Friday, November 29, 2019
December 2 - 6
In Unit 2, we have begun to introduce multiplication strategies to your children. They are encouraged to practice their multiplication facts either using flashcards or on an electronic device. Students have numerous math activities that have been added to their Math Google Classroom that will keep them current with their lessons.
Friday, November 22, 2019
November 25 - 29
Do the Math!
Adapted from Explaining Why Some Read A Lot and Others Read Very Little by Jim Trelease @ 2007
It's a fact: some people—including highly educated ones—read very little, and some — including those with or without higher education — read a great deal. Why?
Since we know that those who read the most, read the best, if we could find the answer to that question we might find clues to solving some student reading woes.
What is it that prevents some students from reading outside school? Is it the same thing that prevents adults from reading in their free time?
The answer may very well lie in the work of a man named Wilbur Schramm (1907-1987), the founder of mass communication as a science. I must confess to discovering Schramm's work only recently and am chagrined that it is not included in every edition of The Read-Aloud Handbook. Schramm's research had led him at one point to explain why some people read certain items in a newspaper or magazine and not other items. Exploring why we read what we read, he created a formula he called the Fraction of Selection. As I read it, it was as though I'd had a sudden epiphany. Here was a simple explanation of human reading behavior that is largely unknown and unexplored by professors and reading teachers, to say nothing of Secretaries of Education. It also helps us understand some of the nation's reading woes and what we can do about them.
Now to the Divisor —that is, the Difficulties or Effort Required for reading:
*Distractions are a major problem in some homes—too many TV 's, DVD's, phones, video games; or just the general state of chaos in the home or school;
*For others there's a lack of print—no newspapers, magazines, or books to read. This is most true in poverty situations;
*For some folks it's a lack of time—working too many hours, raising too many kids, rushing to too many games or malls, or too much homework;
*For some people it's a case of not being able to read easily; they're plagued by learning disabilities or decoding woes;
*Other people are surrounded by family or peers who have negative attitudes toward school and reading. "Hey! Nicky -- get your head out of the book and get in here and watch TV with us! Who you tryin' to impress with the readin'?"
*And finally there can be a lack of quiet space; they're surrounded by too much noise at home or too many tests and demands in the classroom.
Since we know that those who read the most, read the best, if we could find the answer to that question we might find clues to solving some student reading woes.
What is it that prevents some students from reading outside school? Is it the same thing that prevents adults from reading in their free time?
The answer may very well lie in the work of a man named Wilbur Schramm (1907-1987), the founder of mass communication as a science. I must confess to discovering Schramm's work only recently and am chagrined that it is not included in every edition of The Read-Aloud Handbook. Schramm's research had led him at one point to explain why some people read certain items in a newspaper or magazine and not other items. Exploring why we read what we read, he created a formula he called the Fraction of Selection. As I read it, it was as though I'd had a sudden epiphany. Here was a simple explanation of human reading behavior that is largely unknown and unexplored by professors and reading teachers, to say nothing of Secretaries of Education. It also helps us understand some of the nation's reading woes and what we can do about them.
Now to the Divisor —that is, the Difficulties or Effort Required for reading:
*Distractions are a major problem in some homes—too many TV 's, DVD's, phones, video games; or just the general state of chaos in the home or school;
*For others there's a lack of print—no newspapers, magazines, or books to read. This is most true in poverty situations;
*For some folks it's a lack of time—working too many hours, raising too many kids, rushing to too many games or malls, or too much homework;
*For some people it's a case of not being able to read easily; they're plagued by learning disabilities or decoding woes;
*Other people are surrounded by family or peers who have negative attitudes toward school and reading. "Hey! Nicky -- get your head out of the book and get in here and watch TV with us! Who you tryin' to impress with the readin'?"
*And finally there can be a lack of quiet space; they're surrounded by too much noise at home or too many tests and demands in the classroom.
Friday, November 15, 2019
November 18 - 22
Good Grade Wall
Our kids run into so much negativity from other people, from situations, and – admit it – from their own head! And while we *do* have to be firm with our kids, we have to set expectations and dole out discipline, we should still be a source of support and encouragement.
That’s why I LOVED what one of our Facebook friends shared her “Good Grade Wall”.
Here’s what she said:
Since our daughter struggles so much in school due to her ADHD and multiple Learning Disabilities, we are always looking for ways to let her know that with extra work and putting the time in she can achieve EVERYTHING else the other kids in her class can. Sometimes a visual can help her see this better so we decided that we would make a “Good Grade Wall” in our kitchen, right across from where she does her homework where all her awesome papers will shine! Now, every time she gets frustrated or unfocused, those papers will stand as a reminder for her that she IS successful!
Since our daughter struggles so much in school due to her ADHD and multiple Learning Disabilities, we are always looking for ways to let her know that with extra work and putting the time in she can achieve EVERYTHING else the other kids in her class can. Sometimes a visual can help her see this better so we decided that we would make a “Good Grade Wall” in our kitchen, right across from where she does her homework where all her awesome papers will shine! Now, every time she gets frustrated or unfocused, those papers will stand as a reminder for her that she IS successful!
Don’t you just love it?!
What do you do to encourage your child?
http://www.adhd-inattentive.com
Friday, November 8, 2019
November 11 - 15
Important Dates
- Mon 11/11 - Veteran's Day Assembly 8:10-8:50am
- Wed 11/27 - Fri 11/29 - Thanksgiving Break (No school)
- Mon 11/11 - Veteran's Day Assembly 8:10-8:50am
- Wed 11/27 - Fri 11/29 - Thanksgiving Break (No school)
Tips for helping your elementary school child with math homework
Exploring math in everyday life is one way to make numbers less intimidating.
