I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday and comes back refreshed and safe.
Chess Club
There will be no Chess Club this week. I will be sending home new forms to sign up for Chess Club for the 2nd semester. Be watching for these to come home soon.
3rd Grade Reading with Mrs. Csorba
We will be working on fact and opinion as we read a story about Puffins. This is a non-fiction piece that is in their basal.
4th Grade Reading with Mrs. Beseth
Next we will be working on predicting outcomes. Readers can often guess ahead of
time, or predict, what will happen in a story, based on information the author has given. Additionally, readers can change or adjust their predictions as they read.
5th Grade Reading with Mrs. Bucklin
We will be working on story mapping as we read the story Elena, an excerpt from a book by that title which is in the 5th grade basal.
Friday, December 17, 2010
Friday, December 10, 2010
For the Week of December 13th
Chess Club
Chess Club will meet as usual this week.
A Great Gift Idea
I was reading the Ask Amy column in the Chicago Tribune last night and I thought she had a wonderful idea. She suggested that children wake up on a special holiday to a wrapped book at the foot of their beds. What better way to encourage reading than to make a book the special gift a child receives first thing in the morning. It might even give you a few more minutes of sleep if your child begins reading the book before they rousing the rest of the family.
3rd Grade Reading with Mrs. Csorba
We will continue to learn about evaluating text and visualizing as we read. We will continue to use the story Dogzilla as well as other novels and text as we apply these skills. We will also work on strategies from previous weeks.
4th Grade Reading with Mrs. Beseth
The first strategy that we focus on this week in reading is making inferences. A writer doesn't always explain every fact or detail about when writing a story. The writer expects that readers will fill in missing information from their own experience. Good readers do this by putting together what they already know and what they have read to make the best guess they can. When readers add information from their own experience to what is stated in a text, they are making an inference. We will also study the reading skill of comparing and contrasting. Students will practice comparing pieces of literature that are similar and different.
5th Grade Reading with Mrs. Bucklin
This week we will continue to practice summarizing and predicting with skill pages and fiction reading material. The students will also complete an extended response question from the story A Boy Called Slow. The students will need to use the IEIEIE format in answering the question.
Chess Club will meet as usual this week.
A Great Gift Idea
I was reading the Ask Amy column in the Chicago Tribune last night and I thought she had a wonderful idea. She suggested that children wake up on a special holiday to a wrapped book at the foot of their beds. What better way to encourage reading than to make a book the special gift a child receives first thing in the morning. It might even give you a few more minutes of sleep if your child begins reading the book before they rousing the rest of the family.
3rd Grade Reading with Mrs. Csorba
We will continue to learn about evaluating text and visualizing as we read. We will continue to use the story Dogzilla as well as other novels and text as we apply these skills. We will also work on strategies from previous weeks.
4th Grade Reading with Mrs. Beseth
The first strategy that we focus on this week in reading is making inferences. A writer doesn't always explain every fact or detail about when writing a story. The writer expects that readers will fill in missing information from their own experience. Good readers do this by putting together what they already know and what they have read to make the best guess they can. When readers add information from their own experience to what is stated in a text, they are making an inference. We will also study the reading skill of comparing and contrasting. Students will practice comparing pieces of literature that are similar and different.
5th Grade Reading with Mrs. Bucklin
This week we will continue to practice summarizing and predicting with skill pages and fiction reading material. The students will also complete an extended response question from the story A Boy Called Slow. The students will need to use the IEIEIE format in answering the question.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
For the Week of December 6th
Chess Club
Chess club is up and running again this week. This will be the final two weeks until we decide what to do after the holidays. If any of you have good ideas, I would appreciate hearing from you. I enjoy chess club and the students seem to be having a good time. It is difficult for me to find the time I need for planning with the other teachers when I am unavailable two days a week. I would like to find a suitable alternative.
Holiday Drive
The students of Project Challenge grades 3-5 are participating in a Lion's Club Holiday Drive. We are looking for donations such as new toys, new games, toiletries, and food for the needy families in the Darien area. If you wish to participate you will need to bring the donations in by December 13. Remember that some of these families live right here in Darien. So let's help these families have a happy holiday season.
PLEASE DONATE!
3rd Grade Skills Reading with Mrs. Csorba
We will begin a new strategy focus as we learn about evaluating text and visualizing as we read. We will use the story Dogzilla as well as other novels and text as we apply these skills. We will also work on strategies from previous weeks.
4th Grade Skills Reading with Mrs. Beseth
Next week our story is "A Very Important Day" by Maggie Rugg Herold. Many different families prepare for one very important day; becoming a United States citizen. Our reading strategies are questioning, categorizing and classifying. Recognizing the question that a story may raise is a good way to make sure you understand it. Classifying involves grouping like items and categorizing involves naming the group. Grouping the items makes it easier to remember them. Students will classify and categorize the many characters and countries named in the story to help understand the story better.
5th Grade Skills Reading with Mrs. Bucklin
This week, all fifth graders will review the skill of drawing conclusions. They will also be introduced to the skill of Author's Purpose. Students will learn how to read a text and decide if it was written to persuade, inform, or entertain. They will use the acronym PIE to help them remember these three important terms.
Chess club is up and running again this week. This will be the final two weeks until we decide what to do after the holidays. If any of you have good ideas, I would appreciate hearing from you. I enjoy chess club and the students seem to be having a good time. It is difficult for me to find the time I need for planning with the other teachers when I am unavailable two days a week. I would like to find a suitable alternative.
Holiday Drive
The students of Project Challenge grades 3-5 are participating in a Lion's Club Holiday Drive. We are looking for donations such as new toys, new games, toiletries, and food for the needy families in the Darien area. If you wish to participate you will need to bring the donations in by December 13. Remember that some of these families live right here in Darien. So let's help these families have a happy holiday season.
PLEASE DONATE!
3rd Grade Skills Reading with Mrs. Csorba
We will begin a new strategy focus as we learn about evaluating text and visualizing as we read. We will use the story Dogzilla as well as other novels and text as we apply these skills. We will also work on strategies from previous weeks.
4th Grade Skills Reading with Mrs. Beseth
Next week our story is "A Very Important Day" by Maggie Rugg Herold. Many different families prepare for one very important day; becoming a United States citizen. Our reading strategies are questioning, categorizing and classifying. Recognizing the question that a story may raise is a good way to make sure you understand it. Classifying involves grouping like items and categorizing involves naming the group. Grouping the items makes it easier to remember them. Students will classify and categorize the many characters and countries named in the story to help understand the story better.
5th Grade Skills Reading with Mrs. Bucklin
This week, all fifth graders will review the skill of drawing conclusions. They will also be introduced to the skill of Author's Purpose. Students will learn how to read a text and decide if it was written to persuade, inform, or entertain. They will use the acronym PIE to help them remember these three important terms.
Friday, November 26, 2010
For the Week of November 29th
Chess Club
Please remember that there is no Chess Club this week due to conferences. Chess Club will resume December 6th and 8th.
Holiday Drive
The students of Project Challenge grades 3-5 are participating in a Lion's Club Holiday Drive. We are looking for donations such as new toys, new games, toiletries, and food for the needy families in the Darien area. If you wish to participate you will need to bring the donations in by December 13. Remember that some of these families live right here in Darien. So let's help these families have a happy holiday season.
PLEASE DONATE!
3rd Grade Skills Reading with Mrs. Csorba
This week we will begin working on the author's viewpoint. We will do this while we read a story from our reading book called "The Keeping Quilt." We will also be working on vocabulary from the story.
4th Grade Skills Reading with Mrs. Beseth
We will be reviewing the skills that we have gone over since the beginning of the year. The students will also work on summarizing and making generalizations. In writing summaries, the students will learn to pick out the main points or events of a story or passage and concisely put them in their own words. In making generalizations the students will learn that generalizations are broad statements that are true most of the time, and are based on fact or good reasons, and may include words like always or most.
5th Grade Skills Reading with Mrs. Bucklin
We will be working on a final project for our novel The Kid in the Red Jacket. We will also be responding to the text by answering some extended response questions.
Please remember that there is no Chess Club this week due to conferences. Chess Club will resume December 6th and 8th.
Holiday Drive
The students of Project Challenge grades 3-5 are participating in a Lion's Club Holiday Drive. We are looking for donations such as new toys, new games, toiletries, and food for the needy families in the Darien area. If you wish to participate you will need to bring the donations in by December 13. Remember that some of these families live right here in Darien. So let's help these families have a happy holiday season.
PLEASE DONATE!
3rd Grade Skills Reading with Mrs. Csorba
This week we will begin working on the author's viewpoint. We will do this while we read a story from our reading book called "The Keeping Quilt." We will also be working on vocabulary from the story.
4th Grade Skills Reading with Mrs. Beseth
We will be reviewing the skills that we have gone over since the beginning of the year. The students will also work on summarizing and making generalizations. In writing summaries, the students will learn to pick out the main points or events of a story or passage and concisely put them in their own words. In making generalizations the students will learn that generalizations are broad statements that are true most of the time, and are based on fact or good reasons, and may include words like always or most.
5th Grade Skills Reading with Mrs. Bucklin
We will be working on a final project for our novel The Kid in the Red Jacket. We will also be responding to the text by answering some extended response questions.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
For the Week of November 22nd
Chess Club
Reminder: Chess Club is taking a two week break. There will be no Chess Club next Monday nor the following Monday or Wednesday. We will begin again on Dec. 6th and 8th. A game of chess might be something fun for you to do with your child over the holidays.
Holiday Drive
The students of Project Challenge grades 3-5 are participating in a Lion's Club Holiday Drive. We are looking for donations such as new toys, new games, toiletries, and food for the needy families in the Darien area. If you wish to participate you will need to bring the donations in by December 13. Remember that some of these families live right here in Darien. So let's help these families have a happy holiday season.
PLEASE DONATE!
Paper Recycling
Paper Recycling Fundraiser Comes to Prairieview: We are happy to announce we can now raise money for our district by recycling paper! You can help us out, too! Please collect any paper you are going to throw away or recycle (office and school paper, newspaper, magazines and catalogs, and construction paper---no cardboard!) and send it in with your child to school or drop it off at the green and yellow Paper Retriever bin in the Lakeview parking lot (near the fence by the Prairieview playground). The bin is available for drop offs 24/7. The more paper we recycle, the more money we can make! Do something good for our schools AND the environment! Thank you!
