What is the best way to contact you?
The easiest way to contact me is by using the texting feature in the free ParentSquare app. I will always use the ParentSquare app to text you, provide important information, about upcoming events, or share pictures. You may also contact me in person, by phone using the school number 358-1620, or with a note or letter. Email me if you have to.
What are your expectations of student behavior?
My expectations of student behavior try to create a positive, controlled learning environment. I have the students generate four basic rules on the first day of school. Strangely enough, the four rules always are raise your hand to ask or answer a question, stay on task after following simple directions, listen when others are speaking, and keep your hands and feet to yourself. I add the rule, treat others the way you would like to be treated. The majority of the students have to agree to the rules, while I have to approve them. After I am done printing the rules, I do ask them if the rules are fair. Once they have accepted the rules, I have the students sign the paper the rules are printed on; this fosters a sense of ownership. I even sign to let them know I will try to follow the rules.
My classroom rules correspond to the Lake Hills' Code of Conduct of kindness, honesty, responsibility and respectfulness. Raising a hand to answer, or ask a question, is a form of respectfulness. Listening, staying on task and following directions show that a student is responsible. Keeping hands and feet to oneself is a sign of kindness. Treating others the way you want to be treated incorporates all the components of the Code.
I expect the students to accept the limitations in the classroom. They need to understand they can not do whatever they want, whenever they want. I try to praise, or at least thank, students who follow simple directions. I want them to realize they will get more attention from me, if they are listening to me and following my simple directions. I will redirect inappropriate behavior decisively, sharply, and quickly, when needed.
The students will record their daily behavior on a monthly calendar. Parents need to sign/initial the square. The goal is green! When the Daily Behavior Chart is filled in for the month, your child will earn one Caught Having CLASS ticket for every week of solid green squares.
I will contact parents when the student's behavior interferes with his or her learning, the learning of others, or is affecting the dynamics of the classroom over the course of at least two or three days.
Is there homework every week, and when is it due?
Yes, there is homework every week. I send it home every Monday in a folder. Homework is due every Friday.
What are some office supplies you can use in the classroom?
I really do not need any donated supplies. Alvord USD gives me plenty of money for classroom supplies. If you want to donate something, I can use Expo chisel tip dry erase markers, reams of 3-hole punched wide-ruled 8.5 x 11 in. paper, black ink pens, Kleenex, quart size freezer ziploc bags. A donated picture book is always welcome! This is not really office supplies, but the students could always use an art lesson from ArtStars. The cost for a lesson is $65. To order a lesson for the students, lick on this link and follow the prompts. A sponsored lesson is great for birthday parties, holidays and teacher appreciation.
Can you tell me a little bit about yourself?
Sure. I was born in Riverside at Riverside Community Hospital. Three weeks after I was born, my parents moved to Gainesville, Florida, where my dad had gotten a job as a professor at the University of Florida(UF). I lived in Gainesville for eight years and attended Littlewood Elementary School. My mom, sister and I moved backed to Riverside in 1979. I attended Jackson Elementary School, Chemawa Middle School and Arlington High School.
I moved back to Gainesville to attend college at UF from 1989 to 1995. Even though I had spent about two months during the summer every year since 1979 with my father and stepmother in Florida, I applied to UF mainly because I wanted to get to know my dad better. I had been accepted at all the University of California campuses I had applied to, but the high cost of living on UC campuses and the desire to be near my dad was overwhelming. No, I did not get free tuition at UF because my father was a professor. The funny thing is, as a kid I had sworn I would NEVER attend UF. Ha! What a great time I had in college.
After college, I married Kelly, who I had known in Riverside and had kept in touch with over the years. This was a girl who I thought would NEVER love me, much less want to marry me. After a whirlwind engagement, her parents let us get married at the Mission Inn in January 1996. She and I moved to Seattle because we were willing to live some place different and I was certified to teach in the state of Washington. I NEVER thought I would have the chance to live in Seattle. Ultimately, after ten months in Seattle, I applied for a job with Alvord Unified because Kelly and I missed family and I was tired of substitute teaching. The Seattle area was a cutthroat place for landing a job as a teacher. Leaving our downtown Seattle condo (Yes, the Space Needle was up the street from our place.) was hard, but coming home was easy.
