Dear Parents,
As
a new school year begins for your child as one of my third grade students, I
felt it was important to introduce myself. My journey with the Alaska Gateway
School District began in the fall of 2012. For the first two years, I was
teaching the kindergarten through 2nd grade groups in Tetlin. For the next two
years, I taught the same ages at another village school in Northway. In the
fall of 2016, I transferred to Tok School to teach 4th grade for two
years. This year I requested the third grade after hearing that Mrs. Canner was
retiring. I always enjoy taking on a new group of students and I have been
working through the summer to get ready for the 2018-2019 school year.
Before
moving to Tok, my background consisted of four years living in Botswana,
Africa, with my husband where I taught mostly English as second language
learners in grades kindergarten through fourth. Previously, we were long time
Alaska residents. Most of our years in Alaska were spent living in the interior
bush community of Galena, where I taught an alternative program for teens, 7th
and 8th grades, Title 1 reading, and kindergarten. For a number of
years before obtaining my teacher certificate, I was part of the classified
support staff working with intensive students in addition to serving on the
local school board. My husband and I also ran a small air taxi service from our
home. For over 30 years, we were very happy living in a rural community among
the Athabascan people of the Yukon River region. It has been great to be back
in Alaska, and Tok has been a good fit for us.
In
the classroom, I have a genuine passion to teach children of any age, and I
honestly do, "whatever it takes" to see my students succeed. It is my
belief that every child is precious and deserving of a quality education in a
culturally relevant and a secure surrounding in which knowledge can increase. I
feel that all children are capable of learning, but do not always learn in the
same way or at the same rate. Individuals learn in a variety of ways, and
children deserve equal opportunities to learn through educational approaches
that blend and stimulate all multiple intelligences found in the classroom
population. It is my goal to provide an atmosphere where students feel
comfortable to take risks by testing new ideas in a safe classroom environment,
and develop to their fullest potential.
I
am confident that with your support, we can make this an exciting and
successful year for your child! Please take a few minutes to look at the
following information.
Sincerely
Julie Brown
Weekly Communication: At the beginning of each
week, I will be sending home a letter informing you of our weekly goals. As a
result of this information, I am hoping we will become a team in your child’s
education. The letter will also be posted in an online blog listed on the Tok
School web page. I will also be sending home an explanation of my discipline
and reward system when we start back to school.
Homework: To give the class some time to settle back
into a school routine, I will start sending weekly homework beginning the first
week in September, Monday through Thursday nights. It will be practice and
enrichment assignments to reinforce concepts presented in class. Also home
reading will be encouraged nightly, and a reading log will be sent home each
Monday that will be returned on Friday.
Class Supply List:
· Water Bottle
· Box of colored pencils
· Scissors
· Six glue sticks
· #2 Pencils (about 36 will last through the school
year)
· Ear buds (that can be left
at school)
· Gym shoes (that remain at
school)
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