3rd Grade Skills Reading with Mrs. Csorba
We will be doing some reading activities with a Thanksgiving theme. These activities review the different skills and strategies we've been working on this year.
4th Grade Skills Reading with Mrs. Beseth
Over the next couple of weeks we will be reviewing the skills that we have gone over since the beginning of the year. The students will also work on summarizing and making generalizations. In writing summaries, the students will learn to pick out the main points or events of a story or passage and concisely put them in their own words. In making generalizations the students will learn that generalizations are broad statements that are true most of the time, and are based on fact or good reasons, and may include words like always or most.
5th Grade Skills Reading with Mrs. Bucklin
We will continue to review summarizing, drawing conclusions, inferencing, identifying author generalizations, visualizing, and word work with vocabulary words using our realistic fiction novels until December 2nd. Next week, we will review main ideas and details using our skills workbook. Our work with extended response will continue as well.
Reminder: Chess Club is taking a two week break. There will be no Chess Club next Monday nor the following Monday or Wednesday. We will begin again on Dec. 6th and 8th. A game of chess might be something fun for you to do with your child over the holidays.
Holiday Drive
The students of Project Challenge grades 3-5 are participating in a Lion's Club Holiday Drive. We are looking for donations such as new toys, new games, toiletries, and food for the needy families in the Darien area. If you wish to participate you will need to bring the donations in by December 13. Remember that some of these families live right here in Darien. So let's help these families have a happy holiday season.
PLEASE DONATE!
Paper Recycling
Paper Recycling Fundraiser Comes to Prairieview: We are happy to announce we can now raise money for our district by recycling paper! You can help us out, too! Please collect any paper you are going to throw away or recycle (office and school paper, newspaper, magazines and catalogs, and construction paper---no cardboard!) and send it in with your child to school or drop it off at the green and yellow Paper Retriever bin in the Lakeview parking lot (near the fence by the Prairieview playground). The bin is available for drop offs 24/7. The more paper we recycle, the more money we can make! Do something good for our schools AND the environment! Thank you!
3rd Grade Skills Reading with Mrs. Csorba
We will be doing some reading activities with a Thanksgiving theme. These activities review the different skills and strategies we've been working on this year.
4th Grade Skills Reading with Mrs. Beseth
Over the next couple of weeks we will be reviewing the skills that we have gone over since the beginning of the year. The students will also work on summarizing and making generalizations. In writing summaries, the students will learn to pick out the main points or events of a story or passage and concisely put them in their own words. In making generalizations the students will learn that generalizations are broad statements that are true most of the time, and are based on fact or good reasons, and may include words like always or most.
5th Grade Skills Reading with Mrs. Bucklin
We will continue to review summarizing, drawing conclusions, inferencing, identifying author generalizations, visualizing, and word work with vocabulary words using our realistic fiction novels until December 2nd. Next week, we will review main ideas and details using our skills workbook. Our work with extended response will continue as well.
Friday, November 12, 2010
For the Week of November 15th
Chess Club
We studied attacks and defenses last week. I was pleased as different students showed the class how they would defend a piece. We have a wide variety of ability levels but everyone seems to be enjoying themselves.
3rd Grade Skills Reading with Mrs. Csorba
We will continue to read The Chalk Box Kid. We will be doing vocabulary work and focusing on character traits, problem/resolution, and setting as well as predicting, summarizing, and making inferences as we read!
4th Grade Skills Reading with Mrs. Beseth
We will continue reading the novel Charlotte's Web. We will be working on the skills of predicting, inferring, and sequencing events. We will also be reading a leveled reader to strengthen these skills.
5th Grade Skills Reading with Mrs. Bucklin
We will continue writing extended responses this week, using questions from our realistic fiction novels. Furthermore, we will continue to review all the skills we have studied so far this school year, specifically, summarizing, drawing conclusions, inferencing, identifying author generalizations, and visualizing. We are also continuing our word work with vocabulary words.
New vocabulary words for the The Kid in the Red Jacket will be reviewed on Tuesday. Friday's vocabulary quiz will be sent home on Monday. Please ask your child about this.
We studied attacks and defenses last week. I was pleased as different students showed the class how they would defend a piece. We have a wide variety of ability levels but everyone seems to be enjoying themselves.
3rd Grade Skills Reading with Mrs. Csorba
We will continue to read The Chalk Box Kid. We will be doing vocabulary work and focusing on character traits, problem/resolution, and setting as well as predicting, summarizing, and making inferences as we read!
4th Grade Skills Reading with Mrs. Beseth
We will continue reading the novel Charlotte's Web. We will be working on the skills of predicting, inferring, and sequencing events. We will also be reading a leveled reader to strengthen these skills.
5th Grade Skills Reading with Mrs. Bucklin
We will continue writing extended responses this week, using questions from our realistic fiction novels. Furthermore, we will continue to review all the skills we have studied so far this school year, specifically, summarizing, drawing conclusions, inferencing, identifying author generalizations, and visualizing. We are also continuing our word work with vocabulary words.
New vocabulary words for the The Kid in the Red Jacket will be reviewed on Tuesday. Friday's vocabulary quiz will be sent home on Monday. Please ask your child about this.
Friday, November 5, 2010
For the Week of November 8th
Picture Retakes
Tuesday, November 23, 2010 will be picture retake day. Any student that did not have their picture taken prior to this date may do so. They will be required to have a picture envelope with money to have a picture taken. Any student wishing to have a picture retaken will have to return the original picture packet for a retake.
Chess Club
Chess Club will meet both Monday and Wednesday.
3rd Grade Reading Skills Class with Mrs. Csorba
We will continue with our novel study while focusing on character traits, problem/resolution, and setting as well as predicting, summarizing, and making inferences as we read!
4th Grade Reading Skills Class with Mrs. Beseth
We will begin reading the novel Charlotte's Web. We will be working on the skills of predicting, inferring, and sequencing events.
5th Grade Reading Skills Class with Mrs. Bucklin
We will continue to review all the skills we have studied so far this school year, specifically, summarizing, drawing conclusions, inferencing, identifying author generalizations, and visualizing while reading a realistic fiction novel, The Kid in the Red Jacket. There will be a vocabulary quiz on Friday, Nov. 12th. Students should be reviewing the definitions which were given to them on Friday.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010 will be picture retake day. Any student that did not have their picture taken prior to this date may do so. They will be required to have a picture envelope with money to have a picture taken. Any student wishing to have a picture retaken will have to return the original picture packet for a retake.
Chess Club
Chess Club will meet both Monday and Wednesday.
3rd Grade Reading Skills Class with Mrs. Csorba
We will continue with our novel study while focusing on character traits, problem/resolution, and setting as well as predicting, summarizing, and making inferences as we read!
4th Grade Reading Skills Class with Mrs. Beseth
We will begin reading the novel Charlotte's Web. We will be working on the skills of predicting, inferring, and sequencing events.
5th Grade Reading Skills Class with Mrs. Bucklin
We will continue to review all the skills we have studied so far this school year, specifically, summarizing, drawing conclusions, inferencing, identifying author generalizations, and visualizing while reading a realistic fiction novel, The Kid in the Red Jacket. There will be a vocabulary quiz on Friday, Nov. 12th. Students should be reviewing the definitions which were given to them on Friday.
Friday, October 29, 2010
For the Week of November 1st
Chess Club
Chess Club is going very well. The students seem to be enjoying the game and I can see growth in their thinking. For the next two weeks I will be taking a class after school. This means that I need to leave right after you pick up your students at 3:25. Please try to be in the Prairieview parking lot right at 3:25 so that I may leave promptly. Thank you so much!
3rd Grade Skills Reading Group with Mrs. Csorba
We will be focusing on the following skills and strategies as we read The Chalk Box Kid this week: identifying character traits, setting, and problem/solution, summarizing, predicting, and making inferences.
4th Grade Skills Reading Group with Mrs. Beseth
Mysteries will be the focus in reading for all fourth grade students next week. We will begin by learning vocabulary words that are typically associated with mysteries, such as “suspect”, “evidence” and “suspense”. Students may practice the definitions of the vocabulary words by completing a crossword puzzle at the following website: http://www.eduplace. com/kids/hmr06/gr4/activities/pdf/gr4_th1_xword.pdf. All students will read & study “The Case of the Purloined Pachyderm”. While reading this mystery and other mystery stories, students will be studying the format of a mystery and using the reading strategies of monitoring and clarifying.
5th Grade Skills Reading Group with Mrs. Bucklin
This week, we will review all the skills we have studied so far this school year, specifically, summarizing, drawing conclusions, inferencing, identifying author generalizations, and visualizing while reading The Kid in the Red Jacket, a realistic fiction novel.
Chess Club is going very well. The students seem to be enjoying the game and I can see growth in their thinking. For the next two weeks I will be taking a class after school. This means that I need to leave right after you pick up your students at 3:25. Please try to be in the Prairieview parking lot right at 3:25 so that I may leave promptly. Thank you so much!
3rd Grade Skills Reading Group with Mrs. Csorba
We will be focusing on the following skills and strategies as we read The Chalk Box Kid this week: identifying character traits, setting, and problem/solution, summarizing, predicting, and making inferences.
4th Grade Skills Reading Group with Mrs. Beseth
Mysteries will be the focus in reading for all fourth grade students next week. We will begin by learning vocabulary words that are typically associated with mysteries, such as “suspect”, “evidence” and “suspense”. Students may practice the definitions of the vocabulary words by completing a crossword puzzle at the following website: http://www.eduplace. com/kids/hmr06/gr4/activities/pdf/gr4_th1_xword.pdf. All students will read & study “The Case of the Purloined Pachyderm”. While reading this mystery and other mystery stories, students will be studying the format of a mystery and using the reading strategies of monitoring and clarifying.
