TEAM DAILEY NEWS! SEPTEMBER 2, 2010





We are off to a great start - I feel like this week the kids are finally getting into the daily routine and beginning to understand my expectations both academically and behaviorally. I know some of them have felt some stress at the work load, but we are making adjustments as we go along, and as they learn to use class time more efficiently I think the stress will ease somewhat.





homework: practice of skills learned in the classroom!
Most nights my class will have math homework and will need to finish up any work they did not complete in class that day. I will also be asking them to do some reading at home on a regular basis, but this hasn't started yet. They need to be spending about an hour on homework per night unless they have special projects. Please let me know if they are spending more time than this.





If you're child is struggling with math, check out http://www.mathdrills.com/ . It's a great website with a multitude of math fact drills. I am going to be working towards the goal of every student in my class knowing their math facts by the end of the year. Lack of this knowledge really slows down their ability to progress in math. I believe they can all learn them. I am going to be doing drills with them daily - could you help at home by printing out a drill every so often and seeing how they do?





In Science we are working on learning and implementing the Scientific Method. Soon the students will be setting up a simple experiment in order to try all of the steps we've been going over.





In Social Studies, the class is becoming quite proficient in reading various types of maps. This will be followed by a brief introduction to geography.





In reading and writing, we are working on vocabulary skills - using context and prefixes and suffixes to determine meaning - and punctuation skills (CAPITALIZATION, and commas, so far!). After reading some of their writing, I feel I am also going to need to address spelling this year. We won't have spelling every week, but I will be addressing some of the more common errors I am seeing in their work.





We are adding the first ideas to our pyramid of success this week.


They are industriousness and enthusiasm. These are the cornerstones of the base layer of the pyramid. I will be working to help my students understand the importance and benefits of simple hard work and a great attitude!





In keeping with our theme of teamwork, we will soon be doing most of our classwork in cooperative learning groups. I have some training to do before I can begin this, but it is on the horizon. Also, I am toying with the idea of having class t-shirts made. They would have a LPA logo on the front and TEAM DAILEY on the back. These would be shirts they could wear on Fridays and other special occasions. I believe the cost would be about $5.00 per shirt. Let me know if this is an idea you'd be willing to participate in.





One more fun website that has game based activities in most subject areas is QUIA. I really like it because it gives immediate feedback as to whether they are getting the concepts - I have used it for vocabulary work and science. Check it out!

Welcome to the sixth grade!

Dear 6th grade parents:

I would like to introduce myself to you. My name is Laura Dailey and I will be your child's sixth grade teacher this year. Although I have many years of experience in many aspects of education, this will be my first year as a sixth grade teacher. I am looking forward to this new adventure! I have been teaching at La Paloma Academy since it began eight (?) years ago - most of those years I taught middle school math at the central campus. Last year I transferred to Lakeside and helped teach middle school math at this campus.

One of my primary goals this year will be to create a culture of success and atmosphere of teamwork in our classroom. I want every student to understand that they have an important part to play in the success or failure of our classroom - both in the atmosphere or "feel" of the class and in how much we are able to accomplish. My desire is that prior to entering middle school, each student will begin to understand their role in the education process - that they will take ownership of their responsibility to learn! I have a strong commitment to the success of each student both academically and morally. I will always be emphasizing how strongly each student's character influences their success academically.

I strongly desire you to be a part of my team! The best way to insure the success of your child is for you and me to communicate regularly and to understand that we are on the same team! I have to admit to you that I need your help with this - I have good intentions, but many times in my busy-ness I fail to do well in this area. So, if you haven't heard from me in a while, could you check in with me to see how things are going? This will help me to stay in touch! The best form of communication for me is e-mail. My e-mail address is ldailey@lpatucson.org.

The sixth grade year is a transition year between elementary and middle school. One of the things we need to accomplish this year is developing a level of personal responsibility that will prepare students for the challenges of middle school. For this reason, I will have high standards and expectations for both behavior and academics in my classroom. It has been my experience that students will raise their behavior to the level of expectation (after they realize that the standards and expectations are not going to move!!). I will be working with the students to help them take responsibility for their work and behavior and will only pull you in for back-up when they are consistently not responding to my expectations.

I look forward to getting to know each of you as the year progresses.

THIS YEAR WE CHOOSE SUCCESS!

Mrs. Dailey