Frequently Asked Questions: This page contains answers to common questions of students and parents.

1. How can I contact or give information to the teacher?
2. How many AR points should my child earn each week?
3. How do we practice the math facts?
4. How long should my child read each day?
5. What is a good way to study Spelling words?
6. When I write a check, to whom do I make it payable?
7. When is the best time of day to schedule a doctor's appointment?
8. May I bring snacks in for my child's birthday?
9. What do I do if my child is absent?

How can I contact or give information to the teacher?

There are a few different ways to contact me or give me information.  

One way is to send a note to school.  Please, REMIND your child to give it to 
me.  As soon as I receive the note I will respond in a timely manner. 

Another way is to call and leave a message on my voice mail.  The school 
number is 376-2491,and my extension is 5104.  If you forget the extention, 
the secretaries can always forward the call to my voice mail.  Again, I will 
do my best to respond quickly.

You may also email me if you like.  The only issue with email is that email 
messages are not secure.  I will not be able to respond back by email, but 
will instead call or write a note.  If you do choose to email me, please do 
not use your child's name.  If you are asking about field trip instructions, 
lunch time, school parties, or anything that is not specific to your child I 
can reply back to you via email.  

You are always welcome to come to the classroom before school, after school, 
and during my break to speak with me.  Please remember, though, that those 
are usually busy times for teachers.  Also, I ask that contacting me during 
lunch break be reserved for emergencies only.  We don't have alot of time to 
eat, especially on recess duty day!  

I do ask that anytime you need a response that you please remember that it 
may be a very busy day.  There are days on occasion that there is little or 
no down time for me.  This does not happen frequently, but these days do 
exist. I PROMISE I will do my best to respond the day I receive the message.

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How many AR points should my child earn each week?

Each student in my class will receive point goals that are based on his or 
her reading level.  Some books will be read quickly, while others may take a 
week to read.  If the books are worth two or more points, your child may only 
take one test a week.  While if the books are worth .5 points, he or she 
should take AT LEAST two or more tests a week.  I like for my students to 
earn at least one to two points a week.

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How do we practice the math facts?

At the beginning of the year you will receive two groups of stapled papers. 
These will have sets of fact families printed on them.  (A fact family is a 
group of numbers that is used to make "related" number sentences - 
1+2=3, 2+1=3, 3-1=2, and 3-2=1) One of these is for you, with answers printed 
on it. The other is for your child (without the answers).

Have your child begin on SET 1.  He or She will read the math problem and the 
answer out loud.  The problems may be read either across the page from left 
to right, or from top to bottom.  

If your child says an incorrect answer, please correct them.  Then have them 
go back three problems and start again.  

Please do not practice the next set until your child has passed the timed 
test for the set they are on.  We will have timed tests almost daily.  I will 
expect your child to answer 25 or more problems correctly.  When they do this 
they will move on to the next set. 

It should only take about 5 minutes to practice the math facts this way.  At 
the beginning of the year it may take longer.  When your child gets the hang 
of it, it will go quickly.

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How long should my child read each day?

Please have your chld read at least 30 at home each day.  You should ask 
questions about what they read when they are finished.  (Just look at the 
part of the book they read and ask a couple of questions about it.)

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What is a good way to study Spelling words?

I found out recently that we remember things well in groups of three.  Try 
having your child write out the words.  Then have them read the spelling by 
grouping three letters together at a time.

For example, the word is FINISHED.  You would have your child say "FIN 
(slight pause) ISH (another pause) ED."

You may also have your child write them in the same way.  Just 
remember "three letters at a time."  

You may also want to study the first ten words one night, the next ten the 
next night, and then all of them together the following nights.  Look for 
spelling patterns that are similiar.  For example - cake, bake, rake, and 
snake all have the -ake pattern.  Have your child underline the similiar 
patterns.

Kids always enjoy writing with cool pens and markers on neat paper more than 
using just pencil and paper.  You might invest in some gel pens and colored 
paper that can ONLY be used to practice spelling.  This might make it easier 
to persuade your child to study.

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When I write a check, to whom do I make it payable?

In most circumstances you will make out your check to MUSTANG ELEMENTARY.  These would include 
lunch money, book orders, field trips, and Weekly Reader orders.

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When is the best time of day to schedule a doctor's appointment?

I would prefer that all appointments be scheduled after school.  But, we live 
in the real world, so that is not always possible.  The best time for your 
child to miss will as close to the end of the day as possible. They will know 
what needs to be done and most work can be completed at home. If your child 
misses the beginning of the day, they often feel out of it because they 
missed something. Their whole day is "off" and they have a difficult time 
getting it together.  (They are like us.)

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May I bring snacks in for my child's birthday?

You may bring in snacks, but we cannot have a party.  It would be best to 
send them with your child in the morning, or deliver them by 2:00. We will 
not eat them until the day is almost over.

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What do I do if my child is absent?

Please make sure you contact the school secretaries if your child is absent.  
I can prepare work to be sent home with a sibling or to be picked up from the 
office.  Please do not expect work to be ready to go home before 2:00.

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