Dear Parents,
My name is Andrea Clifford, and I
am your children’s Freshman English Language Arts teacher. I hope that your child/children have enjoyed
their start to their first year of high school. It was wonderful to meet and work with them
this week!
Some of the things that we covered
include the rules and expectations of the class, the differences between being a
student in middle school and high school, in particular, the grading system. Students
had an opportunity to ask questions, receive their textbooks, and become familiar
with their lockers and the new building.
One of the differences that we
discussed in class between the Frolio and the High School is the expectation
that students will begin to self-advocate and contact their teachers themselves
when needed. Please encourage your child to reach out to me as a first step to resolve any concerns. I have given them my email address and posted
my prep period and after-school appointments.
Of course, I am always delighted to speak to parents. Email is the
fastest way to contact me, as I have access throughout the day and will be able
to respond fairly quickly. If you would
like to speak to me, you can call the school and I will usually get the message
within one business day.
This week, we began an assessment
on the summer reading in class. Although 40% of my students completed the
reading and the notes, I was still able to offer an opportunity to earn some
credit to those students who did not participate, using their textbook and the
note sheets which were still available on line. Students were placed in
discussion groups to explore the Essential Question (EQ) and find a common theme
in their texts. Short presentations will
be given on Tuesday for credit.
We also discussed what it means for
students to accept ownership of their education, and what their grades, conduct
and participation mean to future employers, recruiters and higher education
officials. We discussed the fact that these next four years are filled with the
chance to make many choices, and that the goal is to choose the best ones, as
often as possible. We also talked about the people in their lives who could
help them navigate their course throughout the years- coaches, parents and
family, teachers, guidance counselors, and student mentors. Our hope is that
your child feels safe and comfortable, and understands that we are all here to
support their success.
One of the routines in our class
will be Sustained Silent Reading (SSR).
Students are to bring a book of their choice and your approval to class
every day. We start the first 10 minutes
of class with SSR, and will have informal book talks throughout the year. We have found that when a student reads for pleasure,
it helps their overall performance in school, and it “grounds” them for future
learning by giving them a context in which to compare the literature that we
discuss in class. It is also great for everyone to be able to get into their
own headspace for 10 minutes during busy days. We will be going to the library
on Wednesday for a tour and to select books for those who still need them.
Please look at our freshman blog
periodically for information and links to texts throughout the year. At this time the comment section for
students is not activated, but will be after clarifying the procedure. I will
be posting and updating major assignments and information for students to
reference.
I am looking forward to seeing
many of you at our Open House on Tuesday, September 14, 2017! It is going to be
a great year!
Sincerely,
Andrea Clifford
Room 2216
Abington High School
781-982-2160
Freshman Blog:
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