5th Grade Skills Reading Group with Mrs. Bucklin
This week, we will review all the skills we have studied so far this school year, specifically, summarizing, drawing conclusions, inferencing, identifying author generalizations, and visualizing while reading The Kid in the Red Jacket, a realistic fiction novel.
Friday, October 22, 2010
For the Week of October 25th
Chess Club
Be sure to come to chess club this week. I am going to show you a very short chess game and you will get a chance to try it out!
3rd Grade Skills Reading Group with Mrs. Csorba
We will be focusing on predicting, making inferences, and cause and effect as we continue to work with Cliffhanger and other stories. The students will be applying the above comprehension strategies as they read. We will also be writing an extended response to the story Cliffhanger.
4th Grade Skills Reading Group with Mrs. Beseth
This week we will be working on the skills of monitoring and clarifying. We will be learning some vocabulary used in mysteries and will also learn some idioms used in mysteries. We will be reading several mystery stories and seeing if we can monitor and clarify our thinking to come up with the solutions to the mysteries.
5th Grade Skills Reading Group with Mrs. Bucklin
We are working on making generalizations. We will also be working on vocabulary, making analogies. On Friday, we will make generalizations after reading two fun Halloween stories.
Be sure to come to chess club this week. I am going to show you a very short chess game and you will get a chance to try it out!
3rd Grade Skills Reading Group with Mrs. Csorba
We will be focusing on predicting, making inferences, and cause and effect as we continue to work with Cliffhanger and other stories. The students will be applying the above comprehension strategies as they read. We will also be writing an extended response to the story Cliffhanger.
4th Grade Skills Reading Group with Mrs. Beseth
This week we will be working on the skills of monitoring and clarifying. We will be learning some vocabulary used in mysteries and will also learn some idioms used in mysteries. We will be reading several mystery stories and seeing if we can monitor and clarify our thinking to come up with the solutions to the mysteries.
5th Grade Skills Reading Group with Mrs. Bucklin
We are working on making generalizations. We will also be working on vocabulary, making analogies. On Friday, we will make generalizations after reading two fun Halloween stories.
Friday, October 15, 2010
For the Week of October 18th
MAPS Testing
We will be MAPS testing all week. Please make sure that your child is well-rested and has eaten a good breakfast.
Chess Club
There will be no chess club on Wednesday, because of the half day. Monday's chess club will meet as usual.
3rd Grade Skills Reading with Mrs. Csorba
We will continue to work on cause and effect, as well as making predictions and inferences as we read Cliffhanger.
4th Grade Skills Reading with Mrs. Beseth
We will be reading The Parcel Post Kid. We will also work on breaking words into syllables, putting words in alphabetical order and finding the author's purpose.
5th Grade Skills Reading with Mrs. Bucklin
We will be reading My Side of the Mountain and working on making inferences and drawing conclusions. There will be a vocabulary quiz on Friday.
We will be MAPS testing all week. Please make sure that your child is well-rested and has eaten a good breakfast.
Chess Club
There will be no chess club on Wednesday, because of the half day. Monday's chess club will meet as usual.
3rd Grade Skills Reading with Mrs. Csorba
We will continue to work on cause and effect, as well as making predictions and inferences as we read Cliffhanger.
4th Grade Skills Reading with Mrs. Beseth
We will be reading The Parcel Post Kid. We will also work on breaking words into syllables, putting words in alphabetical order and finding the author's purpose.
5th Grade Skills Reading with Mrs. Bucklin
We will be reading My Side of the Mountain and working on making inferences and drawing conclusions. There will be a vocabulary quiz on Friday.
Friday, October 8, 2010
For the Week of October 11
MAPS Testing
There is a new testing system being employed by the district this year. MAP testing stands for Measures of Academic Progress. These tests will be taken beginning next week, in the areas of Reading, Language, and Math. Students will take a series of multiple choice tests in each area on the computer. The program computes a score, which is then placed along a continuum to show each student's individual progress. It will even be able to show what particular areas each student excels at, and what areas they may need some additional support with. We are hopeful that this new system will help make our instruction for our students even better!
Chess Club
Since we do not have school on Monday, there will only be chess club for Wednesday's group this week. But don't worry - the next week we will only have Monday's club because we have a half day on Wednesday, the 20th.
3rd Grade Skills Reading with Mrs. Csorba
This week we will begin the skill of identifying cause and effect. We will be using the anthology story of "Cliffhanger." We will also be doing vocabulary work with "Cliffhanger." We will practice our phonics skills using Patricia Cunningham's Making Words.
4th Grade Skills Reading with Mrs. Beseth
The skills that we will be working on this week are questioning and noting details.
5th Grade Skills Reading with Mrs. Bucklin
We will continue to work on topic, main idea and details. We will do this by reading a nonfiction book called Saving Sea Turtles.
There is a new testing system being employed by the district this year. MAP testing stands for Measures of Academic Progress. These tests will be taken beginning next week, in the areas of Reading, Language, and Math. Students will take a series of multiple choice tests in each area on the computer. The program computes a score, which is then placed along a continuum to show each student's individual progress. It will even be able to show what particular areas each student excels at, and what areas they may need some additional support with. We are hopeful that this new system will help make our instruction for our students even better!
Chess Club
Since we do not have school on Monday, there will only be chess club for Wednesday's group this week. But don't worry - the next week we will only have Monday's club because we have a half day on Wednesday, the 20th.
3rd Grade Skills Reading with Mrs. Csorba
This week we will begin the skill of identifying cause and effect. We will be using the anthology story of "Cliffhanger." We will also be doing vocabulary work with "Cliffhanger." We will practice our phonics skills using Patricia Cunningham's Making Words.
4th Grade Skills Reading with Mrs. Beseth
The skills that we will be working on this week are questioning and noting details.
5th Grade Skills Reading with Mrs. Bucklin
We will continue to work on topic, main idea and details. We will do this by reading a nonfiction book called Saving Sea Turtles.
Friday, October 1, 2010
For the Week of October 4
Character Building Chess Club We had two good first sessions of chess club last week. It will be interesting to see if the students still remember what they learned last week. We will continue to work on learning all of the rules and hopefully get a game in also this week. Remember Mondays are for students whose last names begin with A-G and S-Z. Wednesday's club is made up of students whose last names begin wtih H-R.
3rd Grade Reading Skills Group with Mrs. Csorba
We will continue to work on the comprehension strategy of making inferences this week.
4th Grade Reading Skills Group with Mrs. Beseth
Next week our story is “Finding the Titanic” by Robert D. Ballard. The reading strategy that we'll focus on is text organization. Many non-fiction author's organize their selections in time order. They also use features such as headings, pictures, captions, and charts to help the reader better understand the information.
5th Grade Reading Skills Group with Mrs. Bucklin
This week we will focus on main idea and details. We will also be introducing story vocabulary on Monday and will be having a quiz on that vocabulary on Friday. The nonfiction piece we will be reading this week is "The Golden Lion Tamarin Comes Home."
3rd Grade Reading Skills Group with Mrs. Csorba
We will continue to work on the comprehension strategy of making inferences this week.
4th Grade Reading Skills Group with Mrs. Beseth
Next week our story is “Finding the Titanic” by Robert D. Ballard. The reading strategy that we'll focus on is text organization. Many non-fiction author's organize their selections in time order. They also use features such as headings, pictures, captions, and charts to help the reader better understand the information.
5th Grade Reading Skills Group with Mrs. Bucklin
This week we will focus on main idea and details. We will also be introducing story vocabulary on Monday and will be having a quiz on that vocabulary on Friday. The nonfiction piece we will be reading this week is "The Golden Lion Tamarin Comes Home."
Friday, September 24, 2010
For the Week of September 27
Chess Club Begins!
Monday from 2:25-3:25 all students whose last names begin with A-G and S-Z.
Wednesday from 2:25-3:25 all students whose last names begin with H-R.
Please remember to pick up your child at the 3rd grade door in the Prairieview parking lot at 3:25.
3rd Grade Reading Skills with Mrs. Csorba
We will begin working on making inferences this week. We will be using the story, Mulan.
4th Grade Reading Skills with Mrs. Beseth
The fourth graders will be reading Grandfather’s Journey by Allen Say. They will focus on the reading strategy to determine author's viewpoint. Author's viewpoint refers to the author's opinion, ideas of what is important or attitude. The author might give their opinion directly or you might have to infer the
information by reading clues or other information that the author provides.
Here is a great link to practice author’s viewpoint: http://www.studyzone.org/testprep/ela4/o/authorsviewpointp.cfm. The vocabulary for the week is: bewildered, surrounded, reminded, longed, homeland, and marveled. Your child can practice these words at: http://www.eduplace.com/kids/tnc/ewordgame/index.html?grade=4&
theme= 1&selection=2. We will also workon the skill of putting words in alphabetical
order.
5th Grade Reading Skills with Mrs. Bucklin
This week we will focus on the skills of generalizing and fact vs. opinion. We'll visit Alaska with our read aloud called Wild Alaska and enjoy another story from our textbook entitled Grizzly Bear Family Book. Author generalizations will be identified by the students as they read the various selections this week.
Monday from 2:25-3:25 all students whose last names begin with A-G and S-Z.
Wednesday from 2:25-3:25 all students whose last names begin with H-R.
Please remember to pick up your child at the 3rd grade door in the Prairieview parking lot at 3:25.
3rd Grade Reading Skills with Mrs. Csorba
We will begin working on making inferences this week. We will be using the story, Mulan.
4th Grade Reading Skills with Mrs. Beseth
The fourth graders will be reading Grandfather’s Journey by Allen Say. They will focus on the reading strategy to determine author's viewpoint. Author's viewpoint refers to the author's opinion, ideas of what is important or attitude. The author might give their opinion directly or you might have to infer the
information by reading clues or other information that the author provides.
Here is a great link to practice author’s viewpoint: http://www.studyzone.org/testprep/ela4/o/authorsviewpointp.cfm. The vocabulary for the week is: bewildered, surrounded, reminded, longed, homeland, and marveled. Your child can practice these words at: http://www.eduplace.com/kids/tnc/ewordgame/index.html?grade=4&
theme= 1&selection=2. We will also workon the skill of putting words in alphabetical
order.
