Transcript No Slide Title

Classroom Newsletters
A Tool for
Communication and Publication
Diane S. Brown
OSU Writing Project Teacher Consultant
Teacher, Sand Springs Schools
[email protected]
Why a Weekly Newsletter?
• Parent Communication
– Increases the chances of your
messages getting home
– Faster than making phone calls
– Jokes and quotes prove you are
human
• Student Publishing
– Parents can read what students write
and compare against age peers (so
revealing!)
– Proves you value students’ writing
– Increases the chances that the
newsletter gets home
Newsletters - Overview
• Banner - Date - Issue Number Your Information
• Information Column
• Schedule Column
• Homework Column
– Spelling / Vocabulary Words
– Class Projects
– “Status of the Class” Updates
• Editorial Column
• Just for Laughs
• Student Work - Back Page
Volume 2
Edition 2
Week of
August 26
Room 318 News
Teacher - Mrs.. Brown -- Home Phone - 252-9350
Back to School Night?
This Thursday, August 28th,
is Back to School Night. This
year we will start in the Central
Junior High auditorium (right
next door) at 6 PM. Ms.
Chambers will introduce the
superintendent and the teachers,
then speak for a short time.
After the big meeting is over,
please make your way back to
the classroom. I will be there
with information about what
will happen during this school
year.
There will also be sign up
sheets for conferences in
October, and for our fall and
winter parties. You will get
information about special events
during the school year and be
able to ask questions.
I hope to see you there !
Schedules
Daily
8:20 - 8:35
Homeroom
8:35 - 9:50 Reading/Spelling
9:50 - 10:00 Break/Language
10:00 - 11:15 Math
11:15 - 11:55 English
11:55 - 12:05 Prepare for Lunch
12:05 - 12:45 Lunch / Recess
12:45 - 1:00 Drinks/Restroom
1:00 - 1:40 Resource
1:40 - 2:00 Break/Drinks
2:00 - 2:30 Science
2:30 - 3:00 Social Studies
3:00 - 3:10 Clean Up
3:10 - 3:30 DEAR
Resource
Monday Music
Tuesday P.E.
Wednesday - Computer
Thursday Music
Friday P.E.
Just for Laughs
You can’t have everything.
Where would you put it?
Quote for the Week:
When your child gets has trouble
with homework: 1) Have the child
explain to you what they are to do.
2) If the child can’t explain, write
me a note or call A.S.A.P.
3)
If emergencies prevent the child
from finishing, write me a note
rather than “helping” by doing the
work for him/her. Thanks.
Thank you for sending back the
reading log sheets. They help me
track reading outside of school.
Take the “t” out of “can’t”
and make it “can”.
Henry’s Rules (con’t)
3. Make sure you’re singing the
right song.
4. Take no bait.
5. Don’t back someone into a
corner
Sight Words
New Words - own,
below, country, plant,
last
Review Words - in, is,
you, that, it
Spelling Words sat
felt
last send
next
best went
hand
stand past
grand stamp belt
lend
checked
else
guest
attention heard
listen
Questions & Answers
Q) Why are children not
switching for Reading?
A) Because our new
reading series has English
grammar and writing
instruction included, we
are staying with our
regular classrooms for
reading. We will also be
doing spelling and Phonics
with our Reading groups.
Q) Why not Show & Tell?
A) Too many toys, not
enough tell.
Note -- Watch the back of
this newsletter for
children’s writing.
Volume 2
Edition 2
TheTheBack
Page
Place for Student Work
Week of
August 26
Last week, students in computer class sharpened their keyboarding skills by writing about
what happened this summer. Here are some of their stories - more next week
This Summer - by Virgil Noah
I went to see my brother and his car. He got
it from our sister. She gave it to him
because it had motor problems. And I went
fishing and swimming with him. Yesterday
I went to see Spy Kids Two. It was really
cool. They fought skeleton’s and sliced off
their heads. And they have the highest
technology in the world. And I went to my
friends’ and my cousin’s house.
This Summer - by Nakota Crowels
I went swimming in my pool and stayed
inside. I played with my dog. I stayed in
my house.
This Summer - by Kyle Ash
This summer I went camping. I saw two
big lizards. I caught one. Then I went to
Texas. I went to a wrestling tournament and
I got first place.
This Summer - by Cody Marshall
I went to Frontier City and White Water
Bay. I started tackle football.
This Summer - by Matt Mays
I played on my Intendo 64 and went
swimming. I went to the library and went
to the movie theater.
This Summer - by John Ivy
I went to the pool a couple of times. I went
to my aunt’s house to play two video games.
I went to my Gramma’s house to spend the
night with my little brother. That’s about it.
This Summer - by Amber Hudgins
I went swimming. I watched movies. I
played games. I went to the zoo. I sat
around and watched T.V. I went to OKC.
This Summer - by Katie Beard
I went swimming at my best friend’s house.
Her name is Susan. I went to see a play with
my sister. It was called Alice in Wonderland.
It was fun. And I went to see my Gramma in
Arkansas, but it was NOT fun.
This Summer - by Will Phillips
I played video grams. Then, I played with
my little cousin.
This Summer - by Maymie Bird
I went to fireworks. I went to Walt Disney
World and I had fun. I played in the white
sand. I played in the pool. I had a ball. I
played with it in the pool. It was me and my
mom.
This Summer - by Bernard Nortey
This summer I got on my Dad’s computer
and went to Planet Hot Wheels.com. Then I
went swimming. Then I went to my Dad’s
friend’s house and played video games.
This Summer - by Dakota Glenn
I rode my bike and watched T.V. I played
with toys and swam at my Grandma’s house.
