to Miss Aliff's Class!!!
"The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires."
~William Arthur Ward, English novelist
Contact Information:
Jessica Aliff
Edgewood School, Room 4
Phone: 584-7828 X104
Email: Jessicaaliff@ci.bristol.ct.us
*While you are more than welcome to email me, a note or phone call may receive a faster response. Also, please note, I usually check my email in the evening.
All About Me
Hi! My name is Jessica Aliff. Not only have I been teaching at Edgewood for 12 years, but I am also a former student! I also went to Northeast Middle School and Bristol Eastern. I then went on to earn my teaching degree at the University of Hartford and my master's in Reading and Language Arts at CCSU. I began my teaching career in Hartford, and then had the good fortune of coming home to Edgewood!
I have wanted to be a teacher since I was a little girl, but I also love reading and writing! I write short stories for children and am hoping to one day publish a few of my pieces. Hopefully I can help pass on this love of writing to your child!
Educational Philosophy
Over the past 13 years I have learned a lot about what it takes to be an effective teacher so that each child can reach his/her full potential.
First, being organized and prepared for my students is key so valuable learning time is not wasted. Each lesson is carefully planned to ensure the children will learn the objective in a fun and enticing way. Each child's strengths and weaknesses are also taken into consideration so that modifications can be made to meet their needs.
Second, children need to feel safe to explore their environment, take chances and to interact with one another. In order to accomplish this goal, the children are expected to treat each other with respect and kindness and to display this same respect towards school staff. I, in turn, respect their feelings and try my best to guide them with a caring heart.
Finally, each child deserves the chance to learn at his/her own pace and ability level. Success comes in many forms and I try to celebrate them, however big or small.
Homework
Homework is sent home in a packet on Monday and is due back on Friday. It will be corrected and returned the following week. If work needs to be fixed a note will be attached and the work is expected back the next school day.
Please make sure homework is done in pencil because pen cannot be erased. Also, using crayons is preferred because markers tend to bleed through the paper.
Make sure to read each night and fill in the reading log enclosed in every homework packet.
*For a more detailed list of homework procedures, please read the list on the back of the homework folder, or contact me.
Reading
Reading is very important at this age because the foundations and basic skills are being taught that will help your child succeed in the future. Reading is also necessary to learn all other subjects, so it is good to get a good grasp at an early age.
Books will be sent home at your child's reading level. Please listen to your child read each night. Also, reading stories to your child at or above his/her level is also beneficial. Children need to hear the proper pace and tone of a good reader and they also pick up new vocabulary words. Take the time to discuss the words you think your child may not understand.
Ask your child questions when they are done reading to see if they understood what they read or if they understood what was read to them. For example:
*Where does the story take place?
*Who are the characters?
*What is the problem?
*How was the problem solved?
*What happened in the beginning, middle and end?
*What was your favorite part and why?
Also, to help your child if he/she gets stuck on a word, remind him/her of the decoding strategies. Your child will learn and apply these strategies to become and independent reader.
*Go back and read it again.
*Get your mouth ready.
*Check the pictures.
*Think about what would make sense.
*Look for chunks
Special Schedule
Monday & Wednesday- Physical Education 
Tuesday- Music & Library
Thursday- Art
After School Pick-Up Information
If you are picking up your child from school please come directly to the outside door of our classroom. The children will be in the room until I see the person that they are leaving with and after they have said good-bye. If your child is being picked up by someone new or if there is a change in dismissal, please send a note. If I do not receive a note I have to follow normal procedures. These precautions are in place to ensure that your child arrives home safely. Thank you for your support and cooperation.
Snacks
Please send in a healthy snack each day for your child. No soda please!!
Helpful Donations
If you are interested in helping Room 4, the following items are needed most often:
*Tissues
*Snacks for those children who occasionally forget their snacks (pretzles, animal crackers, graham crackers, etc.)
*Tennis balls to put on the bottom of chairs to keep the room quiet.
*Clorox wipes
*Pencils
*Please see me for more suggestions!
Thanks so much for visiting my site!
"The important thing is not so much that every child should be taught as that every child should be given the wish to learn." ~John Lubbock, English financier and author
