The first week has come and gone and the sixth graders are behaving like a team and finding their way around the school. Yesterday, I showed them a few short videos of what they will be doing tomorrow at the Trapeze Arts, and they are super excited about it. That trapeze is simply the best!
Last year's sixth graders, this year's seventh graders, were the first class to really become comfortable emailing me. I was glad that they felt free to do that. Now that are comfortable with that, I wanted them to learn more about email etiquette. How they email their friends is one thing, but emailing a teacher or another adult is different. In addition to email structure, we discussed, and did an activity on Internet safety.
I realize many of you do not want your children to have email accounts, and I certainly understand the reasoning for that. I do not encourage students to use email, I just want them to know how to use it formally for when they do begin.
We will start a short unit to prepare to see the play, As You Like It, then we will begin our first novel units.
The sixth grade will be reading, The Giver, by Louis Lowery. It is a great book to introduce utopian literature to children. The book is an easy read, but has huge ideas for us to discuss.
The seventh grade will be reading Breaking Through, by Francisco Jimenez. It is a book about a boy who came to the US illegally, and who now is a citizen who teaches at Santa Clara University. It is an inspiring book that brings up some questions of immigration ethics.
With both books, great discussions occur. I try to ask questions without telling the students how they should think, which is easy for me because I see all the sides of these issues and can understand the emotions on both ends. Both books are fascinating reads, should you want to read along with your child.
Please, questions, comments and concerns are welcome and I love the chance to interact with you, the parents of the best kids anywhere.
