Our First Day...

I must be the luckiest teacher in the world to be surrounded by such kind, caring, and wonderful kids. We had a terrific first day together. They endured a lot of talking from me (hopefully that won't happen much) and then some went to Funky Monkeys and some to band. We combined our PE and Science to make models of our school. We shared our models and then wrote about our experience. After lunch we had listening time, Writers' Workshop, and then we read in our independent reading books. The day just seemed to fly by!

Each student brought home a green folder that will be used to transport important papers to and from school. Please look over the papers inside and return any forms necessary. Also, please feel free to email or call me with any questions or concerns that you might have.

Looking forward to another day...Mrs. Dawkins

Getting Ready for the First Day in Room 12!

The start of school is quickly approaching and the school has been bustling with everyone preparing for the new year. Teachers are busy planning, organizing, and shuffling things about. The biggest change that our class will notice is that our sixth graders have moved into the middle school...along with Mr. Lutes and Mr. Leone! They all will combine with our already amazing middle school team to provide a 6/7/8 learning experience for all. While I am very sad to lose them, I am sure that they are going to have a great year.

With such change, our classroom will now be a 4/5 classroom which means that while we have lost nine kids, we have added five new kids to our classroom for a total of 25. We will also have Miss Steichen next door as our new neighbor. We will now focus our year around the study of the United States (geography, explorers, colonization, the Revolutionary War, and government), along with plants and animals of the Gorge, and so much more! We have lots of great things planned and I can't wait to get started.

Looking forward to Monday!
Mrs. Dawkins

Flexibility!

That is our first word on our Words in Our World (W.O.W.) bulletin board! We are currently experiencing a few last minute changes that will help make the rest of the school year go a bit more smoothly. Stand-by for more information...Michelle

Welcome to Room 12!

During the 2009-10 school year our class will focus on Ancient Civilizations, plants and animals of The Columbia River Gorge, and many other areas of interest. We will continue to partner with other classrooms around us – both intermediate and primary. Developing a community of learners will help us understand how the world works together to solve problems and overcome obstacles.

Our multiage classroom relies on strong parent involvement. Parents that are supportive both at home and at school really make a huge impact on their child’s education. Many parents volunteer on a regular basis while others help out on special projects or occasions. Grandparents are also welcomed volunteers.

While what happens in each class varies with the topic, the time of day, and students’ needs, here are some things we expect you’ll see during the school year - whole group instruction, small group lessons, peer collaboration, class meetings, team teaching, independent work on projects, students exploring, teachers planning together, and students reading and writing a lot!

I have been busy this summer taking classes, traveling the country, and thinking about all of the possibilities for the coming school year. I am looking forward to the year and all of the things we will be learning and exploring. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns that you have. My email is mdawkins@corbett.k12.or.us.

Take care,

Michelle Dawkins

Multi-age Classrooms

Multi-age classroom are filled with students with differing ability levels and ages. Students are taught in the same classroom using the same curriculum, without grade level designations. Each student progresses at their own pace through continuous progress. They will begin at a level that is right for them and then move on to the next level, as they are ready. Students have the advantage of having the same teacher for 2, 3, or even four years. Building and developing relationships between peers, teachers, and others in our school is an important part of the learning process.

My goal is to provide a safe and an inviting environment where children feel free to explore and grow in their learning. I will be a resource to students as they become more independent in their learning during the school year. Self direction will be an important goal for each child. Moving the responsibility from being told information to having the ability to locate it through research skills will be another goal this year for each child. A main focus for our classroom will be on becoming avid readers, accomplished writers, experienced mathematicians, and knowledgeable about the world around us.