I'm very excited to be joining the junior division and teaching grade 5 and 6 this year! It's been so fun moving back into the classroom I first taught in 9 years ago when I first started at Dewson. I hope we have a great year!
In the past, I have found this blog to be a great way of staying in touch with families at home. I update often, so sign up for emails or check frequently for the most up-to-date information! I hope you and your student find this to be a very useful tool.
On the first day of school, I will send home a detailed letter outlining some of the subject areas and routines for the year (copied below). You are also invited to write me a letter so that I can get to know your child better and faster! From now on, I will do most of my communicating via this blog in order to save paper. There is already a lot of (hopefully) useful information posted for you below, so when you get a minute, please scroll down!
Please note that our first field trip of the year is coming up quite soon so the forms are also included in the first day package. Please return the signed form with payment by Sept. 13.
I look forward to meeting with you all very soon.
Sincerely,
Tamara
tamara.mitchell2@tdsb.on.ca (don't forget the '2')
Here's the First Day Online Newsletter - please keep scrolling to other posts containing tons of other information that may be helpful as we get started.
A Day in the Life of a Fifth or Sixth Grader in Room 317
Welcome parents and students of Room 317,My name is Tamara Mitchell, and I will be your child’s teacher this year at Dewson Public School. I started my education, like your student, in a French Immersion program in Bowmanville, Ontario. I also participated in an exchange trip to France. As well, I come from a very musical family and look forward to sharing my experiences with the class. I’m looking forward to learning about each of my students and creating a community of learners in our classroom.
Our school day will contain several components that are outlined in the following pages. In addition, we will be establishing a few routines in our classroom, which are discussed later in this letter. I thank you for taking the time to read and discuss this information with your student. Please feel free to contact me if you have questions or concerns. I welcome your communication and will respond as soon as I can.
This newsletter and more will be posted on our class blog (see communication). Please inform me if you cannot access the blog as I will try to limit my use of paper newsletters after today!
Yours in sharing the caring of our children,
Tamara Mitchell, B. Mus. (Hon), M. Ed., B. Ed. (OISE)
Subject Components
Literacy
By grade 6, half of instructional time takes place in French and half in English. The English literacy components (these include oral communication, reading, writing and media literacy) will be largely integrated into other subjects, such as Science and Social Studies. Students will learn about non-fiction genres that are applicable to their work in those areas, for example reading or writing a procedure in Science. Each day we will devote a large block of time to our French literacy components (these include reading, writing, speaking and listening), focusing mainly on narrative genres. Students will participate in guided reading clubs and work independently on writing projects. Students will be regularly introduced to grammar concepts that they can apply to their work.
Math
Math will be taught in French. Our math periods will usually include the following components:
Before the Problem Solving (Introduction to today’s work)
The class gathers and engages in an activity or solves a sample problem that will help them recall prior learning related to the concept being taught. Once students are ‘warmed up,’ they are given a problem to solve or an activity designed to build their knowledge related to the unit of study. Before beginning, students discuss the problem or activity, paraphrase instructions and ensure that they understand the task at hand and their responsibilities. They may begin to orally plan the strategies that they will use to solve the problem or predict outcomes.
During the Problem Solving
Students work with a partner or in a small group to solve the problem or complete the activity. During this time, I may confer with individuals to assess their skills, knowledge and needs, or I may support small groups of students with similar learning needs. Students who complete the activity early are provided with an extension to the day’s work. For example, they may be asked to: • try to find another possible way to solve the problem; • explain their solution in writing, or a diagram; • tackle some extra practice questions, or begin their homework.
After Problem Solving
Students gather to share and discuss their solutions and approaches to the problem/activity. Students learn to evaluate critically (and kindly) the validity and efficiency of the range of approaches demonstrated by their peers. Together we summarize the main points of the discussion and ensure that everyone understands what was agreed upon. I may demonstrate a particular strategy at the end of the lesson and give students another opportunity to apply their learning the following day.
Science and Social Studies
This year, Social Studies will be taught by Ms. Sarah Peek and Science by myself, both in English. Both Science and Social Studies will be highly linked to our English literacy component with projects having literacy goals built in and reflected on the final assessment. I look forward to many experiments and projects in our science units!
The Arts & Physical Education
Visual art and Drama will be integrated into many units of study this year. Students will have opportunities to study the work of well-known artists, show feelings and understanding through art, and work independently on their own creative pieces. Music will be taught by Mr. Stephen Greene, Dance by a new teacher TBA and Health and Phys. Ed. by Ms. Mary Ann Kowal. Art and Drama will be delivered in French, while Music, Dance and HPE will be provided in English.
The following schedule may help you pack for school each day, but know that our schedule may change if classes need to be rearranged. A complete and updated daily schedule will be provided at Curriculum Night. Please ensure that your student has running shoes at school every day (even on non-gym days). These can be left in Room 317’s shoe bin unless you need them to be brought home.
Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5
Gym Music Gym Dance Music
DPA Gym DPA
Split Class
It is my job to make sure that all students receive the instruction they need and are prepared for their next year of school. Grade 6 students will have the opportunity to support grade 5 students, reviewing and solidifying what they already know. Grade 5 students will be challenged and encouraged by the grade 6 students. At this age, students are more able to independently manage their assignments and time. This will allow students to tackle independent projects or continue working on a task while I meet with smaller groups.
