WELCOME TO THE 2009-2010 SCHOOL YEAR!

It is a new School Year and a newly edited classroom website!  I  hope many of you will check in periodically. This will be an additional way for you to keep up with what is happening in the classroom. 

After months of planning, I am happy to be back at school, unpacking from the move from our temporary location on Homestead Road The new campus for Lehigh Elementary is a great improvement over our old.  We are all thrilled to be back at last.  We know you are anxious to visit.

Here are some notes for you to refer to during the school year.

Math Notes: We are starting the school year by reviewing basic addition and subtraction.   Family "talk" is important for all math skills but specially for time and money.  If your child has not had experiences making change, empty your pockets and talk about coin worth, compare values and make change.  It will be a huge help when we get to that skill!  Please begin to talk about time.  Use both digital clocks and clocks with two or three hands!  When shopping have your child help by counting cans of food, ears of corn, etc.

Phonics Notes: Everyday we work on our knowledge of phonics. It is essential to reading. Even as adults we occasionally call upon our knowledge of phonics to "sound out" an unfamiliar word.

Reading Notes: Our new reading text is the MacMillian Treasures Series.    The series stresses comprehension, vocabulary, phonemic awareness, phonics, spelling and story grammar. We feel that all those elements are essential to the process of reading. It is a flexible text that allows teachers to design lessons to fit the needs of our students.

Here is a good way to study Spelling words.  It's called "Rainbow Words" and all it takes is three crayons!  1) Write a spelling word once with one crayon.  2) Write over that word with a different crayon.  3) Write over with a third crayon.  There you have it; a rainbow word!  Of course while your student is writing the rainbow word they need to say the word, say each letter, and repeat the word when written so it stays in their memory.  They need to see the word, hear it, say it and write it.  Spelling is an important skill for success.  I give the children a Spelling pretest on Thursday.  On Friday we take the final test and grades are entered.

Homework:  There will be math homework M-T-W-Th evenings.  Homework will always be practice of the Math skill we have covered in class that day.  After we finish reviewing letter sounds and basic reading skills during the first three weeks of school, expect Spelling and Story Word homework. 

Here is my favorite piece of information for parents. Reading to your child is important no matter their age.  It is a basic building block to reading for every child. This information was seen on a poster in a public library and first reprinted in the RIF Newsletter, Spring 1984. It is still very good advice.

10 REASONS WHY CHILDREN SHOULD BE READ TO:

 1. Because when you hold a child and read to them and give them your attention they know you love them.

 2. Because reading to them will encourage them to become better readers.

 3. Because children's books today are so good that they are even fun for adults.

 4. Children's book illustrations often rank with the best, giving them a lifelong appreciation for art.

 5. Books are one way of passing on your moral values. Readers know how to put themselves in others shoes.

 6. Because until they learn to read themselves, they will think you are magic.

 7. Because every teacher and librarian they meet will thank you.

 8. Because it is nostalgic.

 9. Because for a short span of time, they will stay clean and quiet.

10. Because if you do, they may let you read in peace!

 MORE READING TIPS: 

Let your child chose a book to read.  Fiction is fine, but non-fiction titles - biographies, science, and history are also great topics.

Show that you like to read.  Set aside some time each week to read a book of your choice while your child reads also.

Read a story to your elementary-age child.  Try reading a chapter each night at bedtime for a great evening routine.

Visit your public library regulary.  It's the world's best entertainment value!

Let your child build his own library by setting a shelf aside for his or her "special" books.

There will be changes to the website as additional information is added.

Keep checking in, and keep in touch!

Karen Guffey