welcome+letter+2010+Ms+Gall

Welcome Letter 2010. Ms. Gall.

TALK TO YOUR TEACHER... It is my job- my career- my professional responsibility- to make your learning as relevant and accessible to you as I can. I cannot force anyone to learn- (brainwashing violates my sense of ethics too!) but I am required by the State of Michigan to present benchmark educational skills and information to each student to the best of my ability. I believe in the importance and usefulness of the required benchmarks. I enjoy learning about you and working to bring rigor and relevance into the classroom. Make me work for you- it is my job! Ask for a tutor, a different explanation, more attention, a different approach... It can be intimidating, because there is an appropriate process. You should not interrupt the flow of a class to address a personal learning need; you may raise your hand and express yourself politely when I call on you. I may ask you to see me later. This is NOT a rejection of you or your thoughts; this may be necessary to sustain the flow of the class period. You may email, call, text, leave a message with the office, hand me a note, or speak with me before or after school or between classes in addition to speaking with me during class.

Below is the welcome letter currently also available to Inkster students and parents on Zangle from the Inkster Schools website:

Hello Parents and Students! Welcome back to school. My name is Mrs. Gall. I can be reached by calling the school or by email at appleforteacher@hotmail.com. The school has provided an email address as well; I will use that also once it is fully functional (should be in 1- 2 weeks). On the first day of school, students will receive their schedules and seating charts will be assigned. I will give the syllabus on the second day of class. EACH STUDENT IN EACH OF MY CLASSES IS REQUIRED TO BRING A 3-RING BINDER BY THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 9! Please also bring 5 tabs to separate sections of the binder. All work and notes will be kept in the binder and brought to school each day. EVERY SINGLE CLASS PERIOD, Every student will complete a "DO NOW" activity, quietly, during the first five minutes of class. These written assignments will be kept by the student- this begins on day one! Be prepared to save your work. Write your name, the date, and the hour on every piece of paper for this class, please...

That's the "need to know" information...

I am thrilled to be your teacher, and I look forward to a rigorous, FUN year of first- rate, HIGH QUALITY science education at Inkster High School. You will have great pride in the things you learn and accomplish; make this promise to YOURSELF to get the best education possible in our time at school.

I am an expert in Science Education, and have taught high school science classes in the Metro Detroit Area since 1998. My goal is to learn your preferences, talents, needs, and abilities- then to make the required learning objectives as fun and relevant as possible.

I do not want to SIMPLY explain things to you, then give you points for telling me what you just heard.

I DO WANT TO SHARE INTERESTING DEMONSTRATIONS AND HANDS- ON EXPERIENCES WITH YOU.

I do want to provoke you to think about the lessons I'm required to make available to you. I do want you to understand the whole picture- WHAT is important, WHY it's useful, WHO needs to use the information the most, WHEN certain methods of getting information are most valuable...

INQUIRY (encouraging students to ask relevant questions and try to discover the answers) and MODELING (using demonstrations and simulations to understand real- life processes) are important methods.

NONE OF THOSE THINGS MATTER UNLESS YOU ARE IN CLASS.

DO COME TO CLASS, ON TIME, EVERY DAY. EVERY DAY. EVERY DAY.

I'll provide the high- quality, rigorous, motivating educational environment- that's my job. Give your ideas, respectfully; I will listen.

A positive emotional environment is very important. It is a priority for me.

Again, I'm looking forward to a great start to the school year; Can't wait to meet you and work with you!

Sincerely, Ms. Gall September 6, 2010