The Leonardo Field Trip Reminder

Feb22

If your child is going on the field trip tomorrow, they need to be dropped off at the Ogden Front Runner station no later than 7:45 tomorrow (Thursday, February 23) morning.  They need to be picked up at the Ogden Front Runner station at 3:00pm.  Please pick up students from the field trip before picking up others at MMA.

Your child should bring:

  • a lunch that does not require heating
  • a coat or other weather appropriate clothing
  • if desired, cards or other quiet activity for the train ride

Your child should not bring:

  • electronics, including phones
  • candy or other foods that do not adhere to MMA’s health and wellness policy

I look forward to our trip tomorrow!

 

Literacy Week

Feb14

Families,

We are looking for community members to read their favorite books aloud to our students. Come dressed as your profession to promote the idea that everyone reads! On March 1st, police officers, nurses, pilots and customer service representatives, homemakers and more, can share their love of reading with children by signing up at the following link https://wejoinin.com/sheets/pygcf. We’ll even supply the books if you have too many favorites to choose from!

 

Please help make our Literacy Week extra special! Please feel free to share with your neighbors and family.

This entry was posted on February 14, 2017, in General.

6th Grade Expert Project Progress Update

Feb12

6th Year Parents

What a treat is is to be working with your children on this project!  The topics they have chosen are interesting and their dedication to putting together a project to the best of their ability is amazing.

As you may have noticed, we have turned a corner on the year-long journey of Expert Project.  The students are now outlining, drafting, and revising the information they have gathered over the last few months.  They are putting their 5 1/2 years of elementary school training into practice.  This work takes great skill, patience, perseverance, time, and occasionally, blood, sweat and tears.

One of the many beauties of this project is that for this one time in their educational career, they have great support each step of the way for writing such an enormous paper – from each other, from me and from you.

There are two ways in which you can support at home.  First, each week I have asked the students to either read their latest chapter aloud to an older sibling or parent, or have an older sibling or parent read it aloud to them.  (Chapter one and two drafts were both due within the last two weeks.)  This is to help them hear how the writing flows.  As I’m sure you remember, it is challenging to take a collection of notes and turn them into a flowing document.  An ear to bounce off of is helpful.  Usually that is all you need to do – they can hear what needs to be changed when it is read aloud.  The second way you can support them is by ensuring there is time in the busy family life for he or she to work. If your son or daughter is not yet strong at managing his/her time, please help by asking such things as, “How much time do you think you need for Expert Project this week?” and, “Which days will you make that happen?”  They are indeed responsible for doing it, but supporting them by letting them know you are aware of the work, and can help them figure out a schedule, is valuable.

We are planning to send out “Save the Date” cards this week, but I will also share with you, the presentations will be held on Wednesday, April 26th at 6:00 pm.

Thank you for supporting your child in this year-long endeavor!  Your children are amazing!  Please do not hesitate to ask me any questions you may have.

Gala Basket Donations Needed

Feb12

Good afternoon!

Our class is building a basket to be auctioned off at the Gala.  This year we have chosen bird watching as the theme for our basket.  Please check out the We Join In link to sign up to donate items to fill our basket.  All proceeds go to MAPA, our parent organization, who uses the money to fund field trips, purchase playground equipment, safety items and more!

If you have an idea for an item that isn’t on the list, just let me know.  All donations are welcome!  We are aiming to have the basket filled by March 1.

Bird Watching Basket Sign Up

This entry was posted on February 12, 2017, in Fundraisers.

Week 26 – Update

Feb7

Parent Teacher Conferences are next week.  Your child is expected to attend this conference with you, as they will be leading the conversation.  Taking the opportunity to reflect on learning is an important step to really understanding why we come to school each day.   Sharing their success and challenge will help them continue growing in our classroom.  If you haven’t already, please sign up for a conference time at this link.

Beginning this week, we will be adding a weekly Utah Compose assignment to our homework expectations.  You can find the weekly essay expectation under the Utah Compose tab at the top of the blog.  After each mini-lesson, your child will have some time to get started in class, but will need to spend time at home as well.  I have stressed the importance of reading the piece aloud to a parent or older sibling in order to get feedback.  Often, when we read to ourselves, we miss mistakes or errors we have made.  Reading aloud will give your child the opportunity to catch those mistakes with your help.

We will be having a Valentine exchange next Tuesday, February 14.  I have emailed a list of names and guidelines.  If you have any questions, please let me know.