Parent slideshow for "back to school night"

1. Welcome Parents!Back to School Night 2011 Mr. Johnston Grade 7 Mathmatics Saigon South International School

2. Biography 6th year teacher at SSIS 10 years of teaching experience Lanna International School Thailand (02-06) Environmental Education Teacher: Catalina Island Environmental Leadership Program Summer Camp Director-Catalina Island Camps (00-01)

3. Presentation Overview Communication Moodle, Powerschool, Classroom Blogs, School Website: what’s the difference? Course Information Syllabus Grading/Class Policies Things to you can do to help your child with school at home

4. Communication: What are all these things?

5. Moodle Shows information about assignments, due dates, resources. Course outline, scope and sequence For STUDENTS primarily Moodle

6. Powerschool Information about student achievement, grades, missing assignments, due dates For PARENTS and STUDENTS Powerschool

7. Classroom Blog A news source for weekly happenings in the classroom Examples of student work A means to deprivatize what happens in the classroom. Fosters discussion about school at home A language translator is available For PARENTS primarily Classroom Blog

9. School-wide, not just grade 6, or 7.

11. Course Information Syllabus Study Guides/Netbook Initiatives Grading/Class Policies Things to you can do to help your child with school at home

12. Course Scope and Sequence See Below

13. Study Guides/Netbook Initiatives DeSigned To: Help students/teacher focus on specific learning goals. Make our school’s curriculum more “transparent” Shows relevance with assignments Help students, parents, teacher monitor progress. See 2 examples below

14. Grading/Class Policies “Challenge by Choice” 3 Levels of Differentiated Instruction. Students self assess. Answers on Moodle, in class. Teacher has conference with students every week All assessments go in gradebook. Homework, Projects, Quizzes are practice for summative assessments-100% of grade

15. How can I help my child at with their learning? Homework Grading Policy Parent/Teacher Support Network

16. Assignments /Homework Provide a designated time and place Minimize distractions by doing it at the dining room table verses near an open computer Check in with them from time to time to ensure understanding Break into increments Teach them to work towards independence “Homework Battles”

17. Grading Policy My philosophy: “Humans learn more from their mistakes than failures.” Don’t ridicule, or penalize them for doing poorly in school A “B” may have been a powerful learning experience Recognize them for their successes. (Improvements, even if they’re small) Extra Tutors: Do they help support what is being taught in school here at SSIS? Does more work/tutoring in response to a low grade lead to acheivement or burnout? Everyone learns differently!

18. Parent/Teacher Support Call or write anytime! If you want to make an appointment, I will try my hardest to make myself available within a few days. Translators available We both have the same goals: Your child’s success in school.

19. Questions? Thanks for coming!