Welcome Families

A Look Ahead

Mrs. Marone’s Class 2009-2010

A Year At A Glance

Social Studies Sept.-Dec.• Changes In Me

(Individual Identity)

• Families/Neighborhoods

• Traditions Around the World (Multicultural Celebrations)

Science Jan.-June• Weather

• Solids & Liquids

• Habitats Around the World

**All topics are integrated in reading and writing. They also include Home/School Connection Activities

Reading-5 Activities that are done daily in the classroom to

help students improve reading.• Whole Group-Interactive Read Aloud (The Teacher reads

and provides time for students to discuss questions or participate in comprehension activities either individually, with a partner or in a group.)

• Shared Reading-students share in the reading of poems, chants, songs, stories or “Readers Theater Scripts.”

• Guided Reading-The teacher works with a small group to focus on skills or strategies to help them to become a better reader.

• Independent Reading/Partner Reading-Practicing skills on their own or with a friend

• Author’s Chair-Read own stories that they write during writing time.

Ways You Can Help

Read 20 Minutes a Night

• An adult/older sibling can read to child

• Child can read to adult/older sibling (especially books sent home)

• Retell the story that was read

• Read or discuss things in environment

Writing• Whole Group- The Teacher Models thinking and

writes a story.• Whole Group-Shared/Interactive Writing-Students

help the teacher write a story.• Independent Writing *Interactive Journals -The teacher and students

write to one another. * Reading Response Journals-Students respond to

something that was read to them or they read. *Conferencing/Publishing Stories -students write

and the teacher conferences with them to celebrate what they do well and what they need to work on.

* Science Journals-Students record their thinking and learning before/after completing science activities.

Ways You Can Help

• Encourage your child to keep a journal

• Have them write stories to you

• Keep an Interactive Journal that you and your child use to write back and forth.

• Celebrate in their own “Published Writing” that is sent home and allow them to read to other family members.

Math

Several of the activities in math are done in whole group, small group or with a partner. This is how I help in math:

• Students are introduced to a concept, or are given a problem; they practice it, or try to solve it; as a whole group we share solutions and what they were thinking.

• Integrating math into other subject areas to show the connections to real world (reading, science, etc…)

• Teach Games-to help reinforce the skills or concepts being taught

• Provide additional skills in “Calendar” or daily routines for skills not taught in their math book such as: counting by 2’s, 5’s, & 10’s, graphing, keeping track of what day it is, etc…

Ways You Can Help

• Discuss daily math homework

• Play games sent home frequently

• Discuss ways in which math is used in everyday life.

• Be positive about math. (Even if it was your most difficult subject).

Word Study

• Phonics activities/poems, songs and chants to reinforce the phonetic skills

• High Frequency Word Activities-to help read/write site words

• Word Work (With Teacher during Guided Reading)

• Word Work (Independent)

Ways You Can Help

• Practice words for the week.

• Help them to notice words for the week in their reading/writing.

• Help them to notice letters or words in their environment.

Visitors/VolunteersNeeded:

Room Mother• Help organize parties/volunteers

Class Helpers/Chaperones• Help with activities or assist on field trips

Home Helpers• Things to be cut out• Activities to be put together

Let me know if you would like to help. *All volunteers must have been cleared through the district . Forms

are located in the office.

Field Trips

• Weather Station-January or February

• McNary Wildlife Refuge-May or June

• May also have various others TBA.

Homework

• Read for 20 minutes nightly

• Math worksheet or math games

• Initial calendar/record minutes read

Newsletter

• Every Friday

• Important information

• What students are learning

• Student of the Week

I Am Looking Forward to a Wonderful Year Full of

Learning Opportunities and the Building of Relationships