It's great to get back to school and I look forward to an amazing second semester. Now that routines and expectations are in place, we can dig deeper into every subject and use our new skills to do some truly fun activities. The next few months are crucial as they strengthen skills and begin to synthesize and apply what they know. To make the most of our time, each student has set individual reading and writing goals. Ask them what their goals are. They did a pretty good job choosing goals that were appropriate without much help. I love to see them own their growth and learning at such a young age. 
The new year also brings a new focus in homework. Last semester students needed to read each night and do an activity. This semester they will continue those activities and add a writing component. This is SO important for their growth and doesn't have to take much time. It helps them get more confident and automatic in applying their knowledge. Let them choose a special notebook or folder to get started to make it fun. If you need my help with this let me know and I can create one with your child. The important thing is that they have a special writing journal to use at home. Below are the basics to Homework 2018. This can also be found in their homework folder.
Read every day.
- Books will continue to come home each night for practice and review with you.
Write every day.
- Keep a journal and write at least one sentence about your day or a book you read.
1. Students stretch the word out and write the sounds they hear.
2. When they get stuck, support them by giving them their Alphabet Chart instead of telling them the spelling. You can also print one from the blog.
3. Let them read it back to you. (pointing to words and sounding them out)
4. If they know some sight words, I would let them find and copy them from the back of the alphabet chart. You can add other ones to the back as they learn them. If they can’t read them yet…just let them use phonetic spelling.
*** If you are doing this…you are practicing sounds, letters, blending, segmenting AND sight words. It is the best bang for your buck!
Practice letters and sounds.
- Finish learning any letters or sounds. Do the weekly sorts each night to help, and review vowels regularly. Prepare for spelling test on that sort on Fridays.
Practice blending and segmenting.
- The blog has word lists and directions for this.
Practice sight words.
· Look on the check-up for sight words to work on
Practice MATH skills.
- Identify numbers to 20 or higher.
- Writing numbers to 20, 50...100
- Counting to 20, 50…100
- Skip counting by 10s, 5s, to 100 and by 2s to 22
- Compare numbers and sets (greater than, less than, equal)
- Addition and Subtraction to 10
