Each month, Principal Scott Briske spotlights learning happening at our school.
This month, the Principal's spotlight focuses on Personal Success.

Dear Wildwood Students and Families,

Kofi Annan stated at International Literacy Day in 1997, “For everyone, everywhere, literacy is, along with education in general, a basic human right.” For the past three years, Mahtomedi K-5 teachers have been dedicated to building a coherent literacy system aligned with the science of reading, ensuring that our students achieve both academic and personal success through literacy.

All K-5 teachers have completed the first half of their LETRS training and will continue their professional learning in the 2025-26 school year. Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling (LETRS) is an in-depth professional development course that equips educators with the knowledge and tools necessary to support reading, spelling, and language development across any curriculum.

Throughout this year, we have implemented research-based resources recommended by the Minnesota Department of Education. Our approach thoughtfully integrates word recognition and language comprehension, as illustrated by Scarborough's Reading Rope, to develop skilled, confident readers.

In grades K-2, we have focused on building strong foundational and word recognition skills using UFLI, which emphasizes phonological awareness, decoding, and sight recognition. In grades 3-4, we have implemented Functional Phonics and Morphology to deepen students’ understanding of Greek and Latin roots.

To strengthen language comprehension, we have utilized Wit & Wisdom modules, which support knowledge building, vocabulary development, and reading comprehension.

Kindergarten: Developing critical thinking skills through noticing and wondering about text

First Grade: Learning about animals and successfully writing an informative paragraph. 

Second Grade: Working on informative paragraphs including an introduction, main topic, supporting details, and conclusion.

Third Graders are writing complete sentences to create 4-paragraph essays with introductions and conclusions. 

Fourth Graders are making connections to other texts they are reading and writing paragraphs with text evidence to support their thinking.  

Fifth Graders are also writing more extensively with paragraphs with text evidence to support their thinking.

A heartfelt thank you to all the incredible volunteers who dedicated their time and energy to making the teacher buffet, book fair, and spirit wear events a success! Your hard work, kindness, and commitment bring so much joy and community spirit - we are truly grateful for each and every one of you.

Kindergarten celebrated their 100th day of school. It is amazing how fast the year is going!

First graders had an amazing time celebrating the 101st day of school! They made Dalmatian ears, enjoyed a movement break to "Who Let the Dogs Out," worked on an activity book, and participated in many more fun activities.  

First grade classes went to the Minneapolis Institute of Art this week to see art they learned about through the PTO‘s Art Adventure program.  The theme for the art was friends, family, and community.

Through the support of the Minneapolis Foundation, we were able to bring in a speaker, Jordan Hawkinson, to talk with all of our classes in kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade. Jordan shared all about the Native American culture. Jordan shared that a circle is important. When sitting in a circle it allows all to have space to be seen and heard and that everyone has value. Another message of working together and being kind to one another is needed in life which were Dakota values. He also reminded students that nature is full of so many things that people of the past used to survive but also to enjoy and create beauty with. He encouraged us to spend time in it, being creative, dig in it, build in it and imagine in it along with respect, appreciate and enjoy its beauty.