Literacy Tips for Use at Home!
Literacy Spotlight: Nurturing Reading and Writing Skills at Home
Reading and Writing Correspondence: Encourage your child to write letters to family members or friends. Here are a few ways penpal connections improve literacy skills:
Writing Practice: Regularly writing letters helps with practicing spelling, grammar, and sentence structure. It provides a real-world context for using these skills, which can make writing practice more meaningful and memorable.
Reading Comprehension: Reading letters from a pen pal improves reading comprehension because it involves interpreting different writing styles and understanding varied vocabulary.
Vocabulary Expansion: Engaging with a pen pal exposes you to new words and phrases. The need to express thoughts clearly and creatively also encourages the use of a broader vocabulary.
Creativity and Expression: Writing letters allows for creative expression. Crafting personal messages or telling stories can help develop a unique voice and style, enhancing both writing skills and confidence.
Here are some Valentine's Day themed friendly letter templates to get you started with your penpal connections.
Social-Emotional Learning Focus for January: RESPONSIBILITY
This month’s focus is Empathy. One way to think about Empathy is “understanding and connecting with other people’s feelings.” Empathy is a practice that can help us grow strong relationships. Empathy is 1 of 3 traits we will focus on throughout the year that helps students Be Kind. Across grade levels, students will be developing skills like perspective-taking, conflict resolution, and leadership.
Have some fun connecting as a family this month while practicing Gratitude. Here are 2 “PurposeFull Pursuits” you can complete together!
1. Empathy is understanding and connecting with other people’s feelings. Schedule a family movie night so that you can specifically watch for feelings and emotions. Let everyone know that you’d like them to point out how the characters in the show are feeling and that you will pause periodically to discuss Empathy. As emotions are identified, invite one another to Empathize by sharing about a time they felt that way or imagining how they might be feeling in that moment.
2. Review the definition of Empathy as a family! Remember that Empathy is understanding and connecting with other people’s feelings. Find a time to sit in a circle together and celebrate all the ways you have seen each other practice Empathy. Take turns sharing responses to the following prompts or make up your own! Remember to practice Empathy as you listen to each other.
- What is 1 way a family member has shown you Empathy lately?
- Share about a time when you felt like someone really listened to you.
Conversation Starters:
- What does Empathy look like to you?
- Is it hard for you to share how you feel with others? Why or why not?
2024 - 25 Event Dates
- February 3 - PAWS Pride Assembly @ 10:00AM
- February 7 - NO SCHOOL
- February 12 - 4th Grade Hosts Come Dine With Us
- February 20 - 4th Grade Hosts Come Dine With Us
- February 27 - End of Trimester 2
- February 28 - NO SCHOOL - Professional Development Day for Staff
- March 3 - PAWS Pride Assembly @ 1:00PM
- March 5 - PTO meeting in library @ 4:30PM
- March 6 - 5th Grade Wax Museum
- March 11 - Come Dine with Us: 5th Grade
- March 14 - No School
- March 19 - Come Dine with Us: 5th Grade
- March 28 - No School - Professional Development Day for Teachers
