Dear Parents,

I know that it has taken me a while to get a letter out. Please forgive me. I have been trying to familiarize myself with everything and everyone. But no excuses! They say first impressions are lasting impressions, but I would like to dispel that myth at this time (unless your first impression of me is a positive one). With that being said…

Welcome back! My name is Ms.LaTonya Davis and I am your child’s teacher this year. I am a graduate of the University of Illinois at Springfield. I recently started school again. I am currently pursuing my masters in Educational Leadership. I believe that all students should have a voice and my job is to give them the tools to be heard.

Reading

We will continue using the IRLA (Independent Reading Level Assessment) program. Students will be exposed to more literacy, which will ensure their success as readers and writers. This program is aligned with the Common Core State Standards and designed to help students become proficient in reading at their grade level or above. The components in this program teach them to be accountable for their own literacy success, with the assistance of their school and family.

What Is IRLA?

The American Reading Company defines IRLA in this way, “The Independent Reading Level Assessment (IRLA) is a unified standards-based framework for student assessment, text leveling, and curriculum and instruction. The IRLA includes every Common Core Standard for Reading, both in literature and informational text, as well as those Language standards key to reading success, for students in grades Pre-K through 12.”

Mr. Fraas also shared that home reading will be tracked a little differently this year, and will be measured in “steps.” (Each step will represent 15 minutes of reading at home, and at school.) On a regular school weekday students’ goal will be 4 steps of reading practice (2 at school, and 2 at home).

We began recording the home reading steps Tuesday, September 6, 2016. Today students should be on step 36.

That way your child will know how to earn and record steps, before reading homework will need to be tracked. The steps are recorded on a reading log that will be in a blue pocket folder. All the students will be on the same step throughout the school year. At the end of this first week students will be on “Step 10” because they will have read 2 steps at school each day this week. One reason we are excited about this teaching and learning framework for reading is because it is both rooted in research, and validates the practices we have been using at SBCS for at least the last 10 years of our history. We know that students who read at home become proficient readers based on significant quantitative and qualitative research (Tony Stead, 2009).

Encore

Our Encore schedule has changed. We will have a 4 day rotation; (TSMA) Technology, Spanish, Music, and Art. P.E. is every other day so please make sure that your child has gym shoes on those days.

This year our writing time will mainly consist of lessons from Lucy Caulkins’ Units of Study. Each lesson is aligned with the Common Core State Standards and are designed to “bring a writerly consciousness to literary texts”.

Writing

During Writing Workshop, the first 20 minutes, the students are given a mini lesson with direct instruction and modeling of the writing and expectations. They are also shown exemplar texts to guide their writing.

After the mini lesson, students will have independent writing time where they will choose a topic from their Seed Journal. The Seed Journal is where students generate ideas to use for writing throughout the school year. By giving the students a choice, their writings are authentic, engaging, and meaningful. During this time, I will confer with students individually or in groups to encourage their growth as an author.

At the end of our writing time, the students and I will discuss the lesson for the day. Students are allowed to share their writings with their peers and get feedback about what they have written so far.

This year we will explore four forms of writing. Students will write a narrative, an informational writing, a literary essay and poetry.

As we work together to instill, in each child, a sense of confidence, self-esteem and responsibility, it is my hope that each will strive for his/her highest potential.

Any information you need about lessons, the snack calendar, homework, etc. can be found on my website. If, at any time during the year, you should have questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,

LaTonya Davis

217-525-3275 ext.122