IMPORTANT DATES: Fri, Oct. 14 NO SCHOOL: Statewide In-Service Tues, Oct. 18, 3:15-4:00: TRUE Rehearsal Thurs, Oct. 20, 3:15-4:00: TRUE Rehearsal Tues, Oct. 25, 3:15-4:00: TRUE Rehearsal Thurs, Oct. 27, 3:15-4:00: TRUE Rehearsal Mon., Oct. 31 & Tues., Nov. 1 NO SCHOOL: Parent/Teacher Conferences Tues, Nov.1 , 3:15-4:00: ****NO TRUE Rehearsal**** Thurs, Nov. 3, 3:15-4:00: TRUE Rehearsal Saturday, Nov. 5, 5-5:30pm TRUE Performance: Whirled Pies Downtown (8th and Charnleton) Fri, Nov. 11 NO SCHOOL: Veteran's Day Fri., Nov. 11 ALL DAY TRUE Performance, Oregon School Board Association Conference, Portland + Portland Mini-Concerts Fri, Nov. 18, 6-8:30pm Barnes & Noble Bookfair--TRUE + Performance Sat., Nov. 19, 5-5:30pm TRUE Performance, Axe & the Fiddle, Cottage Grove Tuesday, Nov. 29, 3:15-4:00: First ALL-IN TRUE Rehearsal ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Dear Middle School Family, I'm
happy to report that nothing spectacular happened this week. We're
taking our time settling into the routines and structure of our days and
tasks this year. It is such a luxury to be able to slow down and
really pay attention to how well (or not well) things are working. We're
smoothing out the kinks, for sure. The
work load in my classes right now is light. I'm more concerned with
the quality of the students' writing than I am with volume of
production. Having the opportunity to sit down with each student and go
over every one of their more 'in-depth' assignments together is proving
to be a valuable experience for all of us. Maizzy and I are literally
sitting down with students and circling and underlining, and writing
notes on their work as we talk with them. The
bar is high for each student, according to where they're working from.
And most (not all) of the students are going back and revising their
work. I had to (not kidding) put a cap on the number of times Maizzy and I would look at a piece of work. Students are allowed ONE re-evaluation. "But... But..." "Have a peer read it, and give you feedback before you re-submit it..." Peer
feedback, as the students grow to better understand what good feedback
looks like, is also growing in practical value. We're going to work
more on this in the coming weeks, helping the students build the skills
to give and utilize! peer feedback. I'll
continue to refine this whole feedback/assessment/support process as
the year goes on. We are sincerely teaching each student to grow their
writing ability from where they are at right now, no matter where
they're at. Writing well is like weaving spells: it's Magic, when it works! We'll
keep working on it. There will be a lot of messy process writing in
short bursts, but when it comes to the edited work, the focus will be
Quality over Quantity. Have a lovely weekend, Jon and Maizzy  |
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