Frequently Asked Questions: This page contains answers to common questions
of students and parents.
- How much homework do you assign?
- How much help do I give my child?
- How do we spend our 20 minutes of reading?
- So what do you mean by reading choices?
- Can I bring in cupcakes to celebrate a birthday?
- What are class meetings?
- I couldn't get all the supplies. Will that be a problem?
- My child needs some extra help. What can I do?
- My child needs an extra challenge. What can I do?
- Is it true that there are some changes in attendance procedures?
- What makes your classroom unique?
- How can I be more involved in the classroom?
- How can we show appreciation for all you do?
- What is your philosophy as a teacher?
- HERE'S TO A FANTASTIC SCHOOL YEAR!!!
- What did your 2010 student teacher think about the experience in your classroom?
How much homework do you assign?
First of all, we have homefun; NOT homework! My goal is to make
homefun a positive experience that both you and your child can
look forward to doing each night. I am adamant that your child do
no more than
30 minutes of homework a night and 20 minutes of
that MUST be reading. I send home a game that should be played
for the last ten minutes. If your child is having fun doing the
game and they want to play on, then by all means, let them! But
please, don't ever let homefun become a negative family
experience!
How much help do I give my child?
My goal is to make homefun a time of pleasure. If your child
needs help with the game, by all means help them out. But
remember that they are there to help you out, too! While I will
check all game cards, none will be counted as grades towards your
child's
report card. After all, this is designed to be practice and
fun! Enjoyment
with NO PRESSURE! Who grades practice? Who grades fun?
How do we spend our 20 minutes of reading?
Again, I would like to make this a choice activity for you and
your child. Let them pick how they want to read: buddy reading
simultaneously with you, listening to you read, tandem reading
where you take turns reading, reading to a sibling or pet, or
even reading the TV! Yes, I did say reading the TV! All you do
is click on the Closed Caption option on your TV remote. The
words of your child's favorite TV show will be displayed at the
bottom of the screen. They can read and watch at the same time!
The trick is to mix it up so reading never becomes boring. Use a
different
reading strategy every night. And vary the type of
reading materials. These choices will be recorded on your
child's reading log
which you are responsible for signing!
So what do you mean by reading choices?
Just to give your child choices. Sometimes you should read an
advanced chapter book above their own reading ability to expose
them to advanced vocabulary. Sometimes, it should be a story
from their younger years that is as comfortable as a favorite
teddy bear. If they have an interest that is a passion, find
special books or magazines that feed that interest. Don't forget
newspapers,
letters, web sites, etc. And mix up the types of readings:
mysteries,
realistic fiction, informational books, science fiction, fantasy,
poetry,
biographies, etc.
Can I bring in cupcakes to celebrate a birthday?
Every family is encouraged to donate snacks every once in a
while. However,we do not celebrate birthdays out of respect for
the religious beliefs that choose not to celebrate these times.
Join us in showing tolerance and respect for those beliefs.
Please leave any donated items in the school office. Your child
will bring a friend to pick them up!
What are class meetings?
Class meetings are a forum for praise and problem solving. Every
day, before
we get on the bus, the students are encouraged to make I-
statements. These
begin: I really like it when... did... because it made me feel...
OR I didn't
like it when ...
did/said ... because it made me feel.... Each child has the
opportunity to respond to the I-statement with their own I-
statement. This nips any problems in the bud! I stress with
the children that this is NOT tattling, it is problem solving.
If you can't talk about a problem, you can't solve it.
Especially when your friend doesn't know that something is
bothering you! Likewise, everyone has the right to be recognized
when they do
a kind, wonderful action. This gives us a place to celebrate
those
wonderful,helpful behaviors.
I couldn't get all the supplies. Will that be a problem?
I have a wide assortment of school supplies in the classroom that
are available to every student. I encourage students to help
themselves! We are always in need of pencil donations!
My child needs some extra help. What can I do?
Begin by using this web site as a resource! Explore the various
options to find the games and review that will strengthen your
child's skills. Please, let me know right away if your child is
feeling particular anxiety about a subject or project.
My child needs an extra challenge. What can I do?
Again, begin by using this web site as a resource! Explore the
various options to find the games and challenges that will
stretch your child's skills. I will add new options throughout
the year as I find and develop them, so keep checking for cool
stuff!
Is it true that there are some changes in attendance procedures?
YES! We are now using a computer program, School Tools, across
the entire district. Your child MUST be on time, as the
attendance is sent, via computer, to the office just ten-fifteen
minutes after school begins at 8:20. Also, students who are
absent MUST bring in a note explaining the reason for their
absence. Whether or not a note is brought in, a permanent record
is
maintained of illegal and legal absences!
What makes your classroom unique?
