Tuesday, November 25, 2014
Thursday, November 20, 2014
Thursday,
November 20, 2014
Dear Parents,
What
started out as a bet I lost to two students four summers ago, turned into a
wonderful experience that keeps on going. Evan and Leland, now seventh graders,
approached me at the end of the school year and proposed a bet. If the Los
Angeles Lakers won the NBA Championship, they would become teachers for the
day. I agreed, but said if the Cleveland Cavaliers won, they would have to wash
my car. As you know, my car still needs a wash and they became teachers for the
day. Over the summer I wished I had come up with this idea on my own. I’ve
always told the students that I’m not the only teacher in the classroom. Each
student is a teacher. Each student brings unique experiences and expertise to
our class and when he or she shares those gifts, the rest of us receive new
learning. Leland and Evan wanted to take over the class the first day of
school, but I told them they needed to take a teaching course first. They came
in several times during their lunch time and wrote lesson plans, practiced the
lessons they would teach, and promised to be professional. On Friday they came
dressed in ties, greeted the students at the door, conducted circle, gave math
lessons, spelling tests, and a volcano science lesson that Evan said, “had the
crowd going crazy”. After a few giggles from the students seeing their new
teachers, they settled in and were respectful to our guest teachers. The whole
day was a real joy for me to see these third graders demonstrate such
responsibility and see a little of myself in their teaching style. I was so
impressed and excited by the entire experience that it will forever be a right
of passage for every third grader to be teacher for the day. Thank you Leland
and Evan for your wonderful gift. On Friday, November 7th we continued the
tradition with Alan and Arthur taking over the teaching duties for the day.
They did a marvelous job teaching multiplication to the first graders, division
to the second graders, and algebra to the third graders, a fun science
experiment, gave spelling tests, and more. The students and I were impressed on
how peaceful and quietly everyone worked. It was a great day!
Our
class is going to have a Thanksgiving potluck on Tuesday, November 25 from
12:10-1:30 with Mr. Harjehausen’s class. Students will be making placemats,
cooking, and preparing for our guests. In addition to the items we make,
students may bring an item to share. So we don’t have 24 Jell-O molds, we will
have first graders bring fruit or a salad or a Jell-O mold, second graders a
dessert, and third graders a main dish item. Parents are welcome to join us for
the feast. This should be a fun event to get to know our neighbors and
celebrate our blessings.
The
next field trip will be on Thursday, December 11. We will walk to the
Performing Arts Center to see the musical, “Otherwise Known as Sheila the
Great”. We have been enjoying Judy Blume’s book in class. We will leave at
about 11:20 and return at about 1:20. I have included permission slips in
today’s folder.
On
Thursday, December 18 we will celebrate a successful first semester with a pool
party at West High Pool. We will drive to West High Pool at 12:45 and return at
3:00. I am sending this permission slip home today as well. Please note the due
date for the permission slip as Friday, December 5. The school district needs
my list of driving chaperones over a week ahead of time to have everyone
checked for insurance requirements. Thank you to Finn and Jessie’s grandparents
for generously sponsoring this pool party. We really appreciate it!
I
have sent homework home in today’s folder, but it will not be due until Friday,
December 5. There is no homework next week and I will not send home a folder
due to the Thanksgiving holiday.
My
parents will be visiting from Walla Walla, Washington and I am taking
Wednesday, November 26 off to spend some time with them. Please remind your
child to be on their best behavior for our visiting teacher that day. I have
had nothing but excellent reports from the other visiting teachers I’ve had in
the past. I expect the same this time as well. Thanks for your support.
Thanksgiving
is one of my favorite holidays. It is just a time for us to gather with friends
and family and reflect on the many things we are thankful for. I am very
thankful for your support at home with your children, all the volunteers that
help listen to students read, make copies, are able to join us on field trips,
and everything else that makes my job so enjoyable. I am thankful for such a
great group of students who care about each other, work well together, and are
not afraid to make mistakes and learn from them. I hope you all have a very
happy and healthy Thanksgiving holiday.
If you have any questions or
concerns, please email me at moyer_craig@asdk12.org
or call or write me a note.
Sincerely,
Craig Moyer
Thursday, November 13, 2014
Thursday, November 13, 2014
Dear Parents,
We have another field trip scheduled on Tuesday, November 18
when we walk to the Performing Arts Center to see “National Geographic Live!
The Lens of Adventure” which is a free trip! We will leave the school at about
9:45 and return at about 12:15. Chaperones please meet in Room 177 by 9:30.
The students have had fun building and rebuilding our
assortment of canned pumpkin and cranberry sauce for our Thanksgiving Food
Drive. Please continue to send in cans until Friday, November 21. I think the
students are planning to build some kind of jail cell for me, so if you don’t
hear from me next week please check in Room 177 and see if I need help getting
out. Thanks.
Our
class is going to have a Thanksgiving potluck on Tuesday, November 25 from
12:10-1:30 with Mr. Harjehausen’s class. Students will be making placemats,
cooking, and preparing for our guests. In addition to the items we make,
students may bring an item to share. So we don’t have 24 Jell-O molds, we will
have first graders bring fruit or a salad or a Jell-O mold, second graders a
dessert, and third graders a main dish item. Parents are welcome to join us for
the feast. This should be a fun event to get to know our neighbors and
celebrate our blessings.
The
students have had a great week working on the fundamental needs of humans,
spelling, math operations and facts, adverbs, writing, contractions, reading, geometry,
penmanship, and more.
If you have any questions or concerns, please e-mail me at moyer_craig@asdk12.org or call or write me a note.
Sincerely,
Craig Moyer
Thursday, November 6, 2014
Thursday, November 6, 2014
Dear Parents,
The students had a great time yesterday at the museum
creating structures that would survive an earthquake and creating their own
structures as well. The students were so engaged I think the chaperones and I could
have left and they wouldn’t have noticed. The problem was I don’t know whom I
had a harder time getting out of the building area when our time was done, the
students or the parents. We also enjoyed exploring all there was to do in the
Imaginarium. The students were excellent representatives of Denali Montessori
on the trip. Well done! Thank you again to all the chaperones that were able to
join us. You make it possible to do all these fun learning experiences.
We have another field trip scheduled on Tuesday, November 18
when we walk to the Performing Arts Center to see “National Geographic Live! The
Lens of Adventure” which is a free trip! We will leave the school at about 9:45
and return at about 12:15. I have sent this permission slip in today’s folder.
Denali Montessori is holding a canned food drive for
Thanksgiving items for the Food Bank. It’s a little different this year. The
Food Bank has specific needs for the holiday and each class has chosen specific
items to fill those needs. Our class has been asked to bring canned cranberry
sauce and canned pumpkin. We will build a giant structure in the classroom (something
along the lines of Stonehenge I’m sure) with the cans until the end of the
drive on Friday, November 21. I appreciate your donations ahead of time.
The
students have had a great week working on the measurement of time, spelling,
math operations, prepositions, writing, reading, penmanship, and more. This
class is really impressive in their work habits, how they work with each other,
and their love for learning. I am having a great time working with your kids.
Thank you for all your hard work you do at home with them.
If you have any questions or concerns, please e-mail me at moyer_craig@asdk12.org or call or write me a note.
Sincerely,
Craig Moyer
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