Newsletter+to+Parents+and+Caregivers!


 * Mr. Van Nostrand 4th Grade Courier: Mr. V's Mission to the Moon!**



I would like to welcome and introduce myself to all of you parents and caregivers to a new and exciting year! I cannot express in words the amount of enthusiasm I have for this upcoming school year. My name is Travis Van Nostrand and I would like to take the time to give you an inside scoop of who I am and what I am all about and the ideology I would like to incorporate into my teaching this year. First, I graduated from Smithtown High School West in 2008 where I not only met some inspiring individuals both socially and academically, but in addition was able to walk away with a great education. I furthered my education at The State University in New York at Cortland, where I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Childhood Education grades 1-6 with a concentration in social sciences and a new love for teaching. Growing up I was always been surrounded by kids, I was fortunate enough to have been adopted into an already large family that has now grown to an even BIGGER family now consisting of 12 kids, all adopted, from two different countries. Since I could remember I’ve always been not only a role model but a teacher and motivator to my 6 younger brothers and sisters. And I’ve always had 5 older brothers and sister to do the same for me. It’s simply what we did as Van Nostrand’ that made our family so dynamic. I enter this year with hopes that I can articulate and teach my students using a hands on logistical approach where students can grasp ideas and relate them to their everyday lives. Every child learns differently and I am going to put my best foot forward to teach them using different and creative ways to accommodate students of diverse learning abilities. This upcoming week, I'm going to extend an invitation for you and your significant other to join myself and the other parents in my classroom for a in person introduction and brief overview of what is going to be taking place in the classroom. Prior to this gathering I’m asking for the parents and caregivers to write a few sentences about your child. I would like you to include any special needs and or accommodations that may pertain to your child as well as things that make your child tick and ways that your child learns best in the home setting. On the first day I'm going to make a class list of goals and expectations and in addition, I would like your child to make an individual list of goals and expectations so we can take the first step in success. As the year continues with a little help I know they can achieve all of their goals, continue on their educational path and continue to shine as students and become stars. Through a well planned three block framework ideology, I am able to flexibly integrate curriculum components through a serious of workshops consisting of; reading workshop, writing workshop, and language- word study. I believe it is an effective framework that allows me to teach using a number of different strategies that I will show you in this newsletter! With your child's hard work and determination and a mix of our positive reinforcement as parents/ caregivers / role models we can expect to see these students reach of the moon and develop into a STAR! Feel free to contact me at travis.vannostrand@lovemystudents.com I look forward to meeting and speaking with you soon! Travis Van Nostrand