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The Shakespearean Sonnet

February 9, 2009

Hello all,

Finally back into a routine after a week at home with Elysha and Clara and a couple days back at school, digging through the paperwork and detritus that pile up after a week away.  Thank you all so very much for your kind words, generous gifts, and helpful advice.  Clara’s Library is simply remarkable.  I brought it home Thursday evening and Elysha, her mother and I read through the notes on each book as we ate dinner.  Many of your kids wrote me notes, cards, and letters, and some even wrote to Clara as well, and all of their words of encouragement, advice, and support have meant the world to us.  Elysha’s mother couldn’t believe the sophistication that came from many of your kiddos.  Their advice was amusing, poignant, and best of all, full of love. 

I’m very fortunate and thankful to have your kids in class this year.  It would be very easy for me to come to school each day, wishing that I were home with my daughter.  And while I would like to spend more time with her, I also spent the week away from school thinking a great deal about my students and missing them as well.  They fill my day with laughter and conversation and challenges and learning.  If there was a way to spend the day away from your two-week old daughter, it would be with your children, and for that, I am so very grateful. 

Just a couple notes on conversations from last week:

In reading our National Geographic magazine last week, we came upon an article that included information about Michael Phelps.  To my surprise, almost all of the kids had heard about the recent trouble that Phelps has gotten into and had some strong opinions about the swimmer.  Most even knew about his DWI charge from a few years back.  Quite an informed bunch of kids. 

The discussion went on for quite some time and included debates on the makings of a good role model, the position of the athlete as a potential role model, and the number and severity of the mistakes that a person makes before you lose your trust and/or respect for them.  I tried my best to keep my own opinions out of the discussion and merely provide a forum for the discussion and information related to the subject. 

Overall the conversation went well, but it might be something that you want to discuss at home as well as a follow-up to what we talked about in class.    

Also, spring has sprung early in our class, if you know what I mean, so we had a long talk about discretion and the trust that friends put in you when revealing a secret or something personal to you.     

Valentine’s Day

On Friday we will be celebrating Valentine’s Day in the classroom (I tried to convince the kids to celebrate my birthday instead, but they didn’t go for it).  If your child is so inclined, he or she may bring in Valentine’s Day cards for all the students in the class.  A class list was provided today to help facilitate this process.  We will pass out Valentines and enjoy some fun and games from 1:30-2:30 on Friday and you are welcome to join us for the festivities.  A great way to kick off vacation!    

 Tissue Request

We’ve had a lot of runny noses and illness in the classroom this past month, and so out tissue supply is nearly run out.  If you would be so kind as to send in a box of tissues with your child, it would be appreciated.     

 Homework

MATH

The kids went home with some measurement review problems, formatted to appear exactly like they will on the CMT.  We reviewed these same concepts in class last week, so it’s my hope that they will perform brilliantly!

And as always, please be sure that your child is spending time memorizing and reviewing his or her basic facts as well.  Just an hour ago, I watched a student struggle through a relatively simple math problem because he didn’t have his 6 tables memorized.  This memorization will not happen without your help, and if it does not, your child will struggle in math.  There’s simply no way to get around this important skill, and you must play a role in order for it to happen.    

READING

Your child went home with a reading and an editing assignment, also modeled after the CMTs.  One is fiction.  The other is nonfiction.  Once again, these are skills that we have worked on all year, so this should not be too difficult for your little one. 

GEOGRAPHY

Your child also went home with this week’s geography packet on the provinces and territories of Canada.  He or she will be quizzed on the material contained in this packet on Friday. 

WRITING

Your child should continue to work on his or her Essay of the Month.  I have actually received three rough drafts from students already this week, so it seems as if the kids are excited about the topic and taking the assignment very seriously.  I’m so pleased. 

 Warmly,