September Salutations
From Mr. Mauntler’s room

Reading

We will be beginning our Guided Reading program in just a few short weeks. Three to four days a week your child will meet in a small group with me to read books at his/her instructional level. In these groups we will be practicing our fluency, word attack skills, phonics, and comprehension. We will continue to read stories as a whole group, as well as poems that incorporate phonics. Your child may be ready for Literature circles. He/She will be asked to complete assignment for a certain chapter at home. They will be meeting in small groups to discuss the chapter and then move on to a new chapter until they have read/discussed elements of the whole book. The period of time depends on how far they go each day.

Writing/Spelling

In two weeks we will be starting a writing workshop where your child and I develop writing skills through one-to-one interaction during writing time. We will also develop a spelling list from the conferences that we hold together. We will also be taking words from your child’s writing assignments. Your child should be bringing home a spelling list within the next two - four weeks. Please look on the homework assignment sheet for spelling test times and study nights.

Homework

It is very important that your child complete his/her homework each night. If for some reason the homework does not get finished, please do not sign the sheet. Also, please help to remind your child that the homework sheet must be signed and returned each day.

If you ever have any questions or concerns about an assignment I send home please write me a note on the homework sheet or call me here at school.

Book Orders

I will try to send home a book order every other month. Before sending one home, I spend some time with the students identifying appropriate books. Please do not feel pressured to buy any of these books. I am pointing out books that I feel are written at an appropriate level.

It is easiest for me if you can pay for the books by writing out a check to the book order company. If this is not possible, it will still be okay to send cash.

Parent Volunteers

If there were any parents who would like to come in and help during the week I would appreciate the help. The time that I could most use the help is between 8:00 and 11:40 in the morning. I would be doing guided reading at this time so it would also be a time to just try to keep the class focused on the centers and activities. Other times are certainly open as well. I would have papers to organize and look at and/or questions to answer from the students.

Please send me a note with the homework assignment sheet if you think you would like to give some time to the class and myself. Thank you.

I am looking forward to working with your child this year and meeting all of you. This is going to be a great year!

Sincerely,

Ben Mauntler

http://www.onekama.k12.mi.us/e2006/g2m/