August 17 , 2016
Dear Parents and Students, Welcome to Mrs. Carlen’s class! I am so pleased to be your child’s teacher this year and look forward to meeting each of you at Back to School Night on Wednesday, August 24th, if not sooner. I believe all children are full of remarkable possibilities and I look forward to helping each student reach his or her potential. My two most important rules are: 1) Always give your best effort, and 2) Be kind to everyone. I believe that each student shares the responsibility for his or her own learning. Therefore, I expect my students to do their best regarding in both schoolwork and their behavior. With the guidance and direction of both teachers and parents this can be accomplished. Goal My highest goal is to cultivate a passion in my students for learning and growth. Learning is one of the most important things in life and I hope to make this process fun, engaging, and accessible for all students. Expectations I will be put forth my best effort and I expect the same from all of my students. Even though each student has different strengths and weaknesses in various subject areas, I expect the work turned in to be their best effort. Assignments need to be handed in when they are due. All students are given a Homework Binder. This binder will go home on Monday and needs to be returned on Friday. Students are expected to come to class on time, prepared and ready to learn every day. Students need their appropriate materials and a positive attitude. Encouragement at home is very important on these points. As your child’s teacher I expect each student to be understanding, caring, and respectful to other students and adults. These characteristics are of the utmost importance. I want the classroom to be a positive, encouraging place where students can learn and present their views in a safe, non-threatening atmosphere. Put-downs and negative behavior will not be tolerated. If there is a problem I will facilitate a class meeting to discuss the problems and we will collaborate to solve them together. This process encourages initiative, discussion, problem-solving and conflict resolution. Parent Volunteers I truly value parent assistance and appreciate any help you can provide. The involvement of parents, relatives and friends deeply enriches the classroom experience. In addition to volunteers that I request from time to time, please let me know if you have any new ideas on how you can get involved. I understand how precious your time is and appreciate any time you can offer. Last year I had parents who taught art lessons and helped in the library. If you would like to volunteer in class, please e-mail me with convenient time(s). I will also provide a sign-up sheet for parents at Back to School Night. Personal Background I received my Liberal Arts Degree from Notre Dame de Namur University. I also received my Special Education Credential and Masters in Special Education from Notre Dame de Namur University. I taught Preschool for 6 years. I also was a substitute teacher in general education and special education classes for 3 years. I taught English Language Learners for 3 years and worked as a paraprofessional in a Special Education class for 3 years. This is my second year teaching Special Education. Overall I have over 15 years of experience working with children. I look forward to an excellent year filled with learning, growth and fun. If you should have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to e-mail me at [email protected] . I am available any day after school to go over your child’s progress or to answer other questions you may have. Please remember to email me ahead of time so that I can plan accordingly. Thank you and I look forward to working with you this year. Mrs. Carlen 4th/5th Grade SDC Teacher |
|