O'Dell Elementary Campus News
Sunday, October 30, 2022
FROM THE PRINCIPAL'S DESK
THE IMPORTANCE OF READING 20 MINUTES A DAY
There are several powerful benefits of reading 20 minutes a day:
Early reading skills can affect children’s academic success
Reading 20 minutes a day exposes kids to a vast quantity of words. And this exposure makes children more likely to score in the 90th percentile on standardized tests. If you compare this to children who read just 5 minutes per day — and are therefore more likely to score in the 50th percentile — it’s easy to see how reading time translates to academic success. Meanwhile, a separate study involving almost 10 million students showed only those reading at least 15 minutes a day achieved accelerated reading gains. And those reading less were at risk of falling behind their peers. If you’ve been unsure of the benefits of reading 20 minutes a day, these statistics should help clear any confusion up!
Reading often helps to improve writing skills
Following on from our previous point, if there’s vocabulary benefits associated with reading 20 minutes a day, then writing benefits are there for the taking, too. Essentially, the more words your kid reads, the wider their vocabulary is likely to be. And a wide vocabulary makes a kid’s writing more interesting and impressive. They’ll discover new ways to convey meaning, articulate their thoughts, persuade people, use figurative language, and engage readers’ emotions. This can help them become stronger writers, whether working on a short story age 10, an essay age 13, or a college application letter age 17. Children who rarely read are less likely to expand their linguistic know-how in the same way. And that could hold their writing back significantly.
Reading stimulates and enhances children’s imaginations
Recent research shows that the imagination may be more powerful than believed previously — scientists now believe that creative imaging can ‘rewrite’ certain memories to be less traumatic, and can even enhance certain physical connections within the body.
For example, imagining playing a piano could “boost neuronal connections in regions related to the fingers”. So developing a strong imagination could help people to exercise greater control over their thoughts, memories, and more. What’s this got to do with your kid, you ask?
Well, reading daily can help to strengthen a child’s imagination, introducing them to concepts, cultures, and possibilities beyond their own life experience. They can learn about the world, stimulate their curiosity, and give them a better understanding of other people’s lives.
And with the imagination being such a powerful force, there’s a lot to gain from that!
Fiction stimulates creativity in children
So from imagination to creativity — two related, but still quite different strengths for kids who read 20 minutes a day. Getting lost in a fictional world helps kids to expand their own creativity, as they’ll experience situations, worlds, characters, thoughts, and feeling that they may not have come across in their own lives just yet. What’s more, by reading they’ll realize that people can make a living from writing books, magazines, and newspapers. This may inspire them to explore their own creativity and inform their career choices in the future.
A good book encourages children to relax at bedtime
Kids, no matter their age, have a lot going on. They’re constantly learning, and changes like the transition from middle school to high school can be stressful for some. The good news is, either reading with your child — or allowing them to read independently at bedtime — can help them to relax and wind down from their day. Research by the UK National Literacy Trust (NLT) found that 90% of children feel “happiest” when reading and writing, as opposed to playing games or watching favorite cartoons. That might sound a little unbelievable if your kid is more often glued to their screen, than with their nose in a book, but maybe a little nudge in the right direction is all they need!
Regularly reading helps kids develop empathy
Studies show that reading can help children to develop empathy, by challenging them to consider how other people (the characters) may think or feel. You can give them a casual boost at school or home, too. Parents and teachers can help support this empathy development by asking:
“Why do you think Harry Potter did what he did on this page?”
“What could you say to make the BFG feel better about himself?”
“How would you feel if you were far from home, like Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz?”
Learning to approach situations and consider the feelings of others could help children of all ages to be more compassionate in life.
So why read for 20 minutes a day? Now you know
Young children, pre-teens, and teens can all reap a number of benefits from reading 20 minutes a day — whether that’s helping them learn about the world around them, increasing their academic performance, discovering their own untapped creative potential, or just hanging out and enjoying a great book! So what are you waiting for? Why not head down to the library or bookstore together, pick out a few new titles, and get to work on setting a new, family habit — together. Chances are, you’ve got a lot to gain from reading a little more too!
