The Bear Necessities
December 6th, 2019
Severe Peanut Allergy
Wash your hands after you eat, be very conscientious about what you bring, where you eat it and did you wash you hands afterward. We will be monitoring for food coming out of cars and off of buses with children. We have signs up. This is serious and we know that you care about this new little learner and want to keep him safe, thanks for being vigilant!!
Hand washing Lesson with Alicia
Culture of Calling
Our program continues to be well respected in our community. I want to encourage this positive working relationship by reminding you of the POWER OF A PHONE CALL. I know many of you prefer email, but there is power in voice to voice conversation. You believe technology impacts students, and I want to extend your thinking to include families. Model how to have phone conversations to celebrate and solve problems.
2. If an email/text exchange is more than one paragraph or more than one reply to come to agreement, a call is necessary to avoid back-and-forth.
3. Make deposits before withdrawals. Send home positive notes or call to share share a celebration or just to check in. They'll know you love their kid when you do have to make a hard call. Your goal should be 4:1 positive to negative.
4. Email and text can be used once a relationship is established, but don't forget to call on the really hard or really great stuff. Also, remember there is a cell phone in our front office for ALL to use!! Trula will communicate with you if she hears back from the family!
December can be a little tricky to navigate....sensitivity to family differences is important
The main goal is that when our students of all cultures and faiths walk into our buildings and classrooms, they see themselves there and do not see themselves as "other" based on a focus on one particular (or a small few) holiday in their school or classroom.
What unintended messages may our physical spaces and lessons send to our students?
Some themes that are great in December and translate across cultures, religions, and value sets:
JOY, PEACE, KINDNESS, SERVICE, & GRACE
Perhaps one of those themes can become the focus for performances, decor and lessons in December!
These two articles are a nice short general summary of some key things to consider such as surface level references to holidays and certain holidays:
https://www.tolerance.org/magazine/avoiding-the-holiday-balance-traps
A couple of lesson plan ideas (or allow the themes above to guide lessons):
For primary grades: PreK -2
https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/lesson-plans/teaching-content/time-celebrate/
For intermediate through high school (adapt by age as needed)
Giving Tree is up in the Lobby
Student Files: PAT, TITLE, ECSE
Parking
Love being a learner?
UCM Host Teacher
Are you sick?
Our Week
Tuesday - Jeanie to home visit 11:30, Kerry to present at LSNHS 12:00
Wednesday - 10:00 Kerry to home visit, both here rest of the day
Thursday - 10-1:00 Kerry at SLC, Jeanie home visit 10:00
Friday - Kerry PDO, Jeanie out on home visits throughout the day