“Every child one voice”

Upcoming Events:

Feb 3-14 Student Council Sponsored “Love-A-Troop” campaign Feb 7 Team Kids Kick-Off Assemblies, MPR, 12:20 – 2:25 p.m. Spirit Sticks on Sale after school from 1:30-2:45 Talent Show, MPR, 6:30 p.m. Irvine Junior Games Registration Deadline – Grades 4-6 only Feb 8 Talent Show, MPR, 6:30 p.m. Feb 9 Registration Deadline for ACE Classes Feb 10 KROC Information Night, MPR, 6:30 (Turtle Rock Kids Run the OC

Marathon) Feb 12 Team Kids Leadership Meeting, MPR, 12:20 p.m. Common Core Parent Night, MPR, 6:30 p.m. Feb 28 Student Council Sponsored Pajama Day Mar 7 Residency Verification Documents Due! Click here for more information. Attention - 4th through 6th Grade Parents! Register now for the Irvine Jr. Games before it’s too late! The registration deadline is tomorrow, Friday, Feb. 7th. The Irvine Jr. Games will take place on Sunday, May 18th at Irvine High School. It is a fun day full of track and field events and a chance for Turtle Rock students in grades 4-6 to come together with other students in the community for a good cause. All proceeds go to support Irvine Children’s Fund. Please check out the website at irvinejuniorgames.com to learn more about this exciting day! If you have any questions, please email Erin Lezak (erinlezak@iusd.org), Michael Giambone (michaelgiambone@iusd.org), or Robert Finley (robertfinley@iusd.org). Spirit Sticks are back! Spirit Sticks will be on sale Friday after school by the Juice it Up stand. See the attached flyer for some of the new sticks available this month. Campus Safety All parent volunteers and all visitors to Turtle Rock during the school day must check in at the office. Staff is instructed to send anyone without a volunteer sticker back to the office to sign in. Thank you for helping to keep our campus safe. Team Kids Challenge Launching tomorrow is our 4th annual Team Kids Challenge! Tomorrow’s Kick-off assemblies will show kids that through team work, they can make a difference in bettering our world. Our 5th and 6th graders will be invited to join this year’s Leadership Team. Look for permission forms coming home! The first Leadership Meeting of 5th and 6th Graders who volunteer to run our Team Kids Challenge is Wednesday, February 12th, lunchtime. Last year, 150 5th and 6th grade

students joined the Leadership Team and did a fantastic job! Our Leadership Team will once again host three school-wide challenges to benefit people, animals and organizations in need. The program will conclude with the exciting lunchtime CARNIVAL on Friday, June 6th. Stay tuned to ROCKS for ongoing info! Common Core Parent Information Night, Wed., Feb 12, 6:30 p.m. Are you confused about Common Core? Join Principal Catabijan to learn more about it. If you have a specific question or item related to Common Core that you would like covered, please send her an email (karencatabijan@iusd.org) so that she can address it that evening. Student Council Love-A-Troop Campaign Students are encouraged to make cards and write letters to the military. There will be a collection box in the office from February 3-14. Also, students will have the opportunity to make cards during recess February 3-14th. Parent Kick Off and Information Night – TR Kids Run the OC Marathon – Feb 10 Turtle Rock is getting ready to train for our second marathon. Come get information and pick up the sign up packets on Monday Night, February 10 from 6:30-7:30pm. Look for the flyer coming home in your conduits tomorrow and attached to this newsletter.

Residency Verification for 2014-2015 School Year It’s time to bring in your Proofs of Residency documentation for the upcoming school year! Families of 6th graders moving on to middle school next year must turn in residency documents to Turtle Rock.

www.iusd.org/tr / February 6, 2014

“Every child one voice”

