From the Desk of

Kelly Brenner

Literacy Math Coordinator

Mt Rose ES

Reading Tip: Now that the school year is underway the time for establishing routines for nightly reading is necessary. Each night students at Mt Rose are required to read or be read to for a certain period of time. Finding time for this can be difficult if a child is not in the routine or has non school related activities they are involved in. Here are some tips that might help in setting that routine.

• Find a time and space in your evening where other activities are not going on.
• Keep the reading time the same every night if possible.
• Turn off the TV.
• Have older siblings read to younger siblings
• Choose a book that the whole family will enjoy hearing and read it periodically.
• Ask your child what or who the book was about.
• Ask your child where the story took place.
• Ask your child what they would change if they were the author.
• If you have prior engagements double up the reading on another night or the weekend.
• Finally, have fun with the reading.

Math Tip: Math facts are the number one skill that will ensure a students ability to compute and solve math problems. Practicing them at home will support your child’s ability to be successful in the classroom. Math Facts are addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. Depending on the grade your child is in they should practice one to all of those facts for about 10 -15 minutes a night. Here are some tips for providing practice time.

• Use a deck of cards. Have your child or children add, subtract, or multiply two cards they pull from the deck.
• Practice reciting them in the car, as you walk down the street, or while you are making dinner.
• Walmart, Albertsons, Raleys, even the dollar stores have Math Fact cards for students to practice.
• Many teachers will send home the Fact triangles. Have your child teach you how to use them.
• Finally and like reading practice, you as a family need to find time in the evening or weekends to practice.

Good luck establishing those routines and remember if you need assistance your child’s teacher and I can always help. Do not hesitate to contact us.