The students in our classroom play a leadership role in many
ways. We are the force behind the annual UNICEF campaign. We
run the Mother's Day Plant Sale with the ASM PTA. We read to
younger students, pass out books from Gabriel's Library (a means
of donating
gently used books to students with little or no books at home),
and publish
our own books. We are trying to start a recycling program for
juice bags in
the ASM cafeteria. Plus, we include students with autism from
Mrs.
Sangaline's class in our classroom activities. Over the Christmas
and Easter
break we participate in a Read to Feed program through Heifer
International.
The list keeps growing every year as students find new ways to
contribute to
their local and world community.
How can I be more involved in the classroom?
If you would like to volunteer to work in our classroom there are
several
options. I would like to start a Secret Surprise Reader to come
into the
classroom and do read aloud stories with the kids every Friday.
We can even
do these read alouds on our Smart Board if you want to use
Logitech Vid to
connect to us from home or work. (It is a free download!)
If your family has come to America from another country, I am
always looking
for first person accounts telling our children what the immigrant
experience
is like today. Plus, I love to give children the opportunity to
see another
country through the eyes of people who lived there.
If you would like to be involved in helping with special projects
(UNICEF,
Read to Feed, Mother's Day Plant Sale, walking field trips, etc.)
there will
be sign up sheets at our first Meet the Teacher night and at
Parent
conferences in October and November.
I am also looking for some parents who would be willing to work
one-to-one
with students during our Language Arts block to input information
in the
computer for Reading trading cards. This wouldn't start until
October once we
have our classroom routine going strong.
More ideas will occur to me as the year progresses. If you have
a special
area of interest, cultural tradition or holiday, etc. that you
would like to
share with the class just let me know. We would love to hear from
you!
How can we show appreciation for all you do?
Kids love to give presents, so I would never discourage you from
getting a
small gift. Even so, our school encourages donations to the
Arlington
Foundation in a teachers name. These funds are then given out in
grants to
teachers in our area. If you really want to get something
personal, my
favorite gifts are handmade items from the children, but gift
cards to Barnes
& Noble, Adams, the Parent Teacher Store, or Amazon.com are
FANTASTIC! I
spend way too much money (The exact amount is a secret from my
husband!) on
our classroom, but that's because I want the best books, games,
and
manipulatives to excite and engage your children. So your gift
really gets
spent on the kids just the way I like it!
What is your philosophy as a teacher?
Ahhhh! The best question saved for last! I believe every child
has the ability to fulfill their potential. I believe every
child is a treasure to be cherished, respected, and nurtured. I
believe that the love of learning is a habit for a lifetime that
can be instilled or squashed any second of any day. I believe
that the best teachers will try anything, do anything to help a
child succeed!
HERE'S TO A FANTASTIC SCHOOL YEAR!!!
I can't wait to get started!
What did your 2010 student teacher think about the experience in your classroom?
Dear Mrs. Hodaba,
Everything in your classroom has a place. There is a book or series to capture the attention of each student in your class.
There is a resource ranging from glue sticks to gel pens for your students to use as needed. You enrich their learning through
the use of technology and artistic creation. Your practices and procedures instill a sense of independence in students, while
also reminding them that they are part of a whole. You expose them to things that evoke compassion within them, the major
example being UNICEF. You take pride in your work, and push for errorless learning in which each child learns from their
mistakes. Your classroom runs like a well-oiled machine, and you make it look effortless.
I would like to thank you for exposing me to a variety of different classroom management techniques. I would also like to
thank you for exposing me to an integrated classroom, where lessons stretch across the content areas. I would like to thank
you for showing me the capabilities of a struggling student. I would like to thank you for showing me the downfalls of a
higher level learner. I would like to thank you for always thinking on your feet and taking advantage of every teachable
moment. I would like to thank you for teaching me a new language, characterized by positive reinforcement and explicit
redirection. Thank you for advising me to not listen or join in on any negative talk about students. I would like to thank
you for giving me the opportunity to challenge myself to plan for others, and to create a learning environment that is
multi-dimensional. I would like to thank you for being so in tune with your classroom and with your students. I would like
to thank you for the extra time you devoted to assisting me in planning, and to explaining the dynamics of a classroom.
I would like to thank you for accepting only I-messages from students and teaching them important problem solving skills.
I would like to thank you for being a tolerant and compassionate person, and for accommodating all your learners. I would
like to thank you for every past experience you shared with me.
I would like to thank you for all of these things and more because these are all of the principles that you instilled in me.
I aspire to be half the teacher that you are. I aspire to create a classroom that is comparable to yours. I aspire to
accommodate for all learning levels and styles. I aspire to be like you because you make a significant difference in the
lives of your students. You are truly the unforgettable teacher. Your effect on your students stretches beyond the confines
of your classroom and beyond the realm of third grade. I am happy to have found a place in your classroom among all the
enrichment games, the books that students lose themselves in, the materials that enhance their learning among such a profound
person as yourself. Thank you for everything. Best of luck in all of your future endeavors, but don't work too hard!
Sincerely,
Cait Frank