If you have been following the news since last spring, you are aware that a new virus has been mutating and spreading, world wide. This new virus, H1N1–also called the Swine Flu, was first detected in people in the United States in April 2009. This virus is spreading from person-to-person in the same way that regular seasonal influenza viruses spread.
As a district, we have been watching the reports predicting the spread of the H1N1 will increase as soon as school resumes. Mr. Nick Ceglarek, our superintendent, has asked that we share two documents regarding this virus.
The first, H1N1 Parent Letter sept 09, is a letter for parents from our local Ottawa County Health Department. I encourage you to read this so that you are informed about symptoms, treatment and precautions.
The second document, CDC H1N1 Tips, is similar but has more specific preventative strategies to share with family and friends.
If your child develops a cough or fever, PLEASE be on alert and keep your child home from school. Children should not return to school until they are SYMPTOM FREE FOR 24 HOURS. Your help with this protocol will help to prevent others from getting sick.
We will encourage handwashing just as we always do and focus on a healthy learning environment that is clean and safe. Please know that we are also going to be calm and supportive, working to not raise children’s anxieties about flu worries.
If you would like to know more about the CDC tips for all health issues, visit the live CDC link on the upper right corner of this blog.
Also, if you would like to help your own children learn how to wash their hands properly, listen to the CDC’s kid friendly podcast below. Here’s to clean hands and good health!
If you would like to contribute school supplies for children who are less fortunate, please visit the school post about our most recent service project, GEORGETOWN GIVES
One of our students has organized a school team to walk in the Race for the Cure on September 26. To find out more about this, check the Georgetown Blog post!
As August slips away, school draws near. Here’s a fine resource to try out with your child. The Playful Learning blog has an extensive series of activities for parents to do with their children around different subject areas that are just plain fun. The website has a simple and clean design. Enjoy!
In the fall, we will recheck all of our current reading students to determine eligibility for reading services. In the meantime, the greatest gift you can give your child is to read with him/her. In order to maintain reading skills, it is so important to have your child read EVERY DAY! Pack a bag of books to bring along when you go to the beach, visit grandparents, go camping, or anywhere. You can help develop your child’s love of reading by establishing it as a natural part of his/her day… just like eating, sleeping, and playing!
Here are some things to try:
* Have your child pick books from his or her independent level to read to you. You can find many book titles at the Scholastic Reading Counts website. You don’t need to be a member to search titles for appropriate books. These books can be found at any library or bookstore and can be read and reread to increase understanding and confidence.
* Ask your child questions about the book: characters, setting, problem, or solution.
* Have your child retell the story in order with lots of good details.
* Read higher level books to your child, discussing vocabulary and asking questions as you read.
* Show your child how you read for enjoyment, information, and entertainment by reading newspapers, magazines, recipes, maps, and BOOKS!
* Make weekly trips to your local library and have a daily family reading time. Just as an athlete must practice a skill constantly to perfect it, a reader must practice reading every day to become more proficient.
* Continue to check out our Georgetown Reading Blog for reading tips and book suggestions.
* Sign up for the library reading program, this program provides reading incentives and goals. Barnes and Noble also has a reading program that allows kids to pick out a free book after reaching their reading goal.
*Visit Raz-Kids online and have your child listen to and/or read books at his her level. Your child’s teacher will be sending home information about using this great resource.
Looking forward to seeing you for our first day of school on September 8. Enjoy your summer and remember: read, read, read!
On Monday, one of my reading groups had fun performing a readers’ theater for their classmates. The story was The Three Little Pigs. Along with using this play to practice fluent, expressive reading, we compared different versions of this familiar story. We also talked about the characters’ different points of view. The students did a wonderful job!
Here are two wonderful poem websites for you to try. One website features poems by Jack Prelutsky as well as facts about him. There is a fun poem page for kids that will tickle their funny bones and also reading tips for parents. The other website allows kids to create poems with virtual magnet words. You can read poems written by students and even purchase your poetry creation. Enjoy!
We piloted a new program this year for third graders. The Poetry Academy engaged students in increasing fluency and word recognition through reading poetry. Students involved in this program met with a volunteer once a week to chose and read a poem. Academy students practiced this poem at least 10 times at home with a parent or family member. The next week, they returned the poem to read to their volunteer. Poems were specially chosen for their humor, appealing to our third graders. We recently concluded the year with a special Poetry Celebration and students read their favorite poem to parents and special guests. Enjoy this slide show.
Our first graders learned how to write informational texts, teaching their readers about a topic in which they are experts. Doing this kind of writing supports reading as they learn how informational texts are constructed and the special features that they contain. Here are some creative “How To” writing pieces from three of our students!
How to Make Music by Brianna H. You need lots of instruments. Get drums and guitar and a piano and singers.
How to Take Care of a Hamster by Annabel O. Give it food. Give it water. And give it cedar. Feed it when the food is not there. Do everything I say.
How to Get Ready for Baseball by Zachary W. First, put your team shirt on. Get your bat and your mitt. Go to the stadium. Go out to home. Get a home run. You win.
Research indicates that there is a strong connection between reading and writing. At Georgetown, our teachers use the writing workshop approach. During this writing time students are given daily time to write, shown models of good writing, and provided with responses that help them improve their writing. Writing workshop is a valuable and favorite time of the day. Watch this movie to hear our students’ thoughts on writing…
If you have been following the news since last spring, you are aware that a new virus has been mutating and spreading, world wide. This new virus, H1N1–also called the Swine Flu, was first detected in people in the United States in April 2009. This virus is spreading from person-to-person in the same way that regular seasonal influenza viruses spread.
CDC Kidtastic Podcast: 
