Classroom Odds and Ends

    All students went home with a book bag on Friday! This is the daily book bag (clear, labeled with your child's name and a red or blue top). It goes home and returns to school daily, just like your child's red folder. Inside is a "just right book" for your child, our primary speak for a book that your child can read independently. If the book seems a bit too easy or too difficult for your child it is because I am still fine tuning your child's guided reading level. Levels reported after the previous school year can change over the summer, and some students are new to our district. The guided reading levels SCUSD uses are Fountas and Pinnell reading levels. Fountas and Pinnell are the last names of the reading experts who designed the assessments and the name of their published materials (you can Google them if you would ever like more detailed information regarding your child's reading level, grades K-5). Ideally, as mentioned at Back to School Night, a student enters first grade at a level "C" or higher, and leaves first at a level "I" or higher. Of course, children learn to read at different rates, and I intend to strengthen all reading skills as much as possible. If your child is decoding with fluency (reading at a high level), comprehension becomes a major focus. Students cannot advance through the levels without demonstrating adequate comprehension.
    Regarding other odds and ends, Braly library visits for the whole school have been postponed as we patiently wait for the district to provide a new library clerk. I will let you know when to expect Braly library books to go home. Also, after discussing with my grade level team, a permission slip for a challenger homework packet will be going out this week. This means challenger homework will begin September 30th for those who are interested. This is ideal, as that week has multiple minimum days due to Goal Setting conferences. Look for conference information in your child's red folder on Monday! Thanks!