Reading Club Books...Have your child read the book and please fill out the form in the book bag. These books need to be returned the very next school day. Your child will be taking a book home almost nightly, so please remember to put it back in your child's backpack the night before. Some books might seem easy to your child right now. We are working on reading smoothly, talking about what the book was about and becoming confident readers. If your child gets stuck on a word, please remember to encourage them to try different kinds of strategies and NOT "sound it out." For a list of strategies that your child worked on in kindergarten and will continue to work on in first grade, please click here.
IXL homework calendar, username and password...
We are encouraging families to have your child spend 10 minutes about 3-5 times a week with IXL. This weekend, take time with your child to become familiar with IXL and the various levels/categories. You can start with your child on basic addition and move on from there. We will be starting computer lab next week Wednesday (we did not get to it this week) and will focus on practicing IXL for the first time. A homework recording sheet for the month of October will be ON THE BACK OF YOUR CHILD'S ORANGE TAKE HOME FOLDER. Your child's username is on the calendar at the bottom of the page, it is their full name (lowercase) plus 676. Password: math. Please fill this out as you go and keep it in the back of the orange folder. Any questions, please email me anytime.
Scholastic Book order...our October book order will be due next Friday.
Mrs. Gallavin, our reading specialist, will have a monthly drawing and prizes for readers! Click here for more details.
Workshop Work...some reading workshop jobs will be coming home today. Many of our jobs (centers) include a "must do" job and then activities to be completed if there is time. If your child brings home work that looks unfinished, it is because it was an extra job to work on if there was time. You do not need to send this back to school. If they would enjoy working on it at home, then by all means, let them work :).
Parent Volunteers...we will start next week! There is a calendar link on the blog (see the left hand column). Please check to see if the dates I've assigned are doable for you. I'm extremely flexible and can change things if need be. I tried to keep consistent with giving you a particular day/time of the month (such as the first Thursday of every month). Some dates might be changed due to school activities as they become announced. I will let you know when we would have to change your times. Thank you in advance for all the help you are providing! It is greatly appreciated!
Looking forward...
Things that you can work on with your child at home:
- Setting up a nightly routine to have your 1st grade read his/her book, celebrate your reader with a hug and a high five and then read to them!
- Try out IXL in small increments. This program is a naturally fun, motivating way to experience math (they receive a "reward" a the end of end section). Try to avoid IXL later at night or when your child is extremely tired. Homework at this age should remain fun, quick and self-motivated.
- Our *snap* words this week: that, had, as, and, at...come up with rhyming games in the car with these words, post them around your house if you child hasn't mastered them quite yet, invent a funny story using some of these words with characters, setting, problem and solution.
As important as it is to carve out time to begin routines with reading and math, spending quality family time together is even more crucial to your child's development as a learner. Take a nature hike at Hodenpyl Woods by Reeds Lake or Blandford Nature Center, have a game night or just relax from the busy week and snuggle with a good book. Enjoy your beautiful family and have a wonderful weekend!
