Weekly News - Update

It was very nice to meet so many of you on Wednesday. Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to meet with met. I appreciate your effort. If you had to work or you were unable to come and you'd like to meet with me drop me a note in you child's planner, call me at the school (435-7824), or email me (mnolan@epschoolsri.com). I will be happy to me you before or after school. I can be at school as early as 7:15 and I am there most afternoons. Thank you for being wonderful parents that are truly vested in your child's education.

• This week has been a very busy week for all of us. Students finished taking all pre-assessments in Reading and Math. The Dibels Reading scores will provide me with information regarding any student who is reading below grade level. I will be writing PLP's (personal literacy plan) for any student who scored in the Intensive category. A PLP provides students with small group or individual instruction in the areas of fluency or comprehension. Dibels also has an easy CBM math assessment. Students are assessed on the computer. The scores on this assessment will also provide us with the names of students working below grade level in basic math skills. Small group instruction, in the classroom, will be provided for all students falling below level.
• Math - This week students continued to work on lessons involving place value, as well as multiplying and dividing whole numbers and decimals by base ten. Student also completed a lesson on exponents. Many students are having difficulty grasping the concepts and learning the new language. I find it difficult because so much is taught in each lesson. Please remind your children how important it is to be in school every day. If they are absent they will miss direct instruction and sometimes it's difficult to play catch up. Of course I understand that children do get sick we can't avoid that.
• Reading - This week we continued Text Structure. Students practiced compare and contrast with non-fiction articles. They worked independently and with a partner. I believe partner work is an important part of a child's learning. Sometimes when a teacher has finished a lesson some students just don't grasp the concept. It is helpful and often beneficial for students to hear other students give their interpretation of the lesson. Collaboration between students is always helpful.
• Please let me know if your child has not brought home their map project. Please encourage them to plan and complete one part of the project at a time. If they wait until the last minute it will become overwhelming. Breaking it into parts should ensure your child receiving a stronger grade.

As always thank you for your support and cooperation from the homefront. Enjoy the weekend!