TITLE I NEWSLETTER DEcEmbER 2020 VoL. 1 issuE 1 Welcome to our first issue of the Title Children like to get into the holiday I Newsletter. I am so sorry that this is spirit of giving presents. late, but working from home, I Unfortunately, most of them do not discovered that my home computer is have any money to purchase a “store lacking some of the programs needed bought” item. A gift coupon book of to create the newsletter, and I simply promises makes a great gift and best can not afford them. So, this one will of all, it doesn’t cost anything. look a bit different. Materials: We are all trying hard to provide your 8 ½ by 11 heavy paper or youngsters with the best education cardboard for the cover possible under these Covid 19 restrictions. We have also discovered 10 pieces of 8 ½ by 11 paper some absolutely fabulous parents, glue and a stapler If you have any questions, please contact me, Cookie Stewart at who have been helping us tirelessly in Method: educating the children. [email protected] Cut the cover and paper into a large The first round of NWEA testing is Or call me at 508-398-1638 and oval. Have the child draw his or her please leave a message, because if I underway, and much to my surprise, face on the cover. my youngsters are just where they am teaching I do not answer my should be at this time in the year! Print the words “I promise” on a phone. I will return you call the same They are learning much better than I separate piece of paper and cut out in day. ever would have thought under these the shape of a cartoon dialogue I wish you and yours a wonderful conditions, thanks in large part to the bubble. Holiday season. Please stay safe and wonderful parents and their devotion On each of the interior pages have wear a mask. to their children. the child draw a picture of a chore or activity that they will willingly do when asked. These become the “I promise” coupons. (Example: set the table, take care of a pet, dry the dishes, clear the table, make the bed, help with the laundry, sing a song or tell a story, write a thank you note, help put away groceries, give a parent a hug or kiss before going outside, help clean the car, etc.) Glue the words “I Promise” onto the face picture and staple the packet together. Elementary School • December 2020 ® How Families Can Help Children Become Better Readers Dennis-Yarmouth Regional School District Title 1 Help your elementary schooler use Practice reading before tests To succeed on tests, children must six strategies to learn from reading comprehend what they read. As your child progresses in school, she will need strong reading Even math tests involve reading skills to excel in every subject. To help your child get the most instructions and questions. out of what she reads, encourage her to: To help your child 1. Look through the text, prepare for tests: noting interesting details, • Boost reading skills illustrations and charts. whenever possible. 2. Summarize what she reads Read together daily. using her own words. Introduce your 3. Ask herself, “What is the child to new words. main idea of this passage?” • Review schoolwork directions carefully. 4. Review key words and terms. What words are used often? Help She should pay attention your child practice following complex to words that are in bold directions. or italics. 5. Consider the purpose of the reading. Why does your child think the author Graphic organizers get to the point chose to write about this? Graphic organizers are diagrams that 6. Wonder aloud. Does a plot in help kids think about what they read. a novel remind your child Draw a large star with of a historical event she’s five points. Have your learned about? What does child write the title of your child think about a story he has read in what she learned? the center. Then, in the points of the star, he can use information from the reading to answer who, what, when, where and Review language with word games why. He’ll have a clearer picture of what he’s read in no time! It’s much easier to remember grammar rules if you use them often. Playing word games with you is a fun way for your child to do this. Here are some examples: • Take turns thinking of adjectives that describe something, Make time to cook and read! wet, misty, damp such as a rainy day. You might choose To get your child excited about reading, or overcast. How many can your child think of? try cooking together. Appoint your I, me, we and us in sentences. Have • Use the pronouns s child your kitchen helper and: one person say a sentence, and the other guess if it’ • Take turns reading a recipe aloud. grammatically correct. For example, “My friends and me will • Have him make a I will go together” is correct. “My friends and grocery list of the go together” is not. ingredients you need. • Define prefixes and suffixes (the beginnings and ends of non means “not,” as in • Cook and enjoy the words). For example, the prefix meal together. Then, ful, means “having,” as in healthful. nonstop. The suffix read a book related to the type or style of food you made. Copyright © 2020, The Parent Institute®, a division of PaperClip Media, Inc., www.parent-institute.com ® Elementary School • December 2020 Ask your child to be your family’s ‘reference librarian’ Suggest graphic novels Give your child practice searching for and Graphic novels offer finding accurate information online. Make more than just it fun by asking her a series of questions and entertainment. Many challenging her to find the answers. address relevant and Get started with questions like these: complex social issues. • Who was the first astronaut to walk on the moon? What else They cover diverse happened on that space mission? genres of literature, like mystery, • What was the largest dinosaur that ever lived? Where did it live? fantasy and historical fiction. • What happens if people don’t get enough sleep? Ask the teacher to suggest one Remember to adjust your questions to match your child’s interests your child might enjoy. and ability. When your child finds the information you requested, say, “I’m impressed. Tell me where you found that information.” Talk about ways to tell if a source is reliable. For lower elementary readers: • Pluto Visits Earth by Steve Metzger. When Pluto finds out that astrono- Build your child’s vocabulary to boost mers have renamed him a dwarf reading comprehension planet, he gets upset and travels to Earth to Having a large vocabulary helps children understand what demand that he be they read. They don’t have to stop reading to figure out a a real planet again. word’s definition and they can focus on the meaning of the entire passage. • Who Wants a To boost vocabulary: Tortoise? by Dave 1. Provide simple definitions. Keane. What do you When defining curious, do when you want a puppy for your say, “A curious person is birthday—and get a tortoise instead? eager to learn more.” For upper elementary readers: 2. Give relatable examples. “When that big box • Mr. Ferris and His Wheel by arrived in the mail, you Kathryn Gibbs Davis. See the were curious about what inspiration that led George Ferris was inside.” to create the Ferris wheel, which 3. Ask your child for examples. amazed audiences at the 1893 “Can you think of some- World’s Fair. one who was curious?” ” • Love, Amalia by Alma Flor Ada 4. Keep using the new word. and Gabriel M. Zubizarreta. Amalia “I’m curious about coun- has a very special relationship with tries in South America. her Abuelita. Abuelita always knows Let’s do some research.” the right thing to say and do, no matter what Amalia is feeling. : My third grader has always enjoyed reading, but lately Building Readers® Q she has begun to complain about books being “boring.” How Families Can Help Children Become Better Readers Publisher: Doris McLaughlin. What can I do to make sure she doesn’t lose interest? Publisher Emeritus: John H. Wherry, Ed.D. : Your child may be bored because she is choosing Editor: Rebecca Hasty Miyares. A books that are too easy. Many third graders can Copyright © 2020, The Parent Institute® (a division of PaperClip Media, Inc.) handle increasingly intricate story lines. Help her find P.0. Box 7474, Fairfax Station, VA 22039-7474 books on topics that interest her and that include some challenging 1-800-756-5525, ISSN: 1533-33021531-4901 words. Ask your child’s teacher for recommendations. www.parent-institute.com X02369220 Copyright © 2020, The Parent Institute®, a division of PaperClip Media, Inc., www.parent-institute.com Reading Readiness • December 2020 ® How Families Can Help Children Get Ready to Read Dennis-Yarmouth Regional School District Title 1 Inspire your preschooler’s love for books Songs can teach language skills Your preschooler has the best chance of being a strong reader Songs aren’t just fun to if you focus on books as something to be loved, not necessarily sing—they can also be something to be learned. important learning To encourage your child’s tools. Listening to desire to read: music together is one • Read together every day. Your more way to expose child will look forward to your child to words and language.