5th Grade Reading Skills with Mrs. Bucklin
This week we will focus on the skills of generalizing and fact vs. opinion. We'll visit Alaska with our read aloud called Wild Alaska and enjoy another story from our textbook entitled Grizzly Bear Family Book. Author generalizations will be identified by the students as they read the various selections this week.
Friday, September 17, 2010
For the Week of September 20
Important Date
Remember that there is no school on Friday, Sept 24th because of teacher inservice.
3rd Grade Skills Class with Mrs. Csorba
We will continue to focus on summarizing and sequencing this week. We will work on applying this strategy to different texts.
4th Grade Skills Class with Mrs. Beseth
This week, we will finish reading Akiak by Robert Blake. We will continue to focus on story structure. The children will also explore character and setting in depth. When your child is reading at home, you can practice and review story structure by asking them to identify characters, setting, and plot (which includes the problem, sequenced events, and the solution).
5th Grade Skills Class with Mrs. Bucklin
We will continue learning the elements of a tall tale. The students will read the tale of Old Stormalong and complete an organizer to go with the story. Also, they will be planning and writing their own tall tale. Check assignment notebooks for possible homework in this.
Remember that there is no school on Friday, Sept 24th because of teacher inservice.
3rd Grade Skills Class with Mrs. Csorba
We will continue to focus on summarizing and sequencing this week. We will work on applying this strategy to different texts.
4th Grade Skills Class with Mrs. Beseth
This week, we will finish reading Akiak by Robert Blake. We will continue to focus on story structure. The children will also explore character and setting in depth. When your child is reading at home, you can practice and review story structure by asking them to identify characters, setting, and plot (which includes the problem, sequenced events, and the solution).
5th Grade Skills Class with Mrs. Bucklin
We will continue learning the elements of a tall tale. The students will read the tale of Old Stormalong and complete an organizer to go with the story. Also, they will be planning and writing their own tall tale. Check assignment notebooks for possible homework in this.
Friday, September 10, 2010
For the Week of September 13th
I am excited about the start of skill based reading groups. I have been working closely with the classroom teachers to make sure that every student is placed in the group which will benefit him/her the most. I will continue to work with the classroom teachers, team teaching and helping to make sure student's needs are met in the area of reading. This year I will be team teaching with Mrs. Csorba in 3rd grade, Mrs. Beseth in 4th grade, and Mrs. Bucklin in 5th grade.
Our skill based reading groups will begin on Monday. Students will find out Monday morning who their skill based reading teacher is.
Our skill based reading groups will begin on Monday. Students will find out Monday morning who their skill based reading teacher is.
Friday, September 3, 2010
For the Week of September 6th
Many times parents ask what they can do to help their child to read better. One thing that could help at the beginning of the year is to make sure that your child knows the first 220 Dolch sight words. Have your child read each word to you. If they can't read it in 3 seconds, make a flash card for it. Make some games with the flash cards so that your child will learn the words. You can write phrases that include the word and have your child read those. For example you might make phrases such as "after dinner," and "all around the house." These are the most used words in writing so your child will see these words over and over again. If they know them instantly, it will help their reading.
about
after
again
all
always
am
an
and
any
are
around
as
ask
at
ate
away
be
because
been
before
best
better
big
black
blue
both
bring
brown
but
buy
by
call
came
can
carry
clean
cold
come
could
cut
did
do
does
done
don't
down
draw
drink
eat
eight
every
every
fall
far
fast
find
first
five
fly
for
found
four
from
full
funny
gave
get
give
go
goes
going
good
got
green
grow
had
has
have
he
help
her
here
him
his
hold
hot
how
hurt
I
if
in
into
is
it
its
jump
just
keep
kind
know
laugh
let
light
like
little
live
long
look
made
make
many
may
me
much
must
my
myself
never
new
no
not
now
of
off
old
on
once
one
only
open
or
our
out
over
own
pick
play
please
pretty
pull
put
ran
read
red
ride
right
round
run
said
saw
say
see
seven
shall
she
show
sing
sit
six
sleep
small
so
some
soon
start
stop
take
tell
ten
thank
that
the
their
them
then
there
these
they
think
this
those
three
to
today
together
too
try
two
under
up
upon
us
us
walk
want
warm
was
wash
we
well
went
were
what
when
where
which
white
who
why
will
wish
with
work
would
write
yellow
yes
you
your
about
after
again
all
always
am
an
and
any
are
around
as
ask
at
ate
away
be
because
been
before
best
better
big
black
blue
both
bring
brown
but
buy
by
call
came
can
carry
clean
cold
come
could
cut
did
do
does
done
don't
down
draw
drink
eat
eight
every
every
fall
far
fast
find
first
five
fly
for
found
four
from
full
funny
gave
get
give
go
goes
going
good
got
green
grow
had
has
have
he
help
her
here
him
his
hold
hot
how
hurt
I
if
in
into
is
it
its
jump
just
keep
kind
know
laugh
let
light
like
little
live
long
look
made
make
many
may
me
much
must
my
myself
never
new
no
not
now
of
off
old
on
once
one
only
open
or
our
out
over
own
pick
play
please
pretty
pull
put
ran
read
red
ride
right
round
run
said
saw
say
see
seven
shall
she
show
sing
sit
six
sleep
small
so
some
soon
start
stop
take
tell
ten
thank
that
the
their
them
then
there
these
they
think
this
those
three
to
today
together
too
try
two
under
up
upon
us
us
walk
want
warm
was
wash
we
well
went
were
what
when
where
which
white
who
why
will
wish
with
work
would
write
yellow
yes
you
your
Friday, August 27, 2010
For the Week of August 30th
Back to school. What an exciting time for both students and teachers. New supplies, new teachers, new students, and a fresh start are all reasons to look forward to a new school year. With the start of a new school year comes the start of new routines. The summer routines have to be put aside and school year routines take their places. I have to go to bed earlier and wake up earlier. I also have to make time to read. Because school days are such busy days, it is easy to overlook something that is very important to your child's success in school - reading. Every child needs some quiet time each day to enjoy a good book. Every child also should have some time with a parent listening to a well-written book. As I readjust my routines for the fall, I encourage you to readjust yours and make sure that reading is made or continues as an important part of your family's daily schedule.
Friday, May 28, 2010
For the Week of May 31st
Yearbooks
Yearbooks will be handed out to students on June 2nd. Any students who did not purchase a yearbook may do so on a first-come-first-serve basis on June 2nd; they will go on sale after morning announcements. The cost will be $10.00 and children wishing to purchase should have exact amount. Checks can be made out to Prairieview. There is a limited supply. Prairieview yearbook orders were not paid for at registration. A flyer was sent out on November 12, 2009 and orders were due by Tuesday, December 9, 2009.
Summer
I hope you have a wonderful summer. Enjoy your family and the warm weather. I am looking forward to being with my children and grandchildren. I am also looking forward to the fresh start we always get with a new school year.
Yearbooks will be handed out to students on June 2nd. Any students who did not purchase a yearbook may do so on a first-come-first-serve basis on June 2nd; they will go on sale after morning announcements. The cost will be $10.00 and children wishing to purchase should have exact amount. Checks can be made out to Prairieview. There is a limited supply. Prairieview yearbook orders were not paid for at registration. A flyer was sent out on November 12, 2009 and orders were due by Tuesday, December 9, 2009.
Summer
I hope you have a wonderful summer. Enjoy your family and the warm weather. I am looking forward to being with my children and grandchildren. I am also looking forward to the fresh start we always get with a new school year.
Friday, May 21, 2010
For the Week of May 24th
Recyled Shoes
Thank you to everyone who contributed shoes to be recycled. We kept five huge garbage bags of shoes out of the landfills by recycling. Three of those bags were donated to Nike where the soles will be made into rubber matting and other items. Two bags were donated to resale shops which help those in need. At Prairieview School - Character Counts!
Book Review by Jackie Warkentien
This might be a book to put on your Summer Reading Plan form for good reading this summer.
Scat by Carl Hiaasen - Jackie gave this book 4 out of 5 stars
Friends Nick Waters and Marta Gonzalez attend prestigious Truman School. Among their classmates is Smoke Scrod, Jr. who has been accused of arson twice. Yet he is continually bailed out by his wealthy grandmother. Truman School's biology teacher, Mrs. Bunny Starch, is tough, yet qualified.
When both Mrs. Starch and Smoke go missing, it is up to Nick and Marta to solve the mystery. Environmental issues, criminal activity, and worries about Nick's dad overseas in Iraq all meld into a story about an endangered panther and its kitten. All involved step up to the plate and their admirable qualities arise when the environment and its fauna are being threatened unnecessarily by humans and their greed.
Scat is much like Hiaasen's other environmentally responsible books, as it introduces us to the peril, we as humans, create for our globe and all its inhabitants. We begin to see that we cannot accept every action for face value...sometimes there are reasons for, and reasons against seemingly simple scenarios. Much of what we do, does have consquences and we must weigh the benefits against the damages inflicted upon our planet.
Thank you to everyone who contributed shoes to be recycled. We kept five huge garbage bags of shoes out of the landfills by recycling. Three of those bags were donated to Nike where the soles will be made into rubber matting and other items. Two bags were donated to resale shops which help those in need. At Prairieview School - Character Counts!
Book Review by Jackie Warkentien
This might be a book to put on your Summer Reading Plan form for good reading this summer.
Scat by Carl Hiaasen - Jackie gave this book 4 out of 5 stars
Friends Nick Waters and Marta Gonzalez attend prestigious Truman School. Among their classmates is Smoke Scrod, Jr. who has been accused of arson twice. Yet he is continually bailed out by his wealthy grandmother. Truman School's biology teacher, Mrs. Bunny Starch, is tough, yet qualified.
When both Mrs. Starch and Smoke go missing, it is up to Nick and Marta to solve the mystery. Environmental issues, criminal activity, and worries about Nick's dad overseas in Iraq all meld into a story about an endangered panther and its kitten. All involved step up to the plate and their admirable qualities arise when the environment and its fauna are being threatened unnecessarily by humans and their greed.
