Bright Ideas: Help Students Improve Their Computer Skills

This past week, the students in our class participated in the Hour of Code.  This was a program encouraging students to take time to work on coding or computer programming activities.  The idea is to introduce students to basic computer skills that can be of help to them as they prepare to navigate through the technology-filled world they will face.  Activities can be found at code.org, which is a site with games and puzzles that teach the logical thinking patterns needed to "speak" computer language.  The kids love learning and playing on Code Studio.  There are Star Wars and Frozen-themed activities, as well.  During the upcoming holiday break, I would encourage you to think about code.org as a possible activity to make available to your children!

Bright Ideas: Reading at Home

Here are some helps from "Tips for Parents: How to Support your Child's Reading at Home".

Make sure your child is reading for about 20 minutes each night and reading an appropriate level book.  As a general rule, if the student is missing more than five words per page, it's too difficult.  Reading out loud frequently is especially important for beginning readers up through the second grade level.  It is also important for you to read aloud to your child.  When you do so you are modeling what good reading sounds like.  Keep reading aloud to your child, even after the primary grades.  In order to help your child understand what he/she is reading, have your child retell the story in order.  If it is a fiction title, make sure the setting characters, problem, events and solution are included in the retelling.  

To find out more, go to http://www.buncombe.k12.nc.us/Page/15710.

Bright Ideas: Retell Bedtime Stories to Boost Reading Comprehension

Second grade readers are becoming more skilled at reading and sounding-out words and are now ready to take the next step to becoming great readers: more fully comprehending what is read. One great way to boost reading comprehension is to practice retelling a story.  Here is one way to help your child learn to retell while carrying on the fun family tradition of bedtime storytelling.  Each night, read a chapter from a book.  If possible, alternate adults reading to the child (such as mom reading one night, dad or big brother or sister reading the next night).  Then, the next day at dinner (or breakfast or whatever works), begin a conversation about the reading from the night before . . . to help the adult who didn't read catch up on what happened in the story.  Have the child retell what happened.  If the child has difficulty retelling, the adult who read the night before can model how to retell what happened until the child is more confident on doing so.  For more details, go to http://www.scholastic.com/parents/blogs/scholastic-parents-raise-reader/retell-bedtime-stories-to-boost-reading-comprehension to read more.  Happy reading!

November 23 - 24

This is a short week because of Thanksgiving.  After this break is the end of the month.  I want to remind all of you to please encourage your children to be reading at least 20 minutes each night.  The students that read 400 or more minutes in November will be able to attend the reading party.  There is still a little time to catch up, if needed.  Let's make reading each night a habit!

Thank you!

It was great to meet with each of you at parent teacher conferences.  If any of you ever have any questions about your child's progress, even if it is between conferences, I hope you will feel that you can contact me.  I would be happy to discuss your concerns or ideas with you.  Thank you for all of your support!

Bright Ideas:Tips for Parent-Teacher Conferences

I look forward to meeting with each of you this week for Parent-Teacher Conferences.  Here are some tips to get the most out of the conference.  To learn more, go to http://www.colorincolorado.org/article/tips-parents-parent-teacher-conferences.

During the conference

•     Ask the most important questions first.
•     If your child receives special services such as English classes, ask about your child's progress in those classes.
•     Ask for explanations of anything you don't understand
•     Ask your child's teacher for ways that you can help your child at home.

After the conference

•     Talk about the conference with your child.
•     Talk about the positive points, and be direct about problems.
•     Tell your child about any plans you and the teacher created.
•     Keep in touch with the teacher during the school year.
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Bright Ideas: Preparing for Parent-Teacher Conferences

With Parent-Teacher Conferences coming up next week, here are a few tips on how to be prepared:

Before the conference

•     Ask your child how she feels about school.
•     Ask your child if there is anything that he wants you to talk about with his teacher.
•     Tell your child that you and the teacher are meeting to help her.
•     Make a list of topics that you want to talk about with the teacher.
•     Prepare a list of questions such as:
•          1. What are my child's strongest and weakest subjects?
  2. Does my child hand homework in on time?
  3. Does my child participate in class?
  4. Does my child seem happy at school?
  5. What can I do at home to help?

