Lowell Lions Roar!
October 2017
From the desk of Mrs. Larva
This month, I want to highlight a new initiative at Lowell. Due to our partnership with Myers-Wilkins, we have been able to hire a Social Emotional Learning Specialist this school year. Taylor Walling, our new SEL Specialist, is new to our school, but has been with the district for a few years.
As our new SEL specialist, Ms. Walling will be working with the classroom teachers to formalize the Social Emotional and Character development of students. She will push into classrooms each month to provide lessons to students. Additional duties include working with small groups or individual students that need additional support.
Please see the article from last week that was published in the Duluth News Tribune.
Literacy
I also want to draw attention to the importance of literacy and the strategies that Lowell uses to encourage kids to read and comprehend. One of our first strategies is an organizational approach. We have adopted three of the Daily 5 routines as being part of our general practices. The Daily 5 is a widely popular approach to elementary literacy across the United Stated. The basic idea behind the Daily 5 is that students will experience a Daily Routine of high impact literacy strategies that include:
- Read to Self
- Work on Writing
- Read to Someone
- Listen to Reading, and
- Word Work
A second strategy that is used regularly in the classroom is Guided Reading groups. Guided Reading is a key part of a balanced reading framework and an essential element of our day. Students are instructed in small groups using materials that are at their level. The teacher coaches each student as they read independently. The purpose behind this strategy is to practice reading skills with teacher support.
Our final strategy that we are just beginning to implement into our daily practice is Close Reading. This strategy can take on many different forms, from whole group interactive read aloud practice to individual rereads of text. The important focus to understand about this strategy is that students will be revisiting text for a "close read". There is always a purpose behind revisiting and delving deeper into the text.
So what can you do to support literacy at home?
READ, READ, READ! Make sure you have a solid reading routine at home and access to high quality literature. In addition, take an interest in your child's literacy choices and learning progression.
Kindness in Chalk
We will participate in Kindness in Chalk again this year, but as always a little differently by having families included during our conference nights. Grab some chalk and "chalk a positive message" to our Lowell students!
Socktober
!New: We will have a Sock and Slipper day on Wednesday, October 18th. Wear your funky long socks and slippers to school.
Harvest of Literature
When: October 31st from 8am-2pm
Important Upcoming Dates
10/10: Picture Day!
10/10: Fall Conferences and Scholastic Book Fair10/12: Fall Conferences and Scholastic Book Fair
10/13: PTA Happily Haunted Hike
10/16: PTA Meeting
10/19: No School - MEA break
10/20: No School- MEA break
10/31: Harvest of Literature
New K Teacher: Sra. Stuecher
New 1st Gr Teacher: Srta. Kapphahn
New 1st Gr Teacher: Sra. Strom
The Math Corner
This month’s Math Activity Tip:
Note numbers
Increase your child’s awareness of numbers by looking around the house to find examples: the kitchen clock, the calendar, a cereal box, a TV dial, a stamp or inside her shoe. Have her write down the numbers she sees, or give her a number and ask her to look around the house for examples of the number. Boost your older child’s awareness of how numbers are used by pointing out the movie times, weather forecasts and sports statistics in your daily newspaper.
Cindy Upton, Lowell’s Math Interventionist:
Photos from our Harvest Festival
Showing our Lowell Lions' PRIDE!
Great Lakes Great Apple Crunch!
#GreatAppleCrunch
Box Top Contest
Lowell Giving Tree
PTA Class Representatives
Snapshots!
Fall October 10 Conference
If you have multiple students at Lowell, we encourage you to sign up for either Tuesday, October 10 or Thursday, October 12. When scheduling make sure to allow time to travel between classrooms as to ensure maximum conferencing time.
Teachers will have additional time slots for individuals that need another time slot. These additional times will be flexible and scheduled based on teacher availability. Please contact your child(ren)'s classroom teacher(s) if you need an additional date. If you would like to request a longer conference time, please contact the classroom teacher as well.
To sign up for a time, follow this link: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090e4eaba62eaafa7-tues
Tuesday, Oct 10, 2017, 03:00 PM
2000 Rice Lake Road, Duluth, MN, United States
Fall Oct 12 Conference
Monday, Oct 2, 2017, 03:00 PM
2000 Rice Lake Road, Duluth, MN, United States
Join the Movement and Like Lowell Elementary School on Facebook
Community Announcements
Please note:
Contact Us
Email: Jennifer.larva@isd709.org
Website: http://lowell-elementary.isd709.org/
Location: 2000 Rice Lake Road, Duluth, MN, United States
Phone: 218.336.8895
Facebook: www.facebook.com/lowelllions/
Twitter: @lowell_ed_lions