Personalized Education Plans - Moving Forward

PEP Goal Conferences - A Great Success

Thank-you for your attendance and flexibility with our PEP conferences in February and March. Each meeting was very beneficial to the growth and development of the whole child, and I feel confident in the goals that we revisited for the last 12 weeks of school. 

What we want to try...

Based on the feedback from these meetings there will be some changes to our classroom routine. Please see below some suggested changes and how this will look in the classroom. 

1. More time for word study: Students will continue to have new words each week, however, we will assess the following Tuesday or Wednesday. This will give each child the weekend as well as week nights to study the words, their patterns and engage in authentic discussion about the words. 

2. Less words for word study: Words Their Way has high expectations! The main goal of the word sorts is to have experience with various patterns and word building. However, parents and students have been feeling overwhelmed by the amount of words each week. I will continue to send home the 20 to 25 words per week. It is important the children practice sorting all of them and even using each of the words in oral or written stories, notes, lists, etc. However, we will focus on 10 to 12 words per week to assess. This will allow students to experience greater success and develop healthy attitudes toward assessments. Due to this practice, I have reworked groups to focus on necessary vowel patterns. This change will not involve all groups. 

3. Reading Challenge: The Usborn Reading Challenge was such a success that parents asked if we could do something similar in our own classroom as  a way to hold students accountable in their own independent reading. Be on the look out for more information about this trial exercise. Expect Reflection Journals to focus on reading practice at home. 

What we are doing are well...

Things that you are loving about your child's classroom experience: autonomy in choice! I had great feedback as students work to defend table partner choices, choose read aloud books, engage in authentic cultural learning and take note of the world outside of WW School, their home and community. We have a group of students who are advocates for the humans and animals of our world, and its longevity through Prairie Restoration, composting, gardening, recycling, and being good stewards of our environment by walking, being aware of water usage, and... Packing In and Packing Out!

Thank-you...

Thank-you for supporting your child's whole education and sending them in with spirit and passion. How thankful we are for each child at Willowwind.