September 23rd 

Welcome to the 2nd Six Weeks!

As we begin the second six weeks of school, we want to remind parents that Parent-Teacher Conference Day will take place on Monday, September 30th, starting at 1:15 PM. Reach out to your child's teacher to set up a face to face or phone conference.  Students will be released early that day at 12:45 PM, so please plan accordingly. We also have some exciting weeks ahead! Be sure to check the calendar below for details on Homecoming Week, Battle of the Bell Week, and Fire Safety Week—all of which are dress-up weeks. We encourage everyone to participate and show their school spirit!

Looking ahead, on October 31st, students will participate in a school-wide Trick or Treating event. Please note that this will be a student-only event due to the number of students filling the hallways. To make this event a success, we are asking for candy donations, so please refer to the calendar for important dates and further details.

We look forward to a fun and engaging six weeks ahead!

Report Cards Going Home This Thursday

This Thursday,  report cards will be sent home with your child. Please take the time to review your child’s progress, sign the report card, and send it back to their teacher.  If your child is currently failing any subjects, it is especially important to attend the upcoming Parent-Teacher Conference to discuss how we can work together to support their success. If you haven’t already scheduled a conference, please reach out to your child’s teacher as soon as possible via Seesaw, email, or by calling the school.

Parent-Teacher Conferences – Important Information

As we approach Parent-Teacher Conference Day on September 30th, we wanted to provide an overview of what will be discussed during our time together. These conferences are an essential opportunity for us to work together to support your child's academic growth.

During the conference, teachers will share the following:

Reading Levels: We will discuss your child's reading level as measured by both the online RenStar reading assessment and their BAS  reading level to give a well-rounded view of their progress.

  Math Levels: Your child's current math level will be shared, along with any areas of strength and opportunities for improvement.

Growth Plans: We are committed to ensuring that every student grows at least one academic year. Teachers will explain the steps we are taking to support this growth and how we will monitor your child’s progress throughout the year.

Additionally, we will present a Parent Compact, which outlines the commitments made by the school, teachers, and parents to support your child’s learning. This compact is designed to strengthen our partnership and ensure we are all working together toward your child’s success.We look forward to meeting with you and discussing how we can best support your child’s educational journey! 

Guided Reading Begins Tuesday, September 24th 

We are excited to announce that Guided Reading will start this Tuesday, September 24th! This means your child will begin bringing home books to read each night. We kindly ask for your support in making nightly reading a part of your routine.

Here are simple steps to guide you in reading with your child at home:

1. Introduce the Book

   - Look at the Cover**: Show the cover and ask your child what they think the book might be about.

   - Discuss the Title and Author**: Point out the title and author, explaining what they do.

   - Preview the Pictures**: Flip through the pages to look at pictures and ask your child what they think might happen in the story. This helps build anticipation and curiosity.

   - Activate Prior Knowledge**: Ask your child if they’ve read a similar story or experienced anything like what they see in the pictures.

 2. Start Reading Together

   - Choral Reading: Begin by reading the text together. This helps build fluency as they hear you model good reading.

   - Sound Out Words: When your child encounters a tricky word, encourage them to sound it out or use picture clues.

   - Pause to Ask Questions: While reading, ask questions like “What do you think will happen next?” or “How do you think the character is feeling?”

3. Encourage Participation

   - Echo Reading**: You read a sentence or passage first, then have your child repeat it back.

   - Take Turns Reading**: Let your child read a page or a few lines, then take turns. This encourages confidence and independence.

   - Point to the Words**: Ask your child to follow along by pointing to each word as you read. This helps with word recognition.

 4. Use Strategies for Difficult Words

   - Break it Down: Show your child how to break big words into smaller parts.

   - Use Picture Clues: Remind your child to look at pictures for context clues.

   - Skip and Come Back: If a word is too hard, skip it, and come back to it after finishing the sentence.

5. After Reading

   - Discuss the Story: Ask your child what they liked or didn’t like about the book. Encourage them to retell the story in their own words.

   - Ask Comprehension Questions: Ask questions like, “What was the problem in the story?” or “What lesson did the character learn?”

   - **Make Connections**: Help your child relate the story to their own life, another book, or an event they know about.

 6. Praise and Encourage

   - **Celebrate Efforts**: Give lots of praise for effort, even if they struggle with some words.