FoF     (For more information, go to http://www.colorincolorado.org/article/tips-parents-parent-teacher-conferences)

Bright Ideas: Supporting Language Development

Most second graders are able to read independently. The more they practice, the more fluent they become. At this stage, your child begins to focus in depth on the meaning of what she reads, and she uses reading as a way to help her learn many new vocabulary words and concepts.  As they become more proficient readers, second graders are able to think about the deeper meanings in stories, learn new vocabulary words through reading, and gather new information from books. Although second graders can do much on their own, parents can still help them to develop as readers and writers simply by reading aloud, talking with them about the books they read, helping to set up a homework routine, and communicating with teachers. In addition, you can read and talk about books that are not part of homework assignments together and take trips to the library to find books your child likes to read. Visit http://www.pbs.org/parents/education/reading-language/reading-milestones/second-and-third-grader-language-development-milestones/ to learn more.

Bright Ideas: Spelling Tips

Here are some ideas for practicing spelling words.  Find more fun ideas at https://vickisanders.wordpress.com/spelling-practice-tips/

• Spelling Baseball – Draw four bases on a piece of paper or set up four chairs to be the bases. Pitcher selects a word. If batter can spell it correctly, he moves forward one base. If batter cannot spell word, he remains where he is. Child receives point every time he passes home base.
• Finger Tracing – Use your finger to spell out each of your words one letter at a time on your Mom or Dad’s back. Then it’s YOUR turn to feel and spell.
• Memory Game – Make pairs of word cards. Flip them over and try to match the pairs!
• Sing Them Loud, Sing Them Soft – Have your Mom or Dad sing the letters of a spelling word to you in a loud voice. You echo the spelling and then sing it again softly. Now BOTH of you sing the word in the voice you choose!

Bright Ideas

This week, look for the school newsletter on green paper (it will be sent home Monday).  On the back, you will find "Tips for Reading with Your Child".  Reading at home makes a huge difference in your child's success in school.  I hope you will check out and try these tips and make reading each day a priority!

Bright Ideas: How Can I Help My Child With Math

1) Give your child coins to practice counting money.

2) Count your steps as you take a walk.  Count by 2's, 5's, and 10's.

3) Have your child point out patterns they find.

4) Let your child help you cook.  Cooking involves a lot of counting and measuring.

5) Give your child story problems to solve.  Have him/her explain how to solve the problem.

6) Help your child learn the math vocabulary you find on the homework pages.

7) Show your child the way that you learned the math, if it is different from the strategies used on the child's homework.  Learning more than one way to solve a problem can help kids to understand the concepts better.

8) Show your child that math is used in our everyday lives.

Bright Ideas: How Can I Help My Child Succeed In School?

*Ask your children about school and encourage them to talk about their day.

*Stay involved, and feel free to contact your child's teacher with any questions or concerns.

*Do not talk negatively about school in front of your child.

*Make sure your child is getting plenty of sleep and is ready for school each day.

*Make sure your child reads every day.

*Help your child complete his or her homework every night.

*Teach your children to be responsible for their actions and their school work.

http://fun-in-first.blogspot.com/2013/07/tips-for-parentshow-to-help-my-child.html

Bright Ideas: Parent Tips to Support 2nd Grade Math Learning and Have Fun at Home

Find ways to practice number operations

• Prepare for multiplication by helping your child think in groups. Ask “how many fingers do five people have?”
• Try a variation on the card game “War.” When the higher card takes the lower card, subtract the lower number from the higher number, and the player who won that play wins those points.
• Give your child the change in your pocket and ask how many different ways she can make 25 cents.
• Play a variation on the game “Go Fish.” Instead of asking for cards with numbers that match, players take turns asking for cards that, added to the card she has, adds up to 10. Count face cards as zero, aces as 1’s.

