Welcome to the New School Year!
As the Literacy and Social Studies Instructional Supervisor and Coach in the River Edge School District, I would like to welcome everyone back for another great school year. Our students have a lot of exciting activities to look forward to in the areas of Literacy and Social Studies! |
ReadingThe most powerful way to enhance your child's reading comprehension is to read to them, read with them, and offer opportunities for conversations about literature.
It is important to take time each day to read aloud to your child and discuss what you are reading. Ask your child about what he or she is reading in school or independently. These moments shared together are treasured memories children carry with them forever. "What is a 'just right book'?" You may hear your child using the phrase 'just right book' when checking out a book at the library or browsing through books at the local book store. A 'just right book' is just that- a book that is 'just right' for your child. It is a book that your child will feel comfortable with and will enjoy reading on his/her own. A 'just right book' takes into account your child's reading ability (his/her reading level). It should not be too difficult, yet not be too easy. When opening a book, take the 5 finger test. If there are more than 5 words per page that your child can't read, it is not a 'just right' fit. On average, two or three challenging words per page would be suitable for a child's independent reading material. Remember, you are your child's first teacher and role-model, so find time in your day to spend twenty minutes reading something you enjoy together...you'll be glad you did! |
WritingStudents work on three main types of writing in school: Opinion, Informational, and Narrative. Encourage your child to write at home, as well.
Opinion writing is an outlet for your child's feelings and thoughts to be heard. This can be empowering for many children. Opinion writing evolves into persuasive pieces. Have your child try to "convince" you when he or she wants a new item or privilege by writing a persuasive letter. You may be pleasantly surprised and inclined to agree! Informational pieces provide students with opportunities to communicate what they know or have learned. Writing recipes with directions or fact sheets about animals your child has studied are fun ways to work on informational writing at home. Narrative writing is popular with many children because it allows their imaginations to soar! It also provides opportunities to chronicle events from real life as they see it. Creative stories and personal journals fall under the narrative category of writing. |
Social StudiesStudies Weekly
Kindergarten through fourth grades enjoy a variety of Social Studies topics in a colorful newsletter aptly named, Studies Weekly. With classroom activities accompanying the newsletter, our eager readers love this fun, engaging format! The Concept Studies Weekly presents the history of our great nation, as well as our state, with care and passion. This unique approach to teaching combines a fun and engaging student magazine kids love, with a concise teaching program. Studies Weekly publications have been proven to raise student achievement, so our students are prepared when it comes to required state testing. Studies Weekly covers 100% of national and state social studies standards. Social Studies Alive The fifth and sixth graders use the Social Studies Alive! program which is not just a wonderful student edition textbook with integrated historical art, but also an interactive online student notebook for every child to engage in . We integrate Social Studies, Art, Technology and Literacy into daily lessons. Visit the website and take a look! |
Be a Learning Hero: Read With Your Child!
Many parents want to read with their children and find themselves asking, "How do I get started?" or "What book should I choose?" These are valid questions and there are resources available to help guide you and your child along the way. Be a Learning Hero is a New Jersey Department of Education recommended website that provides a user friendly guide to help you play an active role in your child’s education. It puts the most trusted, easy to use resources at your fingertips, giving you the information you need.
Follow this link to the Reading Library, where you can search for recommended books by grade level that come with discussion guides, vocabulary lists and activities for you and your child: http://bealearninghero.org/reading-library/
So, what are you waiting for? Go ahead, be a learning hero!
Many parents want to read with their children and find themselves asking, "How do I get started?" or "What book should I choose?" These are valid questions and there are resources available to help guide you and your child along the way. Be a Learning Hero is a New Jersey Department of Education recommended website that provides a user friendly guide to help you play an active role in your child’s education. It puts the most trusted, easy to use resources at your fingertips, giving you the information you need.
Follow this link to the Reading Library, where you can search for recommended books by grade level that come with discussion guides, vocabulary lists and activities for you and your child: http://bealearninghero.org/reading-library/
So, what are you waiting for? Go ahead, be a learning hero!