Scat is much like Hiaasen's other environmentally responsible books, as it introduces us to the peril, we as humans, create for our globe and all its inhabitants. We begin to see that we cannot accept every action for face value...sometimes there are reasons for, and reasons against seemingly simple scenarios. Much of what we do, does have consquences and we must weigh the benefits against the damages inflicted upon our planet.
Friday, May 14, 2010
For the Week of May 17th
Plan for Summer Reading
Mrs. Walsh-Rock, one of Prairieview's wonderful librarians, is promoting summer reading by encouraging families to make a plan. Look for the announcement coming home at the beginning of the week. Ask your children to look at the library display and make plans to participate. Remember, when you make a plan, it is more likely to happen.
Taking a Road Trip?
Books on CD are a wonderful way to make the long drive seem shorter. Listening to books helps to broaden our vocabularies. It can also be a launching point for some interesting discussions. So visit your local library or bookstore and plan some fun for that long trip!
Mrs. Walsh-Rock, one of Prairieview's wonderful librarians, is promoting summer reading by encouraging families to make a plan. Look for the announcement coming home at the beginning of the week. Ask your children to look at the library display and make plans to participate. Remember, when you make a plan, it is more likely to happen.
Taking a Road Trip?
Books on CD are a wonderful way to make the long drive seem shorter. Listening to books helps to broaden our vocabularies. It can also be a launching point for some interesting discussions. So visit your local library or bookstore and plan some fun for that long trip!
Friday, May 7, 2010
For the Week of May 10th
Shoes Wanted
All this week Prairieview is collecting gym shoes in any shape and all other shoes that still have some life in them. We want to help cut down on the amount going into landfills. The shoes will be either donated to places that help people or will be sent to Nike's recycling center where they recycle gym shoes into a variety of objects including floor mats. Please tie the shoes together or put them in plastic grocery bags so that they do not become separated. Thank you for your support. At Prairieview School – Character Counts!
The Human Brain
I was just marveling on the human brain. I was thinking about how a child is born not knowing how to talk and by the time they are 11 or 12, they can read most any word you put in front of them. They figure out the meaning of words and learn how to say them. They learn how to make them into sentences. Their vocabulary grows. Then they have to learn how to take the sounds of the words apart to hear all of the different sounds. They learn the sounds that the letters make. They learn the rules for when letters say each sound. They memorize sight words. The learn punctuation rules. They learn to read. They learn to comprehend what they read and they learn to write. As we approach the end of another school year, it is wonderful to be able to look back over the year and see how far each of your children have come. Children's accomplishments are teachers' and parents' rewards.
All this week Prairieview is collecting gym shoes in any shape and all other shoes that still have some life in them. We want to help cut down on the amount going into landfills. The shoes will be either donated to places that help people or will be sent to Nike's recycling center where they recycle gym shoes into a variety of objects including floor mats. Please tie the shoes together or put them in plastic grocery bags so that they do not become separated. Thank you for your support. At Prairieview School – Character Counts!
The Human Brain
I was just marveling on the human brain. I was thinking about how a child is born not knowing how to talk and by the time they are 11 or 12, they can read most any word you put in front of them. They figure out the meaning of words and learn how to say them. They learn how to make them into sentences. Their vocabulary grows. Then they have to learn how to take the sounds of the words apart to hear all of the different sounds. They learn the sounds that the letters make. They learn the rules for when letters say each sound. They memorize sight words. The learn punctuation rules. They learn to read. They learn to comprehend what they read and they learn to write. As we approach the end of another school year, it is wonderful to be able to look back over the year and see how far each of your children have come. Children's accomplishments are teachers' and parents' rewards.
Friday, April 30, 2010
For the Week of May 3rd
How to Improve Reading Rate
I was just reading an article in the Reading Teacher journal which reminded me of what I have learned over the years. For those students who struggle with slow, labored reading, reading many books at their comfort level is a key to helping them read faster. If you think about it this way - when adults try to master something they usually take it slowly, in small learnable units. For example, when learning to dance, you start with a few basic steps and progress slowly as those steps are mastered. You don't start out with the hardest dances until you master the easier ones. The same holds true with cooking. You don't start with a 12 course meal. You start with making simple dishes and slowly work towards increasing complexity. Children need a lot of reading of texts which are a great deal of fun to them and which come easily to them. A child begins to dislike reading if they are continually forced to read books which are too difficult for them. So for independent reading, choose books that are easy for your child to read. When partner reading with you, books can be a little more challenging because you can tell your child the unknown words.
I was just reading an article in the Reading Teacher journal which reminded me of what I have learned over the years. For those students who struggle with slow, labored reading, reading many books at their comfort level is a key to helping them read faster. If you think about it this way - when adults try to master something they usually take it slowly, in small learnable units. For example, when learning to dance, you start with a few basic steps and progress slowly as those steps are mastered. You don't start out with the hardest dances until you master the easier ones. The same holds true with cooking. You don't start with a 12 course meal. You start with making simple dishes and slowly work towards increasing complexity. Children need a lot of reading of texts which are a great deal of fun to them and which come easily to them. A child begins to dislike reading if they are continually forced to read books which are too difficult for them. So for independent reading, choose books that are easy for your child to read. When partner reading with you, books can be a little more challenging because you can tell your child the unknown words.
Friday, April 23, 2010
For the Week of April 26th
Lexia
I would be interested to hear from those who have started to use Lexia at home. How is it going? Does your student enjoy doing Lexia? Please email me with anything you would like to share. If you want to talk in person, please email me and I will phone you.
For those who have not signed up for Lexia but would like to, email me and I will get the information to your child.
Make Reading Fun
Nothing motivates children and adults alike more than fun. Since our goal is to make life-long readers out of our children, I would encourage you, as parents, to take the time to make reading a fun activity. Figure out the types of books your child really enjoys. Make plans to do fun activities centered around those books. When my children were younger, we would read books as a family that we knew were coming out as movies. Then we would go see the movie so that we could compare and contrast it with the book. Many little girls enjoy having a tea party. Invite over a friend or have a teddy bear join the party and then have your child or you read a good book while the others are enjoying their "tea." Get creative and have fun with reading.
I would be interested to hear from those who have started to use Lexia at home. How is it going? Does your student enjoy doing Lexia? Please email me with anything you would like to share. If you want to talk in person, please email me and I will phone you.
For those who have not signed up for Lexia but would like to, email me and I will get the information to your child.
Make Reading Fun
Nothing motivates children and adults alike more than fun. Since our goal is to make life-long readers out of our children, I would encourage you, as parents, to take the time to make reading a fun activity. Figure out the types of books your child really enjoys. Make plans to do fun activities centered around those books. When my children were younger, we would read books as a family that we knew were coming out as movies. Then we would go see the movie so that we could compare and contrast it with the book. Many little girls enjoy having a tea party. Invite over a friend or have a teddy bear join the party and then have your child or you read a good book while the others are enjoying their "tea." Get creative and have fun with reading.
Friday, April 16, 2010
For the Week of April 19th
Earth Day
Prairieview is celebrating Earth Day on Friday the 23rd. Everyone should wear their Earth Day t-shirts or green. For those who are packing their lunches, pack trashless ones. If you are able, walk or ride your bike to school that day.
Retelling
One of the best ways to find out if your child is understanding what he/she is reading is to ask them to tell you what they just read. Retelling helps students to clarify their thinking and remember what they read. It also helps them to internalize the new vocabulary that they are learning. For reluctant readers, it encourages them to actually read if they know that they are going to be asked to retell what they read. I encourage you to take a few extra minutes to listen to your child. He/she will benefit greatly from the extra attention.
Prairieview is celebrating Earth Day on Friday the 23rd. Everyone should wear their Earth Day t-shirts or green. For those who are packing their lunches, pack trashless ones. If you are able, walk or ride your bike to school that day.
Retelling
One of the best ways to find out if your child is understanding what he/she is reading is to ask them to tell you what they just read. Retelling helps students to clarify their thinking and remember what they read. It also helps them to internalize the new vocabulary that they are learning. For reluctant readers, it encourages them to actually read if they know that they are going to be asked to retell what they read. I encourage you to take a few extra minutes to listen to your child. He/she will benefit greatly from the extra attention.
Friday, April 9, 2010
For the Week of April 12th
Vocabulary - Lessen the Gap
I just finished attending Core Reading Academy. The instructor in this academy spent five days discussing what a robust reading curriculum should include. One whole day was spent on vocabulary instruction. Our instructor pointed out that children come to school having a wide range of vocabulary abilities. There are huge gaps between various students. As the students grow older, many times the gap continues to widen. She told us that there are four parts to an effective vocabulary program. Students need instruction in specific words to enhance the comprehension of texts containing those words. They need instruction in independent word-learning strategies and they need word consciousness and word-play activities to motivate and enhance their learning. They also need a lot of independent reading to expand their word knowledge. Students needs to know many, many more words than teachers have the time to teach in the classroom. One of the ways students learn the words they need to know is by doing a lot of outside reading. This reading can be on their own or they can be read to. I want to encourage parents to continue to read to their children for as long as they can. The vocabulary benefits that children receive are enormous. If, for some reason, you can't spend time reading to your children, consider getting them books on CD's to listen to. By listening to books that are written at a higher level than they can read easily, their vocabularies increase and that helps them to be able to read those words with understanding in the future. The more time your children spend reading and listening to books read to them, the greater their vocabularies will be.
I just finished attending Core Reading Academy. The instructor in this academy spent five days discussing what a robust reading curriculum should include. One whole day was spent on vocabulary instruction. Our instructor pointed out that children come to school having a wide range of vocabulary abilities. There are huge gaps between various students. As the students grow older, many times the gap continues to widen. She told us that there are four parts to an effective vocabulary program. Students need instruction in specific words to enhance the comprehension of texts containing those words. They need instruction in independent word-learning strategies and they need word consciousness and word-play activities to motivate and enhance their learning. They also need a lot of independent reading to expand their word knowledge. Students needs to know many, many more words than teachers have the time to teach in the classroom. One of the ways students learn the words they need to know is by doing a lot of outside reading. This reading can be on their own or they can be read to. I want to encourage parents to continue to read to their children for as long as they can. The vocabulary benefits that children receive are enormous. If, for some reason, you can't spend time reading to your children, consider getting them books on CD's to listen to. By listening to books that are written at a higher level than they can read easily, their vocabularies increase and that helps them to be able to read those words with understanding in the future. The more time your children spend reading and listening to books read to them, the greater their vocabularies will be.
