MARCH 11, 2016
Thursday, March 24
PTO Meeting- 5:30pm
ARMS Parent Orientation- 6:30-8:30pm
Friday, March 25
Assembly, featuring Grade 2- 2:15pm
LES Afterschool and Summer Programs surveys due
Saturday, March 26
LES & SES Mullins Center Skate Day- 2:45pm
Tuesday, March 29
All School Concert & Art Show- 6:00pm
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SPOTLIGHT ON…
Daylight Savings Time Begins
Don’t forget to set your clocks one hour ahead on Saturday night!
IN THE SCHOOLHOUSE
Ways of Learning, Ways of Being
As many of you know, my undergraduate degree is in music. Even as a very small child, I was always drawn to music. When things got a little too chaotic at home, I would retreat to my room and listen to records (yes, of the vinyl variety). For some reason, I was especially fond of Strauss waltzes. Though I started piano lessons when I was seven, it was only when I began playing the flute two years later, that I became more engaged and disciplined about playing an instrument.
About six years ago, I began playing the cello and, more recently, the concertina. It has been a different kind of journey, and one that has provoked ongoing reflection about how I learn. Just this morning, as I was practicing, I played a series of eight notes over and over and over. In my head, I knew just exactly how I wanted it to sound. But I just could not quite make it work. At the same time, I was trying to ‘shift’ perfectly from one place to another on the fingerboard. Unlike a guitar or keyboard, a cello doesn’t have frets, so landing in exactly the right place is a challenge. But how does my brain know where that perfect place is? For the longest time, I kept intellectualizing about what this was supposed to “look like”. When I finally developed the confidence that, with practice, my brain could be trusted to guide my fingers, my playing became much better.
The concept of practice is one that is inherent in learning. Yet, practice doesn’t always mean ‘drill and kill’ exercises. Some children have phenomenal memories for discrete facts, but are not able to easily generalize those facts in different situations or learning. Other children may have a hard time remembering facts, but have incredible conceptual knowledge. Then, there are children who learn best by doing, creating, or listening. As educators, we are constantly balancing different ways of teaching so that understanding is within the grasp of every child.
Howard Gardner’s work of what he coined ‘multiple intelligences’ is a fascinating way of thinking about our individual ways of learning and being. I encourage all of you to take a look at the chart that is included in this Friday Post. Which intelligences do you or your children relate to most strongly?
As for learning the concertina, well, that’s a story waiting to be told.
-Margot Lacey
IMPORTANT DATES FOR 6TH GRADE FAMILIES:
Friday, March 18
Registration packets due!
Thursday, March 24 (snow date- Tuesday, March 29)- Middle School Orientation 6:30-8:30pm
Tuesday, March 22
Introduction to the Special Education Program at the Middle School 6:00-7:00pm
COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD
(Items listed here are not school sponsored)
LEVERETT DEMOCRATS TO ELECT DELEGATES TO STATE CONVENTION
Registered Democrats in Leverett will be holding a caucus at the Leverett Library on Sunday, March 13 at 2pm to elect 2 delegates and 2 alternates to the 2016 Massachusetts Democratic Convention, where Democrats from across Massachusetts will gather to adopt a new Action Agenda. The Convention will be held on Saturday, June 4th at the Tsongas Arena in Lowell.
Help needed with spring cleanup in South Leverett on Juggler Meadow Road. Jobs include leaf and yard raking, pick up & carting brush and apple tree prunings, spreading mulch, weeding and edging projects, setting up summer furniture, and other outdoor chores. I'm looking for a responsible, hard worker who I will train and assist with the work. The pay rate will start at $8.00/hour usually in 2-4 hour periods on the weekends. The pay rate will increase to $10.00/hour based on level of ability and need for oversight. Call Mary Jo at 413-218-3289 and leave contact information.
Missing Quilt
The beloved story hour quilt has disappeared from the Leverett Library. The quilt is used weekly for story hour reading and music time and is greatly missed. It has a cream background with muted pinks and purples, and is a double or queen bed size. If you have found it please return it to the library. Thank you