NOTES FROM the OFFICE
10/14/19
Traduções para todos os "Anotações do Office" estão disponíveis rolando até o final de cada newsletter e clicando na barra preta "Traduzir".
All previous Notes From the Office are available by using this LINK.
DUNNING STUDENTS ARE RESPECTFUL, RESPONSIBLE, & READY TO LEARN
District Calendars
the Character Trait of the Month for October is Respect!
As part of the district's social-emotional learning initiative this year, we will be focusing on one character trait each month to explicitly teach and recognize. This month's trait is respect.
what is math workshop?
Lauren Walton, Mathematics Coach
A common phrase that we hear about math is “But the math looks so different from what I learned in school”. The truth is, it does look different. And it should. The content our children are working with and the instruction of it is different from what it looked like when we were in school. There has been lots of research done around high-quality mathematics instruction involving children making sense of math. We are going beyond the what of the answer to understanding the why.
Throughout Framingham we are using a model known as Math Workshop. In this structure children still receive direct instruction as a whole class, but instead of sitting through a 60-minute lecture and silent work time, children are able to take part in workstations throughout the math block. Workstations include working collaboratively with one another to problem solve and play math games, work independently to practice new skills, use technology when appropriate, learn how to communicate about their learning, and work in small groups with the teacher for more direct instruction based on their needs.
The math looks different and we use a different approach and structure to teach our children. It’s easy to feel frustrated and helpless, but don’t despair - there are resources out there to help, including your child’s teacher and me! Reach out anytime with questions regarding math and I can address it in the Notes from the Office
I’d love to hear from you!
dunning spirit wear
https://dunningspiritwear.itemorder.com/
Flyers wil be going home this week.
How you Can Instill a Growth Mindset at Home
Parenting is really hard.
Having a growth mindset helps.
Research shows that parents can have a powerful impact on their childrens’ mindsets. The language you use and the actions you take show your children what you expect. Giving process praise, talking about the brain, accepting mistakes as learning opportunities, and understanding the role of emotions in learning are all practices you can begin today.
Say This, Not That
The way we praise our children can have a profound impact on their mindset. Research on praise and mindsets shows that when we praise children for being smart, it promotes a fixed mindset. It sends a message that their accomplishments are trait-based, and tied to something innate. In contrast, praising kids for working hard promotes a growth mindset. It sends a message that the child’s effort is what led them to success. Want more tips on what to say, and what not to say, when praising your kids? Say This, Not That!
Talk About the Brain
The brain is far more malleable than we once thought. Teaching our kids that they actually have control over growing their brains through the actions they take is empowering! Tell your children that when they work hard, that’s the feeling of their neurons connecting. The dendrites are reaching out to other dendrites, trying to connect to make a stronger brain. What strengthens those connections is practice, asking questions, and actively participating in learning. When children learn that their brains physically change with effort, it leads to increased motivation and achievement. Show your kids this Brain Animation video to explain!
Accept Mistakes as Learning Opportunities
One of the best ways you can model a growth mindset is to speak candidly about the mistakes you’ve made, and what you’ve learned from them. Speak positively about your mistakes and struggles, and this will show your children that taking risks and making mistakes are a natural part of the learning process. Explain to your children that trying hard things is what helps us grow, and you can’t be perfect when you try something hard!
Understand the Role of Emotions in Learning
When we get angry, scared, or feel threatened, our fight or flight response is activated. This can happen anytime, whether we’re scared of a spider or scared of math! Our brains are wired to protect us when we feel threatened, and stress symptoms such as sweating, stomach cramps, and your mind going blank are completely normal. There are strategies we can use when the fight or flight response tries to take over, to help us learn. One of those strategies is called Square Breathing and it helps to break down the adrenaline that is flooding the bloodstream and preventing learning from occurring.
MCAS and Parent/Guardian Reports for Students in Grades 3-5
The results from the Spring 2019 MCAS tests are now public and parent/guardian reports are being sent home to families on Friday, October 18, 2019.
Here is a useful resource that explains what the parent/guardian report will include.
As noted in this resource, the parent/guardian report "provides your child's results on the spring 2019 Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) tests. For each test your child took in spring 2019, the report shows your child's score (between 440 and 560) and achievement level (Exceeding Expectations, Meeting Expectations, Partially Meeting Expectations, or Not Meeting Expectations). For ELA and Mathematics tests, the report also shows your child's student growth percentile (1 -99).
