back to school night - swedesboro-woolwich school district · class rules and expectations class...
TRANSCRIPT
BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT
2017-2018
WELCOME PARENTS!
Please:
1. Sign-in at the front table.2. Take a copy of tonight’s presentation.3. Find a seat.
Swedesboro-Woolwich School District:
“A community dedicated to inspiring life-long learners.”
MEET THE TEACHERSMrs. Lauren Collins
• B.A. Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, and Psychology from Hofstra University
• M.S. Ed. Reading/Writing/Literacy from University of Pennsylvania
• Currently in my 10th year of teaching
Mr. Chris Lewis•B.A.. Elementary Education, from New Jersey City
University
•Middle School Science, Teacher of Students with Disabilities
• Taught nine years in North Jersey before moving to Woolwich in 2013
OUR PHILOSOPHYOur classroom is designed around a belief in mutual respect, with a strong focus on collaboration, perseverance, and positivity.
We are here to support and challenge your children throughout this fifth grade journey. We have high expectations with regard to both their academic performance and their social interactions. That being said, we are here to guide them toward meeting these expectations.
We strongly believe that effective parent-teacher communication is one of the greatest keys to student success and welcome your observations, questions, and feedback.
CO-TEACHING MODELGoal: To simultaneously instruct students in a coordinated fashion, creating a culture of acceptance in which learning variations and strategies to address those variations are a part of the daily routine.
This approach is a benefit to all students as it allows us to adequately address each child’s unique strengths and needs.
Our classroom is centered around movement and flexible grouping. Much of our teaching is done in small group as opposed to whole class. Brain breaks are incorporated throughout the day. and encouraged on an individual, as-needed basis.
CLASS RULES AND EXPECTATIONS
Class Rules1. Respect self, others, and school property.
2. Listen when classmates or teachers are talking.
3. Quickly follow directions the first time they are given.
4. Come prepared and complete assignments to the best of your
ability.
Class Dojo
This year, we will be utilizing Class Dojo as a communication tool about students behaviors and progress in the classroom.
HOMEWORKCollectively, we have agreed not to assign formal homework in ELA and Social Studies this year. Written homework will only consist of work that your child did not complete during the school day. Students will, however, be expected to read and study on a nightly basis.
Research proves that there is little correlation between homework and student success. Instead, quality time engaging in other meaningful activities leads to well-rounded growth and development.
Your children work hard each day here at school. Time at home is meant for family!
Talk with one another. Read together. Eat dinner together. Focus on extracurricular activities and creating lasting memories.
STANDARDS-BASED GRADING
Harker is continuing to follow the standards-based grading model for report cards.
This approach allows us as teachers to better design our instruction around your child’s individuals strengths and needs. It also allows us to report on your child’s progress with a specific focus on the learning they are demonstrating in the classroom.
STUDENT DATA BINDERWe will be utilizing Student Data Binders to report on student progress and achievement in our classroom.
On Fridays, student work and assessments will be sent home in the Friday Folder for review. Please review all new materials each week and sign the “Parent Sign-Off Sheet.” Please, do not remove items from the folder unless directed otherwise. Materials from the folders will be filed in Student Data Binders until the end of each trimester. We will “clean-out” the binders at the end of each trimester here at school.
Please note, some assessments will need to be reviewed via Google Classroom as they will be taken and reported on electronically. We will send a slip home in the Friday Folder if there is anything you need to review this way.
READING/LANGUAGE ARTS
Program: Reading Wonders and novels
Focus: Students will be working on their annotation and close reading skills with each selection. They will also work on citing evidence from the text to support their written and oral responses to comprehension questions.
DAILY 5 The Daily 5 is a framework for structuring literacy time so students develop lifelong habits of reading, writing and working independently.
Students select from five authentic reading and writing choices, working independently toward personalized goals, while the teacher meets individual needs through whole-group and small-group instruction, as well as one-on-one conferring. These choices include:
● Read to Self● Work on Writing● Read to Someone● Listen to Reading● Word Work
WRITINGProgram: Being a Writer
Focus: Building a writing community
Styles of Writing:
•Expository
•Narrative
•Opinion
SOCIAL STUDIES Social Studies
Chapters 3-8
•Explorers
•13 Colonies
•Revolutionary War
Comet CohortsGrades 3-6
School Wide Enrichment Model at the Charles Harker School
What we learn is not as important aswhat we create from what we learn.
