Welcome to First Grade!

Meet your Teachers: Ms. Burnell & Frau Edinger

My name is Brittany Burnell, and I would like to share a few details about myself. I just moved to Germany this July from Chicago, Illinois USA to be with my boyfriend, Jochen, after a long two year long distance relationship.  I met him when he was studying abroad at University in America, and we have been together ever since.   I was educated at Indiana University, and this will be my second year teaching elementary students.  I am truly blessed to have been given this opportunity to work at MIS with such a diverse student body.  My last teaching assignment was in an inner city Chicago school in a Kindergarten classroom.  This experience taught me how to handle all types of learners and help them reach their learning potential.  In my spare time I enjoy the outdoors, sports (playing and watching), camping, and spending time with my family and friends.  

Ich heiße Dana Edinger und unterrichte Deutsch, Social Studies und Bilingual Math in  Ms Burnells erster Klasse.

Nach meinem Abitur in Viernheim arbeitete ich zuerst ein Jahr als Tagesmutter. Im Anschluss daran entschloss ich mich an der Berufsakademie Mannheim die Fachrichtung Dienstleistungsmarketing zu studieren. Diesen dualen Studiengang in Kooperation mit der Vanguard Autovermietung schloss ich mit als Diplom Betriebswirtin (BA) ab.

Noch während meiner Diplomarbeit bewarb ich mich an der Pädagogischen Hochschule Heidelberg, um das Lehramt für Grund – und Hauptschule mit den Fächern Deutsch, Englisch und Biologie zu studieren. Durch mein Erststudium war es mir möglich, schon während des Lehramtsstudiums als Lehrerin zu arbeiten.Von 2009 bis 2012 war ich an der Carlo – Schmid – Schule Mannheim im Berufseinstiegsjahr, im Berufsvorbereitungsjahr und an der Wirtschaftsrealschule tätig.

An der Metropolitan International School arbeite ich seit Juni 2012 und übernahm hier zuerst die 3. / 4. Klasse in allen deutschsprachigen Fächern. Seit September unterrichte ich nun ihre Kinder und bin sehr glücklich darüber.

Please contact Ms Burnell or Frau Edinger at bmburnel@umail.iu.edu or danaedinger@googlemail.com if you have any questions, comments or concerns about our class. We look forward to a successful school year!


Welcome to Our Classroom!

September 12^th, 2012

Dear Parents/Caregivers and Families,

I am pleased to welcome you all to First Grade at MIS!  I look forward to an exciting year together here at MIS.  I hope that the following information clarifies a few questions that you may have.  Ms. Paterson and I are working very closely together so that both first grade classes stay on the same topics and units of study throughout the school year. 

Information will be communicated to you each week in via email & also posted on the Primary blog.

http://primarymis.blogspot.de

Also on the blog will be photos of your children participating in class activities and around the school. The blog is available to the public through the school website.  The photos will not have your child’s full name attached to them.  Please let me know if you have any objections to photos of your child being posted on the blog. 

About me:

I would like to share a few details about myself. I just moved to Germany this July from Chicago, Illinois USA to be with my boyfriend, Jochen, after a long two year long distance relationship.  I met him when he was studying abroad in America at University, and we have been together ever since J   I was educated at Indiana University, and this will be my second year teaching elementary students.  I am truly blessed to have been given this opportunity to work at MIS with such a diverse student body.  My last teaching assignment was in an inner city Chicago school in a Kindergarten classroom.  This experience taught me how to handle all types of learners and help them reach their learning potential.  In my spare time I enjoy the outdoors, sports (playing and watching), camping, and spending time with my family and friends.  

*Please find attached the children’s weekly timetable.*

First Grade Program:

During the first two weeks, your child is adjusting to our class routines and rules, organizing his/her materials, getting to know each other, and demonstrating his/her current knowledge in the core subjects, such as Math and Language.

Discipline Plan: CARE AWARD PROGRAM

The school operates a positive reinforcement program called CARE.

• The program is based on the four attributes of Citizenship, Achievement, Responsibility and Effort.

• These four categories all have skills, which the students are aware of that they can work towards.

• In recognition of achieving these skills students are rewarded with tokens which we hope will ultimately lead to Gold awards.

Detention

1st time Name written on the board (warning)

2nd time Cross next to their name. (2nd warning)

3rd time Second cross next to name and verbal warning

4th time Detention – Detention consist of 15mins of tidying up the playground with a duty teacher wearing a safety vest at their lunch playtime.

School supplies:

If you have not already done so, please be sure to purchase the students school supplies no later than the 3rd week as we will begin to use these. Please label ALL materials with your child’s name.  Many of you already have sent in your supplies and had them pre-labeled. Thank you. This saves a lot of time organizing supplies.

INFORMATION: Scolaflex-Tafelset L1

I have had a lot of questions about this supply.  It is used in place of the whiteboards.  The whiteboard markers run out very quickly and in our ‘Word Works/Spelling’ program we use the whiteboards daily.  I understand that this resource is particularly expensive, and if you do not wish to purchase this resource that is ok.  I have a class set of white boards available to the students, but they will need more whiteboard markers throughout the year.

Communication:

The blog and email will be the schools main form of communication.

Email: bmburnel@umail.iu.edu

Pleases check the blog weekly as I will put updates of important events, photos, reminders, and the suggested weekly ‘Brain Quest’ pages on there.  Also, your child will also have a communication book which travels between home and school each day.  Please use this book to inform me of any changes to who will pick your child up.  I use this for child specific information, such as stationary needs, behavior issues, or requests for a meeting.  I encourage the children of Grade 1 to begin reading at home.  Reading can be in any language, and it can be either the child reading, listening to a story, or reading together along with you.  Every time you read at home, please record it in their homework book as ‘I Read’ or ‘We Read’ and your child will get a point. When your child has 25 points they will receive a certificate recognizing their achievement.  They will also receive a token for achievement from the CARE program.

Feel free to visit the classroom and contact me at school or via email if you have any questions or concerns and I will gladly set up an appointment to speak with you!

Sincerely,

Miss Brittany Burnell