McGill

Mountain Language Evaluation in Mr. McGill’s Class:

Dear Parents,

         

          This year in room 401, we are using Mountain Language to review grammar conventions and spelling.  This program is designed to enable students to recognize errors in written language by proofreading, locating accurate examples, and indicating corrections. 

          Each week Mountain Language is used, students have several days to complete the twenty (20) questions which are on the answer sheets.  The different prompts posted on the classroom wall will change from week to week.  The students’ answer sheet remains the same each week Mountain Language is used.

          Rather than simply earning grades for the correctly answered responses, I have challenged students to set goals of improvement for themselves.  I would like them to monitor their growth using a graph they will complete each time they earn points for correct answers on the Mountain Language sheets.  Over time, students can evaluate their graphs and determine whether their study habits are helping them or not.

          Students can use the tool of the graph to validate their efforts as well as identify when they have had difficulty.  If they notice that they are having the most difficulty with proofreading sentence structures, then they may focus their efforts on this area and see if  their review may help their performance. 

          In using this approach, I hope to empower students to take responsibility and control over their own success.  By graphing their results, I am asking them to view and reflect upon their performance each time they attempt the skill application.  We are looking for incremental improvement rather than perfection. 

          I truly appreciate all your efforts to make our class successful!  Feel free to contact me with any questions about this.

Sincerely,

Alex McGill

Join us in room 401! We enjoy helping hands!

                                                        September 26, 2007

Dear families in Mr. McGill’s Class, 

It has been a pleasure to spend the last six weeks with our students and learn their interests, insights, and ideas.  Garrison Mill certainly is fortunate to have the thinking minds congregated here!

            At open house, I invited anyone interested in classroom involvement to join us in the room.  We still need you!  If you were contacted by a room coordinator and the times offered to you did not work, do not despair.  We can work with you to have your input happen.  Here are some key areas of need that could benefit all our students:

Organizational help, (a/k/a the Desk Fairy):

Even the most deep-thinking minds can use some organizational help, guidance, and mental mapping.  Students often become overwhelmed with possibilities and have a hard time determining priorities.  If you enjoy helping others “make sense of it all”, then perhaps you could be our “desk fairy”.   J 

Referee or Game Master:

When we are in rotation for Math, Language Arts/Reading, or Science, there are many times when students have options for card or board games, review activities, or fact memorization.  You don’t have to be an expert to help the kids have a good time while learning and developing their skills.  A sense of fun and fairness is all that is really required! 

Media Guide: 

Ours is a class of broad readers, but we have moments of uncertainty when it comes to locating the best possible material for a personal interest, a current obsession, or a report.  A thoughtful, patient parent would be really valuable here. Students who need help with Accelerated Reader or one of its identified books will also benefit from your involvement.  Usually, we would have you visit us during a Reading rotation, but if you have a different time you would be able to come, (before school is a great time) we can make it happen. 

These are just some of the areas where you could be involved in our students’ lives this year.  You could be the parent whose involvement makes the difference!  If you have time during the week to get involved in our class, please let me know.  I am eager to have your parental/professional expertise at work in our room.

                                                                                                Best wishes,

                                                                                                Alex McGill