Family Book Club - Wednesday, April 29th 6:30-8:00 p.m. at Prairieview
The family book club committee is looking forward to our annual Family Book Club meeting. We enjoy hearing students and parents discuss important issues brought up through the reading of fiction. This year's books were selected because there are a number of character values to discuss such as truthfulness, anger and friendship. If you have read either Shiloh or Granny Torrelli Makes Soup, please join us for a fun evening together.
Gym Shoe Rescue
We will continue our gym shoe rescue for one more week. Help the earth. Recycle! Bring in gym shoes you no longer need or want. Thanks for all of your help.
Reading and Writing Together
Did you know that you can improve your child's reading skills through writing? Timothy Rasinski and Nancy Padak, in their article in The Reading Teacher journal titled "Write Soon!" offer numerous tips to parents about ways they can incorporate writing their child's life. Here are some of their tips: 1. Lists - Encourage your child to make lists - for who to invite to the party, what to serve, chores, favorite meals for your reference or activities done that day for future reflection. 2. Notes - Find a fun place to stick a note where your child will find it, like under a pillow or in a lunchbox. Encourage your child to leave notes for you. Give your child a small spiral notebook to write notes to themselves about things that interest them or something they want to talk to you about or try in the future. 3. Journals or Diaries - Keeping a journal can be fun. In a dialogue journal the family members take turns writing and responding. This way the child has a chance to not only write, but will look forward to your response to his writing. This is a good place to ask questions. 4. Letters and E-Mails - What a great way to stay in touch with friends and loved ones while working on reading and writing at the same time. 5. Parodies - Rewriting new words to familiar songs can be fun for the whole family. They can be as silly as you want. Sing them together as you read the words and your child is practicing reading and he/she won't even know it. Remember that writing must be authentic. If it serves a purpose then it won't seem like an extra homework assignment. Don't be overly concerned about mechanics. If you write together, the child will begin to use the parent's writing as a model. Writing should be a part of the family routine. Make sure the necessary materials are readily available. Have fun!
