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LiteracyStrategies Used By Proficient Readers
Making Connections between prior knowledge and the text. Readers pay more attention when they relate to the text. Readers naturally bring their prior knowledge and experience to reading, but they comprehend better when they think about the connections they make between the text, their lives, and the larger world. Asking questions Questioning is the strategy that keeps readers engaged. When readers ask questions, they clarify understanding and forge ahead to make meaning. Asking questions is at the heart of thoughtful reading. Envision Active readers create visual images in their minds based on the words they read in text. The pictures they create enhance their understanding. Drawing Inferences Inferring is at the intersection of taking what is known, garnering clues from the text, and thinking ahead to make a judgment, discerning a theme, or speculate about what is about to come. Determining Important Ideas Thoughtful readers grasp essential ideas and important information when reading. Readers must differentiate between less important ideas and key ideas that are central to the meaning of the text. Synthesizing Information Synthesizing involves combining new information with existing knowledge to form an original idea or interpretation. Reviewing, sorting, and sifting important information can lead to new insights that change the way readers think. Repairing Understanding If confusion disrupts meaning, readers need to stop and clarify their understanding. Readers may use a variety of strategies to “fix up” comprehension when meaning goes awry. From Strategies that Work by Stephanie Harvey and Anne Goudis & Teachers College Reading Workshop (Columbia University) FluencyFollow these guidelines as you practice fluency at home.
Have your child read to you, read aloud to your child, practice shared reading, and Readers’ Theater. Expression Make your voice get loud or soft, happy or sad, or silly! Pay Attention to Punctuation Pause at periods and commas. Use expression and exclamations! Ask in a questioning voice for question marks. Read Like You Speak Read at a pace that flows smoothly and sounds natural to you. Choosing
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MathAssisting Your Child How can I help my child? The authors of Everyday Mathematics (our math curriculum program) believe it is very important to help parents become actively involved in their child's mathematical education, and they have worked hard to provide opportunities for this to happen. Here are just a few suggestions for how you can learn about the mathematics your child is studying in school, and how you can help reinforce their math learning at home. A Home Link or Study Link homework assignment is included with almost every lesson in the program. Periodically these homework assignments include a letter to parents explaining various aspects of the program. Be sure to read these letters and discuss what's going on in math class with your child. Whenever possible work with your child on their Home and Study Links. If there is something unfamiliar to you in these assignments encourage your child to "teach" you about what they are working on in class. If an assignment is confusing or difficult for you or your child, jot a note explaining your difficulties on the Home or Study Link paper and return it to your child's teacher. Encourage your child to teach you the math games he or she is learning in school, and play these games whenever you have an opportunity. You might even enjoy inventing some of your own math games together! McGraw-Hill Education offers Family Games Kits for purchase. You can find out about them at McGraw-Hill Education's site. If your child needs additional basic fact practice ask his teacher to send home a set of fact triangles and spend a little time each day practicing fact families. Many Everyday Mathematics teachers set aside special days for math activities like Explorations, Games Days, and Projects. If possible, volunteer to help in the classroom on these days. Whenever you find yourself using math in your daily lives point out this fact and discuss math's usefulness in real-life situations. Encourage your child to experiment with and use everyday "math tools" like rulers, tape measures, measuring cups and spoons, clocks, and calculators. Source: everydaymath.uchicago.edu |
Websites & Useful LinksEveryday Mathematics Games: Practice games that align to units of study:
www1.center.k12.mo.us/edtech/edm/3.htm Spelling City: Study WordMasters Challenge Word list by typing in the words and playing FREE games: www.spellingcity.com/ WordMaster Challenge - Round 1 troupe doff brawny frock writhe gaunt adversary emerge regal episode harass solar sequence engulf wary clique recede tattered apparel retreat chronic plague seethe lunar crony Classroom SuppliesCheck out these supplies that are always useful in our classroom! Thanks for your support!
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Healthy PracticesShow an interest in school:
You will show your child that you value education when you: check the backpack daily and ask your child about the things in it, email back and forth with your child’s teacher and help your child with homework by providing a structured routine and environment for homework. Be sure your child attends school every day and limit vacations to scheduled school vacation times. Children love when parents volunteer, attend parent conferences, school performances and functions. Sleep: Growing children of all ages need 10-11 hours of sleep each night. Between 7:30 and 8 is an appropriate bedtime for a child who will be well rested and ready for learning in the morning. Morning routine: Children are most ready for school when awakened by adults and helped with their morning routine. Allow time for hygiene, breakfast, organizing school materials and play time. Food: Children with a balanced, healthy diet are more successful at school because they are more alert, perform better and have the energy for learning. The MSAD Health Policy recommends snacks such as fruits, fresh vegetables and whole grains are preferable to sugary snacks. Discipline: Children of all ages benefit educationally from appropriate discipline at home and school. Children used to accepting limits are more adaptable to the structure of school and come to school ready to learn. Staying well: Children learn well when they feel well. Sick children should stay home because they will not be ready for learning and may spread their illness to other children. Active Play: Elementary school children are developing their muscles and imaginations and need to get fresh air and to play to stay well. They also need to play with other children to develop language, creativity and problem solving skills Daily reading: Daily reading is a basic activity which helps children in many ways. Read to your child, listen to your child read to you and read a book together, go to the town library and get a free library card and be sure your child sees you reading. Limiting screen time: Many parents, educators and researchers have learned that reducing screen time helps their focus in school and in their family. Recommended screen time is 1 hour per day, 2 hours maximum, supervised if possible. How many screens are in your home? (Screens are defined as: TV, video games, hand held devices, movies, computers) Do things with your child that you both enjoy, even just for ten minutes per day. For example: share household task and chores and do them together as a learning opportunity, play checkers, read together, take a walk, play with pets, have dinner together This builds trust and strengthens families. Developmental ConsiderationsSecond Step
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