Summer Reading Goals

It is extremely important that your first grader (soon to be second grader) reads consistently over the summer. There are 95 days of summer vacation before school starts again. (Yes, I did count the days.) Research has found that children who do not read can lose up to three months of reading achievement! The solution to this problem is simple… have your child set a goal of reading 20 minutes a day. This reading can be on Raz-Kids (this will still be available!), library books, books in your house, or even books online (Storyline Online is a great site). Establish this on the very first day of summer and be consistent. 

To help your child stick to his/her goal, use the two sided reading goal paper that will come home this week. Save this paper and attach it to your refrigerator or important message place. Use the chart side for keeping track of reading minutes (20 minutes/day). The other side has some great second grade books that your child will love reading. You can find these books at most libraries and bookstores. Just in case your paper gets lost, you can download another copy here (Summer Reading Goal, Summer Reading List).

Happy reading!!

Keep Learning This Summer

Studies have shown that learners can lose up to 50% of learning during summer vacation. Georgetown is challenging you and your child to “Keep Learning With Mobymax” this summer as a way to prevent summer slide. Georgetown teachers selected MobyMax as the online curriculum for summer vacation and extra curricular in school learning.

To learn more, visit our school blog.  Also…all those who earn their MOBYMAX points will be entered into a drawing for an ipad mini!

3 Ways to Help

images-1Your child has made tremendous progress this year. However, that hard work can be forgotten over the summer without frequent practice. Here are three ways that you can help your child maintain skills this summer.

1. Private one-on-one tutoring

This is an excellent way to help your child practice skills that have been learned this year. Fortunately, there are fabulous teachers at Georgetown that are providing private tutoring. Contact them soon, so that you have this support in place for the summer.

Katie O’Rourke – korourk@hpseagles.net (Reading & Math, K-5)

Jen Stutz – jstutz1@hpseagles.net (Reading & Math, K-5)

Terri Hagberg – thagber@hpseagles.net (Reading & Math, K-5)

Heather Field – fieldh@westottawa.net (Reading & Math, K-2)

Mackenzie Yankee – myankee@hpseagles.net (Reading & Math, K-2)

2. Open Library at Georgetown School

Our school library will be open on Tuesdays throughout June and July (10:00-12:00). We will have leveled books available as well as regular library books. Classroom teachers will be there to help your child find some great books.

3. Raz-Kids.com

This online reading website will be available for your child to use throughout the summer. This program, paid for by our wonderful Parent Club, provides leveled books that your child can listen to and read. There are also online rewards that your child can earn by completing comprehension quizzes on books that have been read.

Encourage your child to read every day. Continuous practice grows confident readers!!!

Summer Reading

Summer reading is not only fun, but essential for learning. Did you know that it can take 4-6 weeks of school time to regain reading skills lost over the summer? A tremendous gift that you can give your child is to commit to a summer of reading. Here are some great ideas posted on the educational blog, No Time for Flash CardsHappy reading!!

Parent/Teacher Conferences

I look forward to seeing you at parent/teacher conferences in order to share information about your child’s great progress! As in the fall, I will join your conference scheduled with the classroom teacher. We will discuss your child’s reading achievements, areas for growth, and our plan for continued success throughout the next few months. I will also have information about summer tutoring (hard to believe that we are already thinking about summer!). We have five great teachers who are offering to tutor students privately at school this summer. Tutoring can keep reading skills fresh and help prevent the “summer slide”.

Please come to our conference with any questions you might have about your child’s reading. Here is my schedule, see you this week!