Frequently Asked Questions: This page contains answers to common questions
of students and parents.
- Can I send in goodies for my child's birthday?
- What supplies should my child have at home for homework?
- How can I contact you if I have a question/concern?
- What can I expect from my child in the first weeks of first grade?
- Should I correct my child's misspellings in homework?
- How can I support my child's reading and writing at home?
- My child is having difficulty with a homework concept. What should I do?
Can I send in goodies for my child's birthday?
Each child on his/her birthday will be recognized on his/her
special day. You may send in a NON-FOOD item (pencils, stickers)
to share. It is appreciated that you save ice cream, cupcakes,
or other sugared goodies for a home or other "party." Thanks in
advance for your cooperation and understanding.
What supplies should my child have at home for homework?
Your child should complete written tasks in pencil. Sometimes a
task may suggest coloring and/or gluing, so crayons/markers and glue are
also helpful to have at home. Your child may use any other additonal supplies
(fancy pencils, erasers, pencil cases, etc.) at home as well.
How can I contact you if I have a question/concern?
I encourage face-to-face conversations as much as possible, but
do check my e-mail often. If we are unable to set up a meeting in person, I
encourage you to e-mail me.
What can I expect from my child in the first weeks of first grade?
The shift from half-day Kingergarten to full-day first grade is a
large jump for most children. In the first few weeks, your child will be
adjusting to the new demands of school and will likely be tired by day's end
(especially if he/she has a long bus ride). Encouragement will help your
child make the transition more smoothly. Most of our time together in the first
weeks is spent establishing our community and setting up routines. Once
the group is settled in and adjusted, we revv up for more rigorous academics.
(I keep my expectations high, but give the children time to adapt in the
beginning. :-))
Should I correct my child's misspellings in homework?
Encourage your children to use their own conventions when
spelling, even if their end result is far from dictionary spelling. Your child is
developing his/her confidence as a writer, and frequent corrections can
discourage this. You may reinforce the spelling of any and all "word wall"
words once I've introduced them in the classroom. (You'll be surprised at
how your child will use these smaller words in problem-solving larger
words and how his/her spelling will improve naturally throughout the year. :-))
How can I support my child's reading and writing at home?
Reading- Read to your child. Read with your child (take turns).
Have your child read to you (if the book is at his/her level). Even if you
read to your child, enriching discussions still promote literacy
development. Your modeling supports the reading behaviors your child is learning to
use on his/her own in school. Also encourage your child to read labels,
signs, boxes if/when you come across them. Children enjoy using post-
its at home to stick up and read word wall words around the house.
Writing- Encourage your child to write shopping lists, make cards
for people (thank-you, birthday) or keep a journal. Any extra writing
practice (especially when it's your child's choice) will motivate him/her
as a writer in the classroom.
My child is having difficulty with a homework concept. What should I do?
Encouragement is always suggested first, but if your child
doesn't understand a task and seems to be reaching frustration, it is
time to stop. Praise your child for his/her efforts, and set the task aside.
If you jot me a note and send it in with your child, I can always set aside
time to go over the concept in school. I want all learners to feel
successful, especially with homework. (You may notice as the year progresses
that your child may need additional support with math concepts. This can
be common as children develop number sense and experiment with number
manipulation at different rates.)