Expectations
Sixth grade is the beginning of the transition from elementary to middle school. As such, our focus is to teach students strategies that will allow them to become independent learners.
I plan on spending the first week or so building a classroom community and developing expectations for our year together. We will also spend A LOT of time practicing the technology that students will be expected to use.
Though students will be working on curriculum, this will not be the major focus for the first month of school. My REAL focus is getting them to feel comfortable with our tools, each other and to understand their new responsibilities as 6th grade students. I am FLEXIBLE and willing to work with families. If you have ANY issues at all, please contact us and we will meet to figure out a solution to your concern.
I am a teacher who spends her life challenging herself and evaluating herself. I understand that we learn from our mistakes, and that I should always strive to do better. It shouldn't come as a surprise that I have similar expectations for my students:
I plan on spending the first week or so building a classroom community and developing expectations for our year together. We will also spend A LOT of time practicing the technology that students will be expected to use.
Though students will be working on curriculum, this will not be the major focus for the first month of school. My REAL focus is getting them to feel comfortable with our tools, each other and to understand their new responsibilities as 6th grade students. I am FLEXIBLE and willing to work with families. If you have ANY issues at all, please contact us and we will meet to figure out a solution to your concern.
I am a teacher who spends her life challenging herself and evaluating herself. I understand that we learn from our mistakes, and that I should always strive to do better. It shouldn't come as a surprise that I have similar expectations for my students:
- Be Kind-We never know what is happening in someone's life. Kindness is the glue that holds our classroom together.
- Mistakes happen-We are not (and will never be) perfect. Mistakes are only opportunities to learn something new. Get used to always trying to improve what you do!
- Accept responsibility-When you make a mistake that affects you or others, accept responsibility, fix it, and move on.
- Be Yourself!-Middle school can be a time that challenges us, and makes us want to fit in. Challenge that and recognize the glorious awesomeness that is YOU!
- Question-Asking questions and being curious is the secret to life! Don't be afraid to do it.
Classroom Philosophy
White Brook Middle School has spent the last several years focused on an approach to learning called The Virtues Project. This approach identifies core character traits that lead to success in life, and recognizes students for actions that demonstrate these virtues. As students work at school, we will be observing and noticing when they show these characteristics.
An example might sound like:
"Thank you so much for showing perseverance while reading that passage. I saw that it was challenging for many of you, but I really appreciate that you stuck to it and kept reading even when it became difficult."
We also use this as corrective language when things aren't going well:
"I noticed that we weren't showing the virtue of cooperation today during that group work. What can we do differently next time so that we cooperate and work together successfully to complete our work?"
This approach to learning matches beautifully with our English Language Arts program which highlights the traits of ethical people and effective learners with virtues like empathy, integrity, respect, compassion, and responsibility.
An example might sound like:
"Thank you so much for showing perseverance while reading that passage. I saw that it was challenging for many of you, but I really appreciate that you stuck to it and kept reading even when it became difficult."
We also use this as corrective language when things aren't going well:
"I noticed that we weren't showing the virtue of cooperation today during that group work. What can we do differently next time so that we cooperate and work together successfully to complete our work?"
This approach to learning matches beautifully with our English Language Arts program which highlights the traits of ethical people and effective learners with virtues like empathy, integrity, respect, compassion, and responsibility.