And we're off!

I am so thrilled to have finally begun the year! After a few weeks at school working, it was getting a touch too lonely and quiet. I can assure you that it is quiet no more! I am eager to get to know your children this year as they take their final journey through the Lower Division.

With only two and one-half days under our belts, we have already been busy in 4-4. We have spent a great deal of time going over routines and procedures of the classroom, all designed to create an environment in which students can regulate their own behavior and learning. Of particular importance was our discussion of the class rule. Yes rule--there is only one: You may do anything in this classroom that you like (squeals and grins) as long as it does not interfere with your learning, or the learning of others (squinty, questioning looks). Our following discussion considered what behaviors might break the rule, and what behaviors might not. I always hope to foster an environment in which students take responsibility for themselves and their learning.

The students have dived into writing as well. After reading Margaret Wise Brown's The Important Book, I modeled for students a process for writing our own poems describing what we believe to be important about ourselves. Specifically, we considered how our audience would likely prefer poems that revealed our uniqueness rather then our commonalities. Students were eager writers and dived into the project.  Later this week will will hold our very first author celebration of the year as students share their important poems. These are some of the best days of the year, as I am sure you can imagine after having attended celebrations last year. As authors, we write for an audience--to share our thoughts, our stories, our information, ourselves--with one another. There is no greater motivation or reward after committing oneself to a piece of writing. I can't wait for more.

Next week, when we begin our first round of technology, students will learn to use Frames, which is a program that allows you to create animations. Students will be animating their important poems. Once these are completed, they will be available for you to view.

As we move into our reading workshop, we also spent some time perusing and learning about our vast classroom library. Students were able to locate many books about which they are excited to read. Part of our discussion centered around choosing appropriate books--those not too easy and not too difficult. The student have been eager readers during independent reading time. We have enjoyed a number of read alouds, including Miss Rumphius and Teammates, during which we considered both characters and setting. We are learning that is some texts, the setting is crucial to the central theme or problem of a story.

Over the next week, I will be spending a great deal of time conducting reading assessments with the students. These assessments--which are conducted in every grade level in the Lower Division--provide for me a vast amount of very important information that will not only inform my teaching of individual students, but of the class as a whole. Today we began a pre-assessment in math, which similarly helps me better know what needs both individual students as well as the class may have. In writing, assessment happens much more organically: the students write, I observe. It is crucial to take the time to assess the students now, and I will continue to assess and adapt my instruction continually as the year progresses. In this way, I am best able to meet the learning needs of the students.

We will begin math this week, so you can expect to find the unit one family letter come home Monday. Our first math lesson will be Tuesday as we begin a unit in geometry. I expect to be fully immersed in all content areas by the beginning of next week.

I look forward to seeing you all Thursday at Back to School Night. This time for me is precious: having you all together in one place with your undivided attention happens just this once! I will cram as much information as I am able into our hour together. Please come prepared with any questions you might have. Hopefully I will answer them before you even have the chance to ask, but if not, there will be plenty of time to address those I do not answer throughout my presentation. You will also, as always, have the opportunity to sign up for volunteer opportunities as well as schedule a time for both the fall and spring conferences.

So, until Thursday evening!