Friday, March 26, 2010
For the Week of April 5th
Raise a Reader
Please remember to continue logging in your minutes for Raise a Reader. If you haven't signed up yet, it is not to late. Go to parents.com/reading/prairieviewschooldowil.
Summer Reading Plans
I know many people have already begun making their summer plans. I want to encourage parents to make time in their daily schedules for reading. If your child loves to read, you don't need to think about this. It happens naturally. But if you have a child who would rather be doing something else, then it is very important that you figure out a way to get them to spend some time each day reading. Some parents take the time to sit down and read each day with their child. That is wonderful. Others, however, have the intention of reading but it just doesn't happen. I would like to suggest that you "hire" a little older student to come and read with your child. For example, a jr. high student would be perfect for the job if you have a 3rd grade child. Explain to the Jr. Higher exactly what you want them to do. Set up a time and place for the reading to happen. Let your child pick out books of interest. I think if you put reading on your schedule, you will find that it is much more likely to happen.
Please remember to continue logging in your minutes for Raise a Reader. If you haven't signed up yet, it is not to late. Go to parents.com/reading/prairieviewschooldowil.
Summer Reading Plans
I know many people have already begun making their summer plans. I want to encourage parents to make time in their daily schedules for reading. If your child loves to read, you don't need to think about this. It happens naturally. But if you have a child who would rather be doing something else, then it is very important that you figure out a way to get them to spend some time each day reading. Some parents take the time to sit down and read each day with their child. That is wonderful. Others, however, have the intention of reading but it just doesn't happen. I would like to suggest that you "hire" a little older student to come and read with your child. For example, a jr. high student would be perfect for the job if you have a 3rd grade child. Explain to the Jr. Higher exactly what you want them to do. Set up a time and place for the reading to happen. Let your child pick out books of interest. I think if you put reading on your schedule, you will find that it is much more likely to happen.
Friday, March 19, 2010
For the Week of March 22nd
Raise a Reader
If you have not had a chance to sign up for Raise a Reader yet, please join us. Go to www.parents.com/reading/prairieviewschooldowil. We have been posting the number of students and the minutes read on the bulletin board by the front hallway. We are also collecting first names of students and their teachers to post on the board. If you have signed-up your child and their name is not on the board - please send me an email with their name and their teacher's name and I will be sure it gets put up. Let's keep our students reading!
Character Counts Talent Show
We have some very talented students in this school and it was fun to get the opportunity to hear and see some of them at the Character Counts talent show. The students did a beautiful job. It was a lesson to all of us that working hard to be good at something helps to make us into productive members of society. I heard a lot of students already talking about wanting to be in it next year.
Lexia Reading Program
I have gotten quite a few parents who have told me that they are interested in using the Lexia reading program at home. I have been working on getting names entered into the data base and getting passwords for each one. If your child is being targeted for special reading help, you will automatically get a letter sent home explaining how to download the program if you want to use it. Any parent who would like to have their child use the program and is not getting special reading help, just email me and I will enter their name in the data base and send home a letter. It is a good program for students who are good readers because it teaches word roots, affixes and their meanings at the higher levels.
If you have not had a chance to sign up for Raise a Reader yet, please join us. Go to www.parents.com/reading/prairieviewschooldowil. We have been posting the number of students and the minutes read on the bulletin board by the front hallway. We are also collecting first names of students and their teachers to post on the board. If you have signed-up your child and their name is not on the board - please send me an email with their name and their teacher's name and I will be sure it gets put up. Let's keep our students reading!
Character Counts Talent Show
We have some very talented students in this school and it was fun to get the opportunity to hear and see some of them at the Character Counts talent show. The students did a beautiful job. It was a lesson to all of us that working hard to be good at something helps to make us into productive members of society. I heard a lot of students already talking about wanting to be in it next year.
Lexia Reading Program
I have gotten quite a few parents who have told me that they are interested in using the Lexia reading program at home. I have been working on getting names entered into the data base and getting passwords for each one. If your child is being targeted for special reading help, you will automatically get a letter sent home explaining how to download the program if you want to use it. Any parent who would like to have their child use the program and is not getting special reading help, just email me and I will enter their name in the data base and send home a letter. It is a good program for students who are good readers because it teaches word roots, affixes and their meanings at the higher levels.
Friday, March 12, 2010
For the Week of March 15th
Raise a Reader
We have had a wonderful start to the Raise a Reader program. I have received positive comments from parents, students and teachers. If you haven't had a chance to sign up your child please take the opportunity to do so. We could just be the winners of the $5000 library grant. www.parents.com/reading/prairieviewschooldowil
Lexia Reading Program
Prairieview has purchased some licenses to use the Lexia computer based reading program to help children who are striving to read. Lexia helps students with sight words, letter sounds and vowel combinations and comprehension. If you would like information on how to download this onto your home computer so that your child can work on reading at home, please email me at my school email address.
We have had a wonderful start to the Raise a Reader program. I have received positive comments from parents, students and teachers. If you haven't had a chance to sign up your child please take the opportunity to do so. We could just be the winners of the $5000 library grant. www.parents.com/reading/prairieviewschooldowil
Lexia Reading Program
Prairieview has purchased some licenses to use the Lexia computer based reading program to help children who are striving to read. Lexia helps students with sight words, letter sounds and vowel combinations and comprehension. If you would like information on how to download this onto your home computer so that your child can work on reading at home, please email me at my school email address.
Friday, March 5, 2010
For the Week of March 8th
New Reading Incentive Program at Prairieview
Look for the flyer that was sent home Friday. It announces a reading incentive program that Prairieview is encouraging called “Raise a Reader.” Parents sign up your child starting Monday the 8th by going to:
http://www.parents.com/reading/prairieviewschooldowil
All students who sign up will get to put their first name and teacher's name up on the bulletin board in the front hallway. So join the fun and keep reading!
Character Counts
During March Prairieview teacher and staff emphasize the Character Counts pillar of fairness. Although life isn't fair, we can learn to treat others with fairness. Please take the time to discuss this topic with your child and don't forget to return the Character Counts slip so that your child can earn a Prairieview Paw.
Expository Text
Reading teachers across the country are discussing the importance of learning to read expository text well. Almost 50% of the ISAT in grade 4 is made up of expository articles. By high school about 70% of the test will be expository. I just finished taking a class on one method for helping students to learn to read expository text effectively. The reading material should be at the student's independent reading level. The student should have opportunity to discuss the content with someone. So, the next time you visit a library or bookstore, have your child pick out a non-fiction book that they can read by themselves without too many problems. Then ask your student what they found most interesting about the book or what they learned that they didn't know before. It can be fun to read about topics of interest!
Look for the flyer that was sent home Friday. It announces a reading incentive program that Prairieview is encouraging called “Raise a Reader.” Parents sign up your child starting Monday the 8th by going to:
http://www.parents.com/reading/prairieviewschooldowil
All students who sign up will get to put their first name and teacher's name up on the bulletin board in the front hallway. So join the fun and keep reading!
Character Counts
During March Prairieview teacher and staff emphasize the Character Counts pillar of fairness. Although life isn't fair, we can learn to treat others with fairness. Please take the time to discuss this topic with your child and don't forget to return the Character Counts slip so that your child can earn a Prairieview Paw.
Expository Text
Reading teachers across the country are discussing the importance of learning to read expository text well. Almost 50% of the ISAT in grade 4 is made up of expository articles. By high school about 70% of the test will be expository. I just finished taking a class on one method for helping students to learn to read expository text effectively. The reading material should be at the student's independent reading level. The student should have opportunity to discuss the content with someone. So, the next time you visit a library or bookstore, have your child pick out a non-fiction book that they can read by themselves without too many problems. Then ask your student what they found most interesting about the book or what they learned that they didn't know before. It can be fun to read about topics of interest!
Friday, February 26, 2010
For the Week of March 1st
ISATs and the Importance of Sleep
I am on the email list of Half Full: Science for Raising Healthy Kids written by Christine Carter, PhD. She offers practical advise. I found this piece especially pertinent since we want our students to do their best on the ISAT tests. This is copied with her permission.
Half Full: Is Sleep the Most Important Happiness Habit?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Is Sleep the Most Important Happiness Habit?
Posted: 27 Jan 2010 05:02 PM PST
If I posted a video of my daughter when she is sleep-deprived and trying to finish her homework or clean her room—or do anything, really, that she doesn’t want to do—I would lose all credibility as a parenting expert. This is because there is a good chance you would all witness her shockingly bad behavior, from bratty-voice screaming to head-on-the-desk, teary, fist pounding protests.
We humans don’t really function all that well when we are seriously tired, and that is especially true for little humans whose brains are not yet fully developed. As Arianna Huffington writes in this post, sleep might just be the key to our happiness and peak performance.
Nothing could be more true for children.
Kids need a lot of sleep to be happy. Unfortunately, studies show that kids are getting significantly less sleep per night than they did in previous generations. This is of no small consequence.
Sleep deprivation—or just getting slightly less sleep than they need—affects kids’ functioning and well-being in a huge range of ways. Not getting enough sleep can make kids:
Less smart. In one study, researchers restricted the sleep of some students and extended the sleep of others for about 40 minutes over just three days. Kids who got less sleep showed worse performance in areas like learning, memory, and reaction times. How much worse? The difference between the two groups was “larger than or similar to the highly significant age differences between the fourth- and sixth-grade students” in the study. Losing two hours of sleep over three days set kids back two years.
Inattentive. Sleepiness makes it hard for kids to pay attention, whether to their school work or to their parents. The effects of not getting enough sleep is much more evident in younger children, who tend to be quite distractible when tired.
Fat. Sleep affects dozens of physiological and hormonal processes throughout our bodies, like how we store fat and burn calories. Kids who are “short sleepers” are more likely not just to be fat, but to actually be obese.
