Sleeping on the Blog

Oops - I did it again! I missed Thursday's posting. My apologies: I was at school writing First Quarter progress reports until quite late.

These reports will give parents and students an idea of how each student is doing thus far. There are no grades on this Quarter's reports (unless your student has a 'D' grade or below in a particular subject). Reports should be sent to you next week.

This week students received their first test grade back in Language Arts. Every time a student takes a test, a grade key sheet is given back to the student with their grade, and the sheet and test must be taken home to be signed by a parent. This is to ensure good communication about how your student is doing in a particular area.

Each time a student receives a test back, he or she will be asked to reflect on how he/she did, whether he/she needs to change his/her study habits, ask for help, or keep working along the same line. Students are also encouraged to think about what they will aspire to do differently (or not) for the next test.

Most students did quite well on this first vocabulary/grammar test. However, some did not. Because of this, I am beginning a new "program" next week called Grammar School. Grammar School will be held after school on Wednesdays (excepting when we have Faculty Meetings) from 3:20 - 4:05 PM. This will be a time when any Sixth Grade student who would like to review that week's grammar (or any grammar work we've done prior to that time) can come and get some extra help - or simply extra practice, if they are doing well. Grammar School will be held in Room 503.

Many students (and parents) hae expressed feelings of overwhelm and about how to manage the work load at TPJA. I encourage everyone to keep in mind that each student responds to transition differently and that there has been a great deal of change over the past five weeks: new school, new teachers, new friends, new ways of learning...not to mention all the normal growth spurts and sputters of being a Sixth Grader.

I suggest if your student is feeling overwhelmed that he/she break their work load down into do-able pieces: 15 minute increments with a five minue break. Perhaps one-half hour at a time, if that's possible. And for some students, just five to ten minutes of work, with a five minute break, and then another five to ten minutes (etc.) if that makes focusing easier. Better to get five good minutes of work in at a time, then to sit and feel so overwhelmed that nothing gets done (and yes: I speak from experience).

On a completely different note: Next Wednesday, we will be having our first Tea in Language Arts. We will have completed our first book of the semester, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, and will be celebrating the book with a special discussion. Students will begin working on their discussion questions on Monday, and will be practicing throughout the year what it means to ask a good discussion question.

A tea party isn't a Tea Party without food and drink, so students (and parents) will take turns providing treats and drinks for our teas. I will be asking for volunteer students in class today to bring in something for next Wednesday's tea (a note will go home to alert parents what their child will bring). Thank you in advance for your help and support.

Wishing you all a good weekend.

Cheers,
Ms. Nicky Pitman