Welcome to Green Mountain SD: Title 1/LAP Services

  Where School-family partnerships contribute to academic success for our students!

2011

Green Mt. SD Website         Classroom News Notes

MrsK: Discovering Self-Education

A+ Learning Links

Welcome Parents to the 2011/2012 school year!

The beginning of a school year brings so many wonderful memories. Who doesn't feel excited about a new beginning? Not only are the seasons changing with signs of crisper mornings but we find that the school bells once again will be ringing and our students will be packing their school bags with brand new supplies. Excitement begins bubbling up inside and most of us can't wait to return to our friends, our teachers, and our own desks.

Throughout this school year, you and your student will be given access to educational experiences that will be inspiring and providing numerous avenues for explorations. With technology becoming an essential aspect of learning for today's students, this site will offer beyond the classroom connections for at home practice, our monthly news notes (blog), as well as information great reading/math opportunities (so check the calendar below... it will be updated monthly).

Now that you located my link from the Green Mt. Title 1 button, here are some of the things that you will be able to find on this page. Just click on the item of interest and you will be redirected to it's content:

• Parent and student classroom news notes
• Parents Partnering with Schools 
• What is Title 1 Services  & Washington State OSPI Title 1 Parent Link
• Reading and Math Practice Links

• Primary Learning Links

• 24/7 educational practice links (Grades 5-8 research links)
• Big 6 research formats
• Six Trait writing practice
• Sitton Spelling: 900-1200 words (Grades 5-8)
• Dyslexia
• Writing and Dysgraphia

• Literature Investigations (K-9 book list)

• Green Mountain Library 

Please continue to scroll this page for the T1/LAP calendar... parent hints.... and our classroom policies... 

Calendar Dates:

Practice your Reading & Math Skills with Spring Explorations

Spring Book Adventures

Summer Vacation Connections  

Parent Links: Supporting Your Students Learning

10 Things for Parent Advocates to Learn

published on www.WrightsLaw.com

Here are 10 things that parents who advocate for children with IEPs should know how to do:

1. Gather information

Educate yourself about the child's disability and special-education law.

2. Learn the rules of the game

Know how decisions within a school district are made and by whom.

3. Plan and prepare

Get ready for meetings, create agendas, write out objectives.

4. Keep written records

Take down what was said and by whom. Make all requests in writing.

 To read the entire list, go to:

www.dys-add.com/Advocacy-10Rules.pdf

Classroom Policies:

Students are expected to come to class ready to learn.

Students are expected to treat each other and themselves with respect.

Students are expected to turn their work in on time.

Transitions are so important for everyone!

They will be expected to use whisper voices at any time that they might be helping each other with an investigation.

Debating ideas is a critical discussion skill, they are expected to be respectful towards everyone's views.

Set personal goals with high expectations of always wanting to do your best every day!

Reading

During the 1-3 reading block of time, students will be learning reading and spelling skills with the Barton strategies or the SOAR to Success Reading program and materials. This program enables all beginning readers to learn specific skills in how words are put together, phonemic skills, phrasing, sentence phrasing, and spelling. This program works well with all students who are still learning "how reading really works." If you would like to know more about Barton's Reading and Spelling just click here to follow the website link.

During the 3-8 reading block of time, students will be reading. Becoming a life-long reader is their goal. Learning what an active reader does while reading involves self-analysis and goal setting, they will be learning about their strengths and weaknesses during our Reading Apprenticeship unit. Reading investigations will include the following:

• Novel Explorations: Whole group reading, discussions, and journaling

• Genre Literature Circles: Small group reading using the same genre but with differing titles, discussions, and journaling

• Non-Fiction Investigations: A variety of assigned topics with individual book choices and whole class presentations

• Meet the Author: Discoveries about "classic" authors, as well as those enjoyed by them

• Timed Reading: A unit designed to help them adjust their reading speed for testing situations

• Reading Across the Content Areas: A unit designed to help them read with purpose

