Can you believe that Fall is already here? This first months of school have flown by! With the start of Fall comes our first testing window of the school year. Our students were recently assessed with the DRA2 test to find out the children's independent reading level. From this test we can also find out specific skills where students might need additional support. Your child's reading level was reported to you on the mid-term progress report that was sent home on Friday, September 26. We will discuss this more in depth at our November parent-teacher conferences. For now you can see how our students did overall on this test by visiting our Continuous Classroom Improvement page and look for DRA2 Reading Assessment Data. Another assessment students take this time of year is the DMA or District Math Assessment. We will be taking this test this week! This period's test will assess how well each child can problem solve as they break numbers apart and put them back together again. Just like the DRA, the DMA is given three times a year.

Our third Book of the Month of the new school year has been announced. It's a wonderful story to use as we practice making inferences while we read. You can find out more about Tar Beach by going to our Book of the Month Page.

Parents often ask what supplies we need on a regular basis. Pencil erasers and dry-erase markers are two items we need throughout the school year. If you are interested in helping us get items from our Wish List, you can visit that page by clicking here.

Our Million Word Campaign for the 2008-2009 school year is well underway! Many children have already read over 30 books! You can find your child's log in their T.E.A.M. Binder. Remember that in first grade our goal is to read more than 25 books by the end of the school year, which will equal about a million words! For more information on the Million Word Campaign, please click here.

Please make sure you check your child's T.E.A.M. Binder everyday. We are noticing that some binders go days without ever being checked. Important notes are sent home each week and some of those notes need to be signed and returned for special events. Our classroom newsletter, The Team Romero Tribune is sent home every Monday and our book order flyers are sent home with one of our newsletters each month. We have tried to make receiving this information as easy as possible with only one clearly marked folder in the binder. Please look over all notes and homework frequently. Thanks for your support!