Back to school night information

Happy Friday to everyone! Winding up our fourth week of school and second full week leaves me feeling like we are all working hard. The kids are settling into a routine and getting into the real work of the new grade level. Parents are working hard to manage jobs, school pick-ups, extracurricular activity shuffles, not to mention dinner and bedtimes. Teachers are getting to know a new group of students as well as a new schedule, and then working hard to adjust what they do to meet the needs of the children in their classes.  Each year is the same (start time, end time, commute, after school commitments, etc.) yet entirely different for each of us (new teachers, classroom, division, etc.). We should all take the time to be mindful of this work, and take the time to give ourselves a restorative break. The long weekend coming up in a couple of weeks will be well-timed and much needed. 

For those that made it to Back to School Night last night, I hope you found it informative and helpful. Even when I re-visit a grade with my younger son for the second time, I still find myself learning new things. 

A couple of things from last night that I wanted to pass along  in case you were unable to make it.  

• First, Michael Gurian is coming on October 20th and I really feel so many of you will enjoy his presentation. After hearing him speak last fall and reading one of his books this summer, I often find myself reflecting on his findings for myself, in my relationship with my husband, and how I support my own children and all of the students amongst us. 
• If are able to go and have not already, please register for the evening presentation. Registration It will be in the Great Hall so space is a bit limited. 
• We have two copies of four of his books available for purchase in the bookstore now. We also have a few copies of his books in the library for check-out. The night of the event, we will have copies of these books available for purchase as well during the book signing aspect of the evening.   
• Social-emotional support in the lower school- I put together a document outlining the social-emotional support I provide in the classroom at each grade level. It was neat for me to see it put together in one document and I would love to share it with you all. Here it is SEL in the Lower School

Until next time, take care.

Going slow to go fast at home

Happy new school year to everyone! I hope the start of school has been positive for kids and adults alike, and transitions are becoming smoother and easier.  In this first blog post of the year, I wanted to touch on something Vicki Ball referenced in her letter last week- going slow to go fast. This is a mantra we use quite a bit at Annie Wright, and evidence of it is apparent in all three divisions. In the middle and upper schools, the first days include an orientation in and out of school for students to get to know each other and the routines of school at Annie Wright. Lower school teachers feel like they spend days orienting their students to life in a new grade. In all divisions, a great deal of time and attention is spent on learning expectations and routines so that students are clear from the start. Teachers even surprise themselves, recognizing a need to slow down more than expected as they ready a new group of students for the new year. The class they said goodbye to in June were very different than the one they welcomed earlier in the year in August.  A new group each fall reminds us of the amazing growth each group makes in the course of a year. A Responsive Classroom teacher calls what can feel like a snails pace to the "Tai Chi phase of second grade... [the goal] to build a sense of independence and ownership of our classroom."Responsive Classroom Taking the time to learn the routines in a really methodical way makes the rest of the year much easier and the scale of what students can accomplish much greater. 

Great news- you can also make life easier at home by going slow to go fast! Being intentional as you set up expectations and routines as they relate to homework, bedtime, meal time, family time, chores, screen time and extracurricular activities is critical in finding success (and more importantly not battling endlessly) at home in this new school year. Many of you have some tried and true strategies that work for your child, while others find that with each new developmental stage, a new strategy is needed. For tips and ideas, no matter the age or stage:

Sleep:

• Back to School Sleep Tips
• Bedtime routines

And that helpful sleep chart I posted last year-

Screen time:

• Establishing boundaries and rules
• Guidance on screen time

Homework: 

• Getting your child organized
• Being a balanced authoritarian dolphin parent (say what?!) when it comes to homework

Chores:

• Why children need chores

In preparation for our visit from Michael Gurian next month (mark your calendars- Thursday, Oct. 20th), some of you may want to check out a film being screened in Tacoma next Friday, Sept. 16th. The Mask You Live In follows boys and young men as they struggle to stay true to themselves while negotiating America’s narrow definition of masculinity. The Mask You Live In 

Until next time, take care!

Going slow to go fast at home

Happy new school year to everyone! I hope the start of school has been positive for kids and adults alike, and transitions are becoming smoother and easier.  In this first blog post of the year, I wanted to touch on something Vicki Ball referenced in her letter last week- going slow to go fast. This is a mantra we use quite a bit at Annie Wright, and evidence of it is apparent in all three divisions. In the middle and upper schools, the first days include an orientation in and out of school for students to get to know each other and the routines of school at Annie Wright. Lower school teachers feel like they spend days orienting their students to life in a new grade. In all divisions, a great deal of time and attention is spent on learning expectations and routines so that students are clear from the start. Teachers even surprise themselves, recognizing a need to slow down more than expected as they ready a new group of students for the new year. The class they said goodbye to in June were very different than the one they welcomed earlier in the year in August.  A new group each fall reminds us of the amazing growth each group makes in the course of a year. A Responsive Classroom teacher calls what can feel like a snails pace to the "Tai Chi phase of second grade... [the goal] to build a sense of independence and ownership of our classroom."Responsive Classroom Taking the time to learn the routines in a really methodical way makes the rest of the year much easier and the scale of what students can accomplish much greater. 

Great news- you can also make life easier at home by going slow to go fast! Being intentional as you set up expectations and routines as they relate to homework, bedtime, meal time, family time, chores, screen time and extracurricular activities is critical in finding success (and more importantly not battling endlessly) at home in this new school year. Many of you have some tried and true strategies that work for your child, while others find that with each new developmental stage, a new strategy is needed. For tips and ideas, no matter the age or stage:

Sleep:

• Back to School Sleep Tips
• Bedtime routines

And that helpful sleep chart I posted last year-

Screen time:

• Establishing boundaries and rules
• Guidance on screen time

Homework: 

• Getting your child organized
• Being a balanced authoritarian dolphin parent (say what?!) when it comes to homework

Chores:

• Why children need chores

In preparation for our visit from Michael Gurian next month (mark your calendars- Thursday, Oct. 20th), some of you may want to check out a film being screened in Tacoma next Friday, Sept. 16th. The Mask You Live In follows boys and young men as they struggle to stay true to themselves while negotiating America’s narrow definition of masculinity. The Mask You Live In 

Until next time, take care!