This is an annual legal requirement in California, and it helps IUSD ensure that all available resources are spent to the benefit of Irvine families. Moreover, these steps help provide an accounting of our student population as we review staffing for the coming year. Yearbook Ads – Due Feb. 14th We still have space available for yearbook ads. Let your little one know what a great job they did this year, how proud you are of all they accomplished, or congratulate them on moving up to Middle School next year. All of the yearbook forms are available on the PTA website: turtlerockpta.org under the Yearbook tab. For more information, or questions, contact trbook2014@gmail.com Yearbook Orders – Due Feb. 28th Reserve your copy of the Turtle Rock yearbook now for just $15. Order form is attached at the end of this newsletter. Box Tops for Education® Earn money for technology at Turtle Rock by saving Box Tops found on hundreds of products, including online items. See attached flyer for details about saving Box Tops online. 6th Grade Parents – Math Placement Information for Middle School IUSD is implementing changes to the middle school math courses to go along with the adoption of the new Common Core Math Standards. To assist parents in understanding the new placement criteria, Mark Sontag, Coordinator of Math and Science for IUSD, will be presenting middle school math placement information to parents at each middle school over the next several weeks. Parents only, no children, including no 6th graders. See the attached flyer for meeting dates and times. 7th Grade Immunization Requirement It’s not too early to start planning for next year’s 7th graders! All students entering, advancing or transferring into 7th grade need proof of a whooping cough booster immunization called “Tdap”. Many students have already received the vaccine and simply need to supply proof to the school health office. This can be done by: bringing in the original Yellow Immunization Card from the doctor (or provide the school with a copy); the immunization record can be scanned and e-mailed to the health office @ gailwylly@iusd.org or it can be sent via FAX to (949) 936-6259. If you provide a copy/e-mail or FAX, make sure the student’s name is visible. Your child will need proof of this immunization in order to start 7th grade in September. As of now, there is no grace period or extension. Under current law, schools do not have the option to provide a grace period. Questions: Call the health office @ (949) 936-6261 or follow the links: www.iusd.org-health services-TDAP Immunization Requirement. No Street Parking on Rainbow Falls - Courtesy Reminder Please remember that Rainbow Falls and Crystal

Pool are private streets and should not be used as drop off or pick areas. Homeowners are blocked from exiting the street, creating unsafe conditions for children and drivers. Narrow streets are not safe for this.

Also, to avoid getting stuck in the school parking lot, parents are encouraged to drop their student off on Turtle Rock Drive so they can be assisted by the crossing guard if needed. Thank you!

*IMPORTANT REPORT CARD INFORMATION Report cards are available on the Parent Portal for all who have completed the “Electronic First Day Packet”. The link to access the Electronic Packet is available on the front page of the TR website. Access to report cards on the Parent Portal is blocked until the packet has been completed. Teachers and staff will not be able to provide printed copies for those denied access. If you have questions or need assistance, don’t hesitate to contact Anne Trefz (annetrefz@iusd.org).

TURTLE ROCK HAS SPIRIT……. STICKS

SPIRIT STICKS HAVE LANDED AT TURTLE ROCK ELEMENTARY Spirit sticks are embroidered tags that students can earn and collect for participating in school programs, clubs, and for showing outstanding ROCKS character.

Earn: free if you get a ROCKS award, participate in school programs or achievements like Reflections, Walk to School day, PTA, Perfect Attendance, and more!

Attend: these will be on sale for $1 at school events like Movie Nights, Talent Show, Fall Festival, and Multicultural Potluck. These are also available for the various clubs and programs like running club, garden club, DARE.

Collect: fun phrases, sports, hobbies, and extracurricular activities for $1. Student can add individual sticks to show their interests and personality.

SPIRIT STICKS ARE A FUN WAY TO:

SHOW OFF ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS AND SCHOOL SPIRIT

PERSONALIZE BACKPACK OR FOLDER

B

FOR SALE $1 EACH:

SPIRIT STICKS ON SALE: Friday, 2/7 during After School

*For questions, please contact Joann Bloxsom: jbloxsom@outlook.com

Additional options will be available on day of sale.

Please join Principal Catabijan for an information night on the new Common Core Standards. She will address how

they will be implemented at Turtle Rock Elementary including curriculum and standardized testing changes starting September 2014. Following her presentation, there will be

time for parents to ask questions.

Date: Wednesday, February 12 Time: 6:30pm

Location: Multi-Purpose Room

Do you have questions regarding the new

Common Core Standards?

Kids Run the OC Marathon training is back! Come out to meet the coaches, pick up this year’s information packets, and get more information on this great program.

