 |
 |
|
 |
||
 |
||
|
Another successful music year is drawing to a close. The kids have worked so hard this year with all their music programs. It means the world to the children and me to see you at the programs. Thanks for being supportive of our music program. As we wrap up this year, 4th graders will be taking a recorder class. During this time they will learn to read the notes G-A-B-C on the treble clef staff, as well as knowing the fingerings for those notes. The school will provide the recorders. If your child has his or her own recorder and would like to use it, they are welcome to do so. We just finished Jazz Appreciation Month. Third graders are in the middle of learning the instruments in the orchestra. Early this month we will be dancing and moving to music from our neighboring country, Mexico. We will end the year with lots of singing, playing, and learning other musical symbols, songs, and dances! We are going to have a great time! Enjoy your summer and we will see you next year. May your day be filled with music…may your life be filled with song! What a great year this has been! We have participated in a variety of games and have been extremely active learning life long fitness skills. Currently, we are getting ready for Field Day which will be held on May 19. The morning session for 1st and 2nd grade will run from 9:15-12:00. Afternoon will find 3rd and 4th grade participating from 12:30-3:30. Any volunteers will be greatly appreciated. Field Day will be held at Challenger, so a bus permission slip will be sent home shortly. I encourage you as a family to stay active over the summer. Some ideas include going to the park, playing some basketball, going for a bike ride, taking a family walk, swimming, etc. Get out and enjoy, but remember to drink plenty of water. I will be looking forward to seeing you in the fall. Thanks to everyone for such a great school year.
Researchers have uncovered evidence to suggest that the impact of summer reading loss on students in general and on at-risk students in particular, is significant. Of all the activities in which children engage outside of school, time spent actually reading is the best predictor of reading achievement- the more students read, the better readers they become. The research indicates also that many students spend pitifully little time reading outside of school - about 10 minutes. The International Reading Association suggests that parents look for reading materials that relate to interests that a child enjoys, such as baseball, swimming, animals, or nature. While reasonable limits should be set for television viewing, television programs and age-appropriate movies that are based on books can be a catalyst for reading. When watching TV, reduce the volume and engage the captioning feature so that students are encouraged to read the words on the television screen. Every word that is read counts. Daily routines provide reading opportunities. Cooking, using the phone book, reading the television listing in the newspaper, looking for information on the internet, reading directions for using a new gadget, or reading a brochure or article about a place to which the family may travel during the summer can all provide authentic reading experiences. Children can read on the way to a destination, at the park, or while waiting for an appointment. It is important to create a positive climate for reading and to model for children how we use reading material to extend our own interests and acquire information. Let children see us reading and talking about what we’ve read. Sometimes as parents we send the message that reading is a chore: something that must be finished before we can proceed to more active and enjoyable activities. Keep in mind that reading books that seem slightly below a child’s reading level or books that have become “old favorites” can help a developing reader to build confidence and fluency. Current areas of study: Field Trips: We will leave immediately after announcements on these days, so students need to be on time in order to attend. Students need to have turned in their permission slip, bring a disposable sack lunch and drink (no lunch boxes please), wear comfortable shoes, and a hat and sunscreen are advisable. If you would like to volunteer to go and help with the students, please contact your child’s teacher. |
|
 |
||
