Newsletter 2-17-17

February 17, 2017

                                                                                                                                
Dear Parents and Guardians,

Thanks to all the parents who sent in healthy goodies for our Valentine’s Day exchange.  A big shout out to our room mom, Sarah Roland for organizing the event! 

In the Classroom

    

2R is participating in a special project with 1SB and KP.  The three classes will be meeting once or twice per week to learn about their community and the people who work in the community.   The kids will be choosing a community worker that they want to learn more about.  They will be using books and technology to do their research while working in multiage groups all based on their interest. 

Please continue to work with your child on the packet of addition and subtraction facts that were sent home.  Let me know if you need another copy.  This skill is an important one for your child to develop automaticity in so that they can quickly and accurately recite the facts.

Sincerely,                                                                                                      Email: nreagan@sau17.org
Mrs. Reagan                                                                                                 Phone: (603)-642-5272 X 135

IMPORTANT  DATES:

February 23 - February 23 - Spaghetti Dinner,  5-7pm, Cafeteria
                            Math Night, 5:30-6:30pm, Classrooms

February 27-March 3 ~ Winter Vacation

March 13-16 - Read Across America Week

March 14 - Town Voting Day

March 16 - Invention Convention, 5:30pm, Gym

March 24 - Father-Daughter Dance, 6:30-8pm, Gym

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Here is a write up from Ellen Hume-Howard, our curriculum director, describing the project:

What might it look like if we could group students based on their interests and learning strengths rather than just with their same age peers? This year the Sanborn Regional School District is partnering with the New Hampshire Department of Education and the New Hampshire Learning Initiative to develop a personalized educational pathway for students in grades K-2. The project called NG2: No Grades, No Grades, is one of the 12 projects in the nation sponsored by the Assessment for Learning Project supported by the Center for Innovation in Education. NG2 focuses on learning experiences for students that allows them to learn at the level that is most challenging and appropriate for them.

We already have half of NG2 in place. For the past seven years, Sanborn has been providing students with feedback and next steps for learning that goes beyond typical "letter" grades, hence the No Grades. This feedback is given to evaluate the expectations for all aspects of the work rather than just giving students a letter grade. The students then go back into their work to make changes and improve the product so that it meets competency. Student progress toward meeting those competencies is shared with parents through letters such as M for meeting or IP for in progress instead of arbitrary grading with A, B, or C.

The second half of NG2 involves the blurring of grade levels for students during the project. During the project, students will be able to work on tasks and use reading materials that are at their instructional level. For many of our students this will mean using materials and meeting expectations well above their current grade level in school. This project promotes self-direction in setting their own learning goals as they move seamlessly and independently through the unit activities. The goal of the unit is to provide students with the best learning pathway based on their knowledge, understanding and skills and to support student independence.  

Sanborn's NG2 project involves the design and assessments for a unit of study (2-3 weeks) that focuses on "The Community".  Students will be working on activities and a final project that address the competencies and standards in social studies, reading, writing, speaking, and research as students learn more about their community. Students will also focus on Work Study Practices: collaboration, communication, creativity, and self-direction.

During the project students will work with their own peers as well has with students of different ages. Teachers will be studying how students work within a multi-age environment, how technology impacts learning, and the types of structures and supports needed to support learners in a personalized learning environment. The district is grateful to have the support of these partners and the supportive resources to design personalized learning environments for students to address competency education.

Teachers involved in the project see the development of this unit as a first step in designing the foundations for personalized learning at the primary level. Our educators are focused on supporting our students as individual learners and in making sure they experience challenging and rewarding educational experiences at Sanborn.