Friday August 29, 2014

Dear Families,

We are off to a great start.  Your 6th graders are all adjusting well to school in our new and beautiful room.

Please remember to return all the important papers in the information packets that were sent home on the first few days of school.

In an effort to “go green”, for the most part, this will be my first and last Friday Classroom Newsletter. I will soon be posting information about our classroom activities, classroom assignments and homework on the classroom blog. If your family does not have internet connectivity, I will continue to send a paper copy of all classroom information. When you visit the blog, please sign up to follow by email and become a follower. The blog is set up so that if information is posted on the blog, you will receive an email between 5pm and 7pm that day.

Please visit our blog at:  http://emeslearningportal.blogspot.com.

I am in the process of setting up a system to email all the parents in the classroom and will use the email address you sent in on the school information packet. I will still be sending home other important school information for you in the Friday folder.

 We had a great first week and all of your children are wonderful. We have been participating in many Positive Behavior and Intervention Supports (PBIS) activities.

Students have been building up their silent reading stamina and we have started our first class read aloud, Harris and Me, by Gary Paulsen.

In math, we are spending time reviewing math operations and making sure students have a solid command of their facts. Practicing math facts with flash cards is a great way to help your child work on their facts. 6th graders should have complete mastery of their multiplication skills. We also practiced writing up a math word problem.  Math word problems will be a weekly occurrence.

We has also started our first science unit, Bubbleology and The Scientific Process.

If you need to get in touch with me you can email me at eknoedler@u32.org.  You can also call the school and leave a message.  My extension # is:  324.  Please know that I will make every attempt to read and or answer emails as quickly as I can but often there is not time during the school day.  I will do my best.  Thanks.

I am excited about this year and all the students seem eager to learn and are putting their best foot forward all the time.

Throughout the year you will hear about Gambatte.  What is it?  Read on..

In front of every elementary and middle school in Japan stands a statue of a figure, studying, even as he carries firewood for his family and his community. His diligence underscores the importance of self-betterment and the responsibility to one’s community that accompanies personal progress.

The most important word in Japanese education is Gambatte. Literally translated it means, “persevere, never give up.” While we’ve gotten used to wishing people “good luck” in the United States, in Japan they say “Gambatte.” This word tells us that opportunity is not about luck, but about effort, diligence, and perseverance.

Have a splendid holiday weekend.      Ellen Knoedler