The voyage continues…

                Summer vacation is over and it is time for your son/daughter to begin preparations for a successful journey through sixth grade and junior high school.  Continuing the theme for our learning voyage together, I shared Peter H. Reynolds’ The North Star with our navigators today.  The story isa modern day fable that shares the trials and tribulations of the fable’s main character, while acting as a metaphor for self-discovery and realizing one’s true potential.  We learned there are many people in our lives and important events influencing who we are and who we will become.  That is where the family-school connection becomes so strong and important.

      Rosedell’s families and sense of community are its greatest assets.  Therefore, my teaching goals are to reinforce them in creative and inspirational ways.  Having a yearlong theme and a unique class name encourages a climate of unity and spirit.  Believe me, all of the fifth grade academic standards will be covered; I will just use a common thread to seamlessly weave them all together.

        Navigation is knowing where you are and where you are going.  Well-prepared navigators can look at the shoreline and the stars to find out where they are, or they can use charts and other instruments to guide them on their journeys.  Often times they can communicate “ship to shore.”  This brings me to an important management component of our school year, the Family Ship to Shore Communicator.  This is a study skills binder where each navigator will keep the following organizational tools:  a monthly calendar for tracking upcoming events and projects, a reminder binder for tracking upcoming homework assignments and academic assessment, sections for class work and homework assignments, and a section for classroom and school communications.  Think of it as the “ship-to-shore” communication device between navigator, parent, teacher, and the school office.  Please check it nightly and encourage your navigator to keep it with them at all times.  It should go home each afternoon and return to class each morning, with completed homework and school information enclosed.  The Ship to Shore Communicator will also contain a literary/writing journal called the Navigator’s Reflection Log.  I will model expectations in class for several weeks, so everyone will respond appropriately while using correct sentence structure and precise vocabulary.  Navigators will be encouraged to write a few well-written sentences, with correct spelling and punctuation, rather than pages full of sentence fragments and grammatical errors.

 A collection of each navigator’s work, in all curricular areas, will be organized in a second three-ring binder called the Constellation Portfolio.  This compilation of your voyager’s best work will be shared during parent-teacher and student led conferences. 

      Well, have I overwhelmed you yet?  Back to School Night will be held next week, and I will explain all of this to you in person.  In the meantime, you can help your son/daughter right away by purchasing two three-ring binders.  A white, 1 to 1 ½ inch three-ring binder works best for the organization of the Ship to Shore binder.  Inside the Ship to Shore binder you will need see-through plastic sheet protectors to hold illustrated section covers, Navigation Reflection Logs, and notes to and from home.  A white, three-ring binder, 1 ½ to 2 inch size works best for the Constellation Portfolio.  Your son/daughter will need sheet protectors for portfolio reflection and collected work in reading and writing, math and problem solving, art and music, social studies, and science. If possible, purchase binders with insertable clear overlays on the front and back covers to insert title and cover pages. 

        Thanks for taking the time to read this letter.  I am very excited about this school year and hope your child and you are as well !

Cheers,