For Your Information Frequently Asked Questions: This page contains answers to common questions of students and parents. Please tell me about homework. How can I arrange for a conference to meet with my child's teacher? What do I do with the Basal Reader when it is sent home? I am confused. Please explain the Spelling and Vocabulary words to me? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- Please tell me about homework. Every child is expected to read to his/her mom or dad for 10 minutes per night. If your child is still at the pre-reading stage, please read to your child for the suggested time. Have your child tell you about the pictures in the book prior to reading and identify words in the book that he/she may know. A MONDAY MEMO is sent home every Monday afternoon listing the homework assignments for the week. What are your child’s homework responsibilities? I expect students to do their best job on each homework assignment. All homework should be NEAT. All homework should be completed in pencil, unless otherwise indicated. Homework handouts are due the next morning. All written work, such as spelling homework, should be completed in the provided spiral homework notebook. Homework notebooks are due on Friday morning. What are the parent’s homework responsibilities? Parents are they key to making homework a positive experience for their children. Therefore, I ask that parents make homework a priority at home, provide necessary supplies, and a quiet homework environment. Please set aside a time every day when homework should be completed. This should be a time for your child to show you what he or she is learning in school.It should be a positive time. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- How can I arrange for a conference to meet with my child's teacher? All conferences are scheduled through the school office. Please call the school secretary to schedule a conference. Conferences are held at 8:30 AM (however, I prefer to meet at 8:15) and at 4PM. If there is a scheduling problem, please let the school secretary know and I will do my best to accomodate you.Back to Top ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- What do I do with the Basal Reader when it is sent home? The basal reader, which is used to teach skills, will be sent home for oral reading practice throughout the school year. Your child has been instructed to read ONLY the stories that have previously been read in class. I am asking that your child does NOT READ AHEAD in the basal reader. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- I am confused. Please explain the Spelling and Vocabulary words to me? SPELLING - Each week Spelling Words will be given. These words should be mastered by each first grader. Your child is expected to read and spell the spelling words. Spelling is an important part of our Language Arts Program. Therefore, it needs to be practiced each night. Each week your child will come home with a Spelling “Tic-Tac-Toe” sheet. Students should select their spelling homework, with parental guidance, from the “Tic-Tac-Toe” sheet. Select one activitiy per night. Remember you want to make a tic-tac-toe by choosing three activities in a row either across, up and down, or diagonally. After you complete an actitivy on the “Tic- Tac-Toe” sheet, be sure to cross it off on the sheet.Keep your child spelling homework in a spiral homework notebook . The homework notebook will be sent home at the beginning of each week and is due on Friday. The “Tic-Tac-Toe” sheet should also be returned in your child’s homework folder on Friday. HIGH FREQUENCY WORDS (VOCABULARY WORDS) - High Frequency Words will be given each week. These words should be mastered by each first grader. The High Frequency Words are the vocabulary words for the week. They are sight words your child should memorize. Many of these words can not be sounded out. The Vocabulary Bonus Words are also OPTIONAL. Your child, with your guidance, will decide if he/she would like to study these words. Again,these words should be memorized. Many of these words can not be sounded out. All Spelling Words, High Frequency Words, Vocabulary Bonus Words will be presented, discussed and studied in class through activities and games.