Letters to the Editor 11/16/2005

To the Editor:

What is a typical day at Sonrise Christian School? In response to the November 2 charter school article (“Parents seek charter school,” page 1), let me share with you a day in my fourth/fifth classroom.

Our day begins as an elementary community with announcements, singing, and prayer. In class, I employ flexible grouping driven by students’ needs and monitored by student, teacher and parent. In language arts we engage in grammar songs/chants, reading groups, process writing, and spelling activities. Some students receive greater instruction in reading, writing, or math – feasible with my 13:1 ratio.

Each student has individual goals for which he/she is weekly responsible. Thanks to our art center, hands-on science center and reliable parent volunteers, I meet with each child on his/her goal several times weekly.

In technology, we recently completed a PowerPoint presentation of an animal’s biological taxonomy, including a written report. My fifth-graders are continuing their PowerPoint skills from last year while preparing to launch into their program focus of the year — Microsoft Excel. My eight fifth-graders will utilize this program in the lab and in real-life math explorations.

Last month, they researched the initial and ongoing costs of a pet; this month they explored measurement with pumpkins and made pumpkin pie. Last week in science, after instruction on cells, students worked in small groups to build a model of a cell. Then we discussed metaphors from life relating to the cell and its functions.

In art we have a guest artist weekly who guides the students in many different genres. Together with two home-schoolers, we are performing a historical musical.

My students enjoy singing songs and rounds with two- and three-part harmonies in many styles. My students also have Latin class two to three times per week.

Rebekah Nafziger