At this age kids are developing more complex ways of reasoning — they like strategic thinking games like checkers, chess, Monopoly, and Clue. Some family games that help develop math skills:

• Dominoes
• Mancala
• Cribbage

- See more at: http://www.dreambox.com/parent-tips-second-grade#sthash.bACrClUw.dpuf

Bright Ideas: Ten Tips to Help You Raise Children Who Love Reading

1. Read aloud to your children every day
2. Get a library card
3. Take your children to the library to borrow books each week
4. Discuss books and set an example of reading
5. Buy books you know will interest your child
6. Take children to storytimes, author visits, etc.
7. Create a comfortable reading space for your child
8. Visit the web sites of favorite authors and illustrators
9. Once a week, cook together using a children's cookbook
10. Buy your children a good dictionary and use it regularly

Learn more at childrensbooks.about.com/od/forparents/a/resolutions.htm

September 8 - 11

This week, we will have a shorter time to finish the weekly homework and to practice the spelling words before our test since we have no school on Monday.  We will begin this week to have the Fun Friday activities attended by the students that finish the weekly language arts homework page.   Please encourage your children to work on this page each night this week so they can finish it and return it on Friday.  I hope that your children are enjoying their baggy books and reading them each night.  If you feel that a change in level is needed, let me know so that we can find a better fit for your child.  Thanks to all of you for being supportive of your children's education!

August 31 - September 3

This week, the students will be tested on their reading skills with the DIBELS assessment.  This is a test which is given to second grade students state-wide.  The information we get from this assessment will help us to know if there are areas we need to work on in our literacy groups and in class.  We will keep you informed if there are areas we find that need extra focus to help your child to be a more successful reader.

August 24 - 28

It has been a great first whole week of school!  We are getting into our Treasures language arts and My Math programs.  I am assessing students to see what reading skills they already have and what we need to work on.  This week, the students will begin bringing home baggy books (probably by Tuesday).  Four students will be in charge of Science Bucket (sharing) for the first time on Friday. I am pleased to see that most students have been completing the math (nightly) and language arts  (weekly) homework.  We are off to a great start, and I am excited about the year to come!

August 13 - 14, 2015

It's a new school year, and the students (and teacher) are in a new grade -- second grade!  To keep all of you parents informed this year, I will update this blog on a weekly basis.  I will include information on what we are working on in our class for the week, as well as links to important sites and a message to you.  Besides this blog, I will keep in touch with a weekly e-mail detailing our schedule and important information you will want to know about.  Please let me know if you are not receiving the e-mails, because that will be my main mode of regular communication.  Notes will come home occasionally, and they will be in the student take-home folder (please remember to check the items in the folder each day so that you can keep up on how your child is doing at school).  Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.  I am looking forward to a fantastic year!

May 11 - 21

It has been a great year!  Thank you to all of you parents who have been so helpful and supportive!  It will be sad to see these students move on, and I will miss them.  But it is exciting to know that they are growing and progressing as they move up to the second grade.  Again, I hope that they will continue reading every day to keep up on their skills and to develop a love of good books.  The local library has fun programs and incentives to keep the children enthused.  I would encourage you to make a habit of visiting the library regularly throughout the break.  Have a wonderful summer!

We Love Our Chromebooks!

Thanks to all who donated for our class to get our Chromebooks!  We love them!

May 4 - 8

Beginning this week, there will be no more baggy books from the leveled library.  However, I will still send home little books in a baggy for the students to read each day.  If they don't break the habit of daily reading now, they may be more likely to keep it up through the summer months.  This will help them to keep on track with their reading skills so that they will do well when they start 2nd grade.  Students who read daily do better in school and on their testing and will find more opportunities open to them later in life, as well.  So, please encourage your children to continue to read every day!

April 27 - May 1

This week's spelling list is one of our most challenging lists of the year.  Practicing the words at home this week will help your children to be more successful on their spelling tests.  We will be practicing the words at school as well.  As always, I really appreciate all of your support!  Have a great week!