For each subject, the report provides information that compares your child's performance to performance at the school, district, and state levels, as well as information about how your child performed in the major areas of the test and on individual test
questions."
For more information on MCAS, please click on the link below.
steam week
Dear Dunning Families,
Genius Time is off to a strong start again this year! We are excited for all of the STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics) experiences the students are being exposed to and the opportunity it presents older students to mentor our younger students.
STEAM Week is coming, October 21st through October 25th, and we have a great challenge this year. Students will use their imagination and creativity to design a desktop-sized invention (For example: pet feeder, toy collector, drink pourer, sock dispenser) for their classmates to try. The challenge is inspired by the short film,”Caine’s Arcade” about a child who used the resources around him to build something amazing. Links to the films are included below.
Students will be working within their classrooms to design their inventions from cardboard, recycled materials and their imaginations. All students will create a planning sheet with a list of their needed materials. On Friday, October 25th, our students will come together in a day of creativity and imagination to build, test, and demonstrate their inventions.
Each child should bring ONE paper shopping bag filled with the materials to build his or her own planned invention. Bags of materials are due on Wednesday, October 23th. All materials must fit within the bag and bags may not be brought in before Wednesday, October 23th.
To learn more about Caine and the movement he began, enjoy the films:
• Caine’s Arcade 2: From a Movie to a Movement
Sincerely,
Your Dunning STEAM Team
School Hours 9:15am - 3:30pm
Students are welcome to begin arriving at school at 9:00 am, when teachers will be present to greet them.
Early Release Days
- Students are dismissed at 1:05pm.
- Lunch IS served.
- If your child rides the bus, you can expect them to arrive at their stop approximately two and a half hours earlier than normal.
- Early Release Thursdays: 10/17, 10/24, 10/31, 12/5, 3/5, 4/30, 5/7, 5/14, 5/21
Half Days
- Students are dismissed at 12:30pm.
- Lunch IS NOT served.
- If your child rides the bus, you can expect them to arrive at their stop three hours earlier than normal.
- Half Days: 11/27 and the last day of school.
Wednesday, 10/16
- PTO Meeting, 7:00 - 8:00pm (Media Center)
Thursday, 10/17
- Early Release. Students are dismissed at 1:05pm. Lunch IS served
- Kindergarten Field Trip - Shelburne Farm
Thursday, 10/24
- Early Release. Students are dismissed at 1:05pm. Lunch IS served
- Monster Mash Dance, 6:00 - 8:00pm (Cafeteria)
- Fourth Grade Field Trip - Patriot's Hall at Gillete Stadium
- No School - Professional Development
- First Grade - Ocean World in House Field Trip
- Early Release. Students are dismissed at 1:05pm. Lunch IS served
- No School - Veteran's Day
Friday, 11/15
- K,1& 2 - Performance of The Reluctant Dragon, 10:00am
- 3 , 4 & 5 - Performance of The Reluctant Dragon, 1:30pm
- Scholastic Book Fair - Preview Day
Wednesday, 11/20
- Scholastic Book Fair - Preview Day
- Fall Picture Re-Take Day
- Scholastic Book Fair
Tuesday, 11/26
- Scholastic Book Fair
- Scholastic Book Fair
- Half Day. Students are dismissed at 12:30pm. Lunch IS NOT served
- No School - Thanksgiving Recess
Friday, 11/29
- No School - Thanksgiving Recess
care and share
The Jane Shapiro Care and Share began in 1995 as a Dunning School community service project. Each month a specific food item is collected at the school to help keep A Place to Turn's shelves stocked. What a great sharing and learning project! Donations are gathered up by the students and then with help from staff, they are delivered to A Place to Turn. Learn more about A Place to Turn here.
Thank you for your contributions to A Place to Turn during the year. Our monthly food collection makes a huge difference in our community, while teaching our students the importance of giving.
- October: Instant Potatoes
- November: Cereal
- December: Pancake Mix
- January: Canned Fruit
- February: Rice
- March: Crackers
- April: Spaghetti
- May: Juice Boxes
- June: Cans of Tuna Fish
NO Homework Days
- October 31, 2019
- January 30, 2020
- April 30, 2020
September electronic backpack
- Performance Art Center of MetroWest
- Wayside - Delay You Gray event and 5K4Kids Road Race
- Parks and Recreation
- Centre Music House
- Nick Cerio's Kempo Karate
- Comcast - Internet Essentials