GENERAL SKI TIPS
A weekly newsletter will come home with your child on Mondays in the homework folder. The homework folder is a wonderful way to get a note to me…I always check homework folders. Homework is due the following Monday. New homework packet will follow. I believe in the responsible study habits developed with homework. Homework Club begins Tuesday, September 15th, 3-4 pm-ish. I do this voluntarily because I know that lots of students have other activities. They can get a lot accomplished with their friends and the teacher to ask. Encourage them to come. We have fun!
SNACKS AND LUNCH
Students eat lunch in Multi-Purpose room at 12:45 to 1:00 pm. I invite all of you to join me in providing snack for the class at 11:30 am. I usually give a few pretzels, crackers, etc. healthy snack food only – to munch on during the math lesson. I discourage the use of water bottles. We have a drinking fountain in the room. I make exceptions during heat waves.
FIELD TRIPS
Field trips have gotten more and more difficult due to the tremendous amount of paperwork involved. I usually do from 4 – 5 field trips a year, the biggest of which is the two night – three days we spend in Coloma. This is something Ms. Rhine and now Ms. Shannon and I do to enhance the students’ California history experience. We also take both classes to Sacramento in Mahy for a trip to the Train Museum and Old Town. We take the Capitol Corridor Tour available to Oakland’s students for a nominal fee. In the past, we have gone to Mission Dolores and John Muir’s home in Martinez. Depending on what is available and what we happen to be studying, each class has taken an exclusive field trip. We met Don Perata at the Capitol one year, we’ve taken the tour of the Caldecott Tunnel several times. My class was on a television commercial filmed in Dolores Park while visiting the mission. We’ve had any number of things happen in Ms. Ski’s class. It’s truly never a dull moment! Trust me! This year Crocker’s upper-grade teachers are asking for a $45 class donation per child. This pays for field trips, parties, special art supplies, guest speakers, etc. If this is too much, please give what you can. Crocker is a champagne school on a beer budget! Teachers here are committed to your child’s success.
NOTE FORM THE TEACHER
I am looking for every “teachable” moment in my day! I want my students to be strong owners of the English language. We will leave 4th grade stronger readers and writers. I love teaching vocabulary! Spelling and punctuation are noticed in my classroom. It is my belief that students who read comfortably can learn anything! We will learn a lot of math, but more importantly, when and how we can apply it to make life easier! I love the age group I teach and I love what I am doing. I hope it will be evident in your children. I am looking forward to another great year. I am a stickler on attendance and punctuality. My class begins the moment I open the door. If you’re ten minutes late, you’ve already missed something important. I want my students to feel responsible about their own learning and tardiness will be noted. I remind them that if they were to be late for work every day, they probably would be reprimanded. I am getting them prepared for middle school! Also, please refrain from entering the classroom unannounced. The office can let me know if you are here to pick up your child early, etc. It is highly disruptive to the lesson to have parents walking in at will. Thank you for understanding. I am serious about the success of my students and have had much success with my test scores. Effort is everything to me. As long as I am getting a child’s best effort, I am happy! No whining, no tattling and no wasting time! I think they’ve got it!