Friday, October 16, 2015

No Before-School Program Dates

Please note that the Before-School Program will be cancelled on mornings with a delayed opening.  Also, there will be no classes on the following days due to faculty meetings.

November 10
December 1
January 5
February 2
March 1
April 5
May 3
June 7

Monday, October 5, 2015

Help Sheldon Grow!


We don't give homework in Title 1, but I want to make sure that all my students read every night.  I'm hoping Sheldon will help me to motivate my reluctant readers.  My students are encouraged to bring home a book from my personal library.  They can keep it for as long as they need to.  They can read it on their own, to a parent, to a buddy (sibling, friend, pet, stuffed animal), or a parent can read it to them.  Each book comes with an activity or a few questions to answer.  When the student returns the book, he/she can add a piece to Sheldon.



Look at how much Sheldon has grown already!  How long will he get?




Why Can't I Skip My Twenty Minutes of Reading Tonight?



“Why Can’t I Skip My Twenty Minutes of Reading Tonight?”

Let’s figure it out - mathematically!

  • Student A reads 20 minutes five nights of every week.
  • Student B reads only 4 minutes a night....or not at all!

Step 1:  Multiply minutes a night x 5 times each week.
  Student A reads 20 minutes x 5 times a week = 100 minutes per week.
  Student B reads 4 minutes x 5 times a week = 20 minutes.

Step 2:  Multiply minutes a week x 4 weeks each month.
  Student A reads 400 minutes a month.
  Student B reads 80 minutes a month.

Step 3:  Multiply minutes a month x 9 months per school year.
  Student A reads 3,600 minutes in a school year.
  Student B reads 720 minutes in a school year.

Student A practices reading the equivalent of ten whole school days a year.
Student B gets the equivalent of only two school days of reading practice.

By the end of 6th grade, if Student A and Student B maintain these same reading habits, Student A will have read the equivalent of 60 whole school days.  Student B will have read the equivalent of only 12 school days.  One would expect the gap of information retained will have widened considerably and so, undoubtedly, will school performance.  How do you think Student B will feel about him/herself as a student?

Some questions to ponder:

  • Which student would you expect to read better?
  • Which student would you expect to know more?
  • Which student would you expect to write better?
  • Which student would you expect to have a better vocabulary?
  • Which student would you expect to be more successful in school….and in life?

http://classroom.jc-school.net/read/skpread.html

Reading Groups Have Begun!

Our reading groups are up and running, and we're off to a great start! Students who used the Lexia Reading Core5 program last year jumped in right where they left off.   It was nice to hear the positive comments they had about the program for the kids who were new to it.  Click here to view a video demonstration of Lexia Reading Core5. 




Aside from working on the Lexia program, students will receive targeted instruction in their area of need, which may include phonics, fluency, comprehension strategies, and written response skills.  If you have any questions regarding your child's instruction or progress, please do not hesitate to contact me at 485-9890, ext. 1021 or by email at cminervini@sau15.net.

Monday, August 31, 2015

Welcome Back!

Welcome back!  I hope you have enjoyed your summer vacation.  Stop by and tell me about all the great books you read over the summer.  What was your favorite?  

I am looking forward to beginning reading groups within the next couple of weeks.  We will be using the Lexia Reading Core 5 computer program again this year, as well as working on specific phonics and comprehension skills. 

Here is a poem for you to enjoy.

School
by
Winifred C. Marshall


School bells are ringing, loud and clear;
Vacation’s over, school is here.
We hunt our pencils and our books,
And say goodbye to fields and brooks,
To carefree days of sunny hours,
To birds and butterflies and flowers.
But we are glad school has begun.
For work is always mixed with fun.
When autumn comes and the weather is cool,
Nothing can take the place of school.


Tuesday, June 23, 2015

I'm So Proud of You!!


We have come to the end of the year.  I can't believe how fast it has gone by!  I am so proud of all the hard work you have all done!  

Because the majority of our students consistently reached their Lexia usage goals, they were treated to a pizza luncheon!

3rd Grade Pizza Luncheon

Have a great summer, and don't forget to 
READ! READ! READ!!

Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Congratulations Windy!

Congratulations Windy!

Windy was a steady and focused worker.  
She had her mind set on a goal, and she achieved it!  
We are very proud of you! 




