Community Building

I believe that building a strong classroom community is essential.  For students to be able to learn and grow, they need to be in a school environment where they feel valued and value others.  Therefore, a significant portion of the first few weeks of school are dedicated to social relations, communication skills, conflict resolution, and team building.

Our classroom community is built on three important concepts:  Respect, Responsibility, and Reciprocity.  We use traditional Tlingit values (Southeast Traditional Tribal Values “Our Way of Life”) and the Tribes agreements (mutual respect, right to pass, appreciations – no put-downs, and attentive listening) to guide our thoughts and actions.  My goal is for our classroom to be a safe and caring environment in which all kids feel accepted and find success.

Lingít

We are fortunate to share each day with Seigóot, Jessica Chester, and Grandma Selina Everson teaching us Lingít.  Sealaska Heritage Institute’s curriculum units will be incorporated into our studies, as well as many other resources.   We will depend upon knowledge-bearers in our community to teach us traditional essential knowledge about math, science, history, geography, literacy, and much more. 

Curriculum

*      JSD Curriculum standards can be found on the website, http://www.juneauschools.org.  (Click on the “District” tab, then “Instructional Services,” then “Curriculum.”) 

*      Lingít:  Sealaska Heritage Institute’s curriculum units include audio files for pronunciation.  They are online at  http://www.sealaskaheritage.org/programs/language_and_culture_curriculum_tlingit.htm

*      Reading:  Our classroom literacy program includes many different components.  Most of our reading will be literature-based.  This will include reading groups, shared reading, guided reading (especially non-fiction texts in social studies and science), individual silent reading, reader buddies, and more.  We will explore different genres, analyze components of literature, and develop reading strategies. 

The most important part of reading that you can help with is making sure your child gets at least 20 minutes of reading every day.

*      Writing:  Our writing workshop also has many components, including word work and spelling, writing in a variety of genres and for specific purposes, and working through the writer’s process to publication.  Be looking for our published works this year!

*      Math:  Our district uses the Trailblazers curriculum.  This text will be our primary source, supplemented by other resources.  An essential skill is memorization of multiplication facts, and without facts from 0 to 12 memorized, math becomes even more difficult in later grades.   Your child will come home with different resources to practice these multiplication facts.

*      Science:  This year in our science curriculum loop we are focusing on the following Essential Questions:  What defines an ecosystem?  What forces of nature shape the earth?  What is the water cycle, and what forms does water take?

*      Social Studies:  Alaska Studies will cover the geography, climates, and ecosystems of Alaska’s regions.  We will also learn about Alaska’s history and extraordinary cultures.  The underlying theme of our studies is how the resources of the land shape our cultures and our identities. 

*      (Science and Social Studies will be interchanged throughout the school year.)