Dear Winnetka Families,
As a follow up to our last newsletter focused on differentiation, we wanted to focus a bit on literacy instruction and offer a glimpse of what that looks like for students in the classroom.
Writing
Teachers often model how to use graphic organizers with their students before they start a new piece of writing. Graphic organizers help students organize their thoughts and provide teachers a window into students' thinking before they begin their assignment.
One example of a graphic organizer students might use is a word bubble organizer. As students brainstorm ideas for a piece of writing, they add those ideas in separate word bubbles. Once they have a group of ideas, students select one as the topic that they want to write about. Students then complete a second word bubble organizer by writing their topic in the center bubble and writing subtopics in the outer bubbles.
To help students decide what their subtopics could be, teachers ask questions such as "how can you narrow the topic down so you can write specific details?", "what would you like to tell readers about this topic?", "what might the readers want to know about this topic?", and "who is your audience for this story, and what words might you need to define for them?". These questions, along with the specific feedback and conversations that the teachers have with individual students, cause the students to think critically about how to use details to engage and/or teach their readers about their topic.
Reading
Teachers have been able to take advantage of our small class sizes to quickly assess students strengths and weaknesses. Students then work at their own levels to apply general reading lessons. As an example, students may receive instruction about how setting contributes to the story. Students then work in small groups, pairs or as individuals, within their just right leveled books, to apply what they have learned about setting. Teachers circulate to the groups or individuals asking questions to solicit a deeper level of understanding.
Teachers also focus on the study of character and, for older readers, how characters change over time. They might ask students to "stop and jot" what they notice about a character as they read or to record what questions the text brings up for them. They learn about nonfiction text features by going on scavenger hunts in texts and they learn how these features help readers navigate informational texts. These exercises build critical comprehension skills that students will need across all subject areas of the curriculum.
Of greatest importance is the fact that teachers strive to partner with parents as we work to develop lifelong readers. To that end, please click on the short videos below created by our district literacy facilitator, Jessica Sheaffer. In each video, she discusses ways parents can support their young readers at home.
As always, thank you for your partnership. Have a wonderful week.
Sincerely,
Larry Joynt and Julie Pfeffer, Principals, Crow Island School
Joshua Swanner, Principal, Greeley School
Beth Carmody, Principal, Hubbard Woods School
Dear Greeley Community,
We are excited to announce the winner of our Greeley mascot election! For the next four years, the Giant Panda will serve as our mascot. We have already begun planning with our PTO for new spirit wear, and fourth graders were invited to take part in a contest to draw an image of our mascot.
We will share any updates as they become available.
Sincerely,
Joshua Swanner Principal FOOD DRIVE FOR THE NEW TRIER FOOD PANTRY The 'Service and Outreach' committee of the PTO are excited to launch a school wide 'Food Drive' for the New Trier Food Pantry. As a school community, we are excited to come together and help those in need in our township in the run up to Thanksgiving. All the children have watched a video about the New Food Pantry HERE and each grade has been assigned specific items to donate that the pantry is in need of. Donations will be collected Wed Nov 11th thru Wed Nov 25th. Students may also create cards with well wishes that can be included in the donations (please keep them anonymous). Each grade that reaches their goal of donations will also receive a prize! For more info on what and how to donate click HERE. If you have further questions please reach out to the committee [email protected] and [email protected]
DISTRICT NEWS
New Trier High School Testing
Next week, New Trier High School is initiating a voluntary COVID-19 screening test for students returning to campus. As this screening test is not a COVID-19 diagnostic test, it does not require younger D36 siblings to quarantine while awaiting results. Thank you to the parents who reached out to inquire.
2020-2021 Calendar
Parent Education Opportunity:
Executive Functioning Strategies to Help Support Your Child During Remote Learning
Friday, November 13 at 10 a.m.
Teresa Bozikis, Speech-Language Pathologist, along with Beth Martin, Director of Student Services, will share an overview of best practices to help your child successfully navigate remote learning. The presentation will include a Q & A.
Please click the link below to join the webinar: Passcode: 36wins36 Or iPhone one-tap: +13126266799 Or Telephone: +1 312 626 6799 Webinar ID: 874 2100 5370 Passcode: 54077295
News from The Alliance for Early Childhood
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Pandemic Parenting: Tools and Tips, December 3, 7-7:45pm Register Here
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Pandemic Parenting: Tools and Tips, February 18, 7-7:45pm Register Here
Additionally, families are invited to participate in Let's Play! 2020-2021 Ongoing Community Programs. Upcoming events are as follows: Family Action Network Events
GREELEY SEL CORNER
I'm not sure about all of you, but I'm the type of person who thrives in the comfort that structure and predictability provide. If you're anything like me, it's hitting especially hard right now how little control we have over so many different facets of life. The impacts of COVID, the political climate, the school schedule, changes in routine; the list could go on and on. I honestly can't think of another time in my life where I've felt so little control. What I can say with certainty, however, is that focusing my attention on the things I have zero control over has done nothing to improve the state of my mental health.
These times continue to be stressful and just plain hard. A strategy that I've been leaning heavily on is channeling my attention toward the things that I do have control over and the choices that I can make. I'm being intentional in my effort to find joy, peace, and gratitude in my everyday life. Gratitude, the buzz word. You may be thinking that this stuff doesn't really amount to anything. I've been there. But, this is one practice that I am confident you can take on and have success with. I don't know a single person who has experienced negative consequences in their effort to build a practice of gratitude. Another plus side is that it really doesn't require any extra effort aside from being intentional about recognizing the good. I know that we could all use a little extra good in our lives right now.
I'd like to share an example from my life. Recently, we found out that my son tested positive for COVID after being unknowingly exposed through another student in his daycare. It was a stressful and scary few days. Quarantine, no childcare, juggling work, battling illness, missing my son's first Halloween. What could possibly be good about this situation? I'd be lying if I said I didn't struggle with all of these things. But I also worked really hard to not let my brain stay in that place for too long, because I knew I had no control over these circumstances. So, I turned to gratitude. What could I see that was good? I was grateful for our health and our ability to fight off the virus. I was grateful that we had kept our social circle small and that no one else was impacted. I was grateful for the help and support of friends and family who dropped off groceries, medicine, and helped make our Halloween special. I was grateful for the time that we were able to spend together as a family. Even in such an unfortunate circumstance, there was so much good to be seen. After all, it's the good that helps to carry us through tough times.
With that, I'm inviting you to participate in a gratitude challenge. I'm hoping that this is something that you can do together with your family. The secret to gratitude "working" is in making it a practice. There is substantial research noting the positive impact that gratitude can have on our lives when we consistently practice it. Be intentional about it, find the good! Let this be a practice that can help to carry you through these tough times.
Be well,
Danielle
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Dates to Remember
Wednesday, Nov. 11
thru
wednesday, Nov. 25
FOOD DRIVE FOR
THE NEW TRIER FOOD PANTRY t
friday, Nov. 13
no school
teacher institute day
wed. thru fri.
november 25 - 27
no school
thanksgiving holiday
friday, dec. 18
last day before winter break
monday, jan. 4, 2021
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The Winnetka Public Schools community empowers every student to flourish in an innovative, experiential environment. We support and challenge all learners to actively engage in continual growth and achievement to make a meaningful difference in the world.
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