Madison Upper Elementary Update

Last week, I outlined three key priorities our staff will focus on for the remainder of the year: 1) improving student attendance, 2) implementing effective strategies to address and prevent defiant or disrespectful behaviors, and 3) strengthening reading fluency. These priorities are especially important for students in grades 3-5, and I’m eager to collaborate with you and your families to support these initiatives.

As we work together, I’ll be sharing data updates to keep you informed of our progress. Additionally, I’ll provide tips and resources to help your child successfully prepare for the transition to middle school.

Wishing you a wonderful week ahead!

Nate Pechaitis

Don’t let your child stay home unless they are truly sick. Consider that sometimes a stomach ache or headache is a sign of anxiety. Talk to teachers, school counselors, and other parents for advice on how to make your child feel comfortable and excited about learning.

Regular attendance is crucial in elementary school, starting as early as kindergarten. Missing just one day of school can result in losing 2.5 days of math learning and 1.5 days of language and literacy learning.

Attendance also plays a vital role in building social skills. Studies indicate that children who frequently miss school often exhibit lower social skills compared to their peers. These children also report feeling more stressed and disconnected from the school environment.

Currently, we have 362 students in grades 3-5, and 98 of them have 10 or more absences. This means over 25% of our upper elementary students are classified as chronically absent.

1. Tell your child how important regular attendance is.
   
2. Lay out school clothes the night before and have a regular bedtime. This can make the mornings easier.
   
3. Try not to schedule vacations during school time. When possible, try to schedule doctor’s appointments outside of school hours. If your child is home sick, ask the teacher about makeup work or things to do at home.
   
4. Make sure the school has your contact information. Stay in touch with teachers about academic progress, attendance, and behavior.
   

Defiant and disrespectful behavior can hinder learning for students, peers, and teachers. To address this, our staff has worked diligently during the second trimester to manage and reduce such behaviors through training and collaboration. On January 20th, teachers participated in a full-day professional development session to enhance PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) implementation. This included refining systems, relaunching initiatives, and practicing strategies to prevent, respond to, and reteach behaviors, fostering a positive learning environment.

Behavior referral data was analyzed to identify key issues, leading to the creation of a Precise Problem Statement (PPS) and an action plan. Part of this plan focuses on establishing consistent language for addressing defiant and disruptive behaviors.

Since January, we have observed significant improvement. There has been a notable decrease in defiant and disruptive behaviors leading to office referrals. Across the entire elementary school, we remain committed to building on this progress.

1. Establish Clear Expectations: Communicate specific behavior expectations at home and reinforce them consistently. Discuss the importance of respect and cooperation in school settings.
2. Encourage Open Communication: Foster an environment where children feel comfortable expressing their feelings and concerns. Listen actively and validate their emotions to help them feel understood.
3. Model Positive Behavior: Demonstrate respectful communication and conflict resolution in your interactions. Children learn by example, so showing them how to handle disagreements constructively can be very effective.
4. Collaborate with Teachers: Maintain regular communication with teachers to stay informed about your child's behavior and progress. Partnering with educators can help create a consistent approach to addressing behavioral issues.

• How easily and correctly students can read words without needing to decode them (accuracy);
• How efficiently students can read (speed);
• How well children read such that it sounds like spoken language (expression);
• And how successfully students can understand what they read (comprehension.)

Fluency in reading is essential for student success — not only for their time in school but also for the rest of their lives.

Why? Fluency is tightly connected to broader reading comprehension, as well as a student’s comprehension strategies. Oral reading fluency is an indicator of overall reading competence.

And children must understand what they are reading to successfully navigate school and the world beyond the classroom.

Less than half of our students are currently reading at a grade-level proficient fluency rate, indicating they struggle to comprehend grade-level content effectively. This highlights the urgent need for targeted interventions and support systems to enhance reading skills, ensuring students can access and engage with grade-level material successfully. We have been working with your child's teachers to really target reading fluency for the remainder of the year, leveraging evidence and research based strategies and instructional practices.

In the weeks ahead, teachers will encourage students to practice their fluency consistently at home. Your support in this effort by actively participating with your child is greatly appreciated. When families engage in fluency practice together, the impact can be truly transformative. Be on the lookout for these activities.

1. Daily Reading Practice: Set a Routine: Encourage children to read for at least 20 minutes each day. This can be done before bedtime or after school. Variety of Materials: Provide a mix of books, magazines, and online articles that match their interests to keep them engaged.
2. Model Fluent Reading: Read Aloud Together: Parents can read aloud to their children, demonstrating proper pacing, expression, and intonation. Echo Reading: Have children repeat sentences or passages after the parent reads them, helping them to mimic fluent reading.
3. Use Technology and Resources: Audiobooks: Encourage listening to audiobooks while following along in the text. This can help children hear fluent reading and improve their own skills. Reading Apps: Utilize educational apps that focus on reading fluency, offering interactive and engaging ways to practice.
4. Encourage Discussion and Comprehension: Ask Questions: After reading, ask open-ended questions about the story to encourage critical thinking and comprehension. Summarize Together: Have children summarize what they read in their own words, which reinforces understanding and retention.

TALK TO YOUR CHILD'S TEACHER - Find out where your child stands and what you can do to help?