Super News from Room C114
January 22, 2018
Tisch's Tidbits
VALENTINE’S DAY
We look forward to celebrating Valentine's Day with our students at their classroom parties on Wednesday, February 14th. This is a wonderful opportunity for us to emphasize the lifeskill of kindness with all of our students. As you are out shopping for Valentines to share with classmates, please select cards and/or trinkets that are inedible. This could include pencils, erasers, stickers, etc. Candy will not be distributed. Thank you for ensuring that all students can have a safe and fun celebration.
Valentine's Day Party
Our final party is around the corner! It will take place in our classroom on Wednesday, February 14 in our classroom starting at 10:00 a.m. If you would like to volunteer, there will be no sign up this time. Just send me an email! If more than five parents volunteer, I will let you know if you are selected. Thanks for considering!
2nd Semester Volunteers
The second semester is here! If you are interested in helping me prepare some things for the classroom or possibly work with a small group, I would love to have your help! I am flexible with times, so just let me know the time you will come. I have a break from 8:30-9:00 each day so this is an easy time for me to show you what to do. My lunch varies on the other days between 12:00-1:00. Thank you in advance for all of your help!
If you would like to volunteer, the link is:
http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f044facad23aa8-2ndsemester
Wellness Night
You and your family are invited to join us for our second annual Family Wellness Night to be held on Thursday, February 1st from 6:00 to 7:30. The night will include activities that focus on our Social, Physical, Intellectual, Nutritional and Emotional Health. Some of the activities we will have available are, The Heart Course, Healthy lungs, hand washing and germs, making a Stress ball, Drum Fit, minute to win it games, yoga and more! We would love for your family to join us for a night of family fun!
ZMS
Our first field trip to the middle school is around the corner! We will be visiting on February 6. The permission slip came home on a tan colored piece of paper and is due January 31. This does not have a cost and we do not take parent chaperones on this trip. However, that following evening, you are invited to attend parent night. Here is the information:
February 7, 2018 - Wednesday
4th grade parent meeting
ZMS Eagle Hall
6:30 PM
Music Course Selection for ZMS
If you have not already received an email from ZMS, you will be soon. It includes information about next year's music class. Your child will select band, orchestra, or choir. I will also be sending home a hard copy for you to fill out, as well as, a student profile. These will be due February 23. Exciting times!!
SPECIALS SCHEDULE
8:20-9:10
Monday: Media/Wellness (25 minutes per class)
Tuesday: Media/Wellness (25 minutes per class)
Wednesday:STEM
Thursday:Art
Friday:Music
11:55-12:25 Recess
12:30-1:00 Lunch
Upcoming Events
January
24 Kilowat presentation in the morning
February
1 Wellness Night
6 ZMS field trip
7 ZMS parent meeting at Eagle Hall 6:30
14 Valentine's Day Party
19/20 No School
26-28 ISTEP
March
1-6 ISTEP
10 basketball tournament
11 Daylight Savings
14 end of quarter
16/17 school play
23 movie night
24 egg hunt 9:00 a.m.
27 Harrison House guest speakers
29 Kokomo Beach Day
30 No School!
Growth Mindset
Dear Parents,
I am committed to developing a growth mindset learning environment-a place where all students believe that with effort and perseverance, they can succeed. For the second half of the year, your child will have the opportunity to learn more about mindset through a series of lessons in the classroom. Dr. Carol Dweck, a researcher at Stanford University, has identified two beliefs systems about intelligence.
A fixed mindset is one where we believe that our children's innate abilities, talents, and intelligence are fixed. They are either good or talented at something or they are not. They can certainly learn new things, but this particular skill or subject is not really their “thing.” A growth mindset is the belief that intelligence, skills, and talent are malleable, and they can change with effort, perseverance, and practice. Neuroscience explains this as neuroplasticity. We can all get “smarter.”
Each day students will be asked to take educational risks. They will be praised not for their mental quickness or natural intelligence, but for approaching the process of learning with grit and determination. I know that to make the greatest impact children need to hear consistent messages at home. Here are some things you can do to extend and promote growth mindset in your home:
•Encourage your child to take risks and tackle new challenges at school.
•Praise your child not for the ease with which he or she learns a concept but for the amount of effort put into learning it.
•Emphasize perseverance and effort in extracurricular activities. For example, “I'm proud of how much effort you put into that basketball game” instead of “I'm proud of how many points you scored in that basketball game.”
I hope you will commit to joining me in this growth
mindset journey!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Tisch