PTA News
There are many exciting things happening with our TEPS PTA...
- Yeti Raffle - tickets are $10
- Membership Drive
- Sprit Wear Sale - coming soon!
- Colorfest Parking Volunteers
Information on all this and more can be found in the TEPS PTA September Newsletter.
For questions, to become a member or to volunteer please contact tepsptacougars@gmail.com.
Math News
Although starting a new school year can be a fun, exciting time of year, sometimes learning new math concepts can be challenging. Research shows that consistent home support has a positive influence on academic achievement. We all want to support our students both at school and at home.
FCPS has made friendly home resources available for each grade level to help families support their children in understanding and working through math concepts. Each math unit has an explanation of what your child is learning, what it looks like with models and strategies they are using in school, math vocabulary words and how you can help your child at home with both hands-on activities and some digital resources. The beginning of the school year is a perfect time to check out the links below!
Kindergarten Math Home Resources
First Grade Math Home Resources
Second Grade Math Home Resources
Another resource that is available to all FCPS students K-5 is iReady Math My Path and Learning Games. iReady My Path provides students with lessons based on their individual skill level and needs, so they can learn at a pace that is just right for them. These lessons are fun and interactive to keep your student engaged as they learn. iReady Learning Games allow students to practice math in fun and engaging ways, helping them to develop a positive view of math.
How to Log In:
- Students will gain access to iReady by logging in through Clever as they do during the school year.
- Students should log into their FCPS student account in a Chrome browser
- Select FCPS Bookmark folder
- Select Clever Portal
- Log in with Active Directory
ELA News
One very important thing you can do is to spend 10 to 15 minutes everyday reading to or with your child. If your child is not yet a reader, be sure to have them identify letters in the text and/or look at and talk about the pictures. Question and talk to your child about what is happening in the story. If your child is beginning to read or is already a reader, allow your child to read the words they know and encourage them to try reading the words they don’t know. Let them read and use the strategies they know to decode words. In order to be a better reader, students have to practice just like playing an instrument or a sport they love.
Having your child log-in to Lexia Core5 is another way for your child to practice needed literacy skills. It is important, however, that the students are working in Lexia independently. Lexia provides opportunities for students to work at their own pace through foundational skills, comprehension skills and vocabulary skills.
How can your child access Lexia Core5 at home?
- Log into a computer with the student’s FCPS username and password (student MUST be logged in as themselves): laptop, chromebook, desktop.
- Click student’s “FCPS Bookmarks tab” in left upper corner on toolbar
- Click “Clever portal” (Blue C)
- Click “Log in with Active Directory”
- Click the “Lexia Core5” icon (Blue world)
- Students will begin with a warm-up.
Once students are logged in, they will work alone through the activities. This program provides reteaching opportunities for students if they are struggling through skills and adapts to their needs. Sit back and support them by encouraging them to persevere and use the strategies they have learned. If students are receiving help from a sibling, parent or grandparent the lessons will progressively get more challenging and your child may have difficulty, becoming frustrated.
Students are using Lexia Core 5 during the school day as well. Each child has a goal of minutes for the week. During the school day, not all students have the opportunity to reach their weekly goal. By encouraging your child to spend some time at home a few times a week, we hope they will be able to reach their weekly goal. Research shows that students who reach their goal of minutes, will show reading growth.
If you have any questions about Lexia Core5, please feel free to contact us:
- Student username and password questions can be directed to the classroom teacher.
- Technology questions and/or Chromebook sign out needs can be directed to our User Support Specialist, Mrs. Tippett, at 240-236-2810.
- ELA content questions can be directed to Literacy Specialist, Karen Yoder @ karen.yoder@fcps.org or call: 240-236-2813
Contact Information
Email: michele.baisey@fcps.org
Website: https://education.fcps.org/tps/
Location: 7989 Rocky Ridge Road, Thurmont, MD, USA
Phone: 240-236-2800
Twitter: @ThurmontPrimary