Parent Night

I've changed the way I teach so much in the last 5 years.
It reflects in what I said to the parents tonight at Open House...

I’d like to start with asking you to think about a question:

Who was your favorite teacher in 7th grade?

Now try to come up with WHY this person was your favorite teacher.

I hope to be all those things.

I asked your children to finish this statement on the second day of school - A great teacher is...
Your children hope I am the following:

kind, funny, fun, helpful, peppy, understanding, friendly, respectful...
I let them know I expect the same of them:

kind, helpful, understanding, friendly, respectful…

Without these expectations, we won’t have much learning occurring.

One more question: What CONTENT from 7th grade do you remember?

      (Long pause... Nobody seems to remember!)

Your child won't remember either. What will he or she remember?

I am the most fortunate of all of your child's teachers you'll see tonight.

I get to enjoy your child’s presence for 80 minutes of every day - and I really get to know them.

I’m also the most fortunate because I don’t expect your child to memorize FACTS.

We get to explore great writing, share what we’re reading and writing, and figure out how to read to enjoy and learn, and how to write for an authentic audience - not just for their teacher.

Hopefully, by the end of the year, your children will have learned this in ELA:

Empathy

Hopefully, by the end of the year, your children will want to continue learning outside of school hours.

We spent the first ten days of school building community, respect, trust, and understanding of why we need to read and write. I will continue to try to reach them through literature, nonfiction, and their own writing.

I will also be giving more choice than I was ever afforded in 7th grade.
One of those big choices - that centers around reading and writing this year - will be something we call “Genius Hour.”

Our mission for Genius Hour is to READ. BE INSPIRED. and ACT ON IT.

I’d like to show you a short video of last year’s students reflections on what THEY perceived Genius Hour to be...

In this class, it’s about the learning.

I will work my hardest to help your child become a life-long learner.

I know I didn't talk about specific curriculum, my teaching history, our homework or grading philosophies, but that is because I've put everything on the class Weebly. (Shown on the screen.)

I'd love for you to now please check out your child’s blog - if he or she has written one (or more), please take the time to comment. If not, please encourage him or her to write one for you. I’ll circulate and answer any questions you may have.

I had great feedback tonight. 

This year will be our best year yet...

Update 12/2016 - Don't have too much time to talk with parents at Parent Night? 
          Check out Catlin Tucker's ideas to flip your back-to-school night!