Curriculum Night
on August 20, 2020
Curriculum Night is Next Week!
Next Thursday, August 20th, is an important evening as we welcome families to the virtual "table" in order to discuss the inner workings of our classrooms. As you place the final touches on the content you wish to share, please consider yourself in the role of the parent/guardian. I also encourage you to prepare your commentary by looking through the lens of our ZCS Elementary Belief Statements (below). Please take time to review them to assist in framing your thinking.
I plan to send out a message to families ahead of Curriculum Night sharing logistics and setting the expectation that you are indeed talking about curriculum on curriculum night. We want to make explicit the purpose of your time together.
Purpose and Priorities for the event
1) To build relationship that leads to true partnership between school and home,
2) To assure/comfort families that "We got this!" and we care deeply about your child, and
3) Communicate essential "nuggets" for the year (aka our Hopes and Dreams). Hopefully these priorities will help guide what and how to share information with families.
Curriculum Night Content
Note: The following points are suggestions for consideration. Please feel free to copy and use whatever you need, but also know that you are not expected to include all. Use what is helpful and what guides your conversation/communication for the event.
- Share a little about yourself - people want to know who you are, get a feel for your personality and energy.
- Maybe it is a screen in your presentation that has photos of your "favorites, people, and places."
- What inspired you to become an educator? What brings you joy and fulfillment in your work each day? What do you believe to be true about children
Share a little about what you've learned about your class already. Include a picture?
What are your literacy & math goals/priorities for the year?
- Balanced literacy framework/structures, workshop, etc...
- How can parents support at home? (nightly reading, oral language, dialogue, etc...)
How do you integrate other content area goals?
How and why do you assess regularly? How we report progress & what can parents expect with report cards...
What are some key pieces of information related to safety?
- What do the covid mitigation strategies look like in your classroom? Is there a picture worth sharing?
What are your classroom management approaches? What are your beliefs about addressing concerns? (restorative approaches, teaching opportunities, ongoing development, etc.)
What are the SEL goals for the district, BME, and your classroom? What are the Life Goals and Lifelines? Why do you believe this is of high priority and emphasis? Second Step
Brief overview of the day –
- What's your daily schedule? Your schedule most likely reflects what is important to you and what you believe to be important for your learners.
Goals for the year- What are your hopes and dreams for the learners in your room this year? What do you want your learners to have in their toolkit once they leave you at the end of the year?
Closing: Wrap up with a "thank you for participating..." nod and feel free to offer contact information if they have lingering questions etc... Also feel free to include Tom and Lauren's contact information, as our door is always open.
General Homework: Our school homework philosophy, including the edits to emphasize the importance of reading nightly, is provided below:
At Boone Meadow Elementary, we strive to support all children in becoming “Strong in Every Way.” During the school day, we maximize instructional time to master academic standards. We believe that our children need balance. After school hours, children should have the opportunity to spend time with their families, engage in active recreation that they enjoy, and return to school the next day well-rested and ready to learn. We do expect that students spend time reading each evening for pleasure and practice. Research maintains that reading for at least 20 minutes each night, either independently or with an adult, exposes students to diverse vocabulary and content knowledge, develops imagination and creativity, and fosters a lifelong appreciation for reading. If additional homework needs to be assigned or work that was not completed during the school day needs to be sent home, teachers will ensure that communication about the assignment and the individual child’s need for reinforcement are explicitly shared with the parents/ guardians. Thank you for partnering with us to meet all of our children’s needs.
Curriculum Night Logisitics
- This event will be similar to last year but done via digitally via Zoom.
- K-4 classroom teachers will still "present" their information and it will be done from their classroom at BME.
- Times are:
- 5:30 - KDG
- 6:00 - 1st Gr.
- 6:30 - 2nd Gr.
- 7:00 - 3rd Gr.
- 7:30 - 4th Gr.
- Last but not least, Kyle can assist with support if needed.
- Please feel to reach out with any questions!
Zoom Norms for Your Presentation
- Use a waiting room
- Share your screen for your presentation. (PowerPoint or other presentation tool to screen share via Zoom)
- Record the Zoom so that you can share for those who can not make or join later in the year
- Be sure to ask parents to mute themselves as they enter. Also, is there a quick/easy way to hide participant names on the zoom call?
- Set up procedure for questions (put them in the chat box, email you, etc.)
ZCS Elementary Belief Statements
- Students: At the heart of all our decision-making is the fundamental recognition that our students are capable of great things and our responsibility is to fully develop their human potential.
- Teachers: To maximize the impact of our learning organization, meaningful and significant relationships within the school community must drive our professional practice.
- Teaching and Learning: Optimal learning occurs when students, teachers, and families are reflective and are immersed in a mutually beneficial relationship that embraces continual development.
- Environment (physical space and culture): A safe and inviting physical and emotional environment inspires innovation, risk-taking, and powerful learning.
- Relationships/Community: Building and maintaining positive relationships is the foundation for significant learning.
The document with the full belief statements in located below.