The Final North Star Gazette
By Mrs. Jones
Thanks!
Families,
I wanted to take this second day of summer to thank you for sharing your amazing children with me this year. I learned so much about them not only as learners, but as caring and determined young people. We grew incredibly close and became a little family, which I hope came across in our class movie. Many students wrote me the sweetest "last day notes" and their tears and hugs goodbye said it all. They have deepened my belief that teaching is more than teaching content, it is about developing relationships with kids as people and providing that caring environment that allows their learning to flourish.
As your son or daughter transitions to middle school, you will see a transition into Young Adult books (as some of you have noticed during this last quarter). As movies come out with books that are considered YA especially, the books are going to peak their interest and every child and reader is different.
My biggest piece of advice is to be aware of what your child is reading and read it yourself, read reviews, or ask a public librarian to make an informed decision. You have to know your child and know what is right for your family and what you are comfortable with him or her reading.
I encourage you to read the books you are unsure of before your child so that you can make the decision you are most comfortable with. To me, the best judge is to read it yourself because it gives you an idea of the context of these issues. If you decide you are comfortable with a book you've read that has mature issues in it, use it as an opportunity to have conversations with your child. If you're not, reassure your son or daughter that maybe there will be a day in the future when he or she will be able to read the book and that there are plenty of other awesome books out there to read. The important thing to remember is to keep your child reading this summer (and beyond)!
The same goes for apps and social media. I know you already know this and do this naturally, but ask questions, stay involved and ask to see what they are working on and how games and apps work. It's really quite amazing to just ask about strategy in Clash of Clans or Minecraft. There is a lot more to it than I ever knew.
Thank you for your support this year and for entrusting me with your children. I've loved every minute of it! If you ever need anything at all, I'm here. It was an absolute honor being your child's teacher.
With Deepest Sincerity,
Mrs. Jones