KROC is a fun program that focuses on being active and eating healthy, all while training for a marathon.

Monday, February 10th

in MPR from 6:30-7:30pm

Can’t make it, but want the sign up packet, or want to help out? Contact Joann Bloxsom:jbloxsom@outlook.com

KROC Parent

Information Night

Ambassador Alert February 2014

Join IPSF & PTA for Communities for Cause Restaurant Week February 10-13 Earn even more money for your school’s PTA when you dine out during our first Restaurant Week with Communities for Cause! It’s easy to do! Just download the free app to your smartphone and select your school’s PTA as your cause. Whenever you shop or dine at a participating merchant, enter the amount you spend and take a picture of your receipt in the app. The merchant makes a donation based on your purchase. Merchants participating in Restaurant Week include Gaufree Artisan Waffles, Chili’s, Lamppost Pizza, Wingstop and Creamistry! DOWNLOAD FLYER

Tee It Up for Education Golf Tournament Coming on May 12th IPSF will host its 4th annual Tee It Up for Education Golf Tournament on Monday, May 12, 2014 at Strawberry Farms Golf Club. Invite a few friends or make some new ones as we spend a day on the course, followed by a cocktail reception, silent auction and dinner. We’ve added a helicopter ball drop this year, so you can win a prize even if you don’t attend! A variety of sponsorships are also available to showcase your business or organization. CLICK HERE for more information or to register online.

Grand Opening of Farm Direct Market to Support IPSF Join IPSF as we celebrate the grand opening of Farm Direct Market, our newest corporate partner. Located at the Parkview Center (5301 University Drive), Farm Direct is a neighborhood grocery store featuring fresh produce and a variety of products from various regions. We will be joining the Irvine Chamber of Commerce and Irvine Company Retail Properties for the ribbon cutting on February 6, 2014 at 9:30 AM. Then, we will be back on Saturday, February 8 from 10 AM to 4 PM for a special celebration including musical performances from UCI and an art project for students. Students may bring a drawing with the theme “Many Flavors, One Community” or make one on-site to receive a free bag of fresh produce. DOWNLOAD FLYER.

Let IUSD Teachers & Staff Know You Appreciate Them with PATS Nothing means more to a teacher than hearing the words “thank you” from a student or family. IPSF’s Parents Appreciating Teachers & Staff (PATS) program offers you an opportunity to recognize IUSD staff members who have had a positive impact in your child’s life. Maybe it’s the gentle nurse who made the boo-boo all better or the music teacher who patiently helped your child master the violin. Whoever they are, let them know how much you appreciate them through your tax deductible PATS donation. Your designated recipients will receive a personalized Certificate of Recognition along with a small gift expressing your gratitude during Teacher Appreciation Week in May. Contributions also help to fund the Innovative Teaching Awards Program (ITAP) and Innovative Counseling Awards Program (ICAP). CLICK HERE for more information or to complete our online form. But don’t wait--forms and donations are due by March 28, 2014!

More information about IPSF Programs and Activities can be found at www.ipsf.net Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to stay connected!

AMBASSADOR ALERT February 2014

ACE Winter Session 2014

Registration Ends: February 9th Session Starts: Monday, February 10th

At-A-Glance

Class Grade Day Start Classes Fee

Spanish K-3 Mon 2/10 7 $127

Young Rembrandts K-3 Tue 2/11 8 $128

Jedi Training Camp K-3 Fri 2/14 8 $158

Chess K-6 Thu 2/13 8 $128

Mock Trial / Debate 4-6 Mon 2/10 7 $117

App & Game Design 4-6 Wed 2/12 8 $185

Spanish 4-6 Fri 2/14 8 $138

Registration will be online only at www.ACEwise.org. Instructions for creating an online account are included in this brochure.

Turtle Rock Elementary

Class Questions? Contact your volunteer ACE Coordinator Marlene Dugan at aceturtlerock@gmail.com

What is the ACE program and what are ACE classes?

The ACE Program (Afterschool Classroom Enrichment) is a program sponsored by IPSF (Irvine Public Schools Foundation) in cooperation with the Irvine Unified School District.

