In elementary school, a syllabus is truly about parent communication. Family involvement is so critical in early childhood education, so I think of this as a tool to help set parent expectations early on and to be used as a compass throughout the year.
How Do You Do, Reception Two?
Dear Families,
I can hardly wait to meet you at orientation next week. It has been a wonderful summer of travel and memory-making, and now I am ready to meet our class and get down to the business of building a learning community. This is my first year teaching at our school, and I look forward to getting to know more about you all as I settle into my time here.
The first day of classes for Reception 2 is Wednesday, August 23. Class session is 8 a.m. - 1:50 p.m., buses leave at 2 p.m.
Your orientation appointment: DATE and TIME
Please arrive at our classroom (Room 407) at the time designated above. Maps and room signs will be available throughout the school to help you find your way.
In the classroom, you and your child will:
- Meet me, our assistant teacher, and explore the learning spaces.
- Ask any questions you might have.
- Fill out a bus tag for your child to wear to and from school for the first week.
- Receive a copy of the class schedule and any last-minute information about the first day of school.
- Receive a copy of the Parent Handbook, which details school procedures and expectations.
OUR CURRICULUM
Our school enjoys the benefit of beautiful facilities that are purpose-built to leverage our curriculum. Classroom spaces are designed to encourage play, collaboration, and inquiry-based learning, inspired by the schools of Reggio Emilia, Italy. All grades in our division enjoy a full hour of outdoor recess spread through different playtimes during the day, and you will find your children experience many opportunities to synthesize their learning through play.
The literacy program is rooted in the Teachers College Readers and Writers Workshop models, which our students practice daily. Math curriculum recently transitioned to a comprehensive program called Bridges, which emphasizes critical thinking and language development alongside numeracy skill building. Science, social studies, religion, and social-emotional development are integrated into math and literacy lessons.
Special subjects taught include music, physical education, art, Chinese, and library. The new building also boasts a state-of-the-art design laboratory, which we will visit regularly as well.
More information about our pedagogy will be available to families at our annual Back to School Night, and of course, you are always welcome to email your questions to me directly.
BEHAVIOR EXPECTATIONS
Young students are exactly that--young! I believe young children need a clear understanding of the expectations within our school and classroom in order to feel ready to learn, therefore much of our first month of school will be dedicated to establishing routines and rhythms. Students will practice everything from unpacking their belongings in the morning to settling into a reading spot for Readers Workshop.
My goal is to create enough structure that students will be fully engaged all day, every day. Multisensory cues are used throughout my classroom to guide students That being said when difficult behaviors arise, students will receive verbal reminders to return to their “best learning.” If a student’s behavior is deemed dangerous, we will work in partnership with the school counselor and school administration to support the student and help them make progress toward safety.
If you are interested in learning more about my approach to classroom management, you can explore the resources from Responsive Classroom, which “empowers educators to create safe, joyful, and engaging learning communities where all students have a sense of belonging and feel significant” (2017, Responsive Classroom).
COMMUNICATION
Please consider my door “always open” for parents, whether you have a concern or would just like to hear a little more about how your child is doing at school. I understand that sometimes you just miss them during the day! The class blog is a good place to find information about school events, deadlines, and field trips, and I include it in my email signature for easy access.
Visits to the classroom should be pre-arranged, and if you come to school for pick-up or drop-off, it is unlikely that I will be able to discuss academic progress in those moments, mostly because there is very little privacy during those transition times. I am grateful for the partnership of parents and caregivers and want to protect your child by keeping our conversations confidential.
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