Families and Curriculum: The Home-School Connection

Learning takes place everywhere. Teachers and families need to work together to support our students in all their learning. We all need to marvel at how much each child is learning. We all need to let the children know the importance of effort and persistence. We all need to help students know that making mistakes is part of learning and that asking questions, being organized, and taking pride in a job well done are important. They need to know we believe they can achieve whatever new goal they set or we set--whether it be riding a two-wheeled bicycle or creating a database on the computer, even and especially when it takes time. And we need to provide that safety net so that when they stumble, we trust them, help them and encourage their further attempts.

We welcome parents in school to assist in special activities in the classroom, but we understand that volunteering in school is not something every parent or guardian has time to do. At home, parents are encouraged to talk with their child about what (s)he is learning, enjoy good books together as much as possible (you can read even to middle grade students, or they can read to you), and as children grow older, make a regular time each day for homework. The teachers have also developed a homework policy so that each family will know our expectations for homework. Learning to organize for long term projects and practicing independence in completing work are important skills that families can help their children manage.

Conferences will give families a great deal of information about their child's learning. Family conferences will be held during November and again in April. Students are invited to be part of the family conference. If a particular question about the curriculum or their child's progress in school arises at other times during the year, families are encourages to ask the teacher. Teachers also send our curriculum notes and newsletters that let families know about specific activities and expectations. In addition, classes often have breakfast or evening presentations as a culminating event for a curriculum theme. Progress Reports are provided for families twice each year, once at the end of January and again at the end of the school year in June.

One of the special traditions of the school is Portfolio Celebration Day. It is a time when the year long portfolio collections are ready to share with families and the community. The school is filled with adults - parents, grandparents, special friends and other members of the school district or wider community. Students display their work and talk about their learning. It is a celebrations of learning that reflects hard work, problem-solving, creativity, teamwork and many ways to communicated what our students know and can do.