Be involved in your child's education!· Ask your child about the good things that happened at school that day. (Don’t be satisfied with “oh, nothing”. Ask “What happened then, ………..and, then what happened,……………what happened next?” ) You’ll probably get the best story of the day. Don’t let your child complain, unless there’s a reason, just focus on the good stuff.
· Help your child with his/her homework. We will have reading homework each night. Do not believe “Mrs. White didn’t give us any homework”, unless YOU read it in the planner.
· Read all of the information in the take home folder. Usually all graded papers are sent home in it. You can look at those and see where your child is excelling and where he/she might need help.
· Get your child to bed at a good time each night. Not only is it necessary for them but it also gives you some “alone” time. Most children need at least 8 full hours of sleep.
· Make sure your child starts the day with breakfast, either at home or at school.
· Come have lunch with your child. Most employers will let you “off” for a chance to visit with your child at school.
Please call me for a chance to talk whenever you have questions or concerns. 704-278-2203 Ext. 247
Please email me after reading my web page. If you have any suggestions, questions, or concerns I'd love to hear them.
The Following information is general information about my philosphy of teaching. It also includes strategies that I use in my classroom.
Reading
One of the biggest responsibilities to our children is to help them become successful members of our communities. Reading plays a big part in being successful. I believe the more we read the more we know and the more we know the more successful we can become.
After saying this, and believing that reading is the key to being successful in the future, one of my biggest responsibilities to your child is to teach reading and also to help them cultivate a love of reading.
Each week we read several different stories. One of those stories is a story in our reading book. It is totally on grade level. We read this story together and take a test on what we've read.
We read in ability groups also. These groups are within our classroom . Your child does not go to another teacher for our "reading groups". We read and each child has their own copy of a poem each week. The poem goes into our poem books which the students keep all year. Another approach to reading and learning to love books is our author study. Each week we read and discuss books by a new author. Some Authors we will study are Arnold Lobel, Mem Fox, Marc Brown, and many more. These authors are very crafty at making reading enjoyable.
Last, but not least is the AR program. Our students have participated in the AR reading program for many years. I believe that it is one thing that has helped Woodleaf students do so well on End of Grade tests. In saying this, I believe that it is my responsibility as well as yours and your child's, to read. Listen to them read. After they read ask questions. If you can't listen, after your child reads have them to retell the story.
I think that together we will have a great group of readers ready for 3rd grade.
Math
One accomplishment we will strive to make this year is memorizing the basic addition and subtraction. Each week students will be given a timed test. Right now 5 minutes is the time limit. As we get better we will try to minimize our time.
You should start seeing changes weekly in the yellow folder on your child's timed math facts. This web site has math flash cards to use. Learning and knowing place value and memorizing those basic math facts will come a long way in helping your child be successful in 3rd grade.
Another math program used is Accelerated Math (AM). This is used as a supplementry program to our math cirriculum. It gives computer generated practices and tests on cirriculum that we have covered in class. When a skill has been mastered the child is able to move on to a new skill. This allows the child to work at his/her own pace.
Science and Social Studies
These subjects will be studied on an alternating basis. We will be going on several field trips during the year that will enhance these subjects.
Our Schedule for Enchancements
Monday PETS (AIG)
Tuesday P.E.
Wednesday Bible/Art
Thursday Library Check out/Computer
Friday Music
