If any of you have seen your children's teachers running around school after hours this week, you are not alone.
Teachers throughout the district have been busy stapling new pupil portraits on bulletin boards, gluing leaves to paper trees and placing educational hand-outs in colorful folders, all in the name of welcoming parents into their classrooms for Back to School Night!
That's right—the annual tradition of parents sitting in their children's chairs to listen to teachers unfold the curriculum for the school year is upon us! While Oak, Gardner Bullis and Springer schools held their Back to School Nights last week, Loyola, Santa Rita, Almond and Covington will open their doors to parents and guardians tonight (Thurs., Sept. 6), followed by assemblies on blacktops with campus principals who will introduce parents to all the grade-level teachers.
Teachers this year said they will be presenting the student expectations for the school year and will explain how parents can support their children and the classroom. Some of the programs being offered include Khan Academy, Foss science projects, Math enrichment as well as innovative reading and writing programs. Teachers across the district said they come together to share best practices, which in turn they share with parents in the form of grade level writing rubrics as well as hands-on projects to ensure student success, and an overall comprehensive learning experience.
Educators said they will also outline a plan for helping to build communities within the classroom to help the development of the whole child. Examples they offered include the district-wide Project Cornerstone program in which students work with teachers and classroom volunteers to understand tolerance and acceptance of each individual. The schools also offer buddy programs for younger students to work with older student mentors in an effort to promote school-wide communities.
Each school will also provide art and music programs, weekly library times and living classrooms in which students learn about gardening and life sciences.
Parent volunteers are always welcome to assist in these programs as well as other classroom help, so be sure to bring your pencils to sign up— and don't be late to class!!