Less creative. Sleep helps kids with verbal flexibility so that their speech is more articulate and creative. Decreased sleep can make them less fluent, and it can impair their thinking in ways that make them less imaginative and less able to problem solve.
Moody and ill-behaved. I think this is obvious to every parent of every child who has ever missed a nap, but loads of good research backs this up: not getting enough sleep can make five year olds act like three year olds—miserable three year olds, to boot. Substance use, including using caffeine, alcohol, and tobacco, is greater in teens who sleep less, indicating that they are trying to cope with how they feel when tired.
Bad behavior often comes from the fact that sleepiness makes it hard for kids to control their impulses. Given my interest in Raising Happiness , I think this is the most important consequence that not getting my kids into bed on time can have. Why be awake if we are likely to be crabby and unhappy until we get more sleep?
In future posts, I’ll dig a little deeper into the sleep research in order to give parents some good guidelines about sleep and their children’s happiness. I’ll address questions such as: How much sleep do kids need at different ages? Does messing up weekend sleep matter—can we let our kids stay up late once or twice a week without suffering the consequences? Can students make up for lost sleep on the weekends? What does research show we can do to help our kids fall asleep faster and to sleep better?
Helping our kids get more sleep can have tremendous positive effects. Because of this, I have recently moved my kids’ bedtime to a shockingly-early 7:30 pm (they are 7 and 9 years old, and they catch the bus at 7:50 in the morning). This means that I am trading quality bonding time with my children for sleep. But, given the profound effects sleep has on their health and happiness, I don’t think I have a choice: ensuring that my kids get enough sleep is my responsibility as a parent.
© 2009 Christine Carter, Ph.D.
E-mail this
RSS feed
Watch video
Subscribe to Half Full: Science for Raising Happy Kids by Email
References:
Cappuccio, FP, Taggart, FM, Kandala, NB, Currie A, Peile E, Stranges S, & Miller, MA. (2008). Meta-analysis of short sleep duration and obesity in children and adults. Sleep, 31(5), 619-626.
Carskadon, MA, Acebo, C, & Jenni, OG. (2004). Regulation of adolescent sleep: Implications for behavior. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1021, 276-291.
Curcio, G, Ferrara, M, & De Gennaro, L. (2006). Sleep loss, learning capacity and academic performance. Sleep Medicine Reviews, 10, 323–337.
Dahl, RE. (1996). The impact of inadequate sleep on children’s daytime cognitive function. Seminars in Pediatric Neurology, 3(1), 44-50.
Fallone, G, Acebo, C, Arnedt, JT, Seifer, R, & Carskadron, MA. (2001). Effects of acute sleep restriction on behavior, sustained attention, and response inhibition in children. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 93, 213-229.
Fredricksen, K, Rhodes, J, Reddy, R, & Way, N. (2004). Sleepless in Chicago: Tracking the effects of adolescent sleep loss during the middle school years. Child Development, 75(1), 84-95.
Iglowstein, I, Jenni, OG, Molinari, L, & Largo, RH. (2003). Sleep duration from infancy to adolescence: Reference values and generational trends. Pediatrics, 111, 302-307.
Sadeh, A, Gruber, R, & Raviv, A. (2003). The effects of sleep restriction and extension on school-age children: What a difference an hour makes. Child Development, 74(2), 444-455.
Smaldone, A, Honig, JC, & Byrne, MW. (2007). Sleepless in America: Inadequate sleep and relationships to health and well-being of our nation’s children. Pediatrics, 119, S29-S37.
Stein, MA, Mendelsohn, J, Obermeyer, WH, Amromin, J, & Benca, R. (2001). Sleep and behavior problems in school-aged children. Pediatrics, 107(4), 1-9.
I am on the email list of Half Full: Science for Raising Healthy Kids written by Christine Carter, PhD. She offers practical advise. I found this piece especially pertinent since we want our students to do their best on the ISAT tests. This is copied with her permission.
Half Full: Is Sleep the Most Important Happiness Habit?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Is Sleep the Most Important Happiness Habit?
Posted: 27 Jan 2010 05:02 PM PST
If I posted a video of my daughter when she is sleep-deprived and trying to finish her homework or clean her room—or do anything, really, that she doesn’t want to do—I would lose all credibility as a parenting expert. This is because there is a good chance you would all witness her shockingly bad behavior, from bratty-voice screaming to head-on-the-desk, teary, fist pounding protests.
We humans don’t really function all that well when we are seriously tired, and that is especially true for little humans whose brains are not yet fully developed. As Arianna Huffington writes in this post, sleep might just be the key to our happiness and peak performance.
Nothing could be more true for children.
Kids need a lot of sleep to be happy. Unfortunately, studies show that kids are getting significantly less sleep per night than they did in previous generations. This is of no small consequence.
Sleep deprivation—or just getting slightly less sleep than they need—affects kids’ functioning and well-being in a huge range of ways. Not getting enough sleep can make kids:
Less smart. In one study, researchers restricted the sleep of some students and extended the sleep of others for about 40 minutes over just three days. Kids who got less sleep showed worse performance in areas like learning, memory, and reaction times. How much worse? The difference between the two groups was “larger than or similar to the highly significant age differences between the fourth- and sixth-grade students” in the study. Losing two hours of sleep over three days set kids back two years.
Inattentive. Sleepiness makes it hard for kids to pay attention, whether to their school work or to their parents. The effects of not getting enough sleep is much more evident in younger children, who tend to be quite distractible when tired.
Fat. Sleep affects dozens of physiological and hormonal processes throughout our bodies, like how we store fat and burn calories. Kids who are “short sleepers” are more likely not just to be fat, but to actually be obese.
Less creative. Sleep helps kids with verbal flexibility so that their speech is more articulate and creative. Decreased sleep can make them less fluent, and it can impair their thinking in ways that make them less imaginative and less able to problem solve.
Moody and ill-behaved. I think this is obvious to every parent of every child who has ever missed a nap, but loads of good research backs this up: not getting enough sleep can make five year olds act like three year olds—miserable three year olds, to boot. Substance use, including using caffeine, alcohol, and tobacco, is greater in teens who sleep less, indicating that they are trying to cope with how they feel when tired.
Bad behavior often comes from the fact that sleepiness makes it hard for kids to control their impulses. Given my interest in Raising Happiness , I think this is the most important consequence that not getting my kids into bed on time can have. Why be awake if we are likely to be crabby and unhappy until we get more sleep?
In future posts, I’ll dig a little deeper into the sleep research in order to give parents some good guidelines about sleep and their children’s happiness. I’ll address questions such as: How much sleep do kids need at different ages? Does messing up weekend sleep matter—can we let our kids stay up late once or twice a week without suffering the consequences? Can students make up for lost sleep on the weekends? What does research show we can do to help our kids fall asleep faster and to sleep better?
Helping our kids get more sleep can have tremendous positive effects. Because of this, I have recently moved my kids’ bedtime to a shockingly-early 7:30 pm (they are 7 and 9 years old, and they catch the bus at 7:50 in the morning). This means that I am trading quality bonding time with my children for sleep. But, given the profound effects sleep has on their health and happiness, I don’t think I have a choice: ensuring that my kids get enough sleep is my responsibility as a parent.
© 2009 Christine Carter, Ph.D.
E-mail this
RSS feed
Watch video
Subscribe to Half Full: Science for Raising Happy Kids by Email
References:
Cappuccio, FP, Taggart, FM, Kandala, NB, Currie A, Peile E, Stranges S, & Miller, MA. (2008). Meta-analysis of short sleep duration and obesity in children and adults. Sleep, 31(5), 619-626.
Carskadon, MA, Acebo, C, & Jenni, OG. (2004). Regulation of adolescent sleep: Implications for behavior. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1021, 276-291.
Curcio, G, Ferrara, M, & De Gennaro, L. (2006). Sleep loss, learning capacity and academic performance. Sleep Medicine Reviews, 10, 323–337.
Dahl, RE. (1996). The impact of inadequate sleep on children’s daytime cognitive function. Seminars in Pediatric Neurology, 3(1), 44-50.
Fallone, G, Acebo, C, Arnedt, JT, Seifer, R, & Carskadron, MA. (2001). Effects of acute sleep restriction on behavior, sustained attention, and response inhibition in children. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 93, 213-229.
Fredricksen, K, Rhodes, J, Reddy, R, & Way, N. (2004). Sleepless in Chicago: Tracking the effects of adolescent sleep loss during the middle school years. Child Development, 75(1), 84-95.
Iglowstein, I, Jenni, OG, Molinari, L, & Largo, RH. (2003). Sleep duration from infancy to adolescence: Reference values and generational trends. Pediatrics, 111, 302-307.
Sadeh, A, Gruber, R, & Raviv, A. (2003). The effects of sleep restriction and extension on school-age children: What a difference an hour makes. Child Development, 74(2), 444-455.
Smaldone, A, Honig, JC, & Byrne, MW. (2007). Sleepless in America: Inadequate sleep and relationships to health and well-being of our nation’s children. Pediatrics, 119, S29-S37.
Stein, MA, Mendelsohn, J, Obermeyer, WH, Amromin, J, & Benca, R. (2001). Sleep and behavior problems in school-aged children. Pediatrics, 107(4), 1-9.
Friday, February 19, 2010
For the Week of February 22nd
Character Counts Talent Show
If your student is working on an instrumental or voice piece, a dance or a dramatic reading and has it ready to perform please consider signing them up for the talent show. Although we cannot take everyone, we will use those who sign up to draw from when selecting who should perform. Please remember to fill in all of the lines on the form. I have already had to ask a couple of students to go back and complete their forms. If you want another form, look on the Prairieview website. It is posted.
Earth Day T-Shirts
Prairieview wants to create an awareness of the importance of using our resources responsibly and taking good care of the world in which we live. We are selling t-shirts to help heighten awareness. Check out the Prairieview website for details.
Spring All-School Reading Incentive Program
Prairieview is joining together with Parents magazine and the International Reading Association to promote reading. Details will be coming home with your child soon. Please watch for the flyer and join the fun!