Moving back to Riverside in October 1996 to start work as a 2nd grade teacher at McAuliffe Elementary School was the beginning of my teaching career. I learned so much from my amazing coworkers and tried to become a better teacher every day. Kelly and I enjoy living in Riverside, which is funny because I had sworn to NEVER live in California, much less Riverside, after leaving in 1989. After 12 years of marriage we finally had one child, Aiden, in 2008. Another one, Ainsley, surprised us two years later in 2010, after the doctors said we could NEVER have children again.
I left McAuliffe ES in 2007 to open Lake Hills ES, which was shocking because I thought I would NEVER leave McAuliffe ES. Working at Lake Hills ES is a double blessing because I am surrounded by wonderful coworkers and work close to home. Hey kids, do you see the moral of the story? NEVER say NEVER, especially if your name is Brent. This is a running joke in my family.
How do you spend your free time?
I spend my time visiting family and friends in southern California and across the US, reading, going to movies, doing the Press-Enterprise daily crossword puzzle, trying to keep up with the new bands on KROQ and SiriusXM and watching TV.
What is the FactWise math goal?
The FactWise math goal is a simple way to check for oral fluency of simple math facts. I will test the students every Friday. I say the
equation and the student has to say the correct answer within 3 seconds. Counting in their heads or using fingers is not permitted. If the student passes, he or she moves to a new goal. If the student does not pass, he or she has to practice some more and I will retest. Every student needs to reach Subtraction Goal 9 by the end of the year. The best way to help your child is to read the equation and have your child say the answer out loud. Flash cards can help too.
What are those lists of spelling words on the back of your memos?
I have the students participate in a Classroom Spelling Bee three times a year. The words are for the spelling bee. I will usually have the spelling bee on a Thursday. I can not have it on Friday because my Fridays are way too busy. I follow a spelling bee format during the bee. I say the word, say a sentence with the word and say the word again. Your child has to say the word, spell it out loud and say the word again. If the word is spelled correctly, the student stays in the bee. If the word is misspelled, the student is out of the bee and returns to his or her desk. The words are chosen randomly. The words have been on the back of the memos for 10 weeks, studying for the bee should be a slow steady process. Good luck!
The easiest way to contact me is by using the texting feature in the free ParentSquare app. I will always use the ParentSquare app to text you, provide important information, about upcoming events, or share pictures. You may also contact me in person, by phone using the school number 358-1620, or with a note or letter. Email me if you have to.
What are your expectations of student behavior?
My expectations of student behavior try to create a positive, controlled learning environment. I have the students generate four basic rules on the first day of school. Strangely enough, the four rules always are raise your hand to ask or answer a question, stay on task after following simple directions, listen when others are speaking, and keep your hands and feet to yourself. I add the rule, treat others the way you would like to be treated. The majority of the students have to agree to the rules, while I have to approve them. After I am done printing the rules, I do ask them if the rules are fair. Once they have accepted the rules, I have the students sign the paper the rules are printed on; this fosters a sense of ownership. I even sign to let them know I will try to follow the rules.
My classroom rules correspond to the Lake Hills' Code of Conduct of kindness, honesty, responsibility and respectfulness. Raising a hand to answer, or ask a question, is a form of respectfulness. Listening, staying on task and following directions show that a student is responsible. Keeping hands and feet to oneself is a sign of kindness. Treating others the way you want to be treated incorporates all the components of the Code.
I expect the students to accept the limitations in the classroom. They need to understand they can not do whatever they want, whenever they want. I try to praise, or at least thank, students who follow simple directions. I want them to realize they will get more attention from me, if they are listening to me and following my simple directions. I will redirect inappropriate behavior decisively, sharply, and quickly, when needed.
The students will record their daily behavior on a monthly calendar. Parents need to sign/initial the square. The goal is green! When the Daily Behavior Chart is filled in for the month, your child will earn one Caught Having CLASS ticket for every week of solid green squares.
I will contact parents when the student's behavior interferes with his or her learning, the learning of others, or is affecting the dynamics of the classroom over the course of at least two or three days.
Is there homework every week, and when is it due?
Yes, there is homework every week. I send it home every Monday in a folder. Homework is due every Friday.
What are some office supplies you can use in the classroom?