These classes are offered RIGHT ON THE TURTLE ROCK CAMPUS FOR NOMINAL FEES. IPSF selects contractors who teach all types of classes ranging from sports to academics to arts.

For more information about IPSF, visit www.ipsf.net

Classroom Monitors Wanted! We need your help!

Would you be willing to help monitor ACE classes 1 to 1½ hours per week? Volunteers who monitor receive discounted tuition for each day they monitor.

The work is easy -take roll, make sure children are accounted for, assist where necessary, and see that all children are picked up after classes.

Parents: Please remember that monitors are volunteers and cannot leave until the last child goes home. Please be courteous and pick up your child on time. IUSD has a strict policy of no children on campus after 4:00.

Class Dates: 2/11, 2/18, 2/25, 3/4, 3/11, 3/18, 3/25 & 4/1.

Class Dates: 2/10, 2/24, 3/3, 3/10, 3/17, 3/24 & 3/31. NO class 2/17.

Mock Trial, Public Speaking & Debate Are you a person of passion and conviction, with a love for critical thinking and dialogue? In this class, students learn to use logic and other rhetorical tools to support their positions and to express themselves succinctly and skillfully. Students learn to walk and talk with assuredness and purpose, overcome jitters, and deliver speeches with confidence and animation!

Grades: 4-6 Time: Mon 2:35 – 3:35 Locn: TBD Class Fee: $117

Spanish Designed for young students, Spanish Immersion teaches conversational and basic Spanish language using Total Physical Response (TPR) – a “learn by doing” approach. Every activity has students speaking, listening, acting, and learning, and is enriched by studies of Spanish and Latin American cultures.

Grades: K-3 Time: Mon 2:00 -3:00 Locn: TBD Class Fee: $127

Grades: K-3 Time: Tue 2:00 -3:00 Locn: TBD Class Fee: $128

Young Rembrandts Elementary drawing will teach basic to advanced drawing lessons, art techniques and vocabulary while expressing creativity in a positive environment. Young Rembrandts uses art to develop essential learning skills. This popular program fills quickly - sign up today to ensure your spot. Materials included. New lessons every session!

SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE !!

A limited number of 50% - 100% scholarships are available for all classes based on need. Income documentation is required for approval. Parents may apply for a scholarship by accessing the scholarship form at

www.acewise.org. Please contact Stephanie at sbynon@ipsf.net, (949)265-6411 for further information.

Class Dates: 2/13, 2/20, 2/27, 3/6, 3/13, 3/20, 3/27 & 4/3.

Class Dates: 2/12, 2/19, 2/26, 3/5, 3/12, 3/19, 3/26 & 4/2.

Academic Chess We make chess fun by using stories! This curriculum is designed to fit the needs of all skill levels. Continuing and new students are welcome. Every chess student will receive an Academic Chess workbook according to their own skill level. The class includes lessons and chess play time each week, a tournament, and prizes and trophies for the winners! Chess increases IQ and teaches children to think deeply, gain confidence, solve problems, develop patience, compete well, visualize results and strategize and plan.

Grades: K-3, Thu 2:00 – 3:00 Grades: 4-6, Thu 2:35 – 3:35 Locn: TBD Class Fee: $128

Class Dates: 2/14, 2/21, 2/28, 3/7, 3/14, 3/21, 3/28 & 4/4.

App & Game Design Creative thinking and problem solving are essential skills that are needed for success in today’s world. Using app & video game development as a device to create an engaging learning experience, this class is designed to develop each of these skills. Students can write code in a user-friendly editor where you compose programs using an intuitive interface. The programming concepts learned transfer to traditional languages such as Java or C#. Students will make a variety of cool games and awesome apps during the course of the class!! Students that normally carry a smartphone (app enabled) to school should plan to use them during class otherwise, a device will be provided for use during class.

Grades: 4-6 Time: Wed 1:30 -2:30 Locn: TBD Class Fee: $185

Jedi Training Camp The Force will be with you as you learn the way of the Padawan!! Play Ultimate Star Wars games, build Star Wars vehicles and go from Jedi Padawan to Knight in one session!! You will play characters, learn to draw the Clone Wars cartoon characters, create your own Jedi uniform, and take home your very own Light Saber!

