Reading Growth

Students continue to work on their reading skills.  All of them are increasing their fluency--at the level they are at.  Beginning after the Winter Break, the reading classes will be more focused on areas where the students are having more inidividual difficulty.  Many are learning to "chunk" their letters into words--and that comes from learning more about syllables--learning the sounds consonant letters and vowels make when they are teamed up together.  Of course, there are many kinds of syllables, and students are learning how letters put together make different sounds.  This ultimately helps with their fluency--or speed at which they read.  Comprehension is a huge skill all of the students need to work on.  So, please read daily with your students for at least 30 minutes.  If you are not reading to them, please provide the 30 minutes of time for them to do personal reading. As always, your partnership in helping your child to read is always appreciated!

Using "Big Brainz" to Cement Math Facts in Multiplication, Division, Addition and Subtraction

Big Brains is a computer game students have been utilizing since August to cement their math facts.  Students started out mastering multiplication.  While some have moved on to division, many students continue to work on multiplication.  The goal was to have the students first master multiplication, then move to division, and finally addition and subtraction.  The goal was to have the students finish as quickly as they could, then the rest of the year, math problems would be easier because of the knowledge gained through constant repetition. Students have been working hard to learn their multiplication facts.  Some students have mastered multiplication as planned, and have even moved on to division.  Some are working in addition.  One student has already mastered all four areas--multiplication, division, addition and subtraction facts--and has moved out of the class.  The goal is to have all the students participating in the programs master all four areas by December, which is when the program will end.  So, please ask your child if they are a participant in the Big Brainz program, and if they are--ask them what area they have mastered!  Encouragement is always welcomed!!

Initial Sounds

Hi there parents!  I always work hard to help children learn all those initial sounds as they begin to read!  All the children should know all of the initial sounds by the end of the first year. YIPEE!!!  Parents, please keep practicing reading with your children EVERY DAY!!!  The more you read with and to them the better! :) 

Remember, one of the best ways to inspire others is to model behavior.  Therefore, if your children see you reading and enjoying it, they will want to do it too!

Thank you all so much for all of your support!  I really enjoy working with the children.  They really make coming to work a pleasure!!! :)

Please Help Your Children to Write!

2014-15 is here! 

Parents...I have a request!  Please help me to help your children to learn how to write.  I am asking a favor of you...can you please help your children write in a journal every day?  If they are three years old, or even four years old, maybe they can only draw pictures...but if you can help them write what the meaning of the drawings are about, it would be extremely helpful in inspiring them to love to write!  (Not only that, but they will be so interested in what they did years from now!)  For the Kinders, please help them to write by spelling words they are having trouble with...but please have them write as much as they can on their own.  Spelling is not the goal here...writing their thoughts is.  Now, my idea is that you will each write something to each other every day; your child will write you a note, and you will follow-up by answering them or writing something for them to enjoy or think about.  This can be done by using a composition book or regular spiral notebook, drawing a line down the middle of a page, and then having your child write on one side of the page and you will write on the other side of the page--next to their comment.  Be sure to date your comments!  I think you will grow to love this exercise!  Not only will it be exciting for your child to read, but it will also encourage them to write.  You can bond through this exercise, and parents that have tried this say their children can't wait to see what they have written to them, and can't wait to respond to them!  I hope you try it, and I hope you see GREAT results from your labors! :)

2014 -15 School Year

We finished up a fantastic school year! :)  I hope everyone enjoys their summer vacation!!  Keep reading with the kids, and they will be superstars next year right from the beginning! :)

Reading:

K - 3 students will be working on the Read Naturally and Spalding "Writing Road to Reading" programs.  We will also focus on sight words, orthographics, blends, digraphs, phonemes, phonics, and oral reading.

4 - 6 students will also be working in the Read Naturally and Spalding "Writing Road to Reading" programs.  They will be introduced to Socratic reading projects as well as doing more oral reading.

7 - 8 students will be doing Socratic learning projects focused on the regular classroom assignments.  In addition, they will be learning more about oral presentations.

 

 

Math students will be focusing this year on hands-on math projects in addition to learning their math facts for addition, subtraction, multiplication and division--because those are the basics to higher level math. 

 

At the end of 2014, some students were able to pilot a math fact learning program--"Big Brainz."  We're hoping they are still benefitting from that math pilot!