We’re coming to the end of October already - conferences are done, Halloween is approaching, India Week is around the corner and Vision Day is on the horizon! There is a lot going on in the elementary school. Let’s celebrate where we have been and appreciate the opportunities ahead of us.
(So, so true. Thank you!)
Upcoming Week at a Glance:
Report Card Timeline
Below is the report card timeline. We've worked to streamline the process and ensure the most possible time for revision and turn around for teachers and readers. You will notice as you read through the report card timeline that we are unable to give you time on a Wednesday to write report cards. Unfortunately, it’s just how the calendar of events fell this year. To give you as much time as possible, I have asked tech to work on a very short timeline. We will get a more detailed document about report card writing to you in next week’s faculty notes.
Erma Anderson’s Math Workshop (Session 2)
Please join Erma for the second math PD session on Tuesday, October 27th. Feel free to join even if you missed the first session. This opportunity is open to all teachers and TAs.
Wednesday Faculty Meeting
EY-grade 2 teachers will be meeting with Dave, Alex, and Chaitanya to talk about handwriting and small group engagement. Please use this Zoom link.
Grades 3-5 teachers and anyone else involved in the Vision Day will have time to plan their project. We will not come together as a large group. If you are working with another teacher, please plan to meet using your own Zoom link.
India Week - Nov. 2nd - Nov. 6th
Bindu and a team of teachers have a fantastic lineup of presenters, activities, and events for India Week. All of the events are during the school day, and we appreciate your flexibility in rearranging your schedule so your students can attend the events. This document will be updated as Bindu finalizes activities, resources, and events, but it will give you a sense of what the week will look like. The banners/graphics will also be shared with you via email.
Bindu will email classroom teachers a slidedeck with the India Week mela information next week. Please make this available to students.
KG-Grade 2 - make mela menu slidedeck available on Oct. 28th
Grades 3-5 - make mela menu slidedeck available on Oct. 29th
Coaches Corner
Literacy and Lucy
Did you read the American Public Media article on Lucy Calkin last week? The article builds on their previous reporting on effective reading instruction and the science of reading. The new article is worth reading. Check it out: Influential literacy expert Lucy Calkins is changing her views. You can read Lucy’s response here.
Here’s a major takeaway from the article:
“...decades of cognitive science research show that skilled reading requires an ability to decode, matching the sounds in words with the letters used to spell them.”
In a statement, “Calkins’ group now says that beginning readers should focus on sounding out words and recommends that all children have access to “decodable” books that contain words with spelling patterns students have been taught in phonics lessons.”
What does this mean for our use of Lucy’s strategies that include cueing? Do we continue to teach our younger readers to use pictures and context cues to figure out words? Is it time to stop this practice entirely and focus primarily on phonics instruction and making sure children only focus on sounding out words?
From the Counselors
Parenting in COVID-19 Times
Dear Parents and Caregivers,
Your School Counselors recognize the challenges that you may be facing in your homes as you work to support your children in virtual school and manage the stressors of daily life. Ms. Linda and Ms. Michele talk to many families who have shared their struggles in COVID-19 times.
These challenges and worries include:
Developing and managing healthy daily routines for children
Managing healthy technology habits for self and your children
Managing sleep routines, bedtimes and wake up times
Encouraging children to get enough exercise
Work completion on Seesaw and engagement with virtual learning
Missing friends and social connections with same age peers
Feeling responsible for ensuring your students work is done well on Seesaw
Mood changes in yourself as well as your children
Being separated from family members who may be across the world
Single parenting or single parenting while the other parent is in a different location
Trying to manage working at home and supporting your child at school.
Worry about contracting COVID-19 and not wanting to leave the house or see other people.
It is so very important to know that you are NOT ALONE in these struggles, and many other parents at AISC are having similar experiences. We are here for you. Please email Ms. Linda (glinda@aischennai.org) if you are an EY-Grade 3 parent or Ms. Michele (nmichele@aischennai.org) if you are a Grade 4 or Grade 5 parent, if you would like to schedule an appointment to talk with us. We are here to listen! We might have some ideas or strategies to make your day a little bit easier.
Have fun celebrating Halloween with your class next Friday.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Lynn, Dave, and Elliot
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