I'm looking forward to a fabulous year! Invitations for Meet and Greet and New School Year Celebration will be mailed today (August 1st). Look forward to meeting all of you at our Meet and Greet Sunday, August 12, at 2:00-4:00pm!
Teacher and Staff Talent Show Performance 2018
Kat Buckner teaches 5th grade Reading and ELA. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from Centenary College of Louisiana. Ms. Buckner joined the A.C. Steere family in 2014. Before becoming a Gator, she taught 1st, 2nd, and 5th grade at Barret Paideia Academy. When Ms. Buckner isn’t working, she enjoys painting, blogging, and writing. She is also a runner, yogi, and likes to design t-shirts. Ms. Buckner comes from a military family and loves to travel. She has been to Greece, Italy, England, France, Mexico, Guam, and Turkey. She also creates things for teachers on Teachers Pay Teachers. Ms. Buckner's current goals are to take classes in American Sign Language and pursue a Master's Degree in Counseling.
Fun Facts: * Has 3 cats, 1 dog, and 4 turtles * Teaching since 2012. * Joined the A.C. Steere Gators in 2014. * Originally planned on becoming a journalist, but found a passion for teaching while tutoring and working at a daycare in college * Has a side business selling her paintings- #kataclysmickreations * Her first year at A.C. Steere, a student brought a toy cockroach, and it became the "class mascot". * Has ridden a camel, flown an airplane, and ridden on a ferry boat * Ran a half-marathon when she was 25. * Loves chocolate, sushi, spaghetti, quesadillas, and root beer * Enjoys reading nonfiction and researching * Loves animals, cosmology, astrology, psychology, and sociology * Frequently dyes her hair * Paints her nails a different color almost every week * Likes to dress up at work. * Was diagnosed with ADHD and Anxiety in early childhood. * Has studied ADHD, Autism, Aspergers, Dyslexia, and many other learning disorders and mental disorders. |
Buckner swinging on the barn swing at Dixie Maze Farms: |
I am thankful for any help you can give to our classroom!
White printer paper White cardstock Colored cardstock Black Sharpies Tissues Paper Towels Lysol Cleaning Whipes Yellow sticky notes Febreze Air freshener (No food smells, please.) Airwick Plug-in Refills (No food smells, please.) Colored printer paper Colored Index Cards Extra Colored Pencils Notebook Paper (No College Ruled) Extra Plastic Green Pocket Folder 
*Blue links are used in the classroom! A.C. Steere PTA See your child's grades. Set up a login. Our office can help you setup a login if you do not already have one. JPAMS Parent Portal Want to hear all about what we're doing in class? I frequently post during the school year photos and explanations of what we're learning and what's going on at our school! *I do not post photos of students unless given permission.* Caddo Parish School Board Louisiana Department of Education Great resources available to students and parents! Click the Family Support Toolbox. Louisiana Believes Flashcards, quizzes, and games for our spelling words. Login: Steere Password: sky Ms. B's YouTube Channel Includes videos I've used throughout the years for different subjects and brain breaks! Just go to my playlist. :) Spelling City Online study tool with flashcards, quizzes, and games. We utilize this site for Science. Readworks A great website with online videos to help your child with any subject! Discovery Education Online educational videos for many subjects! BrainPOP Online songs/videos to help students with different vocabulary. Flocabulary Inspirational and instructional videos for students Learn to Type typing.com offers free lessons and games to teach children how to type. LearnZillion Caddo Parish Guidebook 2.0 Is located here. Great resources. Teaching Channel Sample Common Core styled questions Lumos Learning Shreveport Memorial Library Educational Games for Kids Fun Brain Educational Games and Videos for Kids PBS Kids National Geographic for Kids Contact Me:
Class Phone: 318-865-5675 ext. 42322
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Please remember to bring these items the first week of school:
1 Zipper Binder with 1 1/2 rings 1 Reinforced Zippered Pencil Case (to fit in Zipper Binder) 2 Large Glue Sticks 2 Packages of #2 Yellow or Mechanical (Non-Decorative) Pencils 1 Package of 4+ Black Dry Erase Markers 1 Plastic Green Pocket Folder 4 Yellow Highlighters (Please only yellow) 2 Large Boxes of Kleenex 2 Packages of 12 Red Ink Pens 2 Packages of Wide Rules Notebook Paper (NO COLLEGE RULED) 4 Marble Composition Books 1 Single Subject Spiral Notebook: 100 Pages Wide Ruled 1 Box of Colored Pencils 1 Package of Cap Erasers 1 Package Plastic Dividers WITH pockets (8 pockets minimum) 1 Package 3 x 5 Lined Index Cards $25.00 Room Fee *Flash Drive would be beneficial, but not mandatory 
In a Galaxy Far, Far Away...
Hunt your way through the stars and discover the mysteries of our world. From tiny atoms to enormous stars, enrich your understanding of our universe through exploration and demonstration. Date: Lunch: 
Get Hooked on this Trip!
