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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 three 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 be developing an on-going spelling list from the conferences that we hold together. We will also be taking words from her/his 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 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. I understand that there will be nights where completing homework is just not an option, ski club nights, late soccer games, family visits, etc. On these occasions please try to write a short explanation (“soccer game”, “family night”) on the homework sheet and I will be happy to stamp it. Also, please help to remind your child that the homework sheet must be signed and returned each day. It is my intention that homework is their responsibility, not yours! 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 9:00 and 11:00 (2nd/3rd split, 3rd graders) in the morning, and from 11:45 – 12:30 (2nd grade homeroom) in the afternoon. I would be doing language arts at these times so it would be a time to just try to keep the class focused on the centers and activities. Other times are certainly open as well. 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 |