If you are interested in learning more about specific curriculum expectations, please visit the Ministry of Education’s Website: http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/curriculum/elementary/
Other Routines & Information
Community Circle
Everyone in room 317, including myself, is part of a community of learners. It takes time to build a community that is inclusive, supportive and appreciative, but this is our goal. We will be participating in many fun community-building activities as a class. Community Circle is one activity that we will use regularly. It is an opportunity for us to share how we are feeling, solve problems as a group and celebrate successes.
Expectations
On the first day of school, we defined our classroom agreements and signed a class contract that we will refer to throughout the coming weeks and school year. Our agreements center around the following principles:
✓ attentive listening (on écoute)
✓ active participation (on participe)
✓ mutual respect (yourself, others, materials) (on est respectueux)
✓ appreciation & positivity (on est reconnaissants et optimistes)
We will continue to discuss what each agreement looks like. For example, respecting others means using polite language at all times. I would appreciate you taking the time to review these agreements with your child.
Homework
As per the TDSB homework policy (linked to the blog), homework will be “assigned for completion, practice, preparation or extension”. I understand that families are very busy, and I am a strong supporter of all the extra-curricular activities that your children may already be taking part in. It is my hope that the homework assigned will provide parents with an opportunity to become involved in what we are doing at school. You may wish to ask students what they are working on, or provide encouragement or support. Homework will be clearly posted in the classroom and students will be encouraged to copy this into their agendas. It is each students’ responsibility to manage deadlines. Timely completion of homework tasks will be considered on each report card under “Independent Work”. Some examples of what may be assigned are:
- Math: bi-weekly practice/review/extension questions or completion of in-class work
- Language: reading & reflection in preparation for group meetings, completion of assignment started in class, grammar review sentences
- Social Studies/Science: completion of assignments or research
This year, many homework and in-class assignments will be online through Google Classroom. More information will be provided. Please let me know if your student cannot have regular access to a computer at home.
In addition, the TDSB homework policy encourages daily reading. Regular reading practice contributes to improved language acquisition. Since our students tend to steer toward reading in English, the language that is most accessible to them, it is very important that you as their parents be very diligent about ensuring that they read in French on a regular basis. It is our expectation that grade 6 students read in French a minimum of 30 minutes three times a week. In addition to library visits, our classroom is well stocked with French books that students may borrow and Scholastic catalogues will be provided monthly. Whenever possible, time will be allotted to the enjoyment of reading during the school day. I thank you in advance for your participation with ensuring that this very important homework routine is followed.
Bravo!
I believe in recognizing students for the good things they do at school. The Bravo! note gives me and others an opportunity to write a short note to a student to thank them for an act of kindness or particularly good behaviour (for example, helping a friend or helping to tidy up even when it wasn’t their work area). I will send these notes home, and I hope you enjoy reading them!
Class Blog & Communication
I have created a blog for room 317. This will enable me to provide parents with current information on what we are working on in class, special events happening at Dewson, and other reminders! You can access the blog at http://mllemitchell.blogspot.com/
Students are expected to purchase a Dewson agenda for a nominal fee ($5). Importantly, the agendas are in French and provide guidelines and routines specific to our school. Another valuable form of communication between yourself, your child and me, is the communication folder. Any notes, forms or work will be sent home in the folder, size permitting. Please return forms or send notes to me via the folder - I will expect students to unpack their folder each morning, and bring it home each afternoon. Please ensure that any forms or money you are sending has your student’s name on it, as there is usually a delay between when I receive mail and when I can go through it with a checklist. Try to make it your child’s responsibility to unpack his/her folder every afternoon at home, and put it back in his/her bag for the next day. This is a great way to continue teaching your child how to stay organized.
The best way to reach me is via email at tamara.mitchell2@tdsb.on.ca (don’t forget the 2). I will return emails as soon as I have a minute during school days. You can also send a note in the communication folder or leave me a message at the school (416-393-9120).
I will be in touch when we are in need of volunteers for trips or special classroom events. If you know that you are interested in volunteering in our classroom, or supervising on a field trip, please let me know by checking the appropriate box on the attached letter. You can also let me know how best to reach you.
Allergies
Please inform me of any allergies or medical conditions your child has, and if they are bringing a puffer, Epi-Pen or other medication to school. All students are to refrain from bringing any products containing peanuts to school. Some children in our class and school have severe allergies to these products. Thank you in advance.
Labeling & Supplies
Students will need a binder with minimum 4 dividers that will fit in their desk and backpack (~2-3”). Students can provide their own, or I can provide one. Consumables (duotangs, paper, pencils, erasers, markers etc.) will be provided.
If your child does not already own a French/English dictionary and a French verb conjugation guide (e.g., a Bescherelle), I encourage you to make sure that he or she has one to assist with homework and school assignments. I suggest that the verb guide be kept at school and brought back home when needed for homework. There are also many excellent online grammar guides and dictionaries that can be referred to for homework assignments.
All students will need running shoes for gym. Room 317 has a shoe bin where everyone is encouraged to keep a pair of indoor/gym shoes. Grade 5 and 6 students are expected to be excellent role models for younger students by managing their belongings, coming to school prepared for the day and dressing for the weather.
To limit lost items at school, please remember to label your student’s belongings (e.g., lunch bag, hat, boots & shoes). Thank you!
Scholastic
Room 317 participates in monthly Scholastic book orders. I encourage you to participate in this program whenever possible. The first order form is attached to this newsletter. I do want to point out that Bescherelles (mentioned above) are available through this first Club de Lecture catalogue - item No. 54F1.