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The Shakespearean Sonnet

December 10, 2008

Hello all,

Sorry for the delay on the newsletter this week.  I’ve been working on revising the CMT/middle school presentation that I gave last week for parents who could not attend and will be sending it home to everyone by Friday.   

Since the presentation, I’ve had several parents who were unable to attend ask about the material that we discussed, so if there is enough of an interest, I would be willing to hold a second class for those who were unable to attend last Tuesday.  If you fall into this category, please contact me immediately about your interest.  If we have a handful of folks who would like to come, I’ll be happy to accommodate. 

One more important comment on the coming holidays and vacation:  A couple kids have asked me about “what I want for Christmas.”  While I inform the class that I would like a pile of hundred dollar bills in the center of the room for my birthday, I have also informed the class (with a more serious tone) that I only expect hard work, a positive attitude, and kindness from them.  These are difficult economic times for all of us, so please please please do not feel the need to send in a gift for me for the holidays.  If your child is insistent on sending in a gift, you could tell him or her to volunteer some time on my behalf, write me a poem, compose me a song, or paint me something amazing.  I want to be sure that this is the least stressful time of the year for you and your family.    

Important Deadlines

Information on the Invention Convention, run by Ms. Marchisio, and the Tributes, run by Mrs. Dicks, went home last week.  If your child is still interesting in participating in either activity, he or she should send in the permission slips by tomorrow. 

Homework

MATH

The kids went home with some homework pertaining to fractions again, and hopefully this assignment was not too difficult.  This is the last week of instruction on fractions before we move onto decimals, and the class as a whole is doing extraordinarily well.  I’ll be sending home a sample of the fraction skills that your child needs to possess by the end of the week as well.  

Of course , your kiddo should also be working on memorizing and reviewing his or her basic facts as well.  We’ve had some recent triumphs in the basic fact department, with more than a few kids dedicating themselves to study. 

READING

Your child went home with two reading assignments this week, both of which should be very familiar to your child. 

GEOGRAPHY

Your child also went home with this week’s geography packet on the world map.  As always, he or she will be quizzed on the material contained in this packet on Friday. 

WRITING

With only two weeks left in December, I did not assign an Essay of the Month.  Instead, your child is responsible for selecting, writing and/or revising three poems for our annual poetry sale (see details below).  He or she is expected to present clean copies of three different poems to me on Friday so that they can be photocopied.   

SCIENCE

Your child should have already met with and completed his or her Science Fair planning sheet, which describes the project that he or she intends on completing.  He or she should be working on the project now.  The Science Fair will be Thursday, January 15 at 6:30 in the cafeteria. 

I’ve arranged for three impartial judges (at least two genuine scientists) to judge the projects and determine a winner.  The kids went home today with a rubric explaining exactly what they should have ready for the science fair and describing how the judges will determine the winner.  Since the science fair is on January 15, the kids do not need to bring in their projects until that morning, giving them an extra couple weeks to work.

Poetry Sale

It’s time for our annual Poetry Sale!  Starting over vacation week, your child is going to attempt to become a paid author.  He or she will choose between three poems that he or she has written, and will then reproduce (at the copier), illustrate, and laminate multiple copies of these poems for sale to friends and family.  The kids can be as creative as they want, illustrating, collage-ing, or coloring their poetry if they’d like and cutting it out into any shape that seems to fit.  In the past, some kids have even turned their poetry into Christmas tree ornaments!

Each poem will cost $1, and every dollar your child earns will go toward a class goal that we will decide upon after vacation.  In the past, the kids have donated to the ASPCA, Kiva, and have purchased items for the classroom like synonym posters and much desired books.     

In class we will practice reading the poems (a reading will be included in the price of the poem), creating a sale’s pitch, and developing a set of guidelines for selling.  Obviously your child will only be permitted to sell to friends and family, and only with your permission.  The goal is for each child to sell just one poem to a friend or family member.  Just imagine how great your child will feel when someone spends actual money on their words, their voice, their creation!  I can think of no better way to encourage kids to earn money, and I could barely contain their enthusiasm today in class.

We’ll sell our poetry for a week or two (including the eek of vacation), and will then decide on how to spend the funds.  It will be a blast! 

What I could use from parents is simply support for your child while he or she is trying to sell.  Remember, your child only needs to sell one poem for this to be a huge success!

Thank you for helping to make this experience as rewarding as possible for your child.

More to tell.  Good kid news and such, but there’s the bell.  Must run.  Look for another newsletter tomorrow.     

 Warmly,