Grades: K-3 Time: Fri 2:00 – 3:00 Locn: TBD Class Fee: $158

Spanish Designed for young students, Spanish Immersion teaches conversational and basic Spanish language using Total Physical Response (TPR) – a “learn by doing” approach. Every activity has students speaking, listening, acting, and learning, and is enriched by studies of Spanish and Latin American cultures.

Grades: 4-6 Time: Fri 2:35 – 3:35 Locn: TBD Class Fee: $138

General Information

HOW TO REGISTER Registration for this session: Begins: 1/23/14 Ends: 2/9/14 Classes start: 2/10/14 Register at www.acewise.org Enrollment is subject to class availability. If we have space in classes after the registration period, we will accept additional students. Irvine students are eligible to attend ACE classes at any ACE school, space permitting. How to Register: A. Log onto www.acewise.org B. Click on “Parents” C. Click on “Create New Profile” to create a log-in and password for yourself. D. Once you have successfully created a parent profile, you will be directed to log in. E. Click as directed to register a new student. You will need to create a student profile for each child. F. To continue enrolling, click on enroll. G. Select the class your student is enrolling. H. You may either check out or continue enrolling in another class. I. After successfully checking out, you will receive an email receipt listing the class(es) in which your student is enrolled. J. To enroll another child, go back to the Home Page and log in again. If you are unable to complete, or are uncomfortable with, the online registration process, please contact your ACE coordinator. Refunds: Tuition is nonrefundable unless the class is cancelled by the ACE coordinator. If your child registers late, misses classes or withdraws before the end of the session, you are still obligated for the full fees for that session. You are eligible for a prorated tuition refund or credit only if your child withdraws due to serious illness or injury, corroborated by a note from your doctor. All refunds are subject to a $25 non-refundable program fee. Please be advised that refunds may take up to one month to process. If you wish to apply for a refund, please contact your school site coordinator.

Flex Accounts: Receipts for dependent care documentation are available on request. Please Contact IPSF with parent name, child’s name, address, phone number and location of ACE class attended. (949) 263-8340. Class Age Limits: In order to develop classes suitable for a particular age range, we specify age limits in the brochure. However, exceptions are possible since children display different levels of maturity and ability. Please call if your child is interested in a class but doesn’t fit the printed age profile. Class Confirmations: Class Confirmations will be confirmed as the online registration is completed for each individual student. Class Cancellations: We do our best to accommodate all students who sign up for ACE classes. In order to keep class fees as low as possible, we must set a minimum enrollment number for each class to cover the class expenses. If the minimum enrollment is not met, the ACE Program reserves the right to cancel the class and return all registration fees. You will be notified of any cancellations before the first scheduled day of class. Transportation: Getting students to and from class is the responsibility of parents. In the first week of classes, ACE site monitors will attempt to locate registered students who are not present in their class. After that week, however, we expect that the students will know where they should go. If your child has difficulty remembering to go to class, you might want to escort him/her or contact another child in the class so your child has a “buddy” to provide a reminder about class. ACE students must be picked up immediately after class. Arranging pick-up is the responsibility of parents. School staff, ACE instructors and ACE volunteer monitors are not responsible for your child after class. If you are late picking your student up two times, your student will be removed from the program and there are no refunds.

Snacks: Your child is always welcome to bring a personal snack. The program brochure will note if snack is provided. Please contact the school site coordinator immediately if your child has severe food allergies. Continuing Classes: Unless noted otherwise in the brochure, students in continuing classes must submit a registration form and payment for each session. Conduct: Normal classroom conduct is expected of all ACE students and we generally have very few problems with the behavior of our students. Children displaying unacceptable behavior will be issued a one-time “Behavior Citation”. If a second citation is necessary, the child will have to speak to the school principal and may be dismissed without refund. Scholarships: A limited number of 50%-100% scholarships are available for all classes based on financial need. Income documentation is required for approval. Parents may apply for a scholarship by accessing the scholarship form at www.acewise.org. Please contact Stephanie at sbynon@ipsf.net or (949)265-6411 for further information. Attendance – If your student is absent the day of his or her ACE class, please send a message to the contact listed before 11 am on the day of ACE class. Program Sponsorship Irvine Public Schools Foundation (IPSF) sponsors the district-wide ACE program in cooperation with the Irvine Unified School District. For further information about the ACE program at other schools, please call IPSF at (949) 263-8340. ?????? QUESTIONS ?????? Contact Marlene Dugan at aceturtlerock@gmail.com

Tips for Reading Success February 2014

© 2013 Resources for Educators, a division of CCH Incorporated

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Here’s a riddle for your young-ster: What has more stories than the tallest skyscraper? Answer: The library!

