiet. There are no exceptions.
2. Getting up randomly in the middle of a lesson is not "OK"! Students must ask for permission to interupt a lesson to go to the bathroom, sharpen pencils, get a drink, or a snack. Wandering off just because they feel like it is not accepted.
3. When I ask for silent reading, it must happen right away without question or arguing.
4. Bathroom breaks are given before we meet for Morning Meeting, at "Break", at Lunch, or in the case of an emergency. Some students are still not adhering to this schedule. I need your help.
5. Going down to Donna's for anything but an emergency will not be granted.

Unfortunately these disruptions are interferring with the flow of lessons. I want all of your children to benefit from being in an organized, learning-filled classroom.

The other item I must bring to your attention are math skills. If your child is still having trouble adding or subtracting either single digit or double digits with regrouping, please be prepared to work with them at home. I want all students to benefit from math education this year and I am finding that some of these basic skills are lacking. Please understand that I will be working with your children at their level no matter what, but your supplementation at home will help.

This is a difficult BLOG for me to write as I would like to say that all is just perfectly fine, but it isn't. I need your teamwork to help students know that interrupting lessons to the point that
I am unable to keep teaching is not "OK" and that they must get some of the basic math skills "under their belt".

I appreciate your support.

Kim

Weeekly Update

Dear Families,

First, I want to thank all the 3rd/4th grade parents who so generously have helped in our classroom and who have offered to help in the future. Two parents have offered to be my room parent (they are sharing the responsibility). I will be giving them all family emails to help everyone stay up to date. If for some reason there is an objection to your email being given out, please let me know immediately.

I also appreciate all the families who attended our open house. I want to share an update for those of you who were unable to attend. The following was discussed:
1. The snack program - please see Donna if you would like to participate as she has all of the information. We have a parent at IA who is taking her time and money to provide nutritious snacks for your children. Everyday, she brings a bowl of fruit, crackers, cheese, etc...for the children. Believe me when I say they gobble it up. She is looking for baking help and/or a financial contribution.
2. Some of the children are not bringing enough to eat. We have a snack/play break at 10:15-10:30am Tuesday-Friday. Many children eat their lunch at break because they are hungry and then later do not have a lunch. I would ask, if possible for you to pack extra food in your kids' lunch bags. It is also important for you to pack multiple bottles of water. I give the children time in the morning to fill cups with water. They also have time later in the day to fill their cups; however there are many interuptions during the day for thirsty kids needing a drink. This truly disrupts our lessons. It would be so much easier if they had 2-3 bottles of their own water with their name labeled in Sharpie. They can always bring the bottles home they don't drink and bring them the next day.
3. Student-led conferences are scheduled Tuesday-Thursday, October 12th-14th. I have alloted one-half hour slots for families to come with their child and listen to them take you on a tour of what they are learning and doing at IA. Many families have signed up for their tour and some have not. Now is the time to stop by if possible and sign up. You may also email me, so we can figure out the best time for you to come. I will be available throughout the student-led conferences to sit with you and discuss how your child is doing in class.
4. Friday, October 15th is a Professional Development day for the teachers at IA. In other words, all IA teachers will be at our school site, but no students. Please make child-care arrangements accordingly.
5. If you have not filled out a student information sheet with me in the classroom, please stop by in order for me to have your email and phone numbers.
6. Birthday parties were discussed at open house and as a teacher I feel somewhat uncomfortable with what resulted. Many parents want only healthy snacks and other parents are pro-cake, cupcakes, etc. For those of you who have children allergic or with reactions to sugar or food dyes, I would ask that you bring snacks labeled with your child's name that I can offer to them when birthday's arise. For those of you with religious considerations, please know I will offer alternatives for your children out of the classroom (most likely in another classroom).
7. School pictures are scheduled from October 26th-28th. I do not have the specific schedule for our class yet, but will update you when I have that information.
8. If you have not yet brought a 3"-inch binder for your child's portfolio and a thumb drive, please do so. As soon as routers are available, we will have computers available for your child to work on. Thumb drives will provide your child with the ability to work on any available computer as well as bring work home, if he/she is so inclined.
9. I need a shoebox for each of your children for their first diorama. Please bring them in no later than Friday, October 1st. Your children will be making dioramas depicting daily like of the Iroquois Indians. Please be prepared to provide them with the supplies they need to complete this assignment. For example, they may need clay, wooden dowels, cotton balls, rocks, feather, etc...Thank you.
10. I have been talking to your children about beautiful work. Extraordinary work requires extra attention to detail. Please know that if your child is asked to re-do some work, it may be because I think they can form their letters more beautifully, or put more color into their drawing, or edit more thoroughly. Overtime, these areas will improve. I am setting expectations now.

