Our classroom family is made up of nine students in grades kindergarten through second. Our goal each day is to support one another as we learn and grow. We are friends first and classmates second.We begin each day with a Morning Meeting, following the Responsive Classroom model. During this time we greet one another, share about ourselves, participate in a group activity and discuss the highlights of our day to come.The remainder of our day is spent working in a variety of settings (independent, partner, small and large group) as we attend to our academic, social and emotional needs. Students are broken up into groups based on grade level for some academic subjects, such as math, and work side by side for others, such as writing. Our reading program is literature based but also utilizes parts of the Open Court Reading Program. Writing is taught using the process writing model but also includes pieces of the Collins Writing Program and the Four Square Writing Program. Social Studies themes are integrated into our Language Arts work. We use the Everyday Mathematics Program for math instruction. Our science units for the year include Recycling, Geology, Mechanics, and Plants, with hands-on experience in our final unit as we create class gardens.Our class is also participating in our year long all school focus on Helping Others.
General Homework Policy
In keeping with its belief in and the support for a quality instructional program, the Nelson School District supports the concept of homework being an important part of the educational program.
Homework is an appropriate vehicle for the promotion of self-discipline and the development of organizational skills and resourcefulness. It should be a meaningful extension of the student’s instructional day.
The Nelson School Board expects that the staff will determine the implementation procedure to ensure that students, parents and staff are fully informed as to how homework will be emphasized, assigned and evaluated. Please know that students may be held in at recess time if homework is not completed by the date specified.
Kindergarten, First, and Second Grade Homework Policy
The main purpose of assigning homework at these grade levels is to help the child develop organizational and time management skills. Specific assignments are chosen to review familiar material. If at any time a child is having great difficulty with an assignment, they should set it aside and ask for help the following day. A follow-up note or call from a parent would be great as well.As this is our first year of adding kindergarten to our classroom combination, our homework policy for this grade will evolve in conjunction with parent and student input.For the early part of the year, first grade homework will consist of reading a book daily with someone and practicing their sight words. A log is provided for the child/parent to write down the name of the book you shared. One day a week there will be an additional family-orientated assignment. About midyear, spelling homework is added.Students in grade 2 will be asked to read and log their books in their reading log, practice their spelling and sight words and complete math problems or Mad Minutes each evening Monday through Thursday. One evening a week there will be an additional family oriented assignment. Homework for second grade should take approximately 20 minutes.
About Ms. Benner
Ms. Benner grew up in Vermont but moved to the area to attend Keene State College. In December of 1990, she graduated with a dual major of Elementary Education and Special Education, with an English minor. Upon graduating, she spent the following two and a half years in two different long term substitute positions. One was at Wheelock School in Keene, New Hampshire as a Title I teacher, and one was at the Marlborough School in Marlborough, New Hampshire, as a Special Education teacher. She also worked as a daily substitute throughout SAU 29 in between those two positions.In the fall of 1993, she began her first year at Nelson School when she was hired to start the school's kindergarten program. During that first year she also taught the Title I program in the afternoon. In her second year, she moved up to teach the R/1/2 classroom and taught in that configuration for two years. She then taught a 2/3 combination for four years when the whole school reconfigured to accommodate a particularly large group of students. After that she moved back to the R/1/2 combination and had been there ever since. Until this year! She now teaches a combination K-2 class.Obviously since she has been here for fifteen years, it speaks to her love of Nelson. She cannot imagine teaching anywhere else and has come to think of the Nelson School community as her extended family.
