WELCOME TO ROOM 302
Mrs. Dyke
2007-08 School Year
MRS. DYKE- HOMEROOM 302
FIFTH AND SIXTH GRADE READING
Welcome parents,
I am delighted to have the opportunity to work with your child this year. I will be your child’s homeroom teacher (302), reading teacher, vocabulary teacher, and religion teacher. We are using the Blest Are We religion series and we will begin the year learning the importance of the Ten Commandments to our lives. We begin each day with classroom prayers. The class will attend weekly mass on Wednesdays. Later in the year we will be learning about Family Life. We are looking forward to utilizing the outreach program of the Health World in Barrington concerning Family Life and Getting Along With Others.
This year
the students have vocabulary instead of spelling. After reading an introductory selection and
looking up and discussing word meanings, the students will work on a weekly, in
class, vocabulary project with a partner.
We are looking
forward to many educationally fun vocabulary lessons. We also enjoy having a
Word Muncher Bee with Room 301. Last year this was a very enjo
As your child can say, I believe reading is the most important class of the day. When I can read, I have the power to learn most anything. In both 5th and 6th grade we will be using a variety of reading materials. We have a Scott Foresman reader and workbook to practice reading skills. We have a collection of classroom mini-books that cover a variety of topics and are very enjoyable. We will also be using magazines, which include student news magazines. I plan to be reading novels with the students in each grade, linking the novels to the social studies curriculum. In 5th grade we will begin by reading Blood on the River by Elisa Carbone. The book focuses on the founding of Jamestown. In 6th grade the students will begin with the Life and Times series novel, Maia of Thebes to relate to their study of Egypt in social studies.. In both grades Accelerated Reader will be used. All students need to accumulate 10 points each trimester for Accelerated Reader. The entire list of Accelerated Reader books is posted on the school website. I often send home Weekend Reading Logs. I expect the students to record the number of minutes they spend on reading. Reading needs to become a life long habit. The students need to have a book to read with them each day as they come to class.
To arrive at your students' reading grade, I will consider what they have done in many areas. We will have story selection tests, a unit-reading test, classroom work, homework, Accelerated Reader points, and projects. Homework is always due the next day. Any student coming to class without their homework will fill out a missing assignment sheet. Often I have the student call home when homework is missing and give them the opportunity to stay after school to complete the assignment. If this is not the case for that assignment the missing assignment sheet, signed, as well as the missing homework, is due the next class session. If the work is not returned the very next class session, the work receives 0% as a grade. I will be consistent with the other 5th and 6th grade teachers on this homework policy.
In closing, I would like to say I am truly excited about this school year. Room 302 is focusing on thinking about others, showing each other respect, as well as, respecting the wonderful world God has given us to enjoy. We are having fun learning the song, “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” by Israel Kamakawiwo Ole’ to help us with all of this. Once again thank you for the opportunity to work with your child this year.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Dyke