Dear Shingobee Families,
We hope you all enjoyed a restful and relaxing Winter Break. 2018 has gotten off to a positive start in Shingobee. As the first semester draws to a close, students are reflecting on their learning, setting new goals, and cultivating a growth mindset. In particular, we have discussed how humans learn according to current neuroscience and social science research, which highlights the importance of practice, challenge, and hands-on experience to "stretch" the mind. Upper elementary is a time when the brain makes some of the most neural connections, so it's important to take advantage and learn new things!
During the month of January, Shingobee students have continued to engage in whole-class cultural studies. In history, students are exploring civics and the structure of our political system, including studies of the Bill of Rights, the legislative process and the branches of government. We hope to arrange a field trip to the State House to complement this work. Students are also writing persuasive letters to school community members advocating for positive changes to GRS--popular requests include a library and playground to accompany our new building, and increased use of computers for homework. In science, students have been studying different aspects of global climate change, including the greenhouse effect, the carbon cycle, and the difference between weather and climate. Thanks to a homemade weather station, we now have a daily weather report so we can track our ever-changing conditions! Recent small group lessons have looked at fraction and decimal concepts, measurement and angles, the pythagorean theorem, and the history of pi.
Now that we have begun the second half of the year, we are looking to make more connections outside our classroom. We seek your support with a few things:
1) Going Out Chaperones: We are in need of parent volunteers to accompany students on Going Outs within walking distance of GRS.
2) Storytelling and Job Talks: We are looking for interested family and community members to give short presentations on their work, or tell stories about an aspect of their lives. Volunteers are invited to eat lunch with students on Fridays and give a ten minute talk followed by a short Q and A. Please send an e-mail if you would like to sign up. The purpose of this program is to help inspire students and encourage grace and courtesy with guests.
3) Librarian Assistance: We are hoping to reorganize our library by genre, and would love some help re-shelving books. Donations of baskets to help keep the genres separate are also welcome.
Finally, a few classroom reminders:
- Please remind your student that homework is due on Tuesday. We are looking into setting up a homework completion time outside of school, and will keep you updated.
- The cold season is still here, and we actively seek Kleenex donations to soothe all those sniffly noses!
- As we continue to adapt to the constraints of our food preparation facilities, we encourage families bringing snack send dry goods or whole fruits only (i.e. no peanut butter, salsa, or spreads) for the classroom. Thank you so much for your understanding.
We are grateful for your partnership and support at home, and look forward to seeing you in March at conference time! As always, feel free to e-mail or call with questions, or drop by our office hours on Wednesdays from 3:15-4:15. Stay tuned for upcoming calendar events and the next Critter Cash Committee update.
In closing, here is a quote from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. from a
1947 essay on the purpose of education.
“The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. But education which stops with efficiency may prove the greatest menace to society. The most dangerous criminal may be the man gifted with reason, but with no morals. Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.”
Warmly,
Amanda and Alaina
