Literacy Night

You’re Invited to a

Pumpkin Party!

Here at HSI, we are celebrating Fall pumpkin style!  Not with just any old pumpkins, ours are going to look just like book characters! 

The best part is that this is a project for you to complete at home with your family.  On October 10, during family literacy night, each family’s pumpkin and Sweet Treats Book Report will be on display.  The family who brings the best pumpkin character and Sweet Treats Book Report will win a prize!

Please see this week's Wednesday Mail for more information.

I can’t wait to see your pumpkins at literacy Night on:

October 10, from 5:00- 6:30 pm

In the HSI Cafeteria! 

Thank You

Literacy Knight was fun for all who attended!

Thank you to all of the families who made wonderful donations.  You really helped make this event special for our little friends!  If anyone has any pictures of Literacy Knight you would like to share, please email them to me.

October 18, 5:00-6:30

This week, I sent Literacy Knight flyers home with K-5 students.  

The first 50 students to return their RSVP (the bottom portion of the flyer), and actually attend Literacy Knight, will receive one child’s admission ticket to the Texas Renaissance Festival near Plantersville, TX and their names will be put in a drawing for a gift certificate to the Scarborough Faire in Waxahachie, TX that is redeemable for two adult admission tickets and two child admission tickets!!  

Students must be present to win. 

The Stinky Cheese Man

Well, we finished The Stinky Cheese Man in Book/Reading Club today.  I think the kids really enjoyed it.  

"The Stinky Cheese Man and other Fairly Stupid Tales is a postmodern children's book by Jon Scieszka. Published in 1992 by Viking, it is a collection of twisted, humorous parodies of famous children's stories and fairy tales, such as "Little Red Riding Hood", "The Ugly Duckling" and "The Gingerbread Man". Illustrated in a unique style by Lane Smith, the book won the New York Times Best Illustrated Book award, was a Caldecott Honor book, and has won numerous other awards in various countries.

The book has proved to be popular with children and adults, as its lighthearted approach creates interest while educating young readers about some of the features of books (such as title and contents) by poking fun at those conventions.

The book was re-released in a tenth anniversary edition in 2002, and included a new story."  From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Stinky_Cheese_Man_and_Other_Fairly_Stupid_Tales

Reading Practice

Hello!

Things are going swimmingly well here at the Reading Reef!  I've been working out some kinks in my schedule and visiting with some amazing kiddos.  I will be visiting each K-2 Reading class at least once a week.  If you still have paper work for me, please send it back as soon as you can.  I won't give up!  If I have invited your child to work with me outside of class, it is very important to his/her reading success that I am able to work with him/her in a small group setting without distractions from classmates.    

I have recently been made aware of this site   http://www.fcrr.org/Curriculum/studentCenterActivities.shtm
Please visit it for reading practice ideas!  You will find wonderful activities that are outlined, described, and explained in great detail.  If you ignore the grade levels and look for tasks and topics you know your child needs a little extra help with, it is a great resource.

Have a great week!!

Literacy Knight Donations

On September 5th I sent a letter home requesting parent donations for Literacy Knight.  

I have already received some wonderful donations!  Thank you so much!  We really appreciate your kindness and generosity!  I thought I would give an update, in case you would like to donate, but are wondering what we still need.  If we still need 100 of something, please don't feel obligated or discouraged.  If we need 100 and you can only bring one, we will be grateful!  

Things we need:

100 paper bags (Lunch bags would be fine, I just need something that will stand on its own and can be stapled closed.  Plastic goody bags have a tendency to spill.)

15 bags of kettle corn (At Target they have bags of kettle corn that look kind of like bags of chips.  I am sure they have it at other stores as well.)

50 juice boxes (5 more packs of 10)

party favors that are related to princesses, dragons, knights etc.

lots of craft jewels (They have these at Dollar Tree.  They are plastic and flat on one side. The kids will be gluing them to the plastic cups.)

50 grey or silver plastic party cups

38 clear party cups with stems

5 copies of the book Good Night, Good Knight

Thanks again!!!

Guided Reading

Hello Everyone!  If they haven't already, our wonderful Reading teachers will begin guided reading in their classrooms very soon.  Much of what I do as a Reading Interventionist involves partnering with each of our K-5 teachers to insure the reading success of all of our students through implementing guided reading.  This process begins after the first three weeks each school year because, before teachers begin coordinating this essential element of our holistic reading approach, they conduct several assessments in order to group students with similar instructional needs.  We meet each student at whatever reading level they have mastered and bring them to the next.  This process is a cycle that continues throughout the year.  Typically, while the teacher works with one small group of students, the rest of the class works at literacy centers or stations.  In third trough fifth grade classrooms, students will likely be introduced to literature circles.  I will support teachers and students in any way necessary  throughout the entire process.  This is the link to an article about effective reading intervention.  I thought it might give you some insight about how all of our wonderful reading resources are utilized.  http://www.ehow.com/about_5426892_effective-reading-intervention-programs.html

Have a great week!