The Reading Railroad Issue #36

1. Is Your Child Ready for the Next Grade?
2. How to Use the Computer as a Learning Tool
3. Why Buy Expensive Toys?
4. Book of the Month
5. Fun Online Safe Sites for Kis
6. March Winner of the Car Train Drawing

IS YOUR CHILD READY FOR THE NEXT GRADE? {!name}, the summer is here and this is probably the last thing you want to hear, but if your child is not ready for the next grade, the summer is an excellent time for preparation. Summer was always the greatest learning growth period that my children experienced. Why? Because it was the time that we took vacations and spend a lot more time interacting with them. The best learning takes place when children have new experiences, whether it be a family vacation, visiting museums or taking part in sport activities because these are all language arts experiences. Interactive, positive, fun communication is the key. Please, please, please keep in mind, you are not your child's teacher. Your job is to be his / her cheer leader. Playing games with your child is the best way for them to learn at home. Connect learning with fun and that is the best a parent can do to help them children learn. Kindergarten Put a different word on the wall in big letters in a prominent place. Example, the word refrigerator on the refrigerator. Makes sense, doesn't it? Read a story every night to your child before bedtime. Let them participate when they ask to, even if they make up the story and it is not the words on the page. Have workbooks and puzzles around the house that have your child match letters with words that begin with each letter. Have your children invite a friend for a playdate. Getting along with other kids and knowing how to interact with them is one of the necessary skills to learn in kindergarten. Know how to follow rules. Make one new rule for your family... like eating 2 fruits and one vegetable a day before allowed to have dessert at dinner time. Explain the meaning of a rule. Putting away a toy after playing with it before taking out another to play. Make up a song and have your child learn their address and phone number. Have them write their name on all their drawings. Have them write their numbers... 0 to 10 1st Grade: This is what your child needs to know if s/he completed kindergarten to prepare them for 1st grade. Recognize and form uppercase and lowercase letters of the alphabet. Match sounds to each alphabet letter. Recognize a few frequently used sight words. Recognize and use rhyming words. "I am thinking of a plant that rhymes with free that is brown at the bottom and green at the top in the summer time. (tree). This is a great car game. Begin reading words by using initial consonant sounds and such sound patterns as -an and -at (fan, man, can) and (sat, rat, pat). Identify, draw, cut, and name squares, circles, triangles, ovals, diamonds, and rectangles. Capitalize the first and last name of a person and the word "I". Count, recognize, and write the numbers up to 20. Use their five senses to make simple scientific observations. Classify and group objects according to such characteristics as shape, color, size, texture, and so on. Shape game Understand how people in communities work together. What your child will learn in 1st grade Read at least 100 sight words. Recognize the singular and plural forms of nouns. Recall the sequence of events in oral and written stories. Locate the main idea and details in stories. Print words legibly. Use simple maps and globes. Capitalize the first word in a sentence and use the period and question mark at the end of a sentence. Count to 100 by one's, two's, five's, and ten's. Write the numerals to 100. Add and subtract numbers up to and from 10. Write words legibly in manuscript form. Make more detailed observations of the natural world. 2nd grade Apply more complex phonics skills in his reading. Automatically read the 200 most commonly used words. Site words need to know by end of 3rd grade. Recognize and use nouns and action verbs in sentences. Begin writing in cursive. Write legibly in cursive. Write sentences using correct punctuation and capitalization. Add and subtract any 2-digit number. Identify the value of pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters, half-dollars, and dollars. Develop a simple understanding of life, earth, and physical sciences. Handle place value concepts for 3-digit whole numbers. Identify time to include half-hour and 5-minute intervals. Value people from many cultures. Have fun!

BOOK OF THE MONTH Hans Christian Anderson Award nominee and two-time Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award winner (2008), Ashley Bryan gives us 3-favorite spirituals: "This Little Light of Mine," "Oh, When the Saints Go Marching In," and "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands." The kaleidoscope of color and cut paper powerfully enhances these beloved songs. Come, sing, and celebrate!

JUNE WINNER OF THE CAR TRAIN DRAWING 1. Judy signed up on 07/08/05 at 10:42am. Lucky #254 It pays to confirm and keep your subscription. Congratulations Candy !

There are many ideas in the backissues of The Reading Railroad.

See you next month!
Madeline Binder