April 20 - 24

As many of you know, our class received a grant for more Chromebooks.  We now have one for each student.  We are still working on getting them set up, and they should be ready to use by next week.  We have begun to use a fun literacy program called "Imagine Learning".  I hope to also try using an app called "Scratch Jr." which helps the children learn how to do simple computer programming.  Learning with technology is so important for this generation of kids.  We appreciate all of the donors who made it possible for our class to have these great educational tools!

April 13 - 17

With only a few more weeks of school left, now is the time to start thinking about summer reading!  Throughout the end of the school year, I will be giving ideas for making summer reading rewarding and fun.  This week, I would like to let you know about several free programs that offer incentives for children to read during the summer months.  Please take the time to look at the following link and to begin to make a plan.  Summer is a time to relax and to have fun with friends and family.  But there are still plenty of hours in the day to read good books.  Your children will keep up their reading skills and be more ready for next school year, rather than sliding backward, if they continue the habit of reading each day.  Here is a link to check out: www.thejennyevolution.com/free-summer-reading-programs-2014/ .  Although it says "2014", the links in the article are updated.  There are also links to book lists for children of different ages.  Have a great week!

April 7 - 10

Get ready to celebrate reading!  Friday will be the reading party for all students who have read for at least 400 minutes during the month of March.  Saturday, April 18th is the Dixie Power Kite Festival at Sun River Saint George Golf Course from 10 am - 7 pm.  That day, students may bring the completed yellow kite festival calendar and exchange it for a kite, a book, or a $10 voucher for bounce houses and attractions at the festival. That same afternoon, our school will also have a family swim party at the Washington Rec Center from 3:30 - 5:30 with dinner at 4:30.  Come celebrate reading with your family and with our school!  And we hope you will continue to make time to read with your child each day!

March 30 - April 2

Coming up on the 23rd of April will be our school's Science Fair.  This is a great opportunity for your children to participate in a fun, learning activity.  It is completely optional for first graders, and it is done outside of school.  If your child is interested in participating, send a note to the office so that he/she can pick up an information packet.  On Tuesday, March 31st right after school, there will be an informative Science Fair meeting in the school library.  Here, you will be able to get answers to any questions you may have about the Science Fair.  I would encourage you to attend and find out what makes a great science fair project.

March 23 - 27

This is the last full week of the month, which means that March reading logs will be due soon.  With Spring, it seems that families begin to get busy with sports and other activities.  I hope that you will continue making reading at home a priority in your family.  The 20 minutes that it takes for your child to complete this reading homework will go a long way towards helping him/her to succeed in school and in other activities in life.  Thank you for being supportive!

March 16 - 20

I hope that everyone had a wonderful Spring Break this past week!  As we come back to school this week, one of the new things we will be working on is telling time.  First graders are expected to learn to tell time to the hour and to the half-hour using analog and digital clocks.  Because most of our clocks these days seem to be digital, it may be helpful to reinforce what we're learning at school by helping your children to notice analog clocks around them and to practice telling time using them.  Thank you for all of your support!  Have a great week!

March 2 - 6

It is the beginning of a new month!  That means that we will begin new Reading Logs to track the at-home reading minutes of our students.  Last week, I reminded the students that their homework is to read for 20 minutes each school day.  As I mentioned to many of you at parent-teacher conferences last week, one of the main things we will be working on these next few months is building the students' reading fluency.  More practice with reading (such as the baggy book homework), as well as learning the first-grade sight words will help the children develop more confidence in their abilities and will help them to read at a better, smoother pace.  Please make an extra effort to reinforce the good study habit of completing this daily homework.  Thank you for your support!

February 23 - 27

We have a busy week ahead of us as we try to fit everything into a week full of short days (early-out for parent-teacher conferences).  On top of that, we are also celebrating Dr. Seuss Week! (For a list of specific schedule items for this week, please see the parent email.)

Thank you, parents, for encouraging your children to read every day at home!  This is the last week to record reading minutes on February's reading log . . . so let's keep the students reading!  I appreciate all you do to support your children's education!