There's something fishy about this field trip! Observe various species of fish up-close, explore the life of an alligator, learn to survive in deep waters, and fly-fish in the sun. This field trip is going to "lure" you in! Date: Lunch: 
Back to the Future
This is the sickest trip ever! Travel back in time to the 1800's in Louisiana and experience the lives of our pioneers. Walk through homes, see a blacksmith at work, and view what hospitals were like before the discovery of germs! Date: April 27th Lunch: Shavers Dress Code for Field Trips: A.C. Steere T.Shirt (if you have one), Tennis shoes, Jeans or shorts. Sack Lunch: Students can bring a sack lunch or receive a sack lunch from the cafeteria. Students may bring can soda for the field trip. Chaperones: We would love for you to join us! Parents can find their own transportation or ride with us. :) 
ADHD:
Dyslexia:
Autism Spectrum Disorder:
Gender Differences:
Poverty:
Communication:
Remind 101:
Dear Parent:
I know. You’re worried. Every day, your child comes home with a story about THAT kid. The one who is always hitting, shoving, pinching, scratching, maybe even biting other children. The one who always has to hold my hand in the hallway. The one who has a special spot at the carpet, and sometimes sits on a chair rather than the floor. The one who had to leave the block center because blocks are not for throwing. The one who climbed over the playground fence right exactly as I was telling her to stop. The one who poured his neighbor’s milk onto the floor in a fit of anger. On purpose. While I was watching. And then, when I asked him to clean it up, emptied the ENTIRE paper towel dispenser. On purpose. While I was watching. The one who dropped the REAL ACTUAL F-word in gym class. You’re worried that THAT child is detracting from your child’s learning experience. You’re worried that he takes up too much of my time and energy, and that your child won’t get his fair share. You’re worried that she is really going to hurt someone some day. You’re worried that “someone” might be your child. You’re worried that your child is going to start using aggression to get what she wants. You’re worried your child is going to fall behind academically because I might not notice that he is struggling to hold a pencil. I know. Your child, this year, in this classroom, at this age, is not THAT child. Your child is not perfect, but she generally follows rules. He is able to share toys peaceably. She does not throw furniture. He raises his hand to speak. She works when it is time to work, and plays when it is time to play. He can be trusted to go straight to the bathroom and straight back again with no shenanigans. She thinks that the S-word is “stupid” and the C-word is “crap.” I know. I know, and I am worried, too. You see, I worry all the time. About ALL of them. I worry about your child’s pencil grip, and another child’s letter sounds, and that little tiny one’s shyness, and that other one’s chronically empty lunchbox. I worry that Gavin’s coat is not warm enough, and that Talitha’s dad yells at her for printing the letter B backwards. Most of my car rides and showers are consumed with the worrying. But I know, you want to talk about THAT child. Because Talitha’s backward B’s are not going to give your child a black eye. I want to talk about THAT child, too, but there are so many things I can’t tell you. I can’t tell you that she was adopted from an orphanage at 18 months. I can’t tell you that he is on an elimination diet for possible food allergies, and that he is therefore hungry ALL. THE. TIME. I can’t tell you that her parents are in the middle of a horrendous divorce, and she has been staying with her grandma. I can’t tell you that I’m starting to worry that grandma drinks… I can’t tell you that his asthma medication makes him agitated. I can’t tell you that her mom is a single parent, and so she (the child) is at school from the moment before-care opens, until the moment after-care closes, and then the drive between home and school takes 40 minutes, and so she (the child) is getting less sleep than most adults. I can’ tell you that he has been a witness to domestic violence. That’s okay, you say. You understand I can’t share personal or family information. You just want to know what I am DOING about That Child’s behaviour. I would love to tell you. But I can’t. I can’t tell you that she receives speech-language services, that an assessment showed a severe language delay, and that the therapist feels the aggression is linked to frustration about being unable to communicate. I can’t tell you that I meet with his parents EVERY week, and that both of them usually cry at those meetings. I can’t tell you that the child and I have a secret hand signal to tell me when she needs to sit by herself for a while. I can’t tell you that he spends rest time curled in my lap because “it makes me feel better to hear your heart, Teacher.” I can’t tell you that I have been meticulously tracking her aggressive incidents for 3 months, and that she has dropped from 5 incidents a day, to 5 incidents a week. I can’t tell you that the school secretary has agreed that I can send him to the office to “help” when I can tell he needs a change of scenery. I can’t tell you that I have stood up in a staff meeting and, with tears in my eyes, BEGGED my colleagues to keep an extra close eye on her, to be kind to her even when they are frustrated that she just punched someone AGAIN, and this time, RIGHT IN FRONT OF A TEACHER. The thing is, there are SO MANY THINGS I can’t tell you about That Child. I can’t even tell you the good stuff. I can’t tell you that his classroom job is to water the plants, and that he cried with heartbreak when one of the plants died over winter break. I can’t tell you that she kisses her baby sister goodbye every morning, and whispers “You are my sunshine” before mom pushes the stroller away. I can’t tell you that he knows more about thunderstorms than most meteorologists. I can’t tell you that she often asks to help sharpen the pencils during playtime. I can’t tell you that she strokes her best friend’s hair at rest time. I can’t tell you that when a classmate is crying, he rushes over with his favorite stuffy from the story corner. The thing is, dear parent, that I can only talk to you about YOUR child. So, what I can tell you is this: If ever, at any point, YOUR child, or any of your children, becomes THAT child… I will not share your personal family business with other parents in the classroom. I will communicate with you frequently, clearly, and kindly. I will make sure there are tissues nearby at all our meetings, and if you let me, I will hold your hand when you cry. I will advocate for your child and family to receive the highest quality of specialist services, and I will cooperate with those professionals to the fullest possible extent. I will make sure your child gets extra love and affection when she needs it most. I will be a voice for your child in our school community. I will, no matter what happens, continue to look for, and to find, the good, amazing, special, and wonderful things about your child. I will remind him and YOU of those good amazing special wonderful things, over and over again. And when another parent comes to me, with concerns about YOUR child… I will tell them all of this, all over again. With so much love, Teacher -Amy Murray, Miss Night's Marbles |
