McKinley Minutes

Email: kkemmis@gusd.org
Website: www.mckinley.gusd.org
Location: 1045 Sycamore Street, Gridley, CA, USA
Phone: 530-846-5685
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As we rush head long into Spring, the end of the school year begins to loom and parents (and teachers) may feel concerned about their student's reading progress. One of the most common questions we get during Trimester 2 parent conferences is "How can I help my child improve and grow their early reading skills?" Besides the targeted advice you may have received from your child's teacher (such as reading each night from their book bag or practicing their sight words), the following ideas can help put your child on a path to success:

1. Tell tales. Build narrative skills by gathering family members at meal times and having them tell the story of their day. Be sure to listen and ask follow up questions.
   
2. Play rhyming games to build phonemic awareness . . . just for fun.
   
3. Bring reading and writing into everyday life. Encourage literacy in your child's daily routines by writing thank-you notes or making shopping lists together.
   
4. Be attentive and engaged when you communicate with your child.
   
5. Read together. Make story time a daily ritual that your child can count on and look forward to.

First Grade will be going to Round Table next week - flyers have been/will be sent home with students!

Thank you to Mr. Stark for bringing his beautiful Hyacinth Macaw to visit with first grade students. First grade is currently studying various animals in their science rotations focusing on behaviors that help them survive, and how their body parts help them meet their needs.

This month we’re talking about Honesty! The dictionary defines it as: “fairness and straightforwardness of conduct; adherence to the facts.” The definition we are using in class is:

Honesty: living truthfully in your words and actions and thoughts!

Honesty is a lot more than just telling the truth – it is also about thinking and acting in a way that feels consistent, kind, and sincere. What do we do with honest thoughts that aren’t very nice? How do our actions in Honesty help or hurt our relationships. Over the course of the month, we will talk about people from Emily Bronte to Jackie Robinson who lived out Honesty in their words and actions. We discover new games and techniques to make us more honest competitors and more thoughtful friends. It will be a time of challenging, but rewarding conversations – thanks for being a part of them!