Elementary School Newsletter
October 19, 2021
Thank you PTO!
Some Treats while Learning in Arabic!!
Spirit Week - October 31 - November 4
Sunday Oct 31 - Halloween - costumes but no masks, face paint or such things as swords, knives, guns etc. (Individual homerooms may be having small celebrations this day as well and will send out information in their newsletters if this is the case.)
Monday November 1 - Pajama Day (but no snoozing in class! ;0 )
Tuesday November 2 - Twin Day (dress up like a friend)
Wednesday November 3 - Wacky Wednesday (Wear wacky hair, socks, clothes…)
Thursday November 4 - Go Green Day (wear green)
End of Term 1 and Reports
As with schools around the world, we are finding that students have gaps in their learning in all developmental areas - academically, socially and emotionally. This has come about due to the world wide Covid-19 pandemic and the impact it had on how schooling took place in the 2nd semester of 20-21 and all of 21-22 school years. In fact many students are 6 months to a year behind in these areas of development as evidenced through assessments and many issues of negative and harmful behavior amongst the students trying to re-acclimate to normal class sizes, rules and expectations in school and being around other children and adults throughout the day.
As a school we are focusing in on the social and emotional development of children as well as their academics. Here are some things we are doing:
In regards to emotional and social development:
- Class, small group and individual discussions about friendship, being friendly, respect and responsibility.
- Classes, small groups and individuals working closely with our counselors and a school psychologist. Please be aware, however, that the school psychologist is here on only one day a week.
- Recommending and helping parents find outside resources for their child.
- Monitoring the playground during recess while also engaging with students through dialogue and games
- We will be adding surface games such as 4-square, hopscotch, sensory path and long jump to the playground to give children more options of play
In regards to academics:
- Intentional teaching of reading and writing strategies in a workshop model that meets the needs of each learner
- Intentional teaching of mathematical strategies so students have a toolkit of ways to solve a variety of multiple step problems
- Spiraling mathematical concepts so they are taught and learned throughout the year and become more complex once the understanding takes place
- Using manipulatives in mathematics so students build and show their understanding of a concept as they move towards understanding an algorithm
- Assessing and using data to inform the instruction and needs of the students
- Building writing and reading stamina of all students
- Teaching and learning writing, reading and math everyday
- Using learning support and EAL teachers to work with individual and small groups to support their progress
- Providing parent workshops in literacy so you also have an understanding of what is happening in the classroom and some tips to use at home
- Encouraging all parents to read to their children, especially the youngest ones, in Arabic and English to develop their language and reading skills
I would like to point out this article/study released by NWEA, the organization that delivers the MAP assessments. Learning during COVID-19: Reading and math achievement in the 2020-21 school year. It is a study that explains the level of progress students made around the world in during the pandemic. You will find that will children did progress, they did not progress at the rate that has been typically shown in the past.
We will use the data from the MAP assessments to look at class and individual learning needs once we receive the results. These assessments can tell us the misconceptions or gaps that each child may have as well as where the child needs to go next in regards to math, reading and language.
Meeting Requests
In addition, be sure to speak with the teacher first if your concern is about your child's progress. The teacher, who is with your child each and everyday, knows more about them than I do. If your concern is not fully addressed please do come and see me afterwards.
Please allow, at minimum, 24 hours excluding weekends, for me or any other staff member to respond to your email. We are all busy with children during the school day and often do not check email during the day as there is very little time we are not with students or in meetings between 8 and 4:00 each day.
Large Gatherings
Read to Your Child
8 Ways to Make Reading Exciting
- Ham it up! ...
- Vary your subject matter as well as the kinds of things you read. ...
- Hunt for books that match your child's interests. ...
- Look for books that interest you too. ...
- Foster closeness between siblings. ...
- Help your child notice new information as you read. ...
- Let your child read to you.
- Take a trip to the library in Alexandria
More on the benefits:
https://www.healthline.com/health/childrens-health/reading-to-children#benefits