Dear Parents and Grandparents,

4/2/2013

As your childs student teacher these last couple months, I have greatly enjoyed working with the class. While I have mostly been teaching math and science so far, I want to inform you about a couple of upcoming student projects in the writing/language arts unit we began a week and a half ago. This unitwhich integrates writing skills with poetic and theatrical art formsis entitled Why do we express ourselves? A major thrust of these lessons is to help the students recognize the communal role of both writing and art in their everyday lives. To this end, in the upcoming weeks the students will be engaged in the following activities: Ask a family member: During class this Friday, April 5, students will be asked to write a poem incorporating details about a family members work or job whether inside the home or outside. Sometime over the next two nights, your child may approach you or another family member with some questions about a present or past job. Your cooperation in answering your childs questions would be greatly appreciated! Oral History Project: Starting the week of April 8, students will develop questionnaires to ask a grandparent or an older family friend or neighbor, focusing on their experiences growing up. When I give the students this assignment (with clear directions about what they should do), please be available to help your child think about who to interview and how to do it: by phone, paying a visit etc. Thank you for your attention to these upcoming projects. Dont hesitate to email me at johnthiel90@gmail.com if you have any questions. Sincerely, John Thiel