Frog News
H. D. Thoreau Elementary
School
8224 NE 138th
Kirkland, WA 98034
425-823-4350
FAX: 425-814-4986
Web: http://wwwtho.lkwash.wednet.edu
Steve Roetcisoender, Principal
Email: sroetcisoender@lkwash.wednet.edu
September 10, 2004
September
10 PTA Ice Cream Social and
Information
Night
7pm-8:30pm
16 Primary Curriculum Night
6:30-7:30pm
23 Intermediate Curriculum Night
6:30-7:30pm
30 Kindergarten Curriculum Night
6:30-7:30pm
October
8 PTA Ribbet Run Fundraiser
Principal’s Perspective
Curriculum Night
Curriculum nights are scheduled for the next three
Thursdays, first primary, then intermediate and finally kindergarten. This is
a time for parents to learn “what” is
being taught and “how” the teaching
occurs. I hope you take time to attend and hear your child’s teacher share
his or her program for the year.
Often, parents have the most questions about the Lake
Washington School District’s math program. I believe this is because it is so
different than the math programs many of us experienced in our formal
education. We can remember having a textbook and a certain routine to
learning math - first a short lesson from the teacher and then, second, a
page number and a list of problems to finish, always a lot of computation,
finishing with the dreaded word problems.
Investigations in K-5, and Connected Math in grade 6,
strive to teach math in a different manner, capitalizing on the proven
strategy of introducing mathematical concepts at the concrete level (hands
on), then moving to the pictorial level and finishing with the abstract
(written numbers). It also strives to combine the learning of math
conceptually while learning computation skills. I came across the following article,
written by John Holt, that may help you understand the goal of these
curriculums.
“Not many years ago
I began to play the cello. Most people would say that what I am doing is
“learning to play” the cello. But these words carry into our minds the strange
idea that there exists two very different processes: (1) learning to play the
cello; and (2) playing the cello. They imply that I will do the first until I
have completed it, at which point I will stop the first process and begin the
second. In short, I will go on “learning to play” until I have “learned to
play” and then I will begin to play. Of course, this is nonsense. There are
not two processes, but one. We learn to do something by doing it. There is no
other way.”
In order for students to experience success in math in
junior high and high school, it is paramount they have a strong conceptual
understanding of mathematical concepts along with strong computational
skills. For some students, conceptual learning is easy and computation is
hard, for others, just the reverse. Traditional elementary math curriculum
emphasized only computation skills. Students could not proceed to other math
disciplines if computation was not mastered. For those who struggled with
computation, by the time junior high came around, a strong hatred of math had
developed. This is like the idea that
one must “learn to play the cello” before one can “play the cello”. The Lake
Washington School District’s math curriculum allows students to experience
the many math disciplines early on in elementary school, so that while
students are learning computation, they are also being taught the conceptual
foundations of many math disciplines.
I hope this helps, rather than confuses. Your child’s
teacher will have more grade specific information for you regarding
Investigations or Connected Math. On the computational side of our math
program, your child’s teacher will be asking for volunteers to help with
“Mighty Math”, a program designed to increase computational fluency. We
introduced this program last year as part of our School Improvement Plan.
Please consider helping with Mighty Math. It is a fun way to help and get to
know our Thoreau students. With student participation in both
Investigations/Connected Math and Mighty Math, our goal is for continued
growth with our Thoreau math program this year.
ORCHESTRA
Intermediate orchestra (2nd
and 3rd year players) will begin on Monday, September 13.
Intermediate orchestra will meet
on Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays, 7:50AM-8:40AM at Juanita High School. Parents need to drop students off at 7:50am and a
school bus will transport them back to Thoreau.
Beginning Orchestra begins the
week of September 20
Beginning Orchestra schedule:
Cellos/Bass Mondays,
Tuesdays, and Wednesdays
Violins/Violas Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and
Thursdays
If you have any questions, please call 425-823-7600
x4516 Kim Merkley and Erika Pierson / Orchestra
Coordinator and Orchestra/Music Teacher
BAND NIGHT
Fifth
and sixth grade students and their parents are invited to attend Band Night
at 7:00pm, September 9 in the Finn Hill Junior High band room. This event
is intended for students who are interested in starting a band
instrument. Parents will be able to have
their questions answered and students will be able to try out various
beginning instruments. If you have any questions before that date,
please call Ron Maier or Paul Robinson
at Finn Hill Junior High; 821-6544.
URGENT NEED
--Bus Drivers
($14.29/hr)
--Custodians
($10.83/hr)
--Para-educator
($10.02/hr)
Paid training,
Flexible hours
If interested,
apply online:
www.lkwash.wednet.edu
click on “Job
Opportunities”
and complete
classified application
Check out our
website for the latest information! wwwtho.lwsd.org/
ADVERTISE
We
are offering business card sized ads in our student directory this year. The
directory will be available to all families at Thoreau. If you have
a business or know someone that would like to do this contact Polly Blanchard
at 820-8909 or polly@mccarthygmac.com. It is $35 and
proceeds go to our student enrichment programs. Due date for payment is
September 30.
JOIN PTA
Join PTA by October 15 and your name will be entered to
win one of 5 prizes. The cost is $10.00 for individual membership and
$16.00 for a family membership. Make checks payable to Thoreau PTA and
submit to your child's teacher or the office. The drawing will be held on
October 21 at the first General Meeting. (You do not have to be present to
win.) For more information, contact Denice Loken, 814-9726 or denandpaul@aol.com.
ALBERTSON'S PARTNER CARD
Look for your Albertson’s
card to come home in your child's backpack. Your may use it or give it
to a relative or friend to use when shopping at Albertson's. The card
is already registered, just have them scan the card when you check out.
They pay Thoreau up to 5% of your purchase. For additional cards
contact Polly Blanchard 820-8909 or polly@mccarthygmac.com.
CHESS CLUB
How
fun! Our Chess Club is filling up fast! There is still time to register
if your child is interested. Due date for payment and Registration is September
20. Contact Polly Blanchard at 820-8909 or polly@mccarthygmac.com.
SCIENCE ADVENTURES
This
is a well liked after school program with thematically based
lessons to teach kids science concepts. Students construct and take home over
twenty projects and activities in each five-week session. Look for more
information to come home after the student assembly September 16. For
more information you may visit their website at www.scienceadventures.com or call 1-800-472-4362.
STUDY CLUB
A
quiet, focused class with a teacher available to help with specific subjects
as needed is available this year. Fall session runs October 11 through
November 3, Mondays and Wednesdays after school. Due date for payment and
registration is September 27. Contact Polly Blanchard at 820-8909 or polly@mccarthygmac.com.
STUDENT BANK DAYS
The yellow volunteer sign-up
sheet indicated the Student Bank Day’s Program had enough volunteers to run
the program. However, a couple of people needed to drop out due to
conflicting schedules. If you would be able to volunteer some time during the
student lunches for one Wednesday a month, or you would be interested in
hearing more about the program, please call Nancy Holden, 425 823-2815.
KUDOS
Thank
you Margaret Adams for the really fun idea with the teacher's bulletin board!
It is 1960's style and many teachers have brought in pictures from the 60's
or at least from past years, since some were not born yet! Check it out on
the wall by the office.
A BIG THANK YOU to the Biery family and the Merck
company. We just received a matching grant donation for $400.00! This
will be used for art and science enrichment! Thank you for putting children
first!
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