February 17 - 20

One of the goals our principal has for our school and our teachers is good communication with parents and the community.  Mr. Rowley has encouraged all teachers at our school to send weekly emails to the parents of students in their classes.  He has set up the automated call system to keep everyone informed.  This year, our school has also started a facebook group.  It is a closed group, so only those who have been invited may join and view the page.  If you are not currently a member of this group and would like to join, please let me know so that we can add you.  The advantage of being a part of this group is that many school events and notices are posted there.  Please let us know if there is anything else that we can do to help you as parents to stay informed of what goes on here at school.  We appreciate your feedback!

February 9 - 13

This year is really flying by!  Friday marks the end of the second trimester.  The students are progressing and learning so much--but there is still so much more we can do.  We will continue to work on reading skills, as always.  We have already touched on most of the more challenging math concepts that we cover in first grade, so we will continually go back and review them in between our regular lessons (which will cover shapes and measurement).  Writing will be a bigger focus in class as we work toward our goal of having the students write good paragraphs.  As we say everyday in class, "Today is a great day to learn something new!"  We will continue to live by this principle as we finish out this first grade year!

February 2 - 6

     We are coming up on the end of the second trimester (February 13).  You may have noticed that I have been sending home letters telling how your child has done so far on the first grade math and literacy goals.  I will continue to send these home this next week.  Any help you might be able to give your children at home so that they might be able to master these essential standards would be greatly appreciated. 

     The students took the DIBELS reading test this past week.  I was very pleased with how well the students did on this mid-year test!  We will continue to work on reading fluency so that the students will be prepared to succeed on the end-of-year test, as well. 

     I want to thank all of you for your support!  I feel fortunate to be able to work with some of the most conscientious and helpful parents out there! Thank you!   

January 26 - 30

     This week, the students will be given the mid-year DIBELS reading test.  They will be tested on nonsense words and on fluency and accuracy of their reading of a story passage for one minute.  Although this is not the only assessment we give to tell us how your children are doing in reading, it is one measure of their skills in this area.  At our upcoming parent-teacher conferences, I will inform you of your children's scores on this and other assessments.
     Please remember to encourage your children to READ EVERYDAY for the first-grade reading homework.  This is one great way to help your children improve on their skills to help them to be a better student in all subjects.  Thanks for all you do as parents to support your children and our class!

January 20 - January 23

We have reached our 100th day of school!  The children have learned so much!  But having now passed the mid-point of the year, we first grade teachers have been reflecting more on what things we hope the children will still learn by the end of the year.  The biggest things that keep coming to mind are that we want the students to show increased ability in reading and writing.  We will work on both of these areas extensively at school.  However, we also want to re-emphasize the importance of students consistently completing their reading homework, which is to read for at least 20 minutes every school day.  The students who regularly read at home improve their reading skills (and writing skills, as well) at a faster rate than those who are inconsistent in their after-school reading.  We ask you as parents to encourage your children to read each night.  I promise that the benefits in the years to come will out-weigh any of the inconvenience this may cause!  Your children will reap the rewards!  Thank you for your support!

January 12 -16

We are counting down to the 100th day of school, which is next Tuesday, January 20th!  It is hard to believe that we have been in school that long already!  The exciting thing that we will be celebrating is that your children are "100 days smarter".   These students have grown and have learned so much already.  I am excited to see what great things they accomplish by the end of the year!  Many thanks to you parents who have been so supportive of your children's education . . . who not only make sure your children come to school ready to learn, but who also read and work with them at home to increase their skills and to help them develop a positive attitude toward learning!

January 5 - 9

Happy New Year!  It will be good to get back to school again!  The students have now been in first grade for about half of a school year.  I feel they are ready to be challenged a bit more, especially with their writing.  You will begin to notice that our weekly Treasures assessments will include a short essay question.  As I grade these questions, besides looking for punctuation and capitalization, I will look for logical answers that are supported by details from the story.  In other words, the students will be expected to answer correctly and to "prove" their answer to me.  At first, we will work through these answers together.  As time goes on, students will complete the answers on their own.  It will be exciting to watch the students' progression throughout the rest of this school year!