I really do not need any donated supplies. Alvord USD gives me plenty of money for classroom supplies. If you want to donate something, I can use Expo chisel tip dry erase markers, reams of 3-hole punched wide-ruled 8.5 x 11 in. paper, black ink pens, Kleenex, quart size freezer ziploc bags. A donated picture book is always welcome! This is not really office supplies, but the students could always use an art lesson from ArtStars. The cost for a lesson is $65. To order a lesson for the students, lick on this link and follow the prompts. A sponsored lesson is great for birthday parties, holidays and teacher appreciation.
Can you tell me a little bit about yourself?
Sure. I was born in Riverside at Riverside Community Hospital. Three weeks after I was born, my parents moved to Gainesville, Florida, where my dad had gotten a job as a professor at the University of Florida(UF). I lived in Gainesville for eight years and attended Littlewood Elementary School. My mom, sister and I moved backed to Riverside in 1979. I attended Jackson Elementary School, Chemawa Middle School and Arlington High School.
I moved back to Gainesville to attend college at UF from 1989 to 1995. Even though I had spent about two months during the summer every year since 1979 with my father and stepmother in Florida, I applied to UF mainly because I wanted to get to know my dad better. I had been accepted at all the University of California campuses I had applied to, but the high cost of living on UC campuses and the desire to be near my dad was overwhelming. No, I did not get free tuition at UF because my father was a professor. The funny thing is, as a kid I had sworn I would NEVER attend UF. Ha! What a great time I had in college.
After college, I married Kelly, who I had known in Riverside and had kept in touch with over the years. This was a girl who I thought would NEVER love me, much less want to marry me. After a whirlwind engagement, her parents let us get married at the Mission Inn in January 1996. She and I moved to Seattle because we were willing to live some place different and I was certified to teach in the state of Washington. I NEVER thought I would have the chance to live in Seattle. Ultimately, after ten months in Seattle, I applied for a job with Alvord Unified because Kelly and I missed family and I was tired of substitute teaching. The Seattle area was a cutthroat place for landing a job as a teacher. Leaving our downtown Seattle condo (Yes, the Space Needle was up the street from our place.) was hard, but coming home was easy.
Moving back to Riverside in October 1996 to start work as a 2nd grade teacher at McAuliffe Elementary School was the beginning of my teaching career. I learned so much from my amazing coworkers and tried to become a better teacher every day. Kelly and I enjoy living in Riverside, which is funny because I had sworn to NEVER live in California, much less Riverside, after leaving in 1989. After 12 years of marriage we finally had one child, Aiden, in 2008. Another one, Ainsley, surprised us two years later in 2010, after the doctors said we could NEVER have children again.
I left McAuliffe ES in 2007 to open Lake Hills ES, which was shocking because I thought I would NEVER leave McAuliffe ES. Working at Lake Hills ES is a double blessing because I am surrounded by wonderful coworkers and work close to home. Hey kids, do you see the moral of the story? NEVER say NEVER, especially if your name is Brent. This is a running joke in my family.
How do you spend your free time?
I spend my time visiting family and friends in southern California and across the US, reading, going to movies, doing the Press-Enterprise daily crossword puzzle, trying to keep up with the new bands on KROQ and SiriusXM and watching TV.
What is the FactWise math goal?
The FactWise math goal is a simple way to check for oral fluency of simple math facts. I will test the students every Friday. I say the
equation and the student has to say the correct answer within 3 seconds. Counting in their heads or using fingers is not permitted. If the student passes, he or she moves to a new goal. If the student does not pass, he or she has to practice some more and I will retest. Every student needs to reach Subtraction Goal 9 by the end of the year. The best way to help your child is to read the equation and have your child say the answer out loud. Flash cards can help too.
What are those lists of spelling words on the back of your memos?
I have the students participate in a Classroom Spelling Bee three times a year. The words are for the spelling bee. I will usually have the spelling bee on a Thursday. I can not have it on Friday because my Fridays are way too busy. I follow a spelling bee format during the bee. I say the word, say a sentence with the word and say the word again. Your child has to say the word, spell it out loud and say the word again. If the word is spelled correctly, the student stays in the bee. If the word is misspelled, the student is out of the bee and returns to his or her desk. The words are chosen randomly. The words have been on the back of the memos for 10 weeks, studying for the bee should be a slow steady process. Good luck!
1st_semester.pdf | |
File Size: | 675 kb |
File Type: |
2nd_semester.pdf | |
File Size: | 677 kb |
File Type: |
3rd_semester.pdf | |
File Size: | 807 kb |
File Type: |