Homework and Computer Support

Yesterday, you received a letter from Ms. Kargas regarding homework and computer programs to use at home. Grades 2-8 take the NWEA test every fall, winter, and spring. Compass Learning is a program that uses that data to provide appropriate learning activities for the students in those grades. RAZ Kids will be available to all students in grades K-1 very soon, and I will send home the login information as soon as I have it.

In the meantime, please make sure that your child is doing his or her homework each night. The packet we send home each Monday includes some reading, math, and writing activities to work on, but it is most important that your child spend 10 minutes every night reading, 10 minutes every night on math, and 10 minutes every night on writing.

Reading:

Your child needs to spend at least 10 minutes each night reading. You must record the books they read on the reading log that is attached to the homework packet. I expect to see at least one entry for every day of assigned homework. This is how I know what they are reading!

Math:

There is usually a math page included in the packet, and sometimes there are additional math pages sent home from our workbooks. These can be used for math practice. If your child finishes these pages early in the week, they still need to be practicing math for 10 minutes every night. Making addition flash cards to use at home would be a great way to spend this time.

Writing:

Each week the homework packet includes a book report. They may use one of the books they took home from school or a book from home. As this is a writing activity, please encourage them to write the report. Help them by asking what they want to write, and repeat it back to them if necessary. Help them say difficult words slowly to hear the sounds, and then they can write down the letters for the sounds they hear. Sometimes the homework packet also includes other worksheets that involve writing. If your child completes all the writing work early in the week, they still need to practice writing for 10 minutes every day. Keeping a home journal is a great way to spend this time.

Spelling:

The spelling test is the last day of each week. Please make sure that your child is practicing the words throughout the week. Please also review old words so your child does not forget them. The week of December 16^th will be a review week, so no new words will be introduced and students will be tested on words from previous weeks.

The homework packets are always due the last day of each week. If your child is absent, he or she must hand it in the next day they come to school. I look for three things as I check homework: that initials are in every box on the cover page, that the activities are complete, and that there is at least one reading log entry for every day.

As Ms. Kargas said, we want to work together to help your child succeed! Please ensure that reading, math, and writing are being done every night and that homework packets are being returned complete and on time. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. 

Picture Day and Popcorn Sales

Picture Day is this Wednesday! If you have not yet returned your picture day form, you must do so tomorrow (Tuesday) in order to receive photos. Please put the form and money in your child's homework folder. If you no longer have the form, you can get an extra copy in the office.

Tomorrow is also the last day to bring money from popcorn sales. This is an important fundraiser that will help buy much-needed books for our school, and so far only one  student in our class has returned their form. If you sold any popcorn, please return the form tomorrow!

Special Events This Week

Report Card Pickup

Please visit the school on Wednesday from 12:00-3:15 PM or from 4:00-6:00 PM to meet with me and receive your child’s report card. I will meet with parents on a first come-first served basis, but during this meeting you will be able to sign up for a specific meeting time for the next parent-teacher conference.

Food Drive

The student council is conducting a food drive this week. Please bring in donations of non-perishable food items on Tuesday.

Book Fair

This week is Goethe’s Book fair! Today students had the chance to peruse the fair to get a sense of what they might want. Please support Goethe School by sending visiting the book fair on Wednesday or sending money with your child on Thursday when we will return to the fair as a class to purchase books.

Six Flags Read to Succeed

Yesterday students took home a packet of information from Miss Gallagher, Goethe's library teacher, about Read to Succeed. Read to Succeed is a free educational program from Six Flags and Discovery Education that inspires K-6 students to engage in recreational reading. Students who complete six hours (360 minutes) of recreational, non-school-related reading are eligible to earn a free admission ticket to a participating Six Flags theme park.

Part of the packet included a reading log. All Read to Succeed reading logs must be turned in to Miss Gallagher by FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2012. Six Flags tickets will be distributed in May 2012.
Click the link for more details about the Read to Succeed program:
Six Flags Read to Succeed Program

Please feel free to contact Miss Gallagher if you have any questions!
Megan Gallagher, K-8 Library Teacher
mngallagher@cps.edu


Please understand that the Read to Succeed reading log is separate from the room 404 homework reading log. Homework packets must be completed as usual. You may include homework reading on the Read to Succeed log, but I will not be checking Read to Succeed to ensure students are doing their homework.