Student Reading Expectations:

1. Read all assigned pages every day
2. Complete your daily journal entries before the end of the day. Each entry needs to be dated; questions are restated; answers are supported with two examples from that days passage; and conventions and penmanship counts
3. Sketches must be completed, labeled, and only colored pencils are allowed (markers/ink bleeds through notebook paper)

Language Arts

During the Language Arts block, students will be practicing their basic skills:

• Vocabulary: Word usage and definitions
• Spelling: Sitton recommended list plus content specific terms
• Grammar: Variety of grammar skills, sentence diagraming, and word patterns

Student Language Arts Expectations:

1. All pages are completed before lunch/recess

2. Your name is on the page

3. Conventions and spelling will always count no matter what the assignment is !

    

Writing

3 - 8 Writing Expectations:

1. All writing must be in your best penmanship, if I can't read it.....I can't grade it

2. Proof reading your work is a life skill, get your proof-readers signature at the top (right corner) of your paper

3. Know your writing purpose, the piece needs to be on-topic

4. Know your audience, the piece must be written with the idea that anyone could be reading it

5. Use your in class writing time wisely, sitting and thinking is not writing, if your ideas aren't being recorded.....they become lost in space

6. Conventions and spelling will always count no matter what the assignment is !

Math

I believe that all students must be in the habit of practicing math skills on a daily basis. Every day students will be working on their homework from their classroom teachers. When your student comes to their Title 1/LAP math session, they will be working on designated math skills, math games, as well as supportive math strategies.

In the intermediate grades (2-3), I will be working with students in small groups in their classrooms and/or in the Library. Each student will have a math journal, practice sheets, and will learn a variety of skills for approaching problem solving. Even though their Title 1/LAP services will be provided in a small group setting, your student will be given individual instruction while learning basic skills. eVision supplemental materials will be used, as well as pre-selected online practice sites.

In the upper grades (4-8), Mrs. Goglin, your student's classroom teacher, and I will be assisting your students during their classroom instructional period. Research has shown that keeping students within the classroom provides a greater scope of success for older students when the specialist is working, in connection with the teacher, as the instruction is being presented.  Title 1 math students will be given extended concepts and skills using enVision materials, Math Connects supplemental connections, and pre-selected online practice sites.  LAP math students will be meeting in a small group, beyond the classroom instruction, in order to gain new insights with specific mathematical concepts.  These concepts will be outlined as their trimester "targeted" learning goals.  Our district has adopted the AIMsweb assessment tool which will provide a specific area of concern that will be re-visited, practiced, and re-assessed using the enVision Focus learning program.

• Student stress levels are lowered due to the availability of "real time" learning support
• Students are more likely to engage in the instruction since their self-confidence in their solutions are accurate
• Students are less "burdened" by the stigma of learning differences and will have a better chance of gaining the essential learnings without feeling overwhelmed
• Students will gain confidence in their mathematical strengths and will become comfortable with seeking differing strategies for solutions not everyone solves a math problem the same way!

Student Math Expectations:

1. Work through your equations....... if you need help....... I will be there to help you or you can seek it from anyone in class

2. Be respectful of the amount of time you are working with another student, they have their equations to be working on

3. Your assignment will be required to have my signature signed in the upper right corner on the days that I am in the classroom with you

4. Do your assignments every day and turn them in

5. Ask for extra help when a problem/solution seems like it just isn't working right

 Parent Links: Supporting Your Students Learning  

Please contact me at any point, 

MrsK (Kim) Shealy

kim.shealy@greenmountainschool.us

kim_shealy@yahoo.com  

http://www.mrskbooks.pbworks.com 

"Books are the quietest and most constant of friends:

they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors,

and the most patient of teachers."Charles W. Eliot

2011

 Classroom News Notes

MrsK: Discovering Self-Education

A+ Learning Links

  New Year of Discoveries 

January Celebrations February Discoveries

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