Helpful+Documents+for+Parents

=I recommend that every parent with a child in first-fifth grade prints our reading strategies and keeps them on a clipboard or in a folder. Keep them handy so you can refer to them as your children read and do homework. They are available in a chart as well as in boxes. most primary teachers prefer to use the boxes so that they can cut them out and focus on one at a time.= ==



=Parents often have concerns and questions about handwriting. Our wonderful OTPT, Kris Friesen, did a presentation for teachers in January to give tips for improving student handwriting. Here is a helpful document that she tweaked for parents.= ==

=Our trainings on Conversations in Writing were a huge sucess. The following documents are handouts that are helpful for discussing your child's writing with them.= ==

Planning by practicing outloud and by using graphic organizers is an essential part of the writing process. Our 3rd-5th grade all uses this common planning tool.

I know this isn't a document, but I highly recommend the Scholastic webpage. It has ideas for seasonal reading activities that you can do at home, recommended book lists, and you can even sign up for a parent newsletter to be delivered to you e-mail address. The following is a link to their definition of "just right" books and leveled books: =[]= The DRA is mentioned in this article. It is the assessment that all K-5th grade students do twice a year. First-5th grade do it at the beginning of the year and the end of the year. Kindergarten does it around January or February and at the end of the year. Often teachers do an optional DRA for students mid-year when they have questions or concerns. DRA results are recorded as a number. Some book levels are marked by number and others by letter. It just depends on the publisher and the classroom teacher's preference. The following is a chart that correlates students scores as a number into leveled books listed by letter:

Park Hill has a school wide homework policy for 1st-5th grade. At back to school night, teachers will personalize this policy to include what to expect at specific grade levels.