From Mrs. Pancham's Desk
Week of April 27th-May 1st, 2015
Hello Families:We're Kicking it Up a Notch!
Each night in reading, they should be completing their assigned homework packet, that contains more practice on the particular reading skills that students are still having trouble with: identifying main idea and supporting details in non-fiction and fictional texts, vocabulary and word analysis (synonyms, antonyms, dictionary guide words/ABC order, prefixes/suffixes/root words, and words with multiple meanings), and comprehension of fictional questions on character development and conflict resolution. Please, please, please, make sure your child is taking the necessary time each night to complete their reading homework, as well as their math, history, and science assignments.
If you are interested in some websites for your child to visit to review more skills, please see the below:
Reading: Study Island.com, StraightAce.com (all can be found on the k12louisa site)
History/Science: Zondle.com, SOLPass (all can be found on the k12louisa site)
Math: StraightAce
Please, if you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me.
SOL Testing Motivating Letters
Please complete and return your notes for your child by Friday, May 1st. If you need an additional copy of the letter and template, please write a note in your child's agenda, email me, or call me. I can send another copy home for you!!!
5th Grade Testing Schedule
Friday, May 8th: VA History SOL (will be covering 4th and 5th grade VA History material)
Monday, May 11th: 5th Grade Reading SOL
Friday, May 15th: 5th Grade Science (will be covering 4th and 5th grade science material)
Monday, May 18th: 5th Grade Math Test (Pt. 1)
Wednesday, May 20th: 5th Grade Math Test (Pt. 2)
Extended Learning
Math: Monday, May 4th, 2015
Reading: Tuesday, May 5th, 2015
Preparing for the SOLs
Helping Your Child with the SOL Test-Taking
- Do talk to your child about testing. It's helpful for children to understand why schools give tests and to know the different kinds of tests they will take.
- Do encourage your child. Praise him/her for the things he/she does well. If your child feels good about himself/herself, he/she will do his/her best on a test. Children who are afraid of failing are more likely to become anxious when taking tests and more likely to make mistakes.
- Do make sure that your child attends school regularly (especially on SOL days). Remember, tests reflect children's overall achievement. The more effort and energy your child puts into learning, the more likely it is that he/she will do well on tests.
- Do provide a quiet, comfortable place for studying at home and make sure that your child is well rested on school days and especially on the day of an SOL test. Children who are tire are less able to pay attention in class or to handle the demands of a test.
- Do help your child avoid test anxiety. It's good for your child to be concerned about taking a test. It's not good for him/her to develop "test anxiety". Test anxiety is worrying too much about doing well on a test. If your child is worried, encourage him/her to do the following:
- Eat a good breakfast and arrive at school on time the days of testing. No need to RUSH!
- When they test, read the directions carefully before they begin working.
- If they don't know an answer, skip it and go on. Don't waste time worrying about one question. Mark it for review, and come back to it later.
- Don't "cram" the night before. This will likely increase anxiety, which will interfere with clear thinking. Get a good night's sleep!
Remind them they have worked hard, you love them, I love them, and for them to do their very best, using all of their strategies they've learned from the year!