January Activities

Hi! I apologize for not updating this for some time! I promise to try to be more on top of things in the future! I'd like to give you some "at-home" ideas for bridging classwork & home for reading & math. Here goes:

NUMBER WORK
*Use the 100 grid that I sent home to have your child pick out numbers that are even (#'s ending in 0, 2, 4, 6, or 8) & numbers that are odd (#'s ending in 1, 3, 5, 7, & 9).

*Name a number & have your child point to it on the grid

*Point to a number & have your child name it

*Give your child 2 numbers & have him/her tell you which one is larger or smaller

*Have your child practice writing the numbers from 0-100 without looking at the grid

ADDITION & SUBTRACTION
*Help your child practice math facts using flashcards

*Use a number line to show that when we add, we count up the line and when we subtract, we could backwards on the line

*Use manipulatives like cereal pieces, Skittles candies, jelly beans, etc. to "work out" problems * Mix up some addition & subtraction problems on a paper & have your child solve them

*Draw attention to the concept when practicing: Addition means we're putting numbers together, so the answer will always be higher, or greater, than the numbers being added. Subtraction means we're taking numbers apart, so the answer will always be smaller, or less than, the top number from which we are subtracting from.

*Have your child write out all the ways to make numbers. For instance: Ways to Make 8: 1+7, 6+2, 4+4, 5+3, 10-2, 12-8, etc.

TELLING TIME
*Take every opportunity to use an analog clock (clock with hands) to help your child tell time

*Draw attention to the fact that whenever the long hand, or the minute hand, is on the 12, we say, "o'clock," meaning on the hour. Whenever the minute hand is on the 6, we say, "thirty," or half-past the hour

*For learning to tell time to the half-hour, the hour hand, or short hand, will be in between 2 numbers, not directily pointing to one. I tell the students to see which number is smaller and say aloud or write that number. This is not the case when the clock reads 12:30, but that is the only exception.

COUNTING MONEY
*Show your child real coins and have him/her tell you how much each is worth-Just being able to identify the different coins and their values is a huge accomplishment!

*Start with just a few coins at a time and have your child tell you how much money is there

*As your child becomes more familiar with the coins & their values, add more to the count & have him/her figure it out!

GETTING THROUGH A READING SELECTION
*If your child is NOT interested in reading, try not to push him/her too much on the issue. Daily reading is required, but your child does not need to read more than 1-2 books/reading assignments each night.

*Choose books from the library that challenge your child but don't frustrate him/her. I sent home all of the AR levels in the report card envelope, so you have the level your child is at, & you can use that at Green Hills Library.

*Have your child point to each word as he/she reads it. If your child is stuck on a word, try the following:

1. Say the NAME of every letter in the word.
2. Sound out the letters.
3. Use the pictures for a clue.
4. Look for a rhyming pattern that you already know. (Example: if the word you are stuck on is "explain," & your child can read the word "train," use that -ain family to sound it out)
5. Keep your finger over the word you are stuck on & keep reading the sentence to see if you can think of a word that would make sense.
6. What would make sense?

These are the strategies that I have been teaching the students this year, & they do work! Try them at home & see for yourself! If all else fails, & sometimes it just depends on the difficulty of the word- you can tell them what the word is!

*Be sure to ask comprehension questions after your child reads to you. Many students can read the words on the page with little to no difficulty, but understanding those words is another skill. You could ask:

1.Who were the characters or Who is this about?
2. What is the setting or Where does this take place? When in time or history?
3. What are the events or What happens?
4. Is there a problem in the story? What is it? How does it get resolved?
5. What happens in the beginning, middle, & end?
6. Did you like this story? Why or why not?

You just want to be sure that your child is reading & understanding.

Good luck, & as always, feel free to call me if you have any questions or concerns!

Mrs. Pietryla