Tuesday, May 5, 2015

Poem of the Week ~ May

MAY
May’s a month of happy sounds,
The hum of buzzing bees,
The chirp of little baby birds
And the song of a gentle breeze.
The grass is green.
Flower blossoms I have seen.
The days are warm.
By evening it cools.
It’s time to find the garden tools.

Friday, April 24, 2015

Congratulations Nathan!

Congratulations Nathan!

Congratulations to Nathan for completing the entire Lexia Reading Core5 program.  Nathan went above and beyond expectations by working on the program at home!

We are very proud of you, Nathan!  



Nathan is currently reading Torn by Margaret Peterson Haddix.

Some of Nathan's favorites...
Favorite Genres:  Science Fiction, Humor
Favorite Subject in School:  Math
Favorite Sports:  Baseball and Football

Congratulations Kylie!

Congratulations Kylie!

Congratulations to Kylie for completing the entire Lexia Reading Core5 program!  Kylie worked hard everyday, even coming in before school started to work on the program.  

Miss Weldon and I are so proud of you!!


"What I liked about Lexia was that even when you're learning, you're still having lots of fun." ~ Kylie

A little more about Kylie...
Kylie is currently reading How to Tame a Bully by Nancy Willcox.
Kylie's favorite book is The Homework Machine by Dan Gutman.
Kylie's favorite type of book to read is fantasy.
Kylie's favorite subject in school is math.

Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Friday, April 3, 2015

In Their Words...

In Their Words

I asked the kids what they like about the Lexia program, and here is what they said...




Lexia helps you learn and have fun at the same time.                                                                      ~ Kylie
                            
                    
  I like the animation in Lexia.
                         ~ Windy


I like Lexia because it helps kids learn.  
    ~ Minela



My favorite things in Lexia are Building Sentences and Advanced Word Chains.
                            ~ Thomas


I like Lexia because it's a good place to learn.
~ Elizabeth


Lexia is awesome!
                    ~  Jaeden

        Lexia is really fun.

                  ~  Brayden


I like the animals.    
                 ~ Mia    


Lexia is fun and it helps kids learn.
                                              ~ Michael

Lexia is a fun program, and you can learn things by having fun.
                        ~  Natalie


I love Lexia!
~ Nick
Lexia is fun!
        ~ Nathan


Lexia can really teach you to how to read better.
                                                        ~ Emma



Lexia is always fun!!
                                         ~ Sasha

Lexia is awesomer than an awesome possum.
                                                               ~ Logan


Lexia is funny.
                  ~ Andrew





Thursday, April 2, 2015

Congratulations!



Congratulations!


You have caught 7 bugs, and can now take your bug catcher home!  
Great Job!

Sasha

Kylie

Nathan

Elizabeth

Windy

Jaeden

Nevaeh


Ben


Natalie

Sarah

Logan

Catch the Lexia Bug

Catch the Lexia Bug 

Catch the Lexia Bug is an incentive program we put into place to raise the kids' excitement about working on the Lexia program. Each time a student works hard on Lexia, he/she gets a bug stamp. After collecting 10 stamps, the student puts a bug sticker on his/her "bug catcher".  When they reach 7 bugs, they can take their bug catchers home.  The kids love catching the bugs!!



           


Bug Catchers







Monday, March 30, 2015

Working Hard!

Working Hard... 

During small group reading time, students either work on the Lexia Reading Core 5 program, read with a teacher, write answers to questions about the story they are reading, or work with a teacher on specific skills.



Oscar

Andrew

Ben

Natalie

Thomas, Oscar, Ben

Nevaeh


Michael, Brayden, Mia

Hunter

Nick

Miss Weldon and Elizabeth






Congratulations 4th Grade!


CONGRATULATIONS 4TH GRADE!

Thomas
Oscar

Nevaeh


Oscar, Ben, Thomas










Congratulations 5th Grade!




CONGRATULATIONS 5th Grade!

Sarah
Destinee
Nathan
Kylie

Windy

Sasha


Nick


Congratulations 3rd Grade!

CONGRATULATIONS! 
YOU'VE WORKED HARD FOR THOSE CERTIFICATES!




Natalie


Mia

Brayden
Jaeden
Sadija
Michael
Logan

Elizabeth


Andrew
Madison

Hunter