Take advantage of all those stories—and other reading materials—by using the library often. Try these tips.

● Create a routine. Go to the library every other Thursday afternoon or every third Saturday, for instance. Your child will look forward to Library Day, and she’ll get used to returning books on time.

● Tour the library. Together, figure out how the library is organized. Find chil-dren’s fiction and nonfiction (picture books, biographies), music CDs, audio books, movies, and magazines. Suggest that your youngster pick a few items to enjoy while you’re there or to take home.

● Put her in charge. Getting a library card will make your child proud. She can also learn to check out her own books—she’ll get a kick out of scanning the code or stamping the return date. Note: Have her take a bag to put her books in.

Let’s go to the library! ■ The Pout-Pout Fish

A little fish looks sad, so his fellow sea creatures try to cheer him up. Then, a newcomer takes a different approach—can she turn his pout upside down? Your child will be repeating the refrain (“I’m a pout-pout fish”) long after the story ends. The first in a series by Deb-orah Diesen.

■ What Do Wheels Do All Day?Wheelchairs, strollers, tow trucks, merry-go-rounds…wheels are everywhere. They take us places, help us do work, and even keep us entertained. April Jones Prince’s rhyming nonfic-tion book lets your youngster explore the many purposes that wheels have. (Also available in Spanish.)

■ The Name JarEmbarrassed by her Korean name, Unhei asks her class-mates to help her choose an American one. The children write suggestions on slips of

paper and put them in a jar. In this story by Yangsook Choi, Unhei learns something important about herself and her fellow students when it’s time to pick a name.

■ Vincent’s Colors This biography introduces young readers to Vincent van Gogh. Your child can see pictures of van Gogh’s most popular paintings, such as Sun-flowers and The Starry Night, and read descriptions of them in the painter’s own words. From the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Supporting little writers

● Learn to research. Encourage your youngster to read about her favorite top-ics. She could ask the librarian how to search the computer for books on balleri-nas or baby pandas, for example. Soon she’ll be able to do it herself.

● Attend special events. Go over the library’s calendar with your child, and circle events to attend. You might find story hours, puppet shows, author visits, a young readers’ book club, or even a session for reading to dogs!♥

Read-aloud favorites

As your child begins to write, you may wonder what you can do to help him. Consider this advice.

Read it. Ask him to “read” his writing to you—even if it looks like scribbles. Once children learn the alphabet, they often add letters or letter-like symbols to their draw-ings. When your child starts doing this, he’s figuring out that letters carry a message.

Spell it. Does your youngster ask you how to spell every word? Encourage him to sound out the words and write the letters he hears. He can also refer to spelling tests he brings home or lists of sight words (common words like said, are, and look).♥

Turtle Rock Elementary School

© 2013 Resources for Educators, a division of CCH Incorporated

To provide busy parents with practical ways to promote their children’s reading, writing,

and language skills.Resources for Educators,

a division of CCH Incorporated128 N. Royal Avenue • Front Royal, VA 22630

540-636-4280 • rfecustomer@wolterskluwer.comwww.rfeonline.comISSN 1540-5648

O U R P U R P O S E

February 2014 • Page 2

New learning standards

Anything but the truth!Give your youngster

a chance to stretch the truth a little (or a lot) by telling tall tales—stories that use exaggeration. First, read one to your child (get a library book or look online). Then, he can pick something to exaggerate. He might

describe a huge vegetable that grew in your garden

(“Our carrot grew bigger than a house!”) or tell how fast he and his friends rode their scooters (“Max and I flew down the street faster than a rocket ship!”).♥

Storytelling funTelling stories together can build all

kinds of skills in your youngster, from imagination and thinking to listening and speaking. Use these ideas for cre-ative storytelling nights in your house.

