Sellwood School

Submitted by James Keiter on Fri, 09/25/2009 - 11:25am.

What a great week! We had fine conversations on a range of topics, including the use of stereotypes (ask your child about this), geography, poetry v. song lyrics, writing a book, kindness and lots of classroom culture: tools and practices to ensure success here and elsewhere. Again, I encourage you to have conversations with your child about what we're doing.

Most homework is coming in--for some kids, that means trying to break the old patterns of no work, missed deadlines, punitive measures, etc., and you should applaud your kids for getting the job done...and especially for following my homework guidelines, found in the Daily Folder. Wise parents occasionally look in the folder because they can...and should, too.

Homework will come home today (Friday), and consists of...

1. The Summer Reading Letter assignment (white half-sheet; sorry, I can't post this one), due, corrected, in the personal letter form taught Friday...next Thursday.
2. Current Events #3--grr...my bad number here: This will be due Tuesday, since we'll be on a field trip Wednesday. Talk about it with your child. Biggggggggg sheet.
3. [Late] Newsletter Tear-offs. I need these to confirm that you're getting to see what you need to see. Tell your child I told you to feel free to look in their backpacks and, should the need occur, limit their phone priviliges, etc., etc.

Also next week, a QUIZ THURSDAY, covering the 10 NE states we reviewed; vocabulary (bicker, brutal, feline, tyrant, and waiver); stereotypes and all aspects of class culture and process included in given notes. We review study skills and how to study for tests each week. Ask your child.

NOTES: I'll try to post a list of given notes each week, for those of you who love to check. Here they are:

Mon: Writing 3: Author lecture and notes

TUES: H4 US geo; Vocab list 2; rw Poem or Song?

WED: Curr 3: Kindness reax; H5: Chief Seattle

THURS: BizGen 7: Stereotypes// guest speaker Carl

FRI; BG 8, Storing work; Wk 3 sumup

NOTE: I have the Personal Narrative rough drafts over the weekend. Students will get them back next week, with a Final Perfect Excellent Copy due the following week. Good.

FIELD TRIP: The weather is supposed to go south soon. Unless a downpour is in progress, we will walk from SMS to the Milwaukie Pioneer Cemetery (hard by Waverly CC) at about 10:25 Wednesday...returning after lunch in situ. AM KIDS SHOULD BRING A SACK LUNCH WEDNESDAY UNLESS I cancel the f.t. for bad weather. Your student will have more info Monday.

My PM kids will leave for the cemetery right after lunch, and will miss Period 6; we'll be back for the buses.

NOTE: AM chaperones should come see me ~10; PM chaps should meet me on return with the a.m. kids a few minutes before the end of lunch--~1pm. Thanks for doing it if you are!

Great year so far. Thanks for checking this blog. Keiter

*Still can't post docs. Sorry!

Submitted by James Keiter on Tue, 09/22/2009 - 1:38pm.

The Parent Newsletter #1 will come home Wednesday, now...sorry for the delay. Only three students received extra credit for turning in the word on the last post. Here's what is on the Quiz tomorrow for those who care:

> 5 vocab words

>3 success rules

>2 general knowledge Q's, and

>1 Q from the video Personal Ethics

Students will also have to explain what they did to prepare for this quiz.

Submitted by James Keiter on Sun, 09/20/2009 - 12:36pm.

Techno-probs...hence this late post. I still have trouble attaching docs. Please review the homework assignments for the week below. The personal narrative due Thursday as a rough draft is intended as a brief, true account of an event in the writer's life. Detail and dialogue should be used if possible.

My students learned about each assignment Friday. If your child was absent, have them call a friend if more info is needed.

Students checking this site will be able to write the following word as proof of their visit. Extra credit may be awarded. The word is... cogitation.

Submitted by James Keiter on Fri, 09/18/2009 - 8:43am.

Parents:

It was so nice to meet those of you who came to Back to School Night. I know we live in The Land of Busy Schedules, so it's no small deal to show at these events. Thanks for coming. (If you did NOT make it, please email me soon so I know you're following our classroom exploits. Also, please visit my blog, accessible via the SMS website.)

There are three homework assignments for this week:

1. The 'Kindness' Assignment, given out in class Thursday, 9/17; this piece is due Wednesday.
2. The Parent Folder Check glue-in and signature, given out at Back to School Night; students whose parents didn't make it glued this in Friday. It is due, signed, Monday, 9/21.
3. The Personal Narrative Writing Assignment, also given in class Friday, 9/18. Ask your students for the green assignment slip. The rough draft is due Thursday, 9/24.

I'm having trouble posting documents with this laptop. I'll do that at home either tonight or tomorrow. I told your students to check my blog this weekend, as I'll be posting something they need to know for Monday...if they care.

We're off to a great start, but it has been frantic--lots going on with crazy schedules and little quality time. Don't worry; it will settle and we'll start doing our good works shortly. A parent letter will be coming home Monday, again for your signature. Please take the time to read what I write. In the meantime, I look forward to seeing what we can put together this year. I'm confident it will be terrific. Your kids seem very cool.

Jim Keiter

Submitted by James Keiter on Fri, 09/11/2009 - 1:23pm.

Parents (and curious students):

It's been nice getting to know your kids this week. We're off to a quick start: Your child should have a Daily Folder with several samples of writing and my [minimal, sorry] comments within. That folder also contains my first homework assignments, namely...

1. The "Where I'm From" poem, due as a rough draft Monday, and
2. Current Events #1, due Wednesday.

Please encourage your student to get into good habits early. We've already talked about the dangers of slipping into poor past study skills and routines. This is a great year to slip those chains and amp the performance a bit.

So far we've also discussed the health coverage debate, the events and impact of 9/11, the history of mass education, the need to be organized, personal motivation and much, much more.

I'll send a letter home next week. Please check this blog each week; I'll try to update each Friday, and will post future assignments and documents as I produce them. Please note, I'm planning a quiz each week, on all elements of our work, including vocabulary. The first quiz (on Thursday) will focus on class protocol and key information for success not just here but everywhere.

At this point, it seems like you've all done a marvelous job with your children. I congratulate you and look forward to meeting all of you at Sellwood's BBQ and Back to School Night coming this Thursday, September 17th. Please come and see me. Thanks in advance for your help and support. Together I think we can make this a terrific year.

Jim Keiter

SUMMER!

So...what have you been feeding your head? If you haven't already done so, finish and ponder To Kill A Mockingbird. If you have, well, get into that summer reading assignment or personal program. Stay sharp intellectually, shape up physically...and enjoy yourself.

--Mr. Keiter

Oh...and follow the news. So much of what's happening relates directly to many of the things we discussed in class this year.