Welcome to Carrville Mills Public School’s Open House Night

1. Welcome to Carrville Mills Public School’s Open House Night

3. Updates • Visit our website at http://www.carrvillemills.ca for updates and teacher web pages

4. History • 6th year of school operation • Approximately 760 students • Start: 8:55am • End: 3:15pm • Recess: 10:45am - 20 minutes • Lunch 12:25pm – 1 hour (20 to eat, 40 outside)

6. Language Arts – A Balanced Approach • Reading and Writing • Modelled • Shared • Independent • Guided • Support at home with a quiet space to read, access to a variety of texts, time to read with an adult.

7. http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/abc123/eng/index.html

9. More Literacy • Oral Language • Listening and speaking – vocabulary development. • Support at home through conversation, rehearsal for presentations, responses to read-alouds. • Media • Critical approach to media messages. • Ability to use a variety of media to communicate messages.

10. Literacy Network • Reading for meaning through development of critical thinking skills. • Background knowledge – Constructivist Theory of Learning. • Talk to your child about their reading, about other issues; encourage their curiosity; take them places to have new experiences.

11. Math • Greater emphasis on practical applications, using words, pictures, and numbers to explain their understanding. • Help by encouraging children to read and reread questions, draw diagrams or pictures to help with their understanding, paraphrase what is being asked in their own words. • Practise with math games, card games, games and toys that develop logic and spatial awareness.

13. Curriculum Documents • Find grade-specific curriculum at: http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/curriculum/elementary/index.html

14. Assessment • 5 levels of achievement • R – remedial assistance needed to achieve at grade level • 1 (D)– below the expectations for the grade • 2 (C) – approaching expectations for the grade • 3 (B) – meets expectations for the grade • 4 (A) – exceeds expectations for the grade • Many reasons for lower achievement – learning skills most important.

15. More on Assessment • Differentiation of instruction and assessment. • Many types of assessment based on different learning strengths. • Assessment Triangle – Conversations, Observations, Products

16. Create a Routine • Create a quiet, well-lit place for homework. • Have an adult close by to offer assistance and encouragement. • Establish a daily after-school routine – a healthy snack, some play time, homework, then dinner. • Set a regular bed-time allowing for 9 – 11 hours of sleep, depending on child’s age.

17. Remove Distractions • Homework should be done without a TV or computer turned on in the room, unless the computer is being used for homework. • Cell phones and other communication devices should be turned off. • Younger children in the household should not be in the room while the students are doing their homework.

18. Communicate with the Teacher • If you notice your child is regularly having difficulty with homework or you have other concerns, phone the teacher and let them know. • See yourself as an equal partner in your child’s education – you and the teacher are allies. • Parent/Teacher Interviews are scheduled for Nov 22-23

20. Use the Agenda • Help your child to use their agenda to keep track of homework, assignments, tests, as well as their activities outside of school. • Encourage them to plan ahead – if there is an activity on Wednesday night and an assignment due on Thursday, then they need to plan ahead by completing it before Wednesday night. • Write the daily routine in the agenda.

21. Step Away from the Screens • Limit the total of screen time (non-homework use of the computer, tv, cell phone communication) to no more than 2 hours each day. • Keep screens in a common area of the home so that adults are aware of how much they are being used and for what purpose.

22. Asking the Right Questions • Avoid asking, “How was school today?” – The answer will probably be, “Fine.” • Instead be specific: • What activities did you do in Science? • What did you play at recess? • What kinds of books are you interested in reading? • What did you discover today that was cool?

23. 4 Areas of Parental Involvement with the Biggest Impact • Have high expectations for your child – in terms of learning skills as well as achievement, through setting goals and taking steps to achieve them. • Talk about school. • Read with your child – in any language. • Help your child develop positive work habits and attitudes towards learning.

24. Specialty Programs • French Immersion – info night in January – details to follow when identified by the board (entry for Grade 1) • BCSS (entry for Grade 9) (http://www.billcrothers.ss.yrdsb.edu.on.ca/links/Admission-Application.htm)

25. Baythorne (school for the arts in York Region) 3 or 4 year program depending on year of entry, starting with Grade 5 – focus in Drama, Dance, Music, Visual Arts http://www.baythorn.ps.yrdsb.edu.on.ca/SCHartsProgram.htm

26. http://www.yrdsb.edu.on.ca/page.cfm?id=SCAL00002&y=2012&s=9

27. Thank you for coming. It was a pleasure to see you.