It is hard to believe that it is already mid-May. Our students are doing amazing things every day at Defer and learning is so evident. One of my favorite parts of my day is engaging students in conversation during the lunch hour. Yesterday I heard all about the frozen peas that their class crayfish ate as part of a Science observation. One student was demonstrating the crayfish’s technique using his own sandwich while others at the table observed and added their comments. A fourth grade class had taken their Grosse Pointe Writing Assessment that morning and a student flagged me down to tell about how she started this piece of writing. She felt she had a strong lead and that it really grabbed the audience’s attention. Finally, I eavesdropped on a conversation at a fifth grade table about the Executive Branch of the government as a group of boys had a friendly disagreement about the requirements for becoming President of United States. Clearly, our students are engaged in the hard work of learning.
The Defer teachers and I are beginning the process of making classroom assignments for the 2011-12 school year. In grade level teams we will work to develop these classroom groupings. From working with your children all year long our teachers have valuable insights regarding the academic, social, and emotional needs of your children. Some of the factors we will consider as we do this work include:
· Academic ability
· Cluster grouping / Learning partners
· Gender balance
· Learning styles ( auditory, visual, hands-on)
· Student personality and interaction
· Student behavior
· Information provided by parents
We have one main goal is doing this work and that is to create the most positive classroom environment we can to maximize student learning.
Please help us firm up our Defer enrollment. This information helps us plan for the number of sections in each grade level and the number of teachers we will need to teach our students. If you plan on moving before the start of the school year in the fall, it is very important that you let us know by calling the Defer Office.
A second way you can help us is by approaching neighborhood parents whose children may be attending Kindergarten next year. Please have them either contact the Defer Office or the Office of Residency and Enrollment at 313 432-3093. Also, let them know about our Kindergarten Round-Up for next year’s Kindergarten students is on May 25th from 4:00 – 4:45.
