Upper Intermediate Information and Guidelines
2008-2009
“What we learn in pleasure, we never forget” —Alfred Merier
Schedule of Specials
P.E./Music *
Tuesday – 10:15 to 10:45 & 10:45 to 11:15
Thursday – 2:15 to 2:45 & 2:45 to 3:15
Art *
Wednesday – 1:15 to 2:15 & 2:15 to 3:15
Library *
Wednesday – 1:00 to 2:00 & 2:30 to 3:15
Instrumental Music *
Tuesday & Thursday 8:15 to 8:45
Alternate Friday mornings at 8:15 to 8:45
Main Thematic Units
· Mexico
· Wyoming History
· Earth Science
· Scientific Process
Math Program
The Investigations program is our adopted math curriculum at Woods Learning Center. We have separated our students into 4th and 5th grade math groups to assure the scope and sequence for each level is addressed. Supplemental problem solving, math focus groups, computer math, and whole group activities will also be taught throughout. If your child has no math homework, they can always work on multiplication facts.
Spelling Program
Through baseline assessments from Words Their Way, each student has been placed in a developmental spelling group. Students will typically be given their spelling sorts on Wednesday mornings. At this time groups meet and talk about the spelling patterns, group their words into sorts, and take a pretest. The pretest is then scored and sent home in the homework folder. We retest the misspelled words on Monday morning. Words that are not spelled correctly on this test will be carried over to the next week for mastery. So look for the pretest on Thursday and the scored posttest in the Friday Folder.
Reading
The teaching of reading will be facilitated in a variety of ways this year, but mainly through small, guided novel groups. Students will meet with a teacher to demonstrate word attack skills, sequencing, summarizing, author’s intent, and comprehension. Also, one day a week students will have independent reading. During this time students read from self-selected literature. It is important that your child have available a good piece of literary work that is not too easy or difficult for them to read.
Homework Folders
Each night it will be your child’s responsibility to have his or her homework folder in order to finish assignments on time. Every folder has a weekly calendar inside, which should be filled out with each new assignment. They will be due on the date the assignment is written. As an Upper Intermediate student your child will be receiving more homework than they have in the past. We believe that each child should be taking more responsibility for their learning at this age, and with that comes more privileges. We feel it is a wise investment on the behalf of all stakeholders (teachers, parents, child) to make education our #1 priority. Please see that your child has a place to work and enough time to be able to turn in their best possible work.
Homeworkopoly
Homeworkopoly is a game we will be using as an incentive this year for students to finish their homework and get it in on time. Each Friday, those students who have turned in all of their assignments (on time) will be able to participate in the game during lunch. The game is designed like Monopoly, but altered to fit the classroom needs. There are prizes associated with the game and students will have the opportunity to work toward earning them.
Friday Folders
Friday Folders will go home weekly and are considered to be as important as homework. They will contain corrected homework for you to look over, as well as a number of other items for you to review. For example, this can include newsletters, book orders, sports notes, or announcements etc. After reading through the material please sign and date the inside cover. If you have any comments or questions please feel free to note them in the “comment” column.
Classroom Disruptions
Please check in at the front office and notify them when you will be visiting the UI pod. It is important that as parents you use discretion upon entering the classroom. There are times when activities are taking place and the students are very quiet or actively engaged. Any noise may become a distraction or disturbance. We would appreciate it if you would approach one of the teachers (preferably outside of the classroom) before speaking with your child.
Conferences
Our first parent-student-teacher conference will be October 23rd and 24th. If there are time conflicts or preferences please let us know early and we will try to accommodate you as best we can. Remember this is not a time to plan an extended vacation. Make up conferences will be scheduled in the event of emergencies only.
Parent Information
If you have a change in your address/phone #/email/etc. please notify the office immediately.
Student Dismissal
UI students will leave the building through the south end exit and wait in the fenced / grassy area on the south side of the building for pickup. Remember your child’s school day does not end until 3:15 Monday through Thursday and at 12:15 on Friday. Every minute is important to the school day.
School Dress
Appropriate dress is expected in all school settings. Any clothing deemed unacceptable will result in the student calling home for a change of clothes. If that is not possible, clothing will be provided from the laundry. Examples of inappropriate clothing are t-shirts with offensive language or t-shirts that advertise violence, drugs, alcohol, cigarettes etc.; clothes that are too short, too low, or too tight, spaghetti strap shirts, or muscleman shirts.
Snacks
Brain research tells us that nutritious foods are essential for good brain functioning and development. We hope all students will bring a nutritious snack to school each day. Sugar laden snacks do not provide adequate nutrition. The best snacks are fresh fruits and vegetables. In addition, it is not our intention to have snacks substitute for lunch, so please send a modest quantity.
Field Trips
This year we would like to provide opportunities to explore Wyoming and our western heritage through a series of educational learning experiences. The purpose of these field trips is to make available meaningful opportunities for learning beyond their daily classroom curriculum. The following dates have been tentatively scheduled for 2-day field trips:
Cody-Thermopolis (February 2-3, 2009):
· Visit several geological sites in Wind River Canyon
· Tour Buffalo Bill Cody Museum
· Buffalo Bill Dam-Cody
· Tour Hot Springs State Park
· Visit the Wyoming Dinosaur Center and Dig Site
Fort Laramie-Cheyenne (March 16-17, 2009):
· Guided tour through Fort Laramie National Historic Site
· Tour the Wyoming State Capitol
· Wyoming State Museum tour
· Frontier Park Museum visitation
· Other one-day field trips we are considering:
· Energy Focus Tour- Gillette and Devil’s Tower
· Independence Rock-Martin’s Cove
Traits to Live by
Academic content is not our only focus at Woods Learning Center. We believe it is also imperative to foster global, caring citizens who will be equipped to flourish in the 21st century. Therefore one of our goals is to nurture the following attributes in our classroom.
· Respectful
· Caring
· Cooperative
· Honest
· Open-minded
· Risk-takers
· Curious
· Independent
· Reflective
· Responsible
We will encourage students to recognize others who are displaying these traits by adding “Drops in the Bucket,” which we will be read every Friday.
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