Roll of the diceLet your child cover 3–5 dice with

small stickers (animals, sports, dino-saurs). Then, have him roll all the dice at once. Take turns making up lines of a story using the stickers shown. For example, he might start, “The farm animals challenged the dinosaurs to a baseball game,” and you could add, “The horse struck out, and the pig came to bat.”

I had been hear-ing that children are

reading more nonfiction in school, but I wasn’t sure why. Attending a school night on the new Common Core State Standards cleared things up for me.

The presenter said the standards are designed to prepare kids for college and careers, where they’ll need to read for infor-mation. By fourth grade, about half of what students read will be nonfiction. So she suggested that parents read some nonfiction at

What’s my word?

What’s on your forehead? Why, a vocabulary word! Play this game to boost your child’s vocabulary.

1. Help her make game cards by writ-ing words from books or vocabu-lary lists, one per index card.

2. Shuffle the cards, and put them face-down in a pile.

3. On your turn, draw a card and hold it against your forehead so everyone can see the word but you.

4. Ask the other players yes or no ques-tions about the word until you figure it out. You might ask about its part of speech (“Is it a noun?”), its meaning (“Is it a type of job?”), or its length (“Does it have fewer than six letters?”).

5. Score 1 point for each question. When all of the cards have been used, the player with the fewest points wins.♥

Less screen time My daughter loves TV and video

games—she would rather spend time in front of a screen than with a book. What should I do?

Experts recommend no more than 1–2 hours of screen time a day for youngsters. Tell your child how much time she can have, and help her decide in advance how to use it (say, a 30-minute TV show and 30 minutes with a video game).

Then, try to incorporate reading into her screen time. For instance, turn on the TV closed-captioning so she gets reading practice. Even if she can’t read all the words, she’ll be excited to pick out some that she knows. Or look for videos based on picture books. Together, read the book, watch the video, and talk about how they’re the same and different.♥

bedtime and that we encourage our kids to read nonfiction for pleasure. She shared examples of picture books about frogs and construction vehicles that I’m sure our son, Sean, would like!

I also learned that Sean will be writing more in all subjects. At home, I can help by having him write for different reasons.

For example, he could make a birthday wish list and explain why he wants each item.

I was happy to have the standards explained— and to learn that there are ways we can help our son.♥

© 2013 Resources for Educators, a division of CCH Incorporated

February 2014

Reading to gather infor-mation from textbooks is a skill every student needs. Suggest that your child cre-ate a study guide to use for his next test—in the pro-cess, he’ll practice reading closely for key ideas and details. Here are formats he could try.

Color coding Let your youngster

choose a different-color pen for each kind of fact. For instance, if he’s reading about the Civil War, he could use blue to write notes about people (Ulysses S. Grant, Robert E. Lee), red for dates (1861, 1865), and green for places (Fort Sumter, Appomat-tox). Color-coding will help him remem-ber the information as he studies.

Details, detailsFor each section of a textbook chap-

ter, have your child draw a wheel (a cir-cle with lines, or spokes, coming out from the center in all directions). In the hub, he can write the topic (queen bee). On each spoke, he could write a detail

■ Noah Webster: Weaver of Words

Noah Webster is most famous for his dictionary, but in this biography by Pegi Shea, readers will discover other ways he shaped our language. He wrote books teaching children to read and spell, and he helped create the American version of English—changing British spellings like colour and traveller to color and traveler, for example.

■ Out of the DustAfter a tragic accident kills her mother, 14-year-old Billie Jo must decide if she should for-give her father and stay in Oklahoma or leave and seek a better life. Karen Hesse’s novel in verse describes the Great Depression in the Oklahoma dust bowl. (Also available in Spanish.)

■ The United States Constitution: A Graphic Adaptation

Jonathan Hennessey uses a graphic-novel format to explain the Constitution. The book covers every-

thing from the Founding Fathers who wrote the document to the articles and amendments that guide our government more than 200 years later.

