Welcome to Literacy Seminar

August 18^th, 2011

Dear Family of a Literary Seminar Student,

Welcome to Literacy Seminar! The aim of this class is to help your son/daughter access, critique and enjoy text.  In addition to our lit sets and book/short story studies, students will also have a lot of latitude to read and respond to texts of their choice including magazines, newspapers, and music lyrics. Additionally, this class will offer support with core class readings. Because we know that writing and reading are inexorably linked, your son/daughter will also complete writing projects.  

Yet, don’t think this is just another traditional reading class. I have some big ideas for the year including integration of technology (I have ten new kindles on order and have written a grant for MP3 players). I am hoping to involve the community bookstores, newspapers, and libraries with our class. I am also working on a service project where our literacy students would mentor younger readers. In short, your son/daughter is in for a fantastic and interesting year centered around improving literacy skills.

To tell you a little bit about myself: this is my sixth year in the classroom. I have taught K-12, special education, gifted education, elementary education, advanced placement English, on-level World Studies, intermediate math, personal finance and teacher trainings. I graduated from RBHS and completed my bachelors at the University of Missouri. My family and I then moved to Oakland, California, where I began my teaching career and finished a Masters in K-12 education.  We became parents, through adoption and decided we wanted to raise our son in Columbia, MO. We packed up the car and drove back across the country. I started teaching at RBHS that next fall. This year our son is beginning his first year at Smithon Middle School. Over the summer, we welcomed a new baby into our family. When she is old enough, she will, no doubt, also attend Columbia Public Schools.

I am very serious about helping your son/daughter improve their literacy skills. I firmly believe there is no better gift a teacher can give her students than the love of reading. I know the best way to support students is to build a strong classroom culture. I am looking forward to getting to know your son/daughter (and you)! I always run my classroom with an open door. If you have questions, concerns, or ideas, I want to hear them. Please feel free to email or drop by. I am looking forward to a great year.

Respectfully yours, Kathryn

Kathryn Fishman-Weaver M.Ed
Literacy Seminar Instructor
Gifted Coordinator
kfishman@columbia.k12.mo.us