Msg. about Saturday School

Hi XXXXX,

I wanted to share a few items about the conduct of Saturday School with you.  First, let me start by sharing the Vista Unified School District’s current Instructional Focus Statement:

“All students will make meaning of text through explicit instruction of academic language, common academic vocabulary, and reading strategies resulting in comprehension and understanding of grade-level standards-based content being taught.”

This means that all opportunities to have academic time, including Saturday School, must have an academic focus.  I envision Saturday School as a very opportune time for a writing workshop.  Students need to be writing 5 paragraph essays during Saturday School, and a four hour block gives you ample opportunity for direct, interactive instruction as well as student brain storming, rough drafts, and a final draft.  The products produced by the students are artifacts of their learning in both the behavioral support class and Saturday School. 

This also means that you may not show full length movies during Saturday School. 

However, here is an example of an activity you could use: Let’s say the students are studying WW I…  Inform the students that they will be viewing two clips that portray different perspectives of life and actions during WW I.  One perspective will be from the American/allied point of view, and the other perspective will be from the German point of view.  Instruct the students to take detailed notes.  Show a 10-15 minute clip of “The Lost Battalion” and a 10-15 minute clip of “All Quiet on the Western Front.”  Next, have the students use a Venn Diagram to help organize their thoughts so that they may then compare and contrast the two clips they viewed.  The Venn Diagram will help them to get their thoughts on paper.  They can then take those thoughts and write a rough draft of a 5 paragraph essay on the topic.  Have the students conduct a peer review and edit of each others’ rough drafts.  The students can then write a final draft of their 5 paragraph essay.  You collect their work and then provide it to their English Language Arts teachers on Monday. 

That is just one example of an activity, and I am sure you have many more ideas.  The bottom line is that Saturday School and your Behavioral Support time must have a strong academic focus with a lot of writing incorporated.  You have ample time to prepare activities prior to our first Saturday School of the year on October 15^th. 

Please feel free to share this information with XXXX if he is ever to host Saturday School in your absence. 

Sincerely,

Tim