Parent Letter

Dear Parents,

Hello to everyone, and I hope that you had a great three day weekend!  It will be a busy week at school with continuing to set the routine for our classroom and getting back into "school mode."  We have been working VERY hard at following classroom rules and being respectful learners.  We have discussed being a classroom community and working together to make our classroom successful.

Last week, your child had his/her first homework assignment in science.  Your child was asked to bring in a beverage for a science experiment.  I wanted to thank you for helping your child with his/her homework and sending your child prepared for school the next day.  I truly appreciate your help with the homework and am confident that your child will be successful with your help.  Your commitment to your child’s education is key to his/her success.  This week, I will be sending Home Links home for math and your child is to bring those sheets back the next day.  It is your child's responsibility to bring his/her homework back.  Please check your child's folder every night to see if there is homework inside that needs to be completed.  Thank you!  Also, if your child has not yet brought a SOCK for math, please send it as soon as possible.  Thanks!

Your child WILL be bringing home math homework tonight!  Please see that he/she has completed the work and has it in the "Important Papers Folder" to bring to school tomorrow.  If you notice that your child may be having a difficult time with time, scroll down to the games on our classroom blog page and click on either "Bang on Time" or "Stop the Clock."  These links both focus on time and will help your child practice time.

As for our week last week, we have started accomplishing many things.  I am not sure if your child has started talking about “The Daily Five” or not, but we have worked on increasing our stamina for the “Read to Self” component of the Daily Five.  We made it to about 4 minutes and 26 seconds last week (we started on Thursday).  Our goal is to reach 25-30 minutes of reading without breaking stamina.  

This past week, your child was introduced (reviewed for most students) to a strategy that helps him/her find and read “good fit books.”  The strategy that was introduced to your child and will be used throughout the rest of the year is called the “I PICK” strategy.  The “I PICK” strategy stands for:

                            I choose a book.

                            Purpose: why do I want to read it?

                            Interest: does it interest me?

                            Comprehend: am I understanding what 
                                                I am reading?  

                            Know: I know most of the words

When your child is reading at home, ask him/her about the “I PICK” strategy and go through these steps with your child to see if he/she is reading a “good fit book.”  Ask your child to read aloud to you and explain what he/she read to check for understanding.  This will help your child choose "good fit books" at home too!

I am sending home your child's first book order.  Your child is bringing home several different flyers for you and your child to look at.  I am also attaching a letter to the book orders that explains ordering books online rather than sending a check or cash to me at school.  This letter explains the steps of ordering online, and I have also attached a link to the top of our blog page for easy access to the Scholastic Book Clubs link.  It is your choice to order online or to send a check or cash to school with your child.  If you choose to send book orders to school, please make checks payable to "Scholastic Book Clubs."  Also, please see the letter and flyers for the due date and class activation code (for ordering online).  Thank you and Happy Reading!

Lastly, I have introduced the gmail accounts to your child.  Last week during our "Tech Time," we briefly took time to email a friend in the class.  This week, the students will learn more about their settings and Google Docs.  They are really looking forward to emailing and getting emails from friends!   

  

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me.  I am available anytime.  Thanks for everything, and have a fantastic week!  


Sincerely, 

Mrs. McCarville