Students will have homework and a story to read each night, except on Fridays. Sometimes work may be sent home to complete if the student did not finish it during the day. We will check homework each day, but I hope that you will check your child's work for correctness and put a check mark at the top. Use this time as one-on-one time with your child to see how they are progressing and what they may need extra help with. Of course there is no benefit if you just do it for him/her. :) I know that there are sometimes circumstances when homework cannot get done. I will give the student another day to bring it in. If forgetting becomes a habit, then we probably need to schedule a time to talk and see what we can do to remedy the situation.
Reading - I do expect students to read orally to someone for about 15-20 minutes each night. If they miss several words on a page have them reread the page instead of reading the whole story. Asking a question or two to check and see if he/she understands what they are reading lets you know they are really reading instead of just calling words!
A research report issued by the National Reading Panel states: The panel found that reading fluently improved the students' abilities to recognize new words; read with greater speed, accuracy, and expression; and better understand what they read. Evidence showed that repeated oral reading improved fluency and that reading practice also helped. However, the panel noted that independent silent reading should not be substituted for instruction.
Math - Later in the year, students will also have a half sheet of math facts to study in addition to their other work. These are facts your child will need to memorize - no counting on fingers! This is a skill a child needs to have before 3rd grade where they will begin memorizing multiplication facts.
Spelling - Students will be given a practice test of our spelling words on Monday of each week. If a student makes a hundred or misses only one, then he or she will be given an alternate list of more difficult words. All students will take their final test on Friday. For fun practice, I have posted all of our spelling words at a great website called www.spellingcity.com. Go to Find a List and type in my name Kelly Pensol. Choose the list according to the name of the story we are reading for the week. (ex. Getting Started - Week 1).
Reading - I do expect students to read orally to someone for about 15-20 minutes each night. If they miss several words on a page have them reread the page instead of reading the whole story. Asking a question or two to check and see if he/she understands what they are reading lets you know they are really reading instead of just calling words!
A research report issued by the National Reading Panel states: The panel found that reading fluently improved the students' abilities to recognize new words; read with greater speed, accuracy, and expression; and better understand what they read. Evidence showed that repeated oral reading improved fluency and that reading practice also helped. However, the panel noted that independent silent reading should not be substituted for instruction.
Math - Later in the year, students will also have a half sheet of math facts to study in addition to their other work. These are facts your child will need to memorize - no counting on fingers! This is a skill a child needs to have before 3rd grade where they will begin memorizing multiplication facts.
Spelling - Students will be given a practice test of our spelling words on Monday of each week. If a student makes a hundred or misses only one, then he or she will be given an alternate list of more difficult words. All students will take their final test on Friday. For fun practice, I have posted all of our spelling words at a great website called www.spellingcity.com. Go to Find a List and type in my name Kelly Pensol. Choose the list according to the name of the story we are reading for the week. (ex. Getting Started - Week 1).