■ Bobby vs. Girls (Accidentally) In this story by Lisa Yee, fourth-grader Robert Carver Ellis-Chan’s campaign for student council starts a “war” between the boys and the girls. To make things worse, if he wins, his best friend (and opponent), Holly, might never speak to him again.

Creative study guides

My writing notebook

about that topic (one per colony, lays up to 1,500 eggs per day).

Q&AAsk your youngster to pretend he’s an

expert on a textbook chapter and that a news reporter has interviewed him. He can write the “interview transcript” and use it as a study guide. First, he should rewrite each chapter subhead as a ques-tion. For instance, “The Importance of Protein” might become “Why is protein important?” The questions will give him a clear purpose for reading. Then as he reads, he can fill in the answers.

Encourage regular writing by giving your youngster a blank notebook to use whenever inspiration hits. Share suggestions like these to get her started:

● Write about an ongoing activity. For example, keep a log about a new hobby or give the highlights of your sports games.

● Describe something interesting, unusual, or beautiful that you see. ● Draw T-shirts or bumper stickers, and write slogans on them. ● Glue a photo to a blank page, and make up a story about it. ● Name something you love—a favorite food or a pet—and explain why you feel

that way.

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Reading Connection INTERMEDIATE EDITION February 2014 • Page 2

Put facts into fi ction

Research even shows that reading aloud increases youngsters’ test scores.

In addition to the educational benefits, many families find that reading aloud is a great bonding expe-rience. Since your

daughter complains about being too old,

try updating your rou-tine to include the whole family. You might all gather in the liv-ing room after dinner for a bedtime story, for example. When everyone is involved, it will feel less like you’re reading just to her and more like family time.

Don’t stop reading aloud

My daughter says she’s too old for me to read to her anymore. Is reading aloud still important at this age?

Absolutely! In fact, listening to adults read aloud is one of the best ways to help children of any age become better readers.

Reading to your daughter can expose her to new words, and it lets her share the enjoyment of books with you. Try fiction and nonfiction, including books she picks out and some you select.

Story time also encourages discussions about books. If you make comments or wonder out loud as you read, she’s likely to do that, too, and her reading comprehension will improve.

Recently, my son John was writing a story about

dog sledding. He wanted to add details to make it more realistic, so we went to the library to find books about dogs.

When John mentioned his writing assignment to the librarian, she made a good point. She said authors often talk to experts to get back-ground information. She showed John the acknowledgments page in a novel where the

Make reading fun(ny) Psst! Want your youngster to spend

more time reading? Tickle her funny bone! Consider these three hints.

1. Keep joke books and vol-umes of silly poems on the coffee table, in the bathroom, and in the car for quick reading any time.

2. Help your child find humorous sto-ries by an author like Tom Angleberger or Jeff Kinney. Suggest that she look in the library or ask cousins and friends for other funny authors.

3. Visit a comic book store together, or find a used-book store that sells comics. Also, when you read a funny comic strip or cartoon in the newspaper, cut it out to share with her, or email her ones that you find online.

Magazine word games For quick ways to improve your

child’s vocabulary and spelling skills, look no further than your nearest stack of mag-azines! Play these games.

First and last. Call out two letters. Players take a magazine and race to locate a word that begins with one of the letters and ends with the other. For E and M, your youngster might find emblem and marmalade.

The longest word. Ask your child to choose a letter. Then, each player opens a maga-zine to a random page and writes down the longest word he can find that starts with that letter. Read your words out loud. Let the winner pick a new letter, and play again.

Synonyms. One player says any word (tall), and everyone searches their magazines for synonyms, or words that mean the same thing. The first person to spot one (tow-ering) chooses the next word to find synonyms for. Tip: Consult a thesaurus if you’re not sure whether a word is a synonym.

writer thanked a doctor and an anthro-pologist for their help.

So John searched the Internet and found a local sled dog breeder. We visited the kennel, and John learned that sled dogs can eat 10,000 calories per day and

that they wear special booties to protect their sensitive feet.

These facts and others really gave John’s story an authentic feel. For his next story, about a blizzard, he plans to interview our neighbor who is a meteorologist.

Parent 2Parent