About Me

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My journey with the Alaska Gateway School District began in the fall of 2012. For the first two years, I was teaching the kindergarten through 2nd grade groups in Tetlin. For the next two years, I taught the same ages at another village school in Northway. In the fall of 2016, I transferred to Tok School to teach 4th grade for two years. This year I requested the third grade, as I always enjoy taking on a new grade level of students. Before moving to Tok, my background consisted of four years living in Botswana, Africa, with my husband where I taught mostly English as second language learners in grades kindergarten through fourth. Previously, we were long time Alaska residents. Most of our years in Alaska were spent living in the interior bush community of Galena, where I taught an alternative program for teens, 7th and 8th grades, Title 1 reading, and kindergarten. For a number of years before obtaining my teacher certificate, I was part of the classified support staff in addition to serving on the local school board. It has been great to be back in Alaska, and Tok has been a good fit for us.

Sunday, August 21, 2016

Week 1

 Greetings!

Ready, set, go! The start of a new school year has finally arrived! I am probably more excited than the students, as there are so many fun ideas rolling around in my head to make this a great year of learning for the group. I have added a few pictures of the class that the students will come in to see the first day. My hope it that it will be a comfortable place for them to grow and learn this year.
 We will have a couple of class pets. A little hamster that we will need to name, and a tadpole that we will watch become a frog.
Our first week will be all about instructional and classroom routines. Though we will be doing regular content in reading, math, writing, and science we will also be covering "Six Keys" for fostering and maintaining high motivation and achievement. Everyone has a need to see these keys met, and we will address one a day. The keys are:

Safety from fear of embarrassment or physical harm.

Love and Belonging through inclusion, respect, and sincere caring.

Freedom and Independence through the option to make meaningful decisions and choices.

Fun and Enjoyment through meaningful engagement that provides gratification while learning.

Valued Purpose through knowing that what is being learned is purposeful to the learner.

Success through the recognition of accomplishments and growth in creativity, competence, skills, and knowledge.   

Each day we will discuss what that key looks like in our classroom community, and the students will make a book page for a Six Keys book to keep in class.  

I hope you all received my letter of introduction that was sent out by mail at the beginning of August. If you did not get one please let me know. A few reminders from that letter are:
 
Weekly Communication: At the beginning of each week, I will be sending home a letter informing you of our weekly goals. As a result of this information, I am hoping we will become a team in your child’s education. The letter will also be posted in an online blog at: mrsbrownsfourth.blogspot.com

Homework:  To give the class some time to settle back into a school routine, I will start sending weekly homework beginning the first week in September, Monday through Thursday nights. It will be practice and enrichment assignments to reinforce concepts presented in class. Also, home reading will be encouraged nightly and a reading log will be sent home on Friday to be returned the following Thursday.

Field Trips:  I have a number of ideas for field trips, but it is my understanding that the class must raise the money.  I have some ideas, but will be looking for parent support in this area. If you have ideas, or would like to help start the year with a yard sale, please contact me.

I hope you have an enjoyable week! 

Kind Regards,

Julie Brown

 
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