This Week at CCES
September 9-13
Be the Commercial that Sells the Joy of Reading!
Ask any child in elementary school what they are learning, and it will somehow link to literacy. We know that learning to read is an accrued skill, not an acquired skill. In other words, we learn to read by reading. Research shows that the more children read, the better they read. The better they read, the more they enjoy reading. The more children enjoy reading, the more they choose to read. The more they choose to read… well… you get the idea! So, how do we get children to choose to read so their reading improves?
In Jim Trelease’s, The Read-Aloud Handbook, he proposes that we share books with children as if they were commercials on TV. Essentially, we sell the idea of reading by reading to children.
Think about it for just a moment. Commercials are short, exciting, and often entertaining. They are also rich with language and elicit images that engage our memory while creating new context and connections. Commercials are often so catchy a child will watch them repeatedly with great focus. They can quickly imitate the characters, jingles, and slogans with minimal repetition or practice. The commercials can seem tucked away in a child’s memory only to bounce to the forefront of their mind when they see a character on a cereal box. Don’t stories from books have the potential to do the same magical things as commercials?
This year, CCES teachers are committed to reading stories aloud to their students in all classrooms and in all content areas. CCES teachers are serving as role models and promoting literacy through rich experiences with books. However, we need our families to help be the “commercial” that sells our students on the joy of reading. Here are ideas on how you can help:
- Read aloud to your children while they are young enough to want to imitate what they are seeing and hearing.
- Read in a manner that is exciting and builds your child’s imagination.
- Allow your child to choose the stories they want to hear.
- Agree to repeatedly reading a favorite story (we all have our favorite commercials).
- Know your child’s attention span. Select books that are short at first, and then gradually build to longer stories or chapters.
- Read for the joy of reading. That is, don’t turn the time into a lesson or a challenge. Simply make it a time to “advertise” what a story can do for the soul.
If you have questions about how to create a read-aloud time for your child, you need books for your home library, or you feel your child is inattentive or disinterested in books, please contact me at the school. I can assist you or connect you with a team member who can give you tips and tricks to create the perfect “commercial” for promoting literacy through read-alouds in your home.
Follow us on Twitter @CiboloCreekES and
on Facebook at Cibolo Creek Elementary School
September 9
- Grandparents' Day Lunch
Grandparents are invited to bring a lunch or snack to enjoy with their grandchild during their regular, 30-minute lunch period. (See below for lunch times.)
September 10
- Parent Orientation (PK, Kinder, 3rd grade) 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m
September 11
- Parent Orientation (1st and 4th grade) 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
September 12
- Parent Orientation (2nd and 5th grade) 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
- Cub Choir 3:00 to 3:45 p.m.
September 13
- Spirit Wear Day!
Upcoming:
Thursday, September 19: New Parent Orientation @ 6:30 p.m.
Friday, September 20: New Parent Orientation @ 7:45 a.m.
September 23-27: Book Fair Week. We need volunteers! Please see the Sign Up Genius below.
Spurs What'cha Reading Program
CCES will be participating in the Spurs What’cha Reading Program September 3rd through October 4th! This program gives students an opportunity to win prizes individually and at the school level for reading at least 20 minutes per day (younger students can be read to).
On Tuesday, students will receive a log to record minutes read (outside of the classroom) each day. Please help your students remember to record the minutes read and then total the minutes after October 4th.
All logs must be returned to the classroom teacher by October 10th in order to be counted with the school totals. Please contact Mrs. Brinson at April.brinson@boerneisd.net if you have any questions.
Volunteers Needed
Classroom Volunteers:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/805084da4a92ca3f49-2019
Volunteers Around Campus:
PTO News
Be sure to visit their website (http://www.cibolocreekpto.com/) to join this amazing organization and learn how you can become involved. You can also purchase spirit wear and yearbooks through the PTO online store.
And, be sure to follow them on Facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/cibolocreekpto
Attendance Notes
Practice Optimism and having a Growth Mindset at Home:
Talk About It:
Talk with your child about their day. Ask questions such as, "Did you make a mistake today? What did you learn from it?" or "What did you do that was difficult today?"
Praise the Process:
Instead of telling your child "You're so smart!" praise their effort and persistence through challenges. Try saying, "Wow! You must have worked really hard on this!"
Encourage Failure:
Children need to know that failure can and will happen but it's ok! Remind your child that each time they fail and try again their brain gets stronger. Don't step in to try and prevent failure. This is how they learn perseverance and to face challenges.
The Brain CAN Grow:
Remind your child that their intelligence is not fixed. Remind them that when things are difficult their brain grows if they persist through the challenge. Each time they learn something new their brain learns something new!
Change Their Dialogue:
The way your child talks to their self makes a huge impact on their mindset. If they say "This is too hard!" help them change it to "I can't do this YET, but I will keep trying." Yet is such a powerful word because it gives us hope that one day we will be accomplish our goal.
Safety
- Talk to your children about using the cross walks when walking home from school. Crossing the street diagonally can be dangerous.
Drivers should leave plenty of space near cross walks when parking so there is plenty of room for adults and children to see oncoming traffic.
Drop students off in the front driveway only. Do not drop them off on Herff Ranch and have them cross the parking lot.
Visitors
- All visitors to our campus must check in at the office with valid photo identification. Please be sure to have your ID with you anytime you visit our campus.
Special Occasion Food
- All foods brought to campus for special occasions such as birthday parties, holiday parties, any special occasion MUST have an FDA approved label with ingredients and allergens legibly listed.
- Our school day begins at 7:25 a.m. The tardy bell rings at 7:35 a.m. We look forward to seeing your student on time each day.
- Dismissal is at 3:00 p.m.
- Please have your child attend school all day, everyday, unless they are sick. Please schedule appointments for after school whenever possible! We appreciate your suppport making the full instruction day an important part of your family's schedule.
- If your student is absent, please provide a written note upon return.
Cibolo Creek Elementary School
Website: http://cibolocreek.boerneisd.net/
Location: 300 Herff Ranch Blvd, Boerne, TX, 78006
Phone: 830-357-4400
Facebook: facebook.com/CiboloCreekElementarySchool
Twitter: @CiboloCreekES