1. Welcome to our COFFEE TALK!!!!
We are so glad you are here!

2. THANK YOU…. For being here today!
We want all parents to have the opportunity to hear this information; therefore, the information presented today will be available on our website beginning April 17th. If you know of a parent who was unable to be here today, please let them know this information will be on our website.

3. PARKING LOT
We have placed some large post-it pages on the walls titled “Parking Lot”.
If you have a question that you did not want to ask in the large group, or you have a suggestion, please feel free to place your sticky notes on the “Parking Lot”.

4. GOAL OF TODAY'S COFFEE TALK
Share our Whitestone process of placing students in classrooms for the school year.
Answer any questions that parents may have about our process.

5. TEACHER INPUT Teachers receive cards for each student in their class
These cards come with:
Student’s picture
Student information (date of birth, address, etc.)
Teachers the student had in prior years
Health information/Allergies
Student’s data
Special programs

6. TEACHER INPUT
Teachers write information to help guide the placement of each child in a class for the upcoming year, such as…
Student is above grade level, on grade level or below grade level
Student’s strengths and areas that child is working on academically, behaviorally and socially
If the student is in a special program, such as QUEST, Dyslexia, ESL, SRP, Special Education
How that student might learn best - when seated near teacher, benefits from structure
Student works cooperatively with others
Student is a leader or a follower
Student is shy and might need a sensitive teacher

7. TEACHER INPUT
Teachers do not recommend a specific teacher for students. Teachers do not write a teacher’s name on the card. The current teacher gives information specific to each child – what type of learner that child is and assists in placing each child in a class, ensuring each class is balanced.

8. PARENT INPUT
It is very important to us that parents give us input on their child(ren). You know your child better than anyone else! Your input is invaluable and helps us to better understand things that we might not know about your child (your child’s strengths, areas of concern, how your child interacts with other children in social settings, etc.)

9. PARENT INPUT
We ask that you please fill out the online or paper copy “All About My Child” Form.
The form is different this year.
Forms will be available online or in the front office beginning Tues., May 1st and due by May 18th.

10. PARENT INPUT
Please briefly describe your child’s best grade level experience.
Needs structure and organization
Learns best by getting to use manipulatives (cubes/blocks in Math) or hearing the information
Learns best by hearing and seeing the information
Learns best when he/she can work by himself/herself
Likes to work with others
Benefits from positive reinforcement
Is very active, needs to move around

11. PARENT INPUT
Characteristics in a teacher that my child responds well to are:
Structure
Sensitivity
Nurturing
Energetic
Firm
Organized

12. PARENT INPUT
We are asking that you give us characteristics in a teacher you feel your child will respond well to, rather than specific teacher names, as staffing changes will occur and each grade level will experience changes.
All of our teachers are Highly Qualified.
All instructional staff along with the administrative team, will take your parent input along with the teacher input to create balanced classes.

13. Involves all instructional staff and the administrative team
CLASS PLACEMENT
The process-
Involves all instructional staff and the administrative team
Takes into account special programs and creating balanced classes
Is a work-in-progress until school begins

14. CLASS PLACEMENT
What happens if we are scheduled to have 6 classes in a grade level and sometime over the summer or in August we find out that we will only have 5?
We have to go back to the drawing board!
We must start over and build classes again.
This is why it is difficult to accept teacher requests, because this could change over the summer.
This is why we ask you to trust us in utilizing your input for characteristics you would like in a teacher for your child and that we know your child as a student/learner.

15. If you have questions, please ask!
We want to ensure that you leave here today feeling confident in our desire to create balanced classes for the upcoming school year.

16. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR COMING TODAY!!
FEEDBACK FORM
We ask that you please fill out the feedback form located on the library/cafeteria tables.
We would like your feedback:
Was today helpful to you?
What would have made today more helpful/effective?
Would you like for us to host more coffee talks?
If so, what topics should we offer?
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR COMING TODAY!!