George Couros
Overview- Stop, drop, and Comet Time
- 1 period a day for the whole school
- Schedule- 2 days a cycle students have opportunities to do the Cohorts/Enrichment- 4 days a cycle students are pulled for different enrichment or additional support services
Vision Statement:“A community dedicated to inspiring lifelong learners.”
Instructional Periods for School Wide Enrichment
★ Cycles are approximately 6-7 weeks★ 3 cycles within the year that are within the trimesters
○ 2 Cycles students will be placed into cohorts based on data collected by their teachers○ 1 Cycle will be student choice based on a survey the students will complete at the beginning
of the year
★ Teachers have about 1-2 weeks to review data in between cycles and move students into new enrichment classes
Cohort Choices
Click HERE for a list of District Cohort/Enrichment Choices
Available 2 times per A-F Day Cycle for Students
STEAM Night
★ Each of the cohorts/enrichment programs will have a culminating activity★ Some of the culminating activities will be displayed or demonstrated at
STEAM Night★ Harker School and Hill School will combine on:
Tuesday May 22, 2018
Charles Harker School
Gymnasium and Cafeteria
Character Education for ALL
★ Work on different themes that reflect the Positive Behavior School Improvement System
○ Empathy○ Self-Awareness○ Respect○ And Many more...
★ As part of their Cohort Rotation, one trimester will include the Character Education Curriculum
What is the RTI Component?★ 4 days of the A-F day cycle are dedicated to year long programs such as
Enrichment Art, Music, World Language, and Gifted and Talented ○ Students selected by using a multiple measures chart created with objective data from the
teachers
★ Students who are not in these programs will receive RTI (Response to Intervention)
○ Content Area teachers will work with their teams (ELA, Math, Science, and Social Studies) to determine individual needs of their students
○ For example, students in need of extra ELA support will work with their ELA teacher on specific skills (ACES teachers will be available for students who need more support)
Goals of Comet Time
★ To provide a time for students to receive necessary instruction that is geared to their specific needs
★ To eliminate students involved in Year Long Enrichment and G&T programs being pulled from content area classes
★ To provide an opportunity for ALL students to experience STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) within a hands on enrichment model
★ To provide individual and small group support to students who need it ○ Based on teacher data
★ To receive Character Education opportunities that meet the needs of our students
Contact InformationContent Area Questions and Specific Student Questions
Classroom Teachers
Remediation QuestionsCheryl Serpiello, ACES = [email protected]
Michele Garcia, ACES = [email protected]
Enrichment & Gifted and Talented QuestionsEnrichment Special Area Teachers
Cheryl Serpiello, G&T = [email protected] Garcia, G&T= [email protected]
Other Comet Time and Comet Cohort QuestionsCarolynne Sandy, Building Principal = [email protected]
Jackie Traini, Vice Principal = [email protected] Dana Teague, Instructional Facilitator = [email protected]
Vision Statement:“A community dedicated to inspiring lifelong learners.”
SNACKS
Peanut/Tree Nut Free Environment
Please note, birthday treats are no longer allowed to be sent in.
CHROMEBOOKS
Chromebooks will be utilized as an instructional tool in the classroom this year.
Students had an assembly today, to review expectations.
All permission slips MUST be returned by Wednesday, September 20th in order for students to use the Chromebooks when they are rolled-out this Friday, September 22nd.
GOOGLE CLASSROOM / WEBSITEThere is a great deal of information currently available on our website, and we will be adding to it as the year progresses. However, Google Classroom and Class Dojo will ultimately serve as our primary means of communication.
Once the students are set-up in Google Classroom, we will be inviting parents to join so that you can receive notifications regarding assignments and announcements.
Check these online resources frequently as they are where we communicate not only school-wide information, but also information relevant to our class only.
WANTED
We are in need of:
Dry Erase Markers Washable Markers Postcards
Please note, a few students are still without tote bags for changing classes and Daily 5. Students should have two bags here at school: one for changing classes and the other to use as a “Book Bag” for Daily 5.
CONTACT INFORMATIONMrs. Lauren Collins
Mr. Chris Lewis
(856) 241-1552 ext. 4504
Please allow 24 hours for a response. Please note that any calls placed during the school day will be sent directly to voicemail.
Swedesboro-Woolwich School District:
“A community dedicated to inspiring life-long learners.”