Читать книгу Assessing with Respect - Starr Sackstein - Страница 13

Hello, Students and Parents/Caregivers:

Welcome to your senior year. Students, this is your opportunity to really prepare for the next phase of your lives, seriously thinking about the kind of students you want to be and become in the future. It no longer matters who you were in the past or what mistakes you may have made; this year is about establishing who you will be.

The AP Literature class you will be taking is a rigorous one that promises to both challenge and prepare you for that next phase of your lives. Traditionally, some students might think that senior year is supposed to be easy after the work put forth since freshman year, but I don't believe that to be true. I'm not saying not to have a good time with your newfound "almost freedom," but I am saying I wouldn't be doing you a favor to let you slack off. I want you to feel prepared for what comes next once you are on your own.

That said, I'm so excited to have you all in my classroom. You will be given a syllabus with due dates for all assignments. We will go over it on the first day of class, and you will be expected to adhere to this schedule. You will have minimal reminders. Adhering to schedules with minimal reminders is what you can expect next year, when you are in college. As adults, you must be responsible for your choices and your work. At the beginning of the year, I will likely reach out to your parents/caregivers after I talk with you first to ensure that communication is clear and they are in the loop about the expectations outlined in this letter. I want to treat you like college students, and therefore you will need to take the initiative and reach out to me when you need help. I am here to help you and want to do so, but tracking you down is not how it works when you get to college.

I'm looking forward to creating an engaging learning environment with each of you, one that is filled with your varied personalities and perspectives.

Welcome to your senior year!

All smiles,

Ms. Sackstein, NBCT

Parents/caregivers, please e-mail me when you receive this letter so that I have your up-to-date e-mail addresses. E-mail is the easiest way for me to reach you.

Our class website will have all the resources students need. I will post supplemental information and updates periodically. The syllabus is already posted there, and a calendar of due dates will be posted soon. If you ever have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to me. Looking forward to a great year!

Beyond being the first official greeting, a welcome letter sets the tone for the year to come. If you're working with younger students, don't be afraid to be playful and friendly. See Figure 1.2 for an example from Natalie McCutchen, a 7th grade math teacher at Franklin-Simpson Middle School in Franklin, Kentucky. Note that Natalie ends her letter with questions that will help her better plan how to create relevant examples, engage students with personal connections to their interests, and create better assessments based on what she learns.