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program Success Maker to help us. We will continue to work on counting money.
• Third grade has been memorizing multiplication facts by writing multiples of numbers. We are practicing our facts using the computer program Math Facts in a Flash. We have been working with graphs and making change with money story problems.
• Fourth grade has been learning their multiplication facts and working on multiplying 2 and 3 digits numbers by one digit numbers. The next big step is division.
• Fifth grade has been working on common denominators to add and subtract fractions. They will be adding and subtracting mixed numbers with regrouping next.
• Reading Instruction:  The reading team continues to do fluency assessments weekly with all children kindergarten through third.  Fourth and fifth grade alternate every other week so we may watch for reading progress.  As our data teams for each grade meet monthly we watch the students carefully for changes in their reading progress.  Children move from group to group depending on each of their educational needs.
• It is "meat and potatoes" time of year.  This is the time of year when reading skills can be built because a good foundation is in place.  It is also too cold to go outside to play for long periods of time so we view this as the perfect opportunity for learning. 
• Without a good foundation there will be reading fluency problems.  A child may be able to read but if they don't sound fluent in their reading we need to dig deeper.  We are quite surprised that older children may not know their letters and sounds with automaticity.  Just the simple little things like letters and sounds could be the root of trouble.  If you question this take a set of letters from the alphabet and ask your child to put them in order.  Then ask them to "touch and talk".  Have them say the sounds of the letters quickly in order.  It is possible that an older child with fluency problems may make errors.  These are the same errors they make when reading!  Practice does make perfect.
• Studies show that 30 minutes of reading practice each day will help a child to become a fluent reader.  It is recommended that 20 minutes a day be the standard in high school. There are three kinds of reading.  Read to your child, read with your child or have your child read alone.  They all work equally well and I guarantee they will love them all.  Make reading fun.  Laugh, joke and have a good time!  Time with your child is free and once they grow up you can't have it back!
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• Guidance - Eric Hamiel
• Our elementary students have been cruising right along through the months of December and January.  Throughout the past two months, students in grades 3-5 have been involved in lessons on Bullying Prevention, Self Control, and Obedience. 

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