This is the fourth week of school. By now, kids are comfortable with our routines and procedures. Our goal is for the kids to independently follow the routines and encourage others to do so. We always give directions and reminders, walk around the room, and expect all kids to follow the directions. Sometimes, kids will forget to do something, but mistake-making will in time teach the independent responsibility we want for kids. Teaching this takes time and patience! If you would like to remind your child to do something in class, write a note in their planner for them to see in class the next day and, as always, celebrate their attempts in being more responsible.
We ask the kids most days to rate their day in their planner. You will notice five stars toward the bottom of each day's column, just above the parent initial line. Here are the guidelines we are giving the kids about rating their days:
Daily Behavior Self-Assessment.
***= I needed extra reminders to do my best.
****= I had a wonderful day; I worked very hard, I was nice, and I had fun.
*****= I had a wonderful day AND I helped others to do their best.
In reading, we are talking about how we can make our reading lives be the best they can be, at school and outside of school. Ask your child to share with you some of the ways he/she wrote down in class. One idea we had for at home reading was to read aloud with a parent. The goal of this strategy is to make reading very enjoyable! We suggest letting your child decide who will read each page (for example, left page-kid, right page-adult) and choosing a book that is exciting or interesting. A series Mr. Seley loves for this is "You Read to Me, I'll Read to You," specifically written to be shared aloud. Click here for a sample, featuring scary stories for Halloween (there are many other topics as well.) When you're reading together aloud, focus on enjoyment and not decoding.
Today with our shorter day, we had reading and writing in the morning, then lunch and recess, Eng. Tech./Art, Engage, and a shortened math class at the end of the day.
Tonight's Planner:
(please initial the day's column)