GRADE LEVEL NEWSLETTERS
1st Grade - https://www.smore.com/5t8bn
2nd Grade - https://www.smore.com/k49px
3rd Grade - https://www.smore.com/p50d9
4th Grade - https://www.smore.com/grkw9-4th-grade-news
5th Grade - https://www.smore.com/s4cnz
RED RIBBON WEEK CONCLUDES TOMORROW
College Shirt Day
Wednesday, November 2nd
Show your school spirit by wearing a college shirt or the colors from your favorite college!
F.C.A. Meeting
Friday, November 4th
7:30 a.m. in the gym
All 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students are invited to attend. For more information, please contact Leanne Thompson at leannethompson@celinaisd.com.
Picture Retakes
Wednesday, November 9th
The Counselor's Corner
This month we’re talking about Gratitude! The definition we are using in class is:
Gratitude: choosing to appreciate the people and things in our lives
Family Conversation Starters:
Discuss why you are grateful for your child. Be specific: Who are they? How do they make you feel? Ask them what they are grateful for about your family, your home, your neighborhood, etc.
Sometimes we have days when we don’t feel very grateful. What strategies can you use on those days? Is there anything you can do to boost your mood to help you feel more Gratitude?
Family Challenge: Letters of Gratitude
Have each person in the family draw or write a letter expressing gratitude to someone special in your life; this could include family, friends, neighbors, or community members. Don’t forget to be specific and share how they make you feel! When you have all completed the letter individually, drop them off in person or in the mail together!
NOVEMBER Teacher and Staff Birthdays
Lauren Wilson - Nov. 4
Corrie Blackmon & Lauri Welch - Nov. 8
Stephanie Marcos - Nov. 9
Molly Anderson & Kristin Williams - Nov. 14
Shyanne Ward - Nov. 15
Julie Dobbins - Nov. 16
Important Reminders about Carpool Traffic Flow
When entering the parking lots for afternoon carpool pick-up, parents must have their carpool tag number visible. Students wait at designated spots on the sidewalk.
1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade students are dismissed from the front of the building to the two car lanes.
4th and 5th grade students are dismissed from the back doors.
Younger siblings of 4th and 5th grade students are picked up in the 4th/5th grades carpool line.
O'DELL PTA FAMILY FUN NIGHT - SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 6TH
In-N-Out meals include a burger, bag of chips and a drink. Tickets are $5 each. We strongly recommend ordering your tickets ahead of time as past events have always sold out.
Lunch Information
Parents who are visiting their child(ren) for lunch can eat in the O’Dell Courtyard.
* RAIN OR SHINE, the courtyard is the only place for parents to eat with their child(ren). No indoor cafeteria seating will be available for visitors.
* Students are not allowed to invite friends to eat with them in the courtyard.
* Parents may only bring lunch for their child. Sharing food with other students is prohibited.
* After lunch, parents need to return to the office and not walk students back to class.
LUNCH TIMES:
1st Grade - 10:40-11:10
2nd Grade - 11:15-11:45
3rd Grade - 11:25-11:55
5th Grade - 12:00-12:30
4th Grade - 12:20-12:50
LUNCH MENU:
10/31 - French bread pizza, Turkey hot dog, Deli sandwich
11/1 - Spaghetti with meat sauce, Chicken nuggets
11/2 - Orange chicken, BBQ pork rib, Sun butter and jelly sandwich
11/3 - Chicken sandwich, Cheeseburger
11/4 - Burrito, Super nachos
Contact Us
* Office # 469-742-9106
* Fax # 469-449-1367
* Report an absence or submit absence note from doctor/dentist - email doesattendance@celinaisd.com
* Website - www.celinaisd.com
* Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/celinaodellelementary
School Hours: 7:55 a.m.-3:15 p.m.
Doors Open: 7:30 a.m.