Bette’s Class Notes
Here are some upcoming events for Bette’s Class
April 17 (Tuesday) Camp planning meeting 6-7
·
(Followed by AAOCC meeting, 7-8:30)
April 26 (Thursday) Rural Education Days, Saline
Fairgrounds
May 2 Language Arts M-STEP Test
May 3 Math M-STEP Test
May 8 No School for Election Day
May 11 Salmon Release, Flat Rock Michigan
May 23, 24, 25 Camp Dainava!!
Other events we are working on
include “The Farm” at St. Joe’s Hospital, Rolling Hills Water Park, and don’t
forget the Ice Cream Social
Camp Meeting- Please try to make it to
our first camp-planning meeting! We will give you an outline about how camp
works and answer questions. We need lots of help. There are a variety of things
that need to be done, so we look forward to working together to create this
amazing outdoor learning experience for the kids.
Rural Education Days is presented by
students who participate in the 4-H club. We will learn a lot about Agriculture
in Michigan and get to sample some products and meet some live farm animals.
M-Step – I’d like to share some
thoughts Karen Siegel wrote to staff about the M-Step:
““Prepping” your students
It is important that students feel calm, rested, and safe while
taking the test. There are some students who may actually enjoy the experience
while others will be challenged. Remind your students that they should do their
best because it helps up learn more about our teaching and helps our school
show the ourselves and our community how we are doing.
I’m recalling some of the pieces of Priti Shah’s presentation that
might be relevant here:
·
Math anxiety in students is most often caused by
anxiety in adults. Model ways that you manage anxiety for your students (and
parents.)
·
Students perform better on tests when they take
walks before the testing session begins. Walks in the city are good - walks in
nature are better. (The playground seems like a nice in-between.)
·
Rest and sleep hygiene is important. The
hippocampus consolidates memories during sleep. Children need 8-10 hours of
sleep. Screens should go off at least one hour before sleep. Talk about
sleep hygiene with students.
·
Food is important. Check in with your students
to be sure they aren’t going into the experience hungry.
·
‘Cramming’ is not helpful. Trying to cram in new
lessons for the MStep is not helpful at this point. It is helpful to give
students opportunities to practice recalling what they have already learned.
As I write this, I’m realizing that the best ways to “prepare” for
test taking are also the best ways to live healthy, balanced lives. I know
about and share many concerns about the politics and philosophy around this
particular test. But, in this immediate context, it doesn’t serve our students
or us to reflexively associate this test window with stress and anxiety and
negativity. Instead we can see it as a learning opportunity to build and
practice habits that promote healthy living.
Salmon
Release will include Edie’s Class and the 8th grade students who
have been helping us maintain the tank. We will go to a park on the Huron River
in Flat Rock and the children will release the fish so they can head for the
Great Lakes!
Computer Use- I just want to remind you that it’s a good idea for parents to check
in on children’s g-mail account periodically. It’s best if your children know
you have oversight. You were sent a letter in the beginning of the year with
your child’s login information. If you don’t have it, let me know and I can
help you with that. Eight and nine year olds are a little young for managing this
type of electronic media. We have had a few incidents with students finding out
someone has gained access to their account. (Sometimes it’s because they fail
to log out) Sometimes the email is used to “pass notes” (as we used to in the
old days with paper). They can be simple, appropriate communications, but
sometimes they are not. There has also been a whole new protocol to learn with “sharing”
documents. This can be a wonderful opportunity to collaborate, but sometimes we
have to talk about how to manage “ownership” and sharing and “un-sharing”. Just
a reminder.