I know I addressed many of you with this information on the night of open house, but for those families unable to attend if you have any questions, always know you can contact me in the classroom or via email: kim@innovationsacademy.org.

Kim

Open House and Conference Sign-Ups!

Dear Families,
Our class is settling in at last. Ask your child to talk about our classroom agreements and how they were composed. At this time I am also assessing their reading and math to get them into small guided reading and math groups as I have a wide spectrum of abilities. Soon (I hope) our classroom will be running smoothly.
Thursday, September 16th is our Open House/Family Night. Dinner is available in the Commons hosted by the 6th grade at 5pm. At 6-6:30pm and 6:30-7:00pm teachers will be in their rooms talking about how we handle classroom management, signing up a room parent, and looking for a fundraising volunteer(s). In addition, I will be available to answer questions or address concerns.
Conferences are coming up on October11th-14th from 1-4:30pm. These conferences are student lead. In other words, your child will explain our daily schedule and the work they are doing in order to learn various academic areas. You can come anytime during those times. I will be available to answer questions and talk with families.
Friday, October 15th is a Staff Development day and so there will be no school. Please keep an eye on Innovations Academy's calendar for other important dates.
I think that's it for now. I'm looking forward to seeing all of you on Thursday.
Kim

Feedback and Updates!

Dear Families,

First,I want to thank you all for your incredible generosity I have received many items from my wish list plus many of the school supplies I requested for students. I'm currently waiting for the mount for my projector (which a parent generously offered to purchase), but then I may need help putting it up as I am rather clumsy with a drill. Sorry - I wish I were more adept! Any volunteers? A couple of items students still need to bring (if they haven't) are their 3"-inch three ring binders and thumb drives. The reason I need the binder is because I will be creating portfolios so that you can see work samples from the beginning of the year to the end. I'm sure you can purchase these binders at Staples or Office Depot. I want each child to have a thumb drive so they can save their work from the computer they will be working on to another computer (perhaps at home, but probably another computer they will be working on at I.A.) I appreciate these items coming in to our classroom as soon as possible.

Next, I want to express how much I am enjoying getting to know your children. They are a sweet bunch of kids. The first day I met with them I have to say I was a little worried as they were - what can I say - "a fairly bouncy group of kids" However, they are settling in nicely. Some of them are still not observing "the quiet signal", so there may possibly be some calls going out. Please know if you do get a call it's because I need order to take advantage of our instructional time together. Observing "QUICK, QUIET TRANSITIONS" is one of our learning keys at Innovations Academy.

We have an Open House night coming up on September 16th. Dinner will be from 5:00pm - 6:00pm and is sponsored this month by the sixth grade teachers in an effort to raise money for 6th Grade Camp. I'm not sure what they are charging for dinner - please check with Donna. From 6:00pm-7:00pm there will be a teacher talk in the classrooms. You may attend at 6pm or 6:30pm with each talk lasting 1/2 hour.

There is a park not too far from the school. I would like to have the ability to take your children there for picnics and play; however, I need off-campus permission slips signed. Please see Donna to complete a permission slip.

VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED TO FILL THE FOLLOWING POSITIONS:

1. Room Parent

2. Correcting some math work, Wordly Wise packets, and to create student files.

3. Helping to organize the Family Night Fundraiser when it is my turn.

4. Fieldtrip Drivers

Please let me know!

One of the first field trips we will be taking is to Mission Trails as we will be looking at the First Americans. I also at some point want to organize a trip to Old Town when we study California. However, if we take the trip through the San Diego Unified School District it will cost each parent approximately $70.00 for two days (includes lunch and transpotation). Are parents willing to pay that much? I need feedback. Please write to me at my email or talk to me in person. My email is kim@innovationsacademy.org.

I am available on Tuesdays until 5pm and Monday&Thursdays until 4:30pm. Please let me know about your questions or concerns.

Kim