Madison Upper Elementary Update

Two weeks ago, I shared three key priorities for our staff to focus on for the remainder of the year: 1) enhancing student attendance, 2) implementing effective strategies to address and prevent defiant or disrespectful behaviors, and 3) strengthening reading fluency. Along with providing updates on upcoming events, I’d like to share our progress in these areas. I also want to take a moment to sincerely thank you for your commitment to ensuring your child gets the most out of their elementary school experience.

Wishing you a wonderful week ahead!

Nate Pechaitis

MON - MAR 3 - Student Council Meeting - Pickup at 4:30

WED - MAR 5 - Bible Release - 10-11am

THU - MAR 6 - Noon Dismissal - Records Day

FRI - MAR 7 - Noon Dismissal - Records Day

FRI - MAR 7 - PJ Day for Jose!

MON - MAR 10-12 - Smiles on Wheels

TUE - MAR 11 - PATT Meeting at 3:45

THU - MAR 13 - Noon Dismissal - Parent Teacher Conferences

FRI - MAR 13 - PATT Lock-in for Lane

Schools, families, and the community working together can create a sense of belonging, reinforcing the importance of education and school attendance for the success of the next generation. Let’s commit to prioritizing regular attendance throughout the school year.

124 third, fourth, and fifth graders had perfect attendance for the whole month of February! Let's keep it up. Parents, thank you for making the commitment to getting your child to school every day. Let's see how many can get perfect attendance for the month of March!

Tips for Parents to Help:

1. Encourage a Growth Mindset:

   • Remind your child that challenges are opportunities for growth. Celebrate their efforts, not just their successes.

2. Break Tasks into Manageable Steps:

   • Help your child tackle difficult assignments by breaking them down into smaller, more manageable parts. This can reduce feelings of being overwhelmed.

3. Create a Structured Routine:

   • Establish a consistent daily routine that includes time for homework and relaxation. Predictability can help reduce anxiety around tasks.

4. Promote Open Communication:

   • Encourage your child to express their feelings about schoolwork. Listen to their concerns and validate their experiences.

5. Model Positive Behavior:

   • Demonstrate respectful and constructive behavior in your interactions. Children often mirror the actions of adults.

6. Provide Positive Reinforcement:

   • Acknowledge and reward positive behaviors when your child engages in tasks rather than avoiding them. This can motivate them to continue.

7. Encourage Social Connections:

   • Facilitate opportunities for your child to engage with peers in positive settings. Building strong friendships can help reduce the need for negative attention-seeking behaviors.

By working together, we can create a supportive environment that encourages students to face challenges head-on and fosters respectful interactions. Thank you for your continued partnership in this important effort!

This week, we focused on learning new reading fluency routines and strategies in the classroom. Be sure to ask your child about them—they’re doing an excellent job! You should have received communication from your child’s teacher regarding reading fluency practice. One of the activities we worked on is Partner Reading, where students alternate roles as a coach and a reader while practicing fluency passages. We also explored strategies like Cloze Reading, Choral Reading, Echo Reading, and Read, Read Back, Read Again. Encourage your child to teach you these strategies and practice them together at home!