In the summer of 2004 I was a summer school teacher at the Anne Mason Stables Summer Program! I grew to love Anne Mason during that summer!

I was placed at Meadowthorpe Elementary in Fayette County in the Spring 2009 semester. I was present in Cari Grieme's first grade classroom for five weeks observing and teaching lessons!

I was placed at Picadome Elmentary in Fayette County in the Fall 2008 semester. I observed and taught in Ursula Mullins' first grade classroom.

I have been in many other classrooms throughout my college experience observing, helping, and teaching including, Lansdowne Elementary's 2nd grade, Johnson Elementary's 3rd grade, Cassidy Elementary's 1st grade, and in 1st grade at Southern Elementary in Georgetown.

I will be teaching every opportunity I get! I am eager to get as much experience as possible and have Mr. Mann help me reflect on my lessons.

Reading Activities can range from reading a book to a grocery list to a billboard. Some other ideas could be:

-You read to your child or they read to you.

-Play sound games. A smiple starter is, "Riddle, riddle, ree. I see something you don't see and it starts with T."

-Create a newspaper.

-Make a calendar and note events.

-Write fill-in-the-blank story or mad lib.

-Write

an autobiography or biography.

-Make a board game.

-Cook from a book.

- Write a book about something real or imagined.

-Keep a journal.

-Write a thank-you letter.

-Write your own card.

-Keep score at a sporting event.

-Start a scrapbook.

-Explore your family's letters and albums.

-Read riddles.

-Play thinking games.

-Write fractured fairy tales.

-Create a camera story.

-Write a text for wordless books.

-Put a book in your child's room.

-Tell about a book you enjoyed.

-Start your child on a new series.

Real Reading At Home

• Write a family diary
• Collect grocery coupons
• read video game directions
• design cards and invitations
• write letters
• read TV guide
• read and discuss news articles
• create original stories
• write messages to each other
• read bulletins from school
• create photo album captions
• sing together
• write and file addresses
• write and file recipes
• write a family history
• make shopping lists
• read menus
• read bus schedules
• write a family vacation journal
• create a family bulletin board
• read cartoons in the newpaper

Adapted from: Johns, J., & Lenski, S. (2005). Improving reading: Strategies and resources. Dubuque, IA: Kendall Hunt Publishing.

Children of all ages love to listen to stories and It's fun to read to children! You can read books your child has brought home, or you can borrow books from your public library. In any case, it would be good for your child to listen to you read aloud at least three times each week! Here are some tips to think about when reading aloud:

• Select a book that you'll enjoy and that will spark your child's interest.
• Read unfamiliar stories silently first to note places that may need special effects to create drama.
• Don't read too fast. Adjust your pace to the story and your child.
• Be responsive to your child's reactions and questions.
• Encourage you child's participation in the reading session--joining in repeating phrases, making comments, asking questions, predicting what will happen, talking about the illustrations, or actually reading parts of the material.
• Allow time after reading for a relaxed discussion. Share your reactions.
• Take turns reading aloud.
• Never withdraw reading aloud as a punishment. That may destroy all the positive effects of reading aloud.
• Make the read-aloud time a special event that your child will anitcipate with joy.
• ***You are never too old to enjoy a picture book!!***

Adapted from: Johns, J., & Lenski, S. (2005). Improving reading: Strategies and resources. Dubuque, IA: Kendall Hunt Publishing.

There many ways to support your child in completely their homework daily.

• Set aside daily family time when each family member is engaged in quiet activities while your child does homework. Starting quiet time when children are young establishes the expectation for doing homework and gets them into the routine of studying.
• Establish a time and place where homework is to be done. Make sure the table or desk is in a well-lighted area and that neededc materials such as paper and pencils are available.
• Make a homework schedule. Here is an example: Homework Schedule.docx (11,1 kB)
• Make sure your child understands all assignments. If needed, work through the first question or problem together. If your child does not understand an assignment and you are unable to help, have him or her call a friend for help. (Or email me!!)
• Check over the completed assignments.
• Each day, ask whether there is any homework. Even when there isn't any, the simple act of asking conveys that you consider homework to be an important responsibility. If no specific homework is due, this is a golden opportunity to read together, write a story, take a walk, or just play together!
• Don't forget to praise your child for homework efforts!

Adapted from: Johns, J., & Lenski, S. (2005). Improving reading: Strategies and resources. Dubuque, IA: Kendall Hunt Publishing.

American Girl   -  www.americangirl.com  608-836-4848, Ages 8-12 (girls), Hobbies, crafts, profiles, history, 6 issues a year

Calliope    Calliope     603-924-7209, Ages 8-14, World History through 1800 AD, 9 issues a year

Cobblestone   Cobblestone and Cricket     603-924-7209, American History, 9 issues a year

Cosmogirl! www.cosmogirl.com  212-649-3000, Ages 12-17 (girls),  Fashion, beauty, advice, health, 12 issues a year

Cricket   Cobblestone and Cricket Ages 9-14  Fiction, nonfiction, humor, fantasy    12 issues a year

Highlights for Children    www.highlights.com   Ages 2-12 Stories, poems, arts and crafts, activites    12 issues a year

Jack and Jill     Website   317-636-8881, Ages 7-10 , Stories, poems, art, activites, 8 issues a year

Wild Outdoor World (WOW) 406-449-1335    Ages 8-12, Wildlife and recycling, 5 issues a year

The required content for fifth grade can be found at the Kentucky Department of Education website.

The Curriculum Map for Scott County is currently being reveiwed and will become available on the Scott County Schools webpage before the school year begins.  This map breaks down the content into units and those units are placed in the order they will be taught throughout the school year.