McFarland-Mayberry-Begley Bulletin

for the week of October 13, 2014

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Reading Workshop

The biggest news in Reading Workshop this week is that we got the names of our 6th grade reading partners!  They wrote us poems to introduce themselves as readers.  Today, we did the same assignment in class, and the final drafts are to be done at home this weekend to be handed in on Monday.  Parents, please read the back of the assignment; your help will mostly be needed for editing!

Writing Workshop

Let the essay writing begin!  We read three essays written by fifth graders to get the gist of what an essay is.  We listed things we notice about essay writing, and I was impressed at what students found: purpose of an essay, the kind of language (not storytelling language), reasons and examples.  So then we used our ABL experiences to write the body paragraphs for a class essay this week.  We did this work all together and wrote “out loud” before writing in our notebooks.  Many students, especially those who have a harder time with narrative-writing, respond really well to the structure of an essay.

Technology

Our students have been learning about their SAD 51 Google accounts.  These accounts include Email and Drive (to create documents, surveys, presentations, etc.), among other options.  Our reading classes are going to use the accounts to share a document with their 6th grade reading partners, and later in the year we can use the accounts for writing projects as well.  It’s an enormous responsibility for children to have access to this kind of technology, and we need your help in teaching children about responsible digital citizenship.  

     These accounts have no email access to accounts outside the district, either incoming or outgoing.  So your child will only be able to receive and send emails to msad51.org accounts such as myself and other students.  The intent of the accounts is for school use only, so students should not be accessing their accounts at home unless it’s for a specific project.  They’re not intended to be used socially between friends.  I will communicate to you when it is expected that they’re using their accounts from home, but that will be very rare.  SAD 51 staff has access to all student accounts.

     Our technology teacher, Mrs. Poissonier, was giving these same messages to the class when I picked them up from Computer class on Thursday, and every time we use iPads in the classroom, I start by reviewing the expectations and telling the kids, literally, that I’m very strict about their usage.  Kids lose the privilege of using an iPad when it appears they aren’t doing what has been asked of them.  Given the fact that there’s often only one set of adult eyes in the classroom, I spend quite a bit of time teaching the children how to follow the LARK expectations: Legal, Appropriate, Responsible, and Kind.

     So, while your child has learned about the Google accounts, please know that we are discouraging at-home use in fourth grade unless it’s part of a school assignment.

Volunteers

I am looking for a parent volunteer to help in the library every other week, to coordinate with another parent who is scheduled on opposite weeks.  Also, I am needing a room parent.  While this sounds like a large job, typically it hasn’t been.  This person would serve as a communications liaison between the PTO and myself for planning classroom help for special activities.  In addition, I might ask this person to arrange food donations for an occasion.  If you’re interested and able, please let me know.  Thank you!

Dena