What's News at Magee?
#3 - April 2017
We want to hear your voice!
I shared our work at a PTO Meeting earlier this year. Parents at the meeting were able to connect some of their comments and feedback into our work and action plans. In addition, we discussed that comments including some specificity were helpful - whether commenting on what's going well or what could be improved or someone being recognized for good work - we want to know!
Parent participation over the last few years has declined. We very much value your voice. We analyze and use the data and feedback - but we need to have the data and feedback to use, so we need to hear from as many families as we can! Thank you, in advance, for your participation! We truly appreciate the time you take to share your thoughts!
Please use the link below to take the survey.
Reading Levels
Written by Jen Metzer - Reading Specialist and Instructional Coach
Children are not a reading level, they are readers. Each reader has a distinct set of instructional needs. Making sense of reading levels is not an easy task for parents or educators. In fact, reading levels were created for teachers so that they could make stronger instructional decisions for each reader in their class. Levels help teachers understand the complex demands that occur in texts, as complexity increases. Reading levels were never meant to be attached to readers. The thinking children do as they read a text matters, just as much as how the words are pronounced or how fluent the reader may sound.
When a child reads challenging books with just the right amount of scaffolding, maximum learning takes place. Reading materials can fluctuate across a child’s independent and instructional range. Encouraging students to engage with texts that are easy helps build confidence, comprehension, and a love of reading. It’s important to understand that reading abilities of children in the same grade can vary just as much as shoe size. Understanding your child’s individual literacy abilities, rather than a distinct level or suggested average is an important place to start. It’s also important to understand that children can work within a range of books. While a teacher may tell you that your child is an independent M reader, they may read level K informational text because of the vocabulary demands, or perhaps they read level O Boxcar Children books because your family read aloud several of these and they have a deep understanding of the characters and plot already.
Talk to your child’s teacher or visit the library to find books that are appropriately matched to your child’s needs and interests. Keep in mind that reading ability and your child’s age may sometimes be at odds. For example, very young students with advanced reading aptitudes may be prepared for higher-level texts but aren’t ready for a more mature subject matter. For that reason, it’s important to keep your child’s personality in mind.
Finally, when children have developed a love of reading, nothing should get in their way. You will be surprised at how students will read even beyond their grade level when they’re motivated by the topic. Keep students reading—whether it’s fiction, nonfiction, poetry, or graphic novels. Every genre and type of text has its own way of inspiring, engaging, and expanding learning.
Regardless of your child’s “reading level”, one of the best ways to encourage successful academic outcomes is to simply provide your child with ample opportunities to read and be a reading model yourself.
The following is a video that was made for teachers by an expert in the literacy field, he shares an example that helps all of us understand the true goal in creating readers!Code to the Future
Our second grades will also be joining the work with Code to the Future using Scratch soon as they build on the learning developed with their use of Scratch, Jr. We are excited to see their learning!
We are excited about where our path will lead us next year with ALL K5-5 learners coding!
Shorts at School
If the temperature is LESS THAN 50 degrees when students leave home, we do ask that they wear sweat pants to and in school. Students will also be expected to wear the sweat pants out for recess. Students wearing skirts to school should also adhere to this rule. It can be very cold out for recess! In the event of a drill or an emergency, we want all students dressed appropriately.
As we move into Spring, ALL students wearing shorts, skirts or dresses should adhere to the "fingertip rule" - meaning that shorts and skirts need to come to a student's mid-thigh when standing up. THANK YOU for your support with this!
LEGO League 17-18
Interested in Lego's? Do you enjoy working with others? Come on in and check out Lego League! This is an opportunity to learn more about Lego League for the 17-18 school year. This is at Magee, on Thursday, April 6 from 6:30 to 7:30PM, in the Depot. This is for current 3 and 4th grade, who will be 4 and 5 graders next fall.
Parent Resource Network
The KM PRN is a volunteer organization, providing a resource for our parents that is not found in other districts. If you would like to become involved, in any way, they would LOVE to have you!
Please consider this valuable organization's events and becoming involved - all of the work supports the development of strong citizens for the future!
Great Start Conferences
At each conference, teachers will spend some time talking with parents, then the majority of the conference working with the student. Pictures will be taken on Great Start Conference days as well. This will also take the place of Central Registration that has normally taken place in early August.
More information will follow...but please mark your calendars now.
17-18 Class Rosters
Class assignments for 2017-2018 will be available in early August.
About Magee - Contact Us
Email: sterners@kmsd.edu
Website: http://www.kmsd.edu/Domain/10
Location: S313S4134 Hwy. 83 Genesee Depot, WI 53127
Phone: 262-968-6450
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mageeelementary/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel
Twitter: @kmmagee
Upcoming Events...
April 5 - PTO Meeting 9-11AM; Third Round of Spelling Bee
April 6 - Lego League 17-18 Informational Meeting - 6:30-7:30
April 7 - Magee Spiritwear/KM Color Day; Popcorn Day
April 9-April 17 - Spring BreakApril 18 - Return to School, TALENT SHOW TRY OUTS during lunch
April 20 - KM Color/Magee Spirit Wear Day
April 21 - Earth Day, PTO Fun Run, Popcorn Day
April 24 - Second grade to Milwaukee Public Museum
April 26 - Fifth Grade Tour KMMS - 9-11AM
April 27-May 3 - PTO Book Fair
April 28 - Magee Talent Show 2-3:30 PM
May 3 - District Project Fair 6-7:30
May 4 - Scoopie Night & Volunteer Recognition Night at Culver's in Wales starting at 4PM
May 5 - Magee Spiritwear/KM Color Day; Popcorn Day
May 8 - 5th Grade Epic Build (AM); Magee Band/Choir Concert 6:30-8 PM
May 15 - NO SCHOOL for students
May 17 - 5K Kickoff at Magee 5:30-7 PM