The Reading First Program continues at The LaSalle School at St. Gabriel’s Parish!
Our kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade teachers and students use the Harcourt Trophies Program in an uninterrupted 90 minute reading block.  Not only does this afford the opportunity for small group instruction and intervention tailored for each student, it also provides accurate data to share with parents.

Based on the mid  year assessments, The LaSalle School at St. Gabriel’s Parish has achieved 87% on or above reading level.  That is great news!  Except what about the remaining 13%?    These students are instructed with scientifically based intervention practices to target their specific needs.

Our dedicated, trained and professional staff utilizes data to differentiate instruction and customize lessons for individual students.  The areas of Phonemic Awareness, Phonics, Fluency, Vocabulary and Comprehension are the scientifically based methods to instill in students the strategies necessary for success in reading. 

You can help in your child’s success…Right here…Right now.  Why not take the time while you are at the computer, to explore www.tickettoread.com.   Use the flyer and parent letter to get started during the break.  Ask your child to share their user name and password to build a reading clubhouse together.

Here are some more ideas to get started:
If your child is just beginning to learn to read, you can help by…
*Practicing the sounds of language (Phonemic Awareness)  Read books with rhymes, teach your child rhymes, short poems and songs.  Play simple word games: ex. ‘ How many words can you make up that sound like the work “bat”?

*Help your child take spoken words apart and put them together.  Help your child separate the sounds in words, listen for beginning and ending sounds, and put separate sounds together.

*Practice the alphabet by pointing out letters wherever you see them and by reading alphabet books.

If your child is just beginning to read, you can help by…
*Pointing out the letter-sound relationships your child is learning on labels, boxes, newspapers, magazines and signs.
Listening to your child read words and books from school. 

If your child is reading, you can help by…
*Continuing to practice letter-sound relationships.
*Teaching the meaning of words, especially words that are important to understanding a book.
Discussing ways to learn the meaning of new words.

*Read together every day and be your child’s best advocate!  Make reading a part of every day.

Here are some great websites to visit to obtain actual activities that help in the 5 areas of reading.  Everything from word BINGO to poetry is available for you and your child.   Some of these sites provide the actual template to create your own game.  HAVE FUN!

www.nifl.gov/partnershipforreading
www.starfall.com
www.fcrr.org  (Florida Center for Reading Research)

If you would like, you are always welcome to stop by the teacher resource room. 

Sincerely,
Loretta Pratt
Reading First Building Coach

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April 18, 2008

Dear Families and Friends,
April is National Poetry Month…so what better way to celebrate than by creating original poems with our
 students! Happy Spring. Mrs. Pratt, Reading First Coach

ORIGINAL POEM BY ALL  THE  CHILDREN  IN  MRS.  HAYLES’  KINDERGARTEN  CLASS

                  WE LOVE KINDERGARTEN

We’re in Kindergarten, Kindergarten, Kindergarten.
We love to read, we love to do homework,
We love to learn, and we do take turns!

We love to write, we love to do our stations,
We love to play, we love to learn our ABC’s!

But there is one true love we love to love.
That is Mrs. Hayles and all our friends in kindergarten…who help us learn!

ORIGINAL  POEM  BY  ALL THE STUDENTS IN MS. ALBERTS’ FIRST GRADE CLASS

WE GET HAPPY

We get happy when we have recess.
We get happy when we have homework, vacations, gym and trips.

We get happy when we read a book.
We get happy when we have stations.

Mrs. Alberts rocks and we are all tops!
We’re ready for the second grade!
We are all proud and bright!

ORIGINAL POEM BY ALL THE STUDENTS IN SR. ALICIA AND MRS. MYVETT’S
SECOND GRADE CLASS

WE’RE THE GREATEST

ROSES ARE RED, VIOLETS ARE BLUE
SECOND GRADE IS SWEET
 AND WE LOVE YOU.
WE LOVE TO READ AND WRITE
WE LOVE TO LEARN AND WE LOVE OUR STATIONS, TOO.

WE LOVE TO EAT LUNCH AND DRINK FRUIT PUNCH AND WE ARE A GREAT BUNCH.

WE LOVE SR. ALICIA AND MRS. MYVETT
AND THAT IS SET. 
WE ARE THE GREATEST
AND ON THAT WE BET!

ORIGINAL POEM BY ALL THE CHILDREN IN MRS. LYNCH’S THIRD GRADE CLASS

WE ARE THIRD GRADE AND WE LOVE TO READ.
We read to succeed and
We are mighty good in-deed!
But most of all we love our teacher.
Her name is Mrs. Lynch.
In math we learn about an inch
And Science is a synch.
Reading is cool and
That’s the rule.
We will stay in school!