Homework will not start until mid September and will be a journal that students use to draw and write about something learned that day or during that theme.  

For math practice, please take every opportunity to count, add, subtract, estimate, measure, notice time, find shapes, identify fractions (you have half an apple), etc.  Find computer games online or CD that uses math.  Number sense can be learned but it takes awareness and practice.   

Also, students should be read to or read themselves, or both, at least 20 min. each night.  A strong indicator of a proficient reader is being read to daily, and isn't that what we want for our children!  It can be fiction, non-fiction, magazines, comics, whatever!  It can be a book on CD or iPod in the car or while your making dinner or sitting at a siblings sports practice. Anytime you read to or with your child it benefits their growth with reading. 

Anonther strong indicator of becoming a good reader is having good phonemic awareness and that simply means letter and word sounds.  It's not written, just spoken.  Do this as often as you can.  Here are some examples.  

* Play with words by reciting poems, nursery rhymes, children's songs, jump rope rhymes, or anything that has rhyming or repetition.  Clap along, jump along, skip along, or move in some way while reciting.  Involving the whole body helps with retaining skills.

*  Or ask your child to change the word "top" by using a different beginning sound, "hop" for example. Ask them to change the vowel so it's "tip" instead.  Change the ending sound to get, perhaps "tot."  Silly words are ok, it's the sound we're working with here. 

* Or ask for a word that rhymes with another word.  For example, ask "what rhymes with cat?" and then ask for other words until you can think of no more.  

* Try this, how many "m" words  you can think of.  Use any letter, maybe the first letter of your child's name. 

* A game I still play with my own children in the car is to pick a topic and use the alphabet to name as many things in that topic as you can.  The topic might be food.  A apple, B banana, C carrots, etc.  Take turns, make suggestions, help your child and try to get through the entire alphabet. 

Much of this can be done in the car on your way to school or home.   Most of all, have FUN with your child as you help them on the road to reading, if they aren't already reading!  But even readers need practice.

Mrs. Dotterweich