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The Shakespearean Sonnet

October 16, 2008

 

Hello all,

 

As you may have heard, I was out of school yesterday, closing on our new home.  But unable to stay away from school too long, I snuck back into school yesterday afternoon to pick up the kids’ work and take a look at the note that the visiting teacher left behind.  I am pleased to report that the note contained nothing but glowing remarks about your kiddos.  In fact, it was the most positive report that I have ever received from the visiting teacher.  And the kids work demonstrated it.  I always fear that days in which I am not teaching will be less than productive for the kids, but yesterday was not the case, so please give your little one a pat on the back, and maybe a little bit more (some ice cream, perhaps?) for a job very well done. 

 

Their work was really outstanding. 

 

On an unrelated note, I read an article in the New York Times this week about the math skills of US students and the negative perception that subjects like math have gained in recent years.  It’s got me thinking a lot about the ways in which we can change student attitudes.  According to the research, “American culture does not highly value talent in math, and so discourages girls — and boys, for that matter — from excelling in the field.”

 

I can’t say that I disagree.  While athletic ability is routinely celebrated in our culture, academics are often not.  And when academic ability is celebrated, it is often a students’ ability to write, play an instrument, sing, act, or create a work of art that is recognized, and not so much about a student’s ability to multiply or divide or problem solve. 

 

As a teacher, I am certain that I can do a better job recognizing and celebrating the abilities of our mathematically gifted kids and the study of math in general, and I encourage you to do the same at home.  For all the time that we spend cheering on our kids on the sideline of an athletic field or from the front row of a concert hall, perhaps we can carve out some time to genuinely acknowledge and praise our kiddos for their latest math success as well.  I plan on doing so and hope you will join me in this effort.  I’ve attached a copy of the article to this newsletter for anyone interested in learning more about the study. 

 

Tea Cup Auction

If you have not heard, the theme of our Tea Cup Auction basket is The Movies!  If you could send in something for our basket related to this theme, it would be appreciated. 

 

Many, many thanks!

I wanted to take a moment and thank you all again for all of the continuing support for our efforts in class this year.  Laura’s dad and Will’s mom were kind enough to help chaperone during the Breath Express presentation on Tuesday, a program run by the American Lung Association that provided the kids with some important and frank information about the dangers of smoking.  Emma’s mom was in on Friday to do some math tutoring as well as modeling some interview techniques for the kids.  And Hector’s mom joined us today and did a little spelling tutoring for me. 

 

Many hands make light work! 

I know that not everyone has the flexibility to join us at school each week, but for those of you who cannot, your efforts at home do not go unnoticed.  I hear all about the help that you are providing your kiddos at home with memorizing math facts, helping to arrange interviews for their Essays of the Month, and chatting with your child about his or her writing, and I assure you that your kids (and I) appreciate the time that you devote to them as well.      

 

In terms of assisting your children at home, I’ve had some ideas about ways in which we can strengthen our home-school connection, and I’d like to know what you think about them.  I’ve attached a survey to this newsletter, and if you could take a moment to fill it out, it would be greatly appreciated. 

 

Thanks!

 

Good News!

Congratulations to Hector, who has been accepted to serve on the Wolcott Editorial Board this year.  I was most impressed with Hector’s take-charge and assertive attitude toward this endeavor.  Without any prompting from me, Hector walked into school one day with a portfolio of writing and a completed application, ready to go.  What a wonderful example of self-motivation and self-direction.  Bravo, Hector!

 

Congratulations to Jessica as well, for her successful audition for Street Beat, our school drum corps.  Jessica will be practicing and performing with her fellow drummers every Monday morning during the first half of the school year.  Way to go, Jess!

 

Newly Published Authors!

Congratulations to Riley and Byron, who were both named as Writer’s Spotlight readers this week.  Both boys will be reading poems that they wrote at Town Meeting on Friday.  I know that they are less than pleased with me for sneaking some of their writing into the Magical Mailbox, but I sometime fear that brilliant writers will go unheard unless I push them into the spotlight a bit.  We can’t wait to hear them read their fantastic words!

 

Student of the Month

Congratulations to October’s Student of the Month, Emma!  Emma is a supremely serious student who takes great pride in her work and is a remarkably self-directed learner.  When she doesn’t understand a concept, she asks a question.  When she’s completed an assignment, she awaits anxiously for feedback.  Best of all, Emma is the kind of kid who other kids enjoy having in class.  When she can be helpful, she is, and always with grace and dignity.  When a classmate requires “redirection,” her suggestions are often put forth in the kindest, most positive way.  And when someone could benefit from a healthy dose of encouragement, Emma is always one of the first to jump up and begin the cheer.  Congratulations, Emma, on earning the respect and friendship of your classmates in such a short period of time.  Bravo!   

 

Congratulations!

Congrats to Team 2, as yet unnamed, for their victory in the team competition for last week!  Each of them received a Homework Pass to be used on a homework assignment of their choice. 

 

Congrats to me as well, for defeating the kids in the class-wide competition.  As a result of my win, I will be playing chess with a former student at some point while the kids are forced to engage in something tedious and boring.  LIKE CLEANING AND ORGANIZING THEIR MESSY DESKS!

 

I’ll be sure to have great fun while they watch. 

 

Charlie Award winners!

Congratulations to Laura, the Charlie Award winner from last week.  I used the math homework from last week as the Charlie Award assignment, and specifically I was looking for students to show their thinking and their mathematical processes on the page, which is something I have been focusing on with the kids all year.  Laura was nearly obsessive in the amount of explanation and detail that she included in her assignment, to the point that I had to ask her to explain less in the future in fear that she lost hours of her precious childhood to this assignment.  But nevertheless, she demonstrated a willingness to put forth a supreme amount of effort, which is what the Charlie Award is all about.  Congratulations, Laura, on a job too well done!

 

The Egg Drop

Just a reminder that we will be conducting our egg drop on Friday, beginning at 9:00.  It’ll probably take a couple hours to drop them all, and you’re all welcome to come and watch the excitement with us!

 

Homework

With just three days in the school week, I’ve assigned your child a reading assignment to go along with his or her Essay of the Month and Science Project of the Month.  The kids should be well prepared to complete the assignment without much trouble.     

 

On Friday, during the kids’ homework meeting with me, I will be asking them about their essay topics, the progress of their interviews, and the quality of the science journals thus far.  Students are always welcome to bring in rough drafts of essays and the beginnings of their science journals for me to critique.     

 

Just a reminder that both of the month-long assignments are due on Friday, October 31.   

And speaking of the month long assignments, a couple parents have expressed the frustration in watching their kids ignore their suggestions, particularly in terms of last month’s egg drop device.  Ideas went unused and materials went untouched, much to the dismay of at least a couple dads form the class.  To these parents, and to anyone interested, I invite you to join your child in completing a project of your own each month, and if you have the time and are so inclined, join us for the testing.  Nothing is stopping you, for example, from building your own paper airplane this month and testing it out against the students’ designs.  If you were to do this, I only ask that you keep a science journal as well, as this modeling would be an enormous benefit to your kiddo. 

 

I also sent your child home with week 3 of the district’s HEART program, which promotes a healthy diet amongst our students.  A letter attached to this newsletter explains what needs to be done during the third week of this five week unit.  These worksheets do not need to be returned to school.     

 

That’s it for today!  Thanks, all! 

 

Warmly,