Title I Newsletter
Fall 2015
Thank you to all who attended the Title I Information Night on Tuesday, October 6th. It was a pleasure meeting you and we hope you found the presentations helpful.
We were also happy to see so many of you at our Title I Family Night. After enjoying a pizza dinner, the children watched a delightful play, “The Wizard of Oz.” While the children were entertained, our parents participated in a presentation about our new “Wonders” reading program and its alignment with the Pennsylvania Core Standards.
To help support learning at home, we would like to share the following ideas and activities you can do with your children:
Homework
1. Study space
Decide on a work place where your child will do his/her homework.
It should be:
- Well lit
- Well organized
- Clean
- Quiet
2. Supply station
Make sure your children have what they need to do their homework:
. Paper, pencils, and pens . Flash Cards
. Highlighters . Notebooks
. Crayons, colored pencils . Paper
. Scissors and tape . Erasers
. Ruler and dictionary . Glue
. A calculator
3. A regular routine
Set up some routines for doing homework:
- Encourage your child to always use the same area for doing homework
- Have regular homework time
Conversation Starters; things to talk about during dinner or in the car
. Tell me three things that happened in math class today.
. What was the best and worst part of your day?
. Tell me about your lunch- what did you eat, who did you sit with?
. If we could fix up your room anyway you wanted, what would it look like?
. What’s your favorite song? Why?
. Who is your best friend? What do you like to do together?
. Tell me what your favorite food is to have for dinner.
Reading
Things to say when your child is having trouble reading a word:
- Tap it out
- Sound it out
- Does it make sense?
- Look carefully at the word
- What is the beginning sound?
- What is the ending sound?
- Does that sound right?
- Show me the tricky part.
- Read the sentence with a word you think would make sense.
To determine if a book is just right, use the Five Finger Test:
Read one page of the book. Raise one finger for each word on the page you do not know.
NO FINGERS OR ONE FINGER
This book is easy for you to read.
Have Fun!
TWO FINGERS
This book is just right for you.
Enjoy your reading!
THREE FINGERS
This book is challenging, but you still may enjoy it.
Try it!
FOUR FINGERS
This book will be very challenging. Read with a family member.
You can do it!
FIVE FINGERS
This book is probably too hard to be fun. Save it for later,
or read it with an adult who can help you.
2015 Notable Children’s Books
Younger Readers (K-2)
The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend. By Dan Santat. Illus. by the author. Little Brown.In four delightful chapters, Beekle, an imaginary friend, undergoes an emotional journey looking for his human. Vibrant illustrations add to the fun. (2015 Caldecott Medal Book)
The Baby Tree. By Sophie Blackall. Illus. by the author. Penguin/Nancy Paulsen. Where do babies come from? This question is delicately handled in Blackall's gentle and charming book. After asking around with amusing results, a boy finally learns the true facts from his parents. With a page of tips for "the conversation.”
Beautiful Moon: A Child's Prayer. By Tonya Bolden. Illus. by Eric Velasquez. Abrams. A gorgeous full moon shines on a young boy praying for the homeless, the hungry, those at war and his family. The stunning illustrations set a reverent tone that reflects the thoughtful and universal text.
Blizzard. By John Rocco. Illus. by the author. Disney-Hyperion. A young boy's experience in a blizzard and the adventure of going to the market are vividly portrayed through Norman Rockwell-like illustrations that give personality to the child and the weather.
A Boy and a Jaquar. By Alan Rabinowitz. Illus. by CáTia Chien. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.Alan Rabinowitz's story of feeling broken as a child yet experiencing great empathy for animals kept in cages at the zoo. He went on to become a zoologist and conservationist known around the world.
The Chicken Squad: The First Misadventure. By Doreen Cronin. Illus. by Kevin Cornell. Simon & Schuster/Atheneum. Tail, a scaredy-squirrel, seeks refuge and help from the Chicken Squad, four problem-solving chicks. This illustrated chapter book brings each chicken's zany personality to life.
A Dance Like Starlight: One Ballerina's Dream. By Kristy Dempsey. Illus. by Floyd Cooper. Penguin/Philomel. An inspirational message told in lyrical language about the power of dreams and one young girl's desire to dance. Soft colorful images support the poignant text.
Middle Readers (3-5)
Absolutely Almost. By Lisa Graff. Penguin/Philomel. In this relatable tale, fifth grader Albie is not very good at a lot of things, but with a little help from a new babysitter, he finds out that being himself is the most important thing.
Arcady's Goal. By Eugene Yelchin. Illus. by the author. Holt. Arcady longs to play for the Red Army Soccer Club. Many obstacles interfere with attaining his goal because his family is considered enemies of the state.
Angel Island: Gateway to Gold Mountain. By Russell Freedman. Illus. Chinese poems Tr. by Evans Chan. Clarion.More than half a million people from 80 countries arrived at Angel Island California between 1910 and 1940. Freedman tells their stories in this well documented and handsomely illustrated book that illuminates a little known piece of history.
Before After. By Anne-Margot Ramstein & Matthias Arégui. Illus. by the authors. Candlewick. A clever wordless picture book that challenges the reader to figure out connections. Each reading reveals something new and different.
The Boundless. By Kenneth Oppel. Simon & Schuster. Suspense and adventure race alongside Will through the Canadian wilderness on the Boundless, the largest and fastest train ever built. Middle-grade steampunk filled with intrigue.
The Case of the Vanishing Little Brown Bats: A Scientific Mystery. By Sandra Markle. Illus. Millbrook. Follow the scientific method as a group of researchers notice something wrong with the little brown bat population and search for a way to save them. Stunning photographs make the discovery even more fascinating.
Chasing Cheetahs: The Race to Save Africa's Fastest Cats. By Sy Montgomery. Photographs by Nic Bishop. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.Montgomery and Bishop join the Cheetah Conservation Fund in the African wilderness, studying the cheetah's ecological, genetic, and behavioral patterns in order to chase down the fastest animal in the world.
Dates to Remember! Mark your calendars!
We wish our families peace and joy during the holiday season!