1. AGENDAS: Your child will bring his or her agenda home every afternoon
beginning the second week of school. Filling out the agenda is a valuable
organizational skill. I'll teach the children how to write short notes (often
reminders) in their agendas, and childrens' nightly homework is to ask
parents to read and sign the agendas. The agenda books are handy places for
teachers and parents to send notes and newsletters back and forth.
2. HOMELINKS: I will send home the Home Links pages from the Everyday Math
program and the Fundations language arts program. You will not receive these
on the same day every week; rather, I will send them as they appear in the
programs. Some of the Home Links pages include information only, others
constitute a homework assignment that children will need to return the next
school day. (Take an extra day if need be.) You will be able to tell, as you read
the Home Links page, whether or not it will need to be completed and returned
as homework.
3. READ, READ, READ! I will only occasionally send other homework. Since
our first-grade days will be quite academic, I prefer that when children go
home to you they have plenty of time to relax, play outdoors, help you with
family chores, play sports or games, and spend time talking with you.
However, there is one family activity that nearly every child looks forward
to, and which will most promote a child's success in school: reading aloud
with parents. I strongly encourage every family to read aloud with children
every evening. Talk about books, compare versions of stories, and explain new
vocabulary. Your child will flourish, and you'll love the family "together
time!"
