TES Parent Memo: October 26, 2010

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER EVENTS:

• October 28^th - Make-Up Pictures: If you child was absent on Picture Day or was not enrolled in school at the time, or the picture did not “turn out well”, your child may have his/her picture made on October 28^th. All students should wear their school uniform clothing.
• November 5^th - Last Day for Picture Money
• November 7^th (Sunday) – Daylight Savings Time Ends: Don’t forget to set your clocks BACK one hour before you go to bed on Saturday night.
• November 11^th – VETERANS DAY: NO SCHOOL!
• November 18^th – Midpoint Reports: Your child will bring home a midpoint grade report for the second nine weeks.
• November 18^th - Kindergarten Parent Meal and Annual Pow-Wow: A letter will be sent home later about making reservations for the meal.
• November 24^th-26^th - THANKSGIVING HOLIDAYS!: NO SCHOOL

LONG SLEEVE SCHOOL T-SHIRTS: (Short sleeve shirts are also available.)

If you are interested send $15.00 in an envelope with:

• Student’s name and Teacher’s name
• Shirt style ( short sleeve or long sleeve)
• Shirt size (Youth Small to Adult XL)
• Color (orange, navy blue, white)

** If you don’t select shirt style, long sleeve will be ordered.

The deadline is extended until Friday, Oct. 29! No orders taken after that date.

“TAKE TIME FOR 10”

We are asking you to spend ten minutes each night listening to your child read and discussing the story or text with your child. Our goal is to increase reading fluency to promote comprehension. Reading is just like anything else you want to do well, you must practice! There are four instructional practices that can help build fluency. (Paraphrased from Rasinski, 2003) 1. Model good oral reading. ”Through intentional modeling, students develop a deeper understanding of what expressive, meaningful reading sounds like…” 2. Provide oral support for reading. “Fluency and comprehension can be improved when the student is reading and simultaneously hears another more fluent reader...” 3. Offer plenty of practice opportunities. ”Practice is required to gain proficiency in almost any skill such as riding a bicycle, making a jump shot in basketball, playing a piano concerto, or baking a cake. Practice is required for fluency as well. A key feature of fluency practice is multiple readings of the same text…” 4. Encourage fluency through phrasing. ”A fluent reader is able to chunk a text in order to make meaning more accessible…The meaning often lies in a passage’s phrases more than in the individual words…” Our goal is to increase reading fluency to promote comprehension. Working together will ensure your child’s continued growth as a successful reader!