|
Lincoln Elementary |
|
|
|
||
|
PROGRAMS
Home of the Lynx
Diane Smith, Principal |
Room 207- Victoria Abbott
Denver Public Schools Lincoln Elementary and Montessori Room 201 September 5, 2008 Dear Parents: Our first 3 weeks of school have gone very smoothly, and we have had a great beginning! We have enjoyed getting back into the routine of our school days. Our beginning of the year lessons have included discussing the parts of a volcano, exploring laws of motion, and observing our new class pet Cornflake the snake! Just a reminder that our library day is on Thursdays. If your child has a library book that needs to be returned, he or she may do it on Thursday. They may keep the book longer, however they can only check out a new book once the old one has been returned. Today your child will be bringing home a homework packet of spelling words, math, and writing. I thought it might help us get off to a good start if I explained homework at the beginning of the year. All children are given homework on Friday, which is then due the following Friday. Spelling tests are given on Fridays, and so our first test will be on 9/12, the same day homework is due. The following steps may be used as study tips: 1. LOOK at the word and say it. 2. READ each letter in the word, or pronounce each sound. 3. CLOSE your eyes and spell the word to yourself. 4. LOOK at the word. Did you spell it correctly? 5. COPY the word from your list. 6. COVER the word and write it again. 7. LOOK at the word. Did you write it correctly? 8. If you made any mistakes, repeat the steps. Other activities may include making flash cards with their words, or practice writing sentences to make sure the correct use of the word is understood. Suggested time children should spend on homework is about 10 minutes per night for first grade, about 15-20 minutes for second and third grade. If your child has worked hard for a period of time and is not finished, it is okay to stop rather than become frustrated. In addition to homework, all children should be reading at home every day. If your child is not yet reading, please read to him or her. Please share reading with beginning readers and help good readers find the right book and right time to read. Before bedtime works well for most people. Please let me know if there are any problems that can’t be resolved with this new spelling program or homework in general. I am looking forward to working with you and your children, and have very much enjoyed the time we have spent so far getting to know each other, and getting re-acquainted! Sincerely, Vikki Abbott Room 201 Victoria_abbott@dpsk12.org
Thank you all for participating in parents night in April. Here are some photos from the event!
Dear Friends, Hello! My name is Vikki Abbott and I will be your Montessori Lower Elementary teacher for this coming school year at Lincoln Elementary. I am excited to have this opportunity to be working with your children as well as eager to get started helping them to reach their full potential in a rich Montessori learning environment. I am also excited to once again work with the returning children who will be second graders this year.
Please plan on attending our Back to School Night on August 20th. On this night we can discuss Lincoln Elementary School policies and procedures. We can also discuss expectations of elementary students, and the differences from the primary Montessori classroom. This is also a chance to get to know each other better, so that questions you have about your child and the coming school year can be answered. Until this opportunity to talk, the following should address any questions or concerns.
On the first day of school, we will be meeting on the playground blacktop. There will be cones set up with the room number of your child’s class. This is where you and your child can meet your teacher to line up to go into the building. During the first few weeks of school we will meet at this place. Routines take about four weeks to feel normal, so for the first month I ask that no parents enter the classroom during the day. If you say goodbye to your child in the hallway, this will help them to enter the classroom quicker, and get settled into the classroom routine. This helps to benefit the entire classroom to acquire a calm working energy. If you are concerned about how your child is doing at school, you may contact me by phone or email.
Snack: There are many differences between the Montessori primary and elementary classroom. One of which will be the absence of a snack during the morning work time. Your child may notice this difference right away, and this will require some adjustment time. Please do make sure your child eats a healthy breakfast, either at home or at school so that upon entering the classroom he or she is ready to go right to work. If your child does not eat before school, feel free to send breakfast with him to school to eat in our classroom at the beginning of the morning.
Homework and Spelling: Part of being in the lower elementary classroom includes having spelling words which children are expected to study nightly. The new list of words will go home on Friday, and our test on those words will be on the following Friday. All children will receive spelling, math and writing work to complete and return to me by the following Friday. The Spelling words are expected to be studied nightly. More information about homework and spelling as well as spelling study tips will be sent home during the first weeks of school. Please look out for this information.
Belongings and Backpacks: Please do not allow your child to bring toys to school. The time the children spend in the classroom is best spent with the classroom materials. If you find any unknown items at home such as small beads, small cylinders, small cubes or labels, please be sure they are returned to the classroom as soon as possible. Any belongings your child does bring to school needs to have a name on them. This includes clothing, backpacks, and lunchboxes. If children do need to bring money to school please send it in a clearly marked, sealed envelope. This will cut down on any loss of bills or coins.
Notes: If you are sending a note to me with your child, please remind your child that they have a note for Vikki in their possession. If there is a change in your child’s dismissal routine, please put changes in writing.
Observations and Meetings: I invite all parents to observe in our classroom. The children appreciate your interest and so do I. This helps to understand your child’s portrayals of school as well as learn more about the Montessori experience. Observations will be scheduled throughout the month of October before Parent-Teacher conferences. There will also be additional Parent Education meetings to be announced later.
Water Bottles: Since our room is able to get quite warm, you child may bring in a water bottle to keep in our classroom. Please make sure your child’s name is printed clearly on the outside of the bottle. This will keep the kids hydrated, as well as cut down on trips to the water fountain.
Questions/Concerns: Please know that open communication between us is essential to a productive and happy school experience for your child. I am most available for communication in the morning , during my lunch , or after school . I am also available other times by appointment. Kindly understand that during arrival and dismissal times my main concern is my students and their well-being, therefore I cannot get into lengthy discussions during those times. I am also available to communicate anytime by email.
It is my goal for you and your child to feel successful and positive about classroom learning and making friends, while building a caring and safe environment. I look forward to meeting you on August 20th, and working with all of you this coming school year. I am thrilled to be your child’s teacher, and I expect great things from our class this year!
Sincerely,
Victoria Abbott Room 207 303-744-1785
|
This site is using the DPS2.0 theme.