If your student is working on an instrumental or voice piece, a dance or a dramatic reading and has it ready to perform please consider signing them up for the talent show. Although we cannot take everyone, we will use those who sign up to draw from when selecting who should perform. Please remember to fill in all of the lines on the form. I have already had to ask a couple of students to go back and complete their forms. If you want another form, look on the Prairieview website. It is posted.
Earth Day T-Shirts
Prairieview wants to create an awareness of the importance of using our resources responsibly and taking good care of the world in which we live. We are selling t-shirts to help heighten awareness. Check out the Prairieview website for details.
Spring All-School Reading Incentive Program
Prairieview is joining together with Parents magazine and the International Reading Association to promote reading. Details will be coming home with your child soon. Please watch for the flyer and join the fun!
Friday, February 12, 2010
For the Week of February 15th
Family Book Night
I want to thank all of you who took the time out of your busy schedules to join us for family book night. We had a lot of fun and got acquainted with some books we might want to read as families. The comments were insightful - The thing I enjoyed most about Family Book Night was "reading with Mom and Dad." The thing I enjoyed most about Family Book Night was "spending time with my daughter - we love reading." The thing I enjoyed most about Family Book Night was "spending time with our family. The selection of books was great!" Under possible improvements the number one improvement relayed was that they wanted more time to read.
The best part of the evening to me was seeing the interaction between grandparents, parents and children enjoying books together.
I also want to give a big thank you to Mrs. Beseth, Mrs. Klacza, Mrs. Bouton and Mrs. Walsh-Rock who worked with me as a team to make Family Book Night happen. It was Mrs. Walsh-Rock's creativity that made the passport stations fun.
I want to thank all of you who took the time out of your busy schedules to join us for family book night. We had a lot of fun and got acquainted with some books we might want to read as families. The comments were insightful - The thing I enjoyed most about Family Book Night was "reading with Mom and Dad." The thing I enjoyed most about Family Book Night was "spending time with my daughter - we love reading." The thing I enjoyed most about Family Book Night was "spending time with our family. The selection of books was great!" Under possible improvements the number one improvement relayed was that they wanted more time to read.
The best part of the evening to me was seeing the interaction between grandparents, parents and children enjoying books together.
I also want to give a big thank you to Mrs. Beseth, Mrs. Klacza, Mrs. Bouton and Mrs. Walsh-Rock who worked with me as a team to make Family Book Night happen. It was Mrs. Walsh-Rock's creativity that made the passport stations fun.
Friday, February 5, 2010
For the Week of February 8th
Encourage Your Child to Read Along
I have been trying to encourage my students to read along when another person is reading out loud. Some students do this naturally and always follow along. Others, however, only read when it is their turn to read out loud. This means that they are getting 1/5 or 1/6th of the practice that a student is getting who reads along silently with the reader. I would appreciate any words of encouragement you could give your child in this regard.
Character Counts - Trustworthiness
During February we are working on the Character Counts pillar of trustworthiness. Being trustworthy is so important to good character. Employers are always seeking employees that they can trust to do a good job. Committees of all kinds want members they can trust to complete the tasks for which they have volunteered. When you see something on the news about a person who has been trustworthy or not so trustworthy, take a moment for a discussion with your child about that person.
Family Book Night
We are looking forward to seeing all of you who registered for Family Book Night this coming Thursday, February 11th from 6:30-8:00. We have a fun evening planned.
I have been trying to encourage my students to read along when another person is reading out loud. Some students do this naturally and always follow along. Others, however, only read when it is their turn to read out loud. This means that they are getting 1/5 or 1/6th of the practice that a student is getting who reads along silently with the reader. I would appreciate any words of encouragement you could give your child in this regard.
Character Counts - Trustworthiness
During February we are working on the Character Counts pillar of trustworthiness. Being trustworthy is so important to good character. Employers are always seeking employees that they can trust to do a good job. Committees of all kinds want members they can trust to complete the tasks for which they have volunteered. When you see something on the news about a person who has been trustworthy or not so trustworthy, take a moment for a discussion with your child about that person.
Family Book Night
We are looking forward to seeing all of you who registered for Family Book Night this coming Thursday, February 11th from 6:30-8:00. We have a fun evening planned.
Friday, January 29, 2010
For the Week of February 1st
Help for Haiti
Prairieview students, parents and staff are demonstrating the Character Counts' pillar of caring as they have generously given money for relief in Haiti. We have reached our goal of $2000 but the response has been so overwhelming that we are extending the giving through Wednesday, February 3rd. The students wore hats to school last Friday as a fun way to say that we are working together to help the people of Haiti.
Valentine Parties
We have had a lot of spills and stains due to drinks at the Valentine Parties. Therefore, only water will be served at the parties.
Increasing Reading Speed
A number of parents have asked me for suggestions for increasing their child's fluency, or rate at which they read. Reading rate is important for a number of reasons. When words are read effortlessly, your brain can focus more on comprehending what you are reading. That is one reason that fluency rates are so closely correlated to comprehension. Taking less time to read something is also important as the amount of material to be covered becomes greater and greater over the years. So what can you do at home? Rereading one page of a book over 3 times - trying to improve your speed each time - is one method to try. Get a timer and time how long it takes to read the page. Another method is called echo reading. Sit with your child and both of you read at the same time. The parent reads a little louder and just a little faster than the child normally reads. The child should try to keep up with the parent.
Prairieview students, parents and staff are demonstrating the Character Counts' pillar of caring as they have generously given money for relief in Haiti. We have reached our goal of $2000 but the response has been so overwhelming that we are extending the giving through Wednesday, February 3rd. The students wore hats to school last Friday as a fun way to say that we are working together to help the people of Haiti.
Valentine Parties
We have had a lot of spills and stains due to drinks at the Valentine Parties. Therefore, only water will be served at the parties.
Increasing Reading Speed
A number of parents have asked me for suggestions for increasing their child's fluency, or rate at which they read. Reading rate is important for a number of reasons. When words are read effortlessly, your brain can focus more on comprehending what you are reading. That is one reason that fluency rates are so closely correlated to comprehension. Taking less time to read something is also important as the amount of material to be covered becomes greater and greater over the years. So what can you do at home? Rereading one page of a book over 3 times - trying to improve your speed each time - is one method to try. Get a timer and time how long it takes to read the page. Another method is called echo reading. Sit with your child and both of you read at the same time. The parent reads a little louder and just a little faster than the child normally reads. The child should try to keep up with the parent.
Friday, January 22, 2010
For the Week of January 25th
Family Book Night
Prairieview is having a family book night, Thursday, February 11th from 6:30-8:00 P.M. You will be traveling throughout the school from book station-to-book station having fun with all different types of books. After following the directions for each station, your family will stamp their passport. At the end of the evening, we hope that everyone goes home with an idea for a new book they would like to read. The evening will also include light refreshments and a raffle. Many families have already signed up. If you would like to join us, see the Prairieview website for information and forms. The deadline for signing up is Friday, January 29th.
Word Game to Play while Waiting
An easy and fun word game to play with your child while waiting in an office is to place a word on a piece of paper. Then take turns changing that word by changing one of its letters or adding on an extra letter or taking away a letter. Try to start with a word that you know will change into a lot of words easily. For example: come, came, lame, lime, slime, slim, slam, slum etc. Have fun!
Prairieview is having a family book night, Thursday, February 11th from 6:30-8:00 P.M. You will be traveling throughout the school from book station-to-book station having fun with all different types of books. After following the directions for each station, your family will stamp their passport. At the end of the evening, we hope that everyone goes home with an idea for a new book they would like to read. The evening will also include light refreshments and a raffle. Many families have already signed up. If you would like to join us, see the Prairieview website for information and forms. The deadline for signing up is Friday, January 29th.
Word Game to Play while Waiting
An easy and fun word game to play with your child while waiting in an office is to place a word on a piece of paper. Then take turns changing that word by changing one of its letters or adding on an extra letter or taking away a letter. Try to start with a word that you know will change into a lot of words easily. For example: come, came, lame, lime, slime, slim, slam, slum etc. Have fun!
Friday, January 15, 2010
For the Week of January 18th
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday
No School on Monday, January 18th
RTI Intervention Groups
New small groups will begin Tuesday, January 19th. Letters will be coming home to those who are entering or exiting small groups and to those that will receive interventions in their classrooms.
The Earthquake in Haiti
I am saddened by the news of the terrible earthquake in Haiti. Project Challenge and Character Counts at Prairieview are teaming up to figure out how Prairieview can help in the relief effort. Information on what the students decide will be given out soon. Watch for it!
No School on Monday, January 18th
RTI Intervention Groups
New small groups will begin Tuesday, January 19th. Letters will be coming home to those who are entering or exiting small groups and to those that will receive interventions in their classrooms.
The Earthquake in Haiti
I am saddened by the news of the terrible earthquake in Haiti. Project Challenge and Character Counts at Prairieview are teaming up to figure out how Prairieview can help in the relief effort. Information on what the students decide will be given out soon. Watch for it!
Friday, January 8, 2010
For the Week of January 11th
Benchmarking
Prairieview worked as a team to get all of the students, except the few who were out, benchmarked this week. Mrs. Schultz and the teachers will be analyzing the results and making specific recommendations for every student.
Iowa Testing
Iowa testing is happening this week. These tests are important because we analyze the results to drive further instruction. Please make sure your student gets plenty of rest and a good breakfast this week. It will help him/her to do their best!
Respecting Others
Our Character Counts pillar for January is respect. At Prairieview we want everyone to show respect to each other by speaking politely and leaving other's possessions alone. A letter will be coming home outlining some specific ways you can work on respect as a family.
Prairieview worked as a team to get all of the students, except the few who were out, benchmarked this week. Mrs. Schultz and the teachers will be analyzing the results and making specific recommendations for every student.
Iowa Testing
Iowa testing is happening this week. These tests are important because we analyze the results to drive further instruction. Please make sure your student gets plenty of rest and a good breakfast this week. It will help him/her to do their best!
Respecting Others
Our Character Counts pillar for January is respect. At Prairieview we want everyone to show respect to each other by speaking politely and leaving other's possessions alone. A letter will be coming home outlining some specific ways you can work on respect as a family.
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