Hello, Parents:

This is the first blog for the school year.  I expect to use this mostly as a tool to communicate with parents about what is on the horizon as far as assignments.  I know some people worried last year that a blog would take the responsibility away from the children.  I am very into having the students be accountable for their work and ultimately their time management, which should serve them well as this is a transitional year before high school.  I give them five minutes at the end of every day to fill out their planners and I want them to write everything that applies to them.  I also ask that you as the parent review this with them and sign their planners once you've seen that the work is complete.

That said, here is what is on the homework board with a few additional comments by me:

1) Planner money $8 asap
2) Friendship Recipe due Wed.
3) Nametags due Monday Sept. 19
4) Canada Map test Thurs (I have marked their maps which were due today and will get them back to them tomorrow).
5) A Little About Me (an informational sheet) is due Tues and they will present them orally on Wed.
6) Spelling Pre-List #1 due Tues.

Ahh, yes, the Spelling Pre-List.  It causes much worry at the start of the year, but once the students do it once or twice, it becomes old hat.  Let me say that as a parent, I hope your time involvement in the Pre-List is around 8 - 15 minutes a week and then if you wish to stay involved as your child writes up their list, that is your choice.  This is a spelling and vocabulary program that I created a number of years ago taking parts of other programs that I liked.  It is individualized, so that in theory students are not doing words they already know.  It has generally been quite well-received by parents.

That is all for now.  I hope this blog gets lots of followers; it isn't the most exciting, but it can help to keep parents informed.  If you have friends who have children in this class and they are unsure how to log on, please feel free to teach them or send them my way.

Have a good Monday.

Mr. Sowden