For many parents, the subject of math arouses feelings of anxiety — perhaps conjuring up memories of timed tests, difficult concepts, or embarrassing mistakes made in class. If you think of math as something that other people are good at or that has no practical use, your attitude may undermine your ability to coach your child. Take the fear and frustration out of math homework by pointing out how numbers are used in your home on a daily basis.
Covering your bases
- If math makes you nervous, try not to pass on your feelings to your child. Share only what is helpful, not harmful.
- You may want to rely on a tutor, older sibling, or peer tutor to help your child with math. Check if his school has a peer-tutoring program.
- Begin each math homework session by asking your child to explain what she’s supposed to do. By her response, you’ll know if she can do the assignment alone or if she needs help.
- If you’re not around when your child completes his homework, let him know that you’ll look it over when you get home. Be sure to follow through. Tell him you’re doing this to help him, not judge him.
- Encourage your child to check in with a classmate if she doesn’t understand or misses an assignment.
Home is where the math is
- Explore math in everyday life — counting out forks to set the table, pouring from a gallon of milk, telling the time when his favorite TV program begins. When kids realize that math is all around them, they begin to relax and see its meaning in their lives.
- Show how math is more than learning addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Math also teaches us to analyze, reason, and plan. These are useful skills that transfer over to reading and writing as well.
- Model analytical and mathematical thinking. Be a problem solver, pose questions, and find solutions. Talk about likenesses and differences, and explain your reasoning.
- Encourage your child to explain his problem-solving process so you can understand his reasoning.
- When driving to school or the store, talk about how numbers help us determine how fast we drive, the distance traveled, the mileage the car gets per gallon of gas, and how long it will take to get home.
- Expose your child to money in her early school years. Have her collect coins in a piggy bank and count them out regularly. If she receives an allowance, have her keep track of the amount or start a bank account.
- Have your child use an analog and a digital watch to learn both methods of telling time.
- Incorporate games involving numbers and math into playtime — from flash cards for learning basic math facts to board games involving money, time, and logic.
- Post a chart of math facts in your child’s room. Some activities and games can help kids memorize math concepts.
- Educational video games and learning software can also reinforce math skills, from arithmetic to algebra. Older students may want to use calendars and spreadsheets to plan out their daily or weekly schedules.
- When helping your child, ask questions to guide him through the process, such as “Where do you begin?” “What do you need to find out?” “Can you show me in a drawing how you got the answer?”
- It’s OK to say that you don’t understand a problem. It gives you an opportunity to review the lesson together to see if you’ve missed an important piece of information.
- Establish a clear understanding with your child’s teacher about the frequency and amount of homework she’ll receive. Modification of homework may increase her motivation and productivity. With her teacher, decide if she needs to do fewer problems, or if she can say the answers out loud and you can write them for her, or if she can check her work with a calculator.
Friday, November 1, 2019
November 4 - 8
Important Dates
- Mon 11/11 - Veteran's Day Assembly 8:10-8:50am
- Wed 11/27 - Fri 11/29 - Thanksgiving Break (No school)
Reading doesn't just happen. It is a skill that must be nurtured from a child's earliest years. Once children know how to read, they still need gentle coaxing and support to reach their full potential as readers.
Here are a dozen tips for nurturing your growing readers:
* Read with your children at least once every day.
* Make sure they have plenty to read. Take them to the library regularly, and keep books and other reading materials in their reach.
* Notice what interests your child, then help find books about those things.
* Respect your child's choices. There's nothing wrong with series fiction if that's what keeps a young reader turning the pages.
* Praise your children's efforts and newly acquired skills.
* Help your child build a personal library. Children's books, new or used, make great gifts and appropriate rewards for reading. Designate a bookcase, shelf or box where your children can keep their books.
* Check up on your children's progress. Listen to them read aloud, read what they write and ask teachers how they're doing in school.
* Go places and do things with your children to build their background knowledge and vocabulary, and to give them a basis for understanding what they read.
* Tell stories. It's a fun way to teach values, pass on family history and build your children's listening and thinking skills.
* Be a reading role model. Let your children see you read, and share some interesting things with them that you have read about in books, newspapers or magazines.
* Continue reading aloud to older children even after they have learned to read by themselves.
* Encourage writing along with reading. Ask children to sign their artwork, add to your shopping list, take messages and make their own books and cards as gifts.
Adapted from Helping Your Children Become Better Readers Brochure from RIF/VISA
Here are a dozen tips for nurturing your growing readers:
* Read with your children at least once every day.
* Make sure they have plenty to read. Take them to the library regularly, and keep books and other reading materials in their reach.
* Notice what interests your child, then help find books about those things.
* Respect your child's choices. There's nothing wrong with series fiction if that's what keeps a young reader turning the pages.
* Praise your children's efforts and newly acquired skills.
* Help your child build a personal library. Children's books, new or used, make great gifts and appropriate rewards for reading. Designate a bookcase, shelf or box where your children can keep their books.
* Check up on your children's progress. Listen to them read aloud, read what they write and ask teachers how they're doing in school.
* Go places and do things with your children to build their background knowledge and vocabulary, and to give them a basis for understanding what they read.
* Tell stories. It's a fun way to teach values, pass on family history and build your children's listening and thinking skills.
* Be a reading role model. Let your children see you read, and share some interesting things with them that you have read about in books, newspapers or magazines.
* Continue reading aloud to older children even after they have learned to read by themselves.
* Encourage writing along with reading. Ask children to sign their artwork, add to your shopping list, take messages and make their own books and cards as gifts.
Adapted from Helping Your Children Become Better Readers Brochure from RIF/VISA
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