Frequently Asked Questions: This page contains answers to common questions of students and parents.
- How will I know how my child is doing?
- What is the classroom behavior management plan?
- Will my child have homework?
- When will homework be due?
- What can I do to help my child become a better reader?
- How can I build my child's reading comprehension skills?
- Why are "sight words" sent home?
- How can I contact you?
How will I know how my child is doing?
The agenda is our daily school to home communication link. I will stamp the
agenda or write a note daily to let you know how your child's day went. I
send home all graded papers (Math, Spelling, Reading) on Mondays in your
child's blue folder. Mid-term reports are sent home every four and a
half weeks and report cards go home each quarter (every nine weeks). Feel
free to contact me anytime you have a quesion about your child's progress.
What is the classroom behavior management plan?
The Cool Cats Club is a positive behavior management system. All students
start the day in the YELLOW Lions Pride area. This means they are
following directions. If a child does a good job listening and following
directions, he/she is asked to move his/her clip up to the Blue Cool Cats
Club. All students in the Cool Cats Club at the end of the day get
a cat cash buck, the next day. At the end of the month they can spend
their money in the Cool Cats Club store.
The following are consequences for inappropriate choices:
1. First time- verbal warning
2. Second time- name clip moved to warning area on the
Cool Cats Club chart
3. Third time- 5 minutes of think time
4. Fourth time- name clip to teacher and a call or note home
Each day is a new day with a clean slate and a fresh start.
Will my child have homework?
The homework packet will contain sight words, spelling
words (Beginning week 4), math facts and math practice, as well as, the
family reading activity and a Home/School connection. See the homework link
for the current weekly sight words, spelling words and the math fact of the
week, as well as a fun game to play with your child.
When will homework be due?
Homework is sent home on Mondays and due on Thursdays.
What can I do to help my child become a better reader?
Daily reading to and with your child is vital to his/her success with
mastering literacy skills. Encourage your child's reading development by
modeling fluency, exposing your child to repetitive, patterned text like
that found in Dr. Seuss books, Brown Bear, Brown Bear and nursery rhymes.
Frequent praise and encouragement will contribute to your child's positive
attitude towards reading.
How can I build my child's reading comprehension skills?
Connections made to a book before, during and after reading help build
comprehension/understanding skills. Before reading a text, help your child
to relate to the topic. Have them make predictions about what they think
will happen. During reading, check for understanding by asking questions
like, "What do you think will happen next?" After reading, ask questions
such as: "What was your favorite part?
Did it end the way you expected?"
Has that ever happened to you?"
Encourage your child to retell the story using words, pictures, or drama.
Why are "sight words" sent home?
Sight words are sent home weekly. These words include high frequency words,
decodable words and vocabulary words from our reading selections. Quick
recognition and fluent reading of these words will build your child's
reading development and comprehension. Research shows that gains in the
area of fluent word recognition directly correlate to advances in reading.
Mastery of these words can be achieved by playing the games suggested that
will be sent home in a packet for you to keep and use throughout the year.
How can I contact you?
We are partners in your child's education. Two-way communication is
esstential. You may contact me via a note in your child's agenda, or call
the school and a message will be relayed to me by the end of the day. I will
return your call at my earliest convenience. You may also e-mail me through
the link on this website.
