I cannot tell you how excited I am to be back in the classroom, and I view this newfound assignment to take over this particular classroom to be nothing short of a privilege, thanks to your amazing 2nd/3rd grade students! 

Although taking over a class with only a month left in the school year is unquestionably unorthodox, I am happy to have been selected as the best option for an instructor to usher our students into summer vacations and end the school year on the right academic foot.  I have spent the year actively getting to know all of your children through their elective classes, in the lunchroom and on the playground, making for a very smooth and painless transition to this new classroom under new direction. 

And so, I want to take this opportunity to formally introduce myself and open up the pathways for ongoing communication and collaboration as it pertains to the academic journeys of your children.

To that end, I have attached both my professional and educator resumes to this email for your review, and below are links to my previous classrooms, altogether offering a digital portfolio of my work and professional accomplishments.

teachthinklearn.wixsite.com/mysite (Portfolio)

teachthinklearn.wixsite.com/think  (Portfolio)

teachthinklearn.wixsite.com/msjessica (Portfolio)

In a nutshell, I am dedicated to ensuring my learners can not only navigate our digital world but THRIVE in it. I set the stage for student success by teaching digital literacy skills coupled with social emotional learning, and I build upon this foundation using a personalized approach so as to guide every student toward self-discovery and ownership of the academic journey. Through discussion, reflection and collaboration within PBL & service-learning contexts, my mission is to foster lifelong learners and global citizens who seek to innovate, improve and create, rather than merely consume.

Last week we wrapped up with our 3rd grade domain study of “Astronomy and the Solar System.” The kids took the final assessment on Friday afternoon, and have been revising their planet poems using Google Docs in preparation for Friday’s due date. 

This week will mark the conclusion to the domain on human body systems with the final assessment scheduled for Wednesday. 

The students commenced their collective quest to master the art of typing last week. We are using a program called "Typing Club," and designating at least 15 minutes of practice time toward this objective daily. 

In Math we will wrap up with the unit on FRACTIONS, (as points on a numberline,) and the students will be taking the final assessment for Gr3M5 on Wednesday. The students are also currently and intensely reviewing 2nd grade math concepts related to money, time and geometry, as a part of the overall effort to ensure these kiddos have been properly scaffolded and can move forward confidently knowing there is nothing missing from their learning outcomes. 

In Language Arts we begin our Native American Domain tomorrow, while at the same time starting on the subject of Immigration. We will finish the year out with the unit entitled, "Fighting for a Cause.” To that end, we have already started to explore ways in which these kiddos can become involved in a deserving cause. Following a lesson about Jane Goodall last week, our learning journey resulted in our joining the youth organization "Roots and Shoots,” which gave us the tools and knowledge required for us to select our first project. Because our class is composed of kids that care deeply for animals, a project with an objective designed to help monarch butterflies reproduce and even thrive in our local community seemed a perfect choice.  Following school on Tuesday I will be picking up milkweed from the Milcreek Gardens/Nursury so the kids can  begin planting in the planter boxes near the outdoor playground.

 

We continue to hone our poetry-writing skills and open our minds to new ways of putting words on paper. As we near the last week of school, we will be writing more and more reflection prompts, to give the students ample opportunity to reflect on the work they have done this year at VPA. CKLA will round out as we finish up with book reports, cultivate writing with figurative language (metaphors, similes, personification, etc.), Linking Verbs and ongoing editing and proofreading.

Extracurricular Activities we are working on:

Magnetism, engineering and STEAM-related activities that combine art with science.

Again, thank you so much for the opportunity to teach your children for the remainder of this year! Though it is but a mere three weeks, you can expect to see similar newsletters outgoing at the start of each new week. :)

If you have any questions, concerns, or comments, please immediately contact me using the contact info below, by cell, via email, or by calling the school and punching in extension "7" 801.750.3989. 

Once you have had a chance to look over some of the aforementioned content, please consider possibly scheduling a quick in-person meeting, so that we might have an opportunity to discuss the change, and other matters impacted by this change. 

I understand that you may be feeling some frustrations surrounding this change, and I want to address these concerns right off the bat, and work with you to create a learning dynamic that benefits your student and fosters  consistent love of learning.   

(Mrs.) Jessica Benson

Elementary Teacher, STEAM Director

C: 801.750.3989

4998 Galleria Dr, Murray, UT 84123

www.vpaschools.org

Roots & Shoots is about making positive change happen for people, other animals, and the environment. Get to know the 4-Step Roots & Shoots Formula for identifying and completing a service project in your community.