   - **Reinforce Progress**: Let your child know that with each reading session, they are becoming a stronger reader.

7. Daily Routine

   - Set a Reading Time: Make reading a regular part of your daily routine—whether it’s before bed or after school.

   - Keep the Momentum: Allow your child to choose books they’re excited about to keep their interest alive.

These steps make reading at home enjoyable and help build your child’s confidence and skills as a reader.

Questions to ask your child before, during, and after reading

Here are some great questions to ask your child before, during, and after reading their Guided Reading book to help them engage with the text:

Before Reading:

- **Look at the cover and pictures**: What do you think this book will be about?

- What do you already know about this topic?

- What do you think will happen in the story?

- Who do you think the main character is?

During Reading:

- What is happening in the story right now?

- How do you think the characters are feeling?

- What do you think will happen next?

- Are there any words or parts that are confusing? Let’s look at them together.

- What picture clues can help you understand the story?

After Reading:

- What was your favorite part of the story?

- Who was your favorite character, and why?

- What was the problem in the story, and how was it solved?

- Did the story end the way you thought it would? Why or why not?

- What did you learn from the book?

These questions help build comprehension and encourage critical thinking skills as your child reads.

Practicing Sight Words 

Here’s a list of fun and effective ways to practice sight words with your child:

1. **Flashcards**: Make flashcards and go through them daily. You can use store-bought ones or create your own with index cards.

2. **Sight Word Bingo**: Create a bingo board with sight words, then call out words for your child to find.

3. **Word Hunt**: Look for sight words in books, magazines, or even on signs during a walk or drive.

4. **Writing in Sand or Shaving Cream**: Let your child practice writing sight words with their finger in sand, shaving cream, or on a chalkboard.

5. **Rainbow Writing**: Have your child write sight words using different colored crayons or markers.

6. **Play "I Spy"**: Say, “I spy a word that starts with..." and give clues to help your child find the sight word.

7. **Magnetic Letters**: Use magnetic letters on the fridge to build sight words.

8. **Sight Word Songs**: Sing the sight words to familiar tunes or make up your own catchy songs to help them remember the words.

9. **Clap, Stomp, and Spell**: Say the sight word aloud, then clap, stomp, or jump for each letter as you spell it out.

10. **Memory Game**: Make two sets of sight word cards and play a memory-matching game.

11. **Sight Word Hopscotch**: Write sight words in each hopscotch square and have your child say the word before they hop onto it.

12. **Write with Fun Tools**: Practice sight words with chalk, dry-erase markers, or colorful pens to make it more engaging.

13. **Create a Sight Word Wall**: Display words your child is learning on a wall at home and review them regularly.

14. **Use Sight Word Apps**: There are many apps and online games that make learning sight words fun and interactive.

15. **Play "Tic-Tac-Toe"**: Use sight words instead of X’s and O’s in a game of tic-tac-toe.

Using a variety of these activities keeps sight word practice fun and helps your child learn through different methods.

Hispanic Heritage Month, celebrated from September 15th to October 15th, recognizes the histories, cultures, and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. It was established to honor the rich heritage and cultural influence of Hispanic communities in the U.S. 

 Why September 15th?  

The celebration starts on **September 15th** because it is the anniversary of independence for several Latin American countries:  

- Costa Rica  

- El Salvador 

- Guatemala  

- Honduras  

- Nicaragua  

These countries declared independence from Spain in 1821. Additionally, Mexico celebrates its independence on September 16th, and  Chile on September 18th.

Origins of Hispanic Heritage Month  

- It began as **Hispanic Heritage Week** under President **Lyndon B. Johnson** in 1968.

- President **Ronald Reagan** expanded it to a full month in 1988 to allow for more time to celebrate the cultural contributions of Hispanic Americans.

Contributions and Themes  

Hispanic Heritage Month highlights the influence of Hispanic culture in areas like:

- **Art**: Renowned artists like **Diego Rivera** and **Frida Kahlo**.

- **Music and Dance**: The global popularity of **salsa**, **merengue**, and **mariachi** music.

- **Culinary Arts**: Traditional Hispanic foods that have become staples in the U.S., such as tacos, empanadas, and tamales.

Each year, the U.S. government often selects a different theme to focus on specific aspects of Hispanic culture and history. The month includes educational events, cultural celebrations, and historical recognitions.