Little Elk River Update (Wed. Nov. 14)

A Little Elk River Update (Wed. Oct. 14, 2018)

• We've been emphasizing the need to be productive during our Work Periods. How do you keep working for 3 hours (8:15-11:15 am) and remain productive? This is the question. The key, I think, is to choose interesting, challenging and appropriate work. When you do this—and as you develop your ability to focus on a task and persist through obstacles—working on things that give you a personal sense of satisfaction becomes more and more natural over time. This is what we are practicing.

• As the temperature drops, be sure to remind students to dress warmly (hat gloves, boots).

• Please make sure that your child has indoor shoes and wears their outdoor shoes home. For the preservation of our carpet and primarily because  Montessori students do a lot of work on the floor, students are expected to wear a clean indoor shoe in class. If you have any questions or concerns, please let me know.

• Be sure to welcome our newest work partner, Hugh Kesselring, and his mom Chrissy Kesselring, when you have the chance!  Hugh joined us last week from Roseville Area Schools and some home-schooling. That rounds out our 22 this year!

• Observe Little Elk in Action: Observations on Wednesdays, 9:00 am. You may sign up right here….

• Homework: I have been impressed by all the skill-building and home-front activities students are choosing for homework! The pictures you send in are great, too. I don't have a great way of consistently printing off your photos as our color printer is on the other side of the school. However, I will try to collect them and could always make a slideshow at the end of the year. 

• If a child looses homework or is absent on the Wednesday that I hand it out, please encourage your child to take responsibility for getting it. They can simply say, "John, can I please get this week's homework?" I always keep extra handouts in the room for those situations. I will be handing out new homework tomorrow (Wed., Nov. 14) and it will be due (Nov. 28).

• Off-Campus Thursdays: Thursdays, 1:00 are a time when we can leave campus to visit a park or a library. This Thursday we will head to McMurray Fields for some large-motor activity!

• Silent Read: As I wrote last month, please ask your child what they are reading in Silent Reading. If they are not excited with their book, please help them find one they like. Without a library at GRS, I need your support! Thank you!

• Conferences are just a few weeks away, and students will be preparing to share their work and goals with you. Please keep an eye out for a pre-conference e-mail detailing the general flow of conferences, as well as some questions to consider discussing with your child at home. We look forward to seeing you there!

In partnership,

John