East Elementary
October Newsletter
Message from Mrs. Hietala
Hello East Orca Families,
Happy October! The leaves are changing, and we are starting to feel a chill in the air. We are also experiencing darker mornings. Please make sure to drop your students off after 7:35.
At school, your Kindergarten – 3rd grade student is engaging in phonological awareness lessons. Phonological awareness allows children to recognize and work with the parts of language. These activities are sometimes called ear exercises because the focus is on hearing the parts or sounds in words.
Why is Phonological Awareness Important?
Phonological awareness is a strong predictor of reading success. It is especially important at the earliest stages of reading development and is a foundation for reading.
How Can You Support Phonological Awareness at Home?
Throughout the school year, I will share ideas in our newsletter. I will share games or ear exercises you can play with your child. Phonological awareness is simple to support at home – all you need is language! Help your child understand that the words they hear in speech are made up of parts and sounds.
You can begin building phonological awareness in your child by:
- Reciting nursery rhymes
- Reading books with rhyming words
- Play with alliteration (words that begin with the same sound)
- Example: Seven silly sisters said surprise!
- Reciting tongue twisters with a focus on individual sounds in words.
- Example: How much wood would a woodchuck chuck, if a woodchuck could chuck wood?
We look forward to supporting you and your child in building foundational literacy skills this school year!
I wish you well,
Angie Hietala
Message from Ms. Jennifer
Jennifer Pedersen, M.Ed.
Phone (TEAMS): 907-802-2967
Email: Jennifer.pedersen.kibsd.org
MESSAGE FROM MRS. PATRICK
If anyone has a copy of the following books that you are done reading and want to share with the library for Battle of the Books please send them to school with your student.
Title
3rd/4th Grade
Abraham Lincoln Pro Wrestler
Cilla Lee Jenkins
Harriet the Invincible
Juana and Lucas
My Beijing
One and Only Ivan
Rise of the Earth Dragon
Toys Go Out
We Could Be Heroes
5th Grade
From the Desk of Zoe Washington
Ghost Squad
Gregor the Overlander
Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus
Magic Misfits
Maya and the Rising Dark
My Life in Dog Years
Plagues and Pandemics
Scary Stories for Young Foxes
Song for a Whale
We Dream of Space
UPCOMING EVENTS
October 7 Free lunch grace period ends
October 10-11 Inservice, No schoolOctober 13 Kindergarten going to Firehouse
October 27 Picture Retakes
October 31 Halloween/Costume Day
October 31 - November 4 Red Ribbon Week