Anatomy of a Newsletter
• Page Set Up Considerations
• Banner
• Number of Columns - Column
Dividers
• Placement of Regular Features
• Placement of Special Features
• Font Sizes and Characteristics
• Back Page
Volume 2
Edition 2
Room 318 News
Week of
August 26
Teacher - Mrs.. Brown -- Home Phone - 252-9350
This helps
you track which
year and edition
This helps you track
which week so you can
use the same
information next year
This is
the banner.
Put your phone
number here for
parents to find.
Save the center for
the important, but
routine things.
This provides
stability.
Schedules
Daily
8:20 - 8:35
Homeroom
8:35 - 9:50 Reading/Spelling
9:50 - 10:00 Break/Language
10:00 - 11:15 Math
11:15 - 11:55 English
11:55 - 12:05 Prepare for Lunch
12:05 - 12:45 Lunch / Recess
12:45 - 1:00 Drinks/Restroom
1:00 - 1:40 Resource
1:40 - 2:00 Break/Drinks
2:00 - 2:30 Science
2:30 - 3:00 Social Studies
3:00 - 3:10 Clean Up
3:10 - 3:30 DEAR
Resource
Monday Music
Tuesday P.E.
Wednesday - Computer
Thursday Music
Friday P.E.
Just for Laughs
You can’t have everything.
Where would you put it?
Quote for the Week:
Take the “t” out of “can’t”
and make it “can”.
The children did a great
job turning in their
homework this week.
Thank you for the
support.
Put anything
that changes
weekly into a
separate
text box.
That way the
text won’t
slide around
every week
when you
adjust it.
Quote Web Sites
• www.quoteland.com
• http://tqpage.com
• http://www.justquotes.com
• www.motivationalquotes.com
(Some annoying pop up ads)
• http://daremore.com/quotes.
html
Joke Web Sites
• http://www.comedyzone.net/jokes/index.html
• www.jokes.com
• http://www.ahajokes.com
• www.the-jokes.com
• www.jokesplace.com
• http://www.jokesnjokes.net
Advice Web Sites
• http://www.positiveparenting.com
• http://www.parenting.org
• http://www.about.com/parenting/
• http://www.parentingteen.com/
• http://parentingtoolbox.com
• http://www.parenthood.com
• http://www.parentingisprevention.
org
Here’s a
great spot for
sight words, vocabulary
for the week and spelling.
Be sure to put each in a
separate box to save
you time and
headaches
Sight Words
New Words - own,
below, country, plant,
last
Review Words - in, is,
you, that, it
Spelling Words sat
felt
last send
next
best went
hand
stand past
grand stamp belt
lend
checked
else
guest
attention heard
listen
Questions & Answers
In a
Q. and A. Column
you can deal with
problems unique
to a class or
a certain time
of year.
Q) Why are children not
switching for Reading?
A) Because our new
reading series has English
grammar and writing
instruction included, we
are staying with our
regular classrooms for
reading. We will also be
doing spelling and Phonics
with our Reading groups.
Q) Why not Show & Tell?
Remember
to pique
curiosity
A) Too many toys, not
enough tell.
Note -- Watch the back of
this newsletter for
children’s writing.
Back to School Night?
This Thursday, August 28th,
is Back to School Night. This
year we will start in the Central
Junior High auditorium (right
next door) at 6 PM. Ms.
Chambers will introduce the
superintendent and the teachers,
then speak for a short time.
Here’s your chance
to editorialize.
Parenting news
groups on the web
are a good source
of topics and info.
After the big meeting is over,
please make your way back to
the classroom. I will be there
with information about what
will happen during this school
year.
There will also be sign up
sheets for conferences in
October, and for our fall and
winter parties. You will get
information about special events
during the school year and be
able to ask questions.
I hope to see you there !
Note:
The lines separating
the columns stay consistent
every week. The size
of the columns
may change.
Volume 2
Edition 2
TheTheBack
Page
Place for Student Work
Week of
August 26
Last week, students in computer class sharpened their keyboarding skills
by writing about what happened this summer. Here are some of their
stories - more next week
Fill page with
student work,
photos, etc.
Brief explanation of
writing assignment.
Other Newsletter
Formats
Name
Dear Parents,
Week of September 16-20, 2002
My Homework This Week
Tuesday: Story: Re-Read in class & home
Phonics: Letter “K k”
Math: Graphing
Spelling: Study
Wednesday: Story: Re-Read
No
Homework
Tonight
Thursday:
Progress
Reports
Come Home
Today
Friday:
Phonics: Assessment
Math: Assessment
Spelling: Study
1. at
2. lot
3. lap
4. nap
5. pat
6. tan
7. lip
8. tap
9. zip
10. pit
Story: Re-Read
Phonics: Letter “C c”
Math: Addition Number Sentences
Spelling: Study
Story: Re-Read in Class
Phonics: Review Day
Math: Review Day
Spelling: Test Today !
Mrs. Deb Lee
“Joy” in our class !
Parents,
Apple Unit - Johnny Appleseed /
Mr. John Chapman
Story: “Ants” (all week)
Phonics: Letter “R r”
Math: Dividing a Solid in Half
Spelling: New List
Please remind your child to return their
reader each day
Science / Social Studies
Monday:
Graphics Web Sites
• http://www.clip-artgallery.com/in.php
• http://www.bestclipart.com
• http://www.clipartconnexion.
com
• Remember: TANSTAAFL (*)
– Invest in time looking for free
art on line
– Invest in a good clip art program
– (I like Sierra Print Artist 4.0)
* There Ain’t No Such Thing As A Free Lunch