Dear J.M. Grasse Families,

February might have the fewest number of days in the month, but it certainly was a busy month of learning and fun here at J.M. Grasse! This month we celebrated Presidents’ Day, Black History Month, Valentine’s Day, the Hundredth Day of School, and World Read Aloud Day. This month we will continue to promote and celebrate literacy with Read Across the World week from March 6th through March 10th! As always, we encourage you to read at home with your child. Regardless of their age, reading to your children has the following benefits: (Source: Scholastic Parents Raise a Reader Blog)

1. Time together. The number one reason for reading each night is quality time together. Period. Life gets nuts when kids go to elementary school. Between homework, lessons, classes, and meetings, it's a crazy time. But carving out that small amount of time—even if it's 10-15 minutes, which is just enough time to read one chapter of a book—is totally worth scheduling into your day.

2. Listening to fluent reading. If you choose to do the reading, which I strongly suggest you do, then this time together allows your child to listen to what fluent reading should sound like. You don't need to go crazy with voices and sounds—just read naturally and normally. The more your younger readers hear what fluent reading should sound like, the better! It reminds them how their reading should sound.

3. Talking about texts. It doesn't need to be an in-depth discussion about characters, plotline, or style, but you may be surprised at how your conversations evolve after you read together for some time. You can begin by just “thinking aloud”—every few pages, share your thoughts about the text out loud, kind of like a built-in commentary. Your child will hear how you think about and process text as you read, and soon it will become habitual for him or her to do the same. Over time, incorporate questions or thought-provoking statements and involve your child.

One sure sign that spring is almost here… Daylight Savings Time will begin on Sunday, March 12th. For many students, the time change can be difficult; children may have trouble falling asleep at night or waking in the morning. Sticking to a consistent bedtime routine is key to a smoother transition. In addition, limiting screen time before bedtime is also important. Children should stop using electronic devices (phones, tablets, video games, TV) at least 30 minutes before the bedtime routine begins. These devices have been shown to disrupt the brain’s production of the sleep regulating hormone, melatonin, which harms your child’s sleep cycle.

As always, please keep the lines of communication open with any concerns or questions you may have at any time. Have a great March!

With Bulldog Pride,

Ms. Kulesza

We will be learning about some of the 7 wonders of the world, and what makes each country so special.