Family Letters

August, 2010


Dear Parents,
Please complete and submit the student information form below.  I value any and all information that you feel important to share with me.  My first priority is "getting to know my students and their families".  Authentic learning can only be fully achieved when your child feels safe and accepted in their learning environment.   If there are any concerns or problems with the electronic communications please know that I am only a phone call away: 602-499-1440.


Thank you in advance, for completing this form in a timely manner.
Dianna Ashley    


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September, 2010


Families that read together, succeed together!

 

Family Literacy Opportunities

Dear Families,

It is my goal to help your children reach their fullest potential this year.  I believe that through collaborative efforts with you, this goal is attainable!  I truly believe that with due diligence, we can work together to meet the needs of our community of learners.  I want you to know that your children come eager to share, engage, and learn each and every day!  These characteristics are very encouraging to me, as they demonstrate traits necessary to not only learn, but to thrive in learning new things!  Throughout this year, there will be many opportunities for you to get involved.  I realize that various commitments and busy schedules may prevent you from meeting each and every one of these literacy encouraging opportunities.  But I want you to know that at any time your schedule permits, we would love to have you!  Below you will find our class’s initial schedule of family literacy activities…

I am looking forward to seeing you!

Sincerely,

Dianna Ashley

Who	What	When	Where	Why
The most Important People in my student’s lives	Interactive Read-Alouds: This is when one of our students invites an important person in their life to come into the classroom to share a favorite book with the class!  This is a very special time for the students, and so my hope is that we can achieve 100% participation by year's end.	Traditionally, every Friday From 2:30pm – 3:00pm But any afternoon would work—just let me know what day works for you! J	Our Classroom	First and foremost…to build relationships within our classroom.  Secondly, to show our classroom community how much we value their literacy development!  Read Alouds with family members is so much fun! 
Who	What	When	Where	Why
My students and their families	Traveling Book Bags: There are a variety of developmentally appropriate book bags to choose from—reaching every learner, at their level! The book bags are filled with books from a selection of genres--fiction, non-fiction, folk tales, fantasy, poetry, rhyming books, etc. All, for the whole family to enjoy!  These books are both age and developmentally appropriate, and include topics that your children will find fun and interesting!  You will even find books with CD’s—for the emergent readers—allowing them to “look and listen” to the stories at the same time!   A writing journal is included in each book bag.  This can be a very short, or extensive reflection on your book bag experience.  When writing follows reading, it allows the reader to better understand what they’ve read, and how they truly feel about what they’ve read!	Students can check a traveling book bag out on any day of the week	Our Classroom Library	To support you child’s reading and writing development
Who	What	When	Where	Why
My students and their families	Family Journals Children and their family write back and forth in our special family journals. Reading and writing go hand-in-hand, and so writing activities as such can help promote reading, and your child’s overall literacy development!  What this looks like: Reading & Writing go hand-in-hand  Your child will write in these journals in school—with my help, the help of another parent volunteer, or even their 5th grade buddy. They will include things that they enjoyed doing in school, things that were challenging, a reflection of a day’s events, etc.  Your job will be to respond to their comments and/or reflections. J	The students will be encouraged to write in their family journals at least once per week.  It is my hope that you will be able to respond to their entry in a timely manner.	The students will write in their family journals at school.  After completing an entry, they will bring the family journal home for a family member to review and respond	For the students—to share something related to school and/or their learning experience.  For the family member—to make comments, ask questions, and/or offer praise and encouragement to their child.
Who	What	When	Where	Why
My students and their families	Family Reading/Writing Nights Children and family members read books together and participate in reading related activities What this looks like: During these activities, I will also share tips about ways that you can support your child's literacy development at home.	The first Wednesday of every month from 6:00pm-7:30pm	The location will vary.  This activity is often either in my classroom, the school cafeteria, or outside in the courtyard in front of our classroom.	To encourage literacy activities both in the classroom and at home

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October, 2010

Dear Families,


Your child’s reading and writing abilities are vitally important to their success in school, and beyond. Full development of these literacy skills will help to spark your child’s imagination and at the same time, it will open the doors to the enormous world in which we live!  Research indicates that a family’s influence plays a critical role in helping their child to develop their reading and writing skills.  In case you are looking for some ideas on how to encourage your child’s literacy development, I’ve comprised some helpful tips that will not only inspire them to read and write, but will also encourage relationship-building within your family.

• Turn off the tube—or at least limit your family’s time watching TV
• Lead by example—In the presence of your child, read books, newspapers, and magazines that are of interest to you—in other words: “Let them see you partaking in naturally occurring literacy activities”
• Read Together—Our children are only small for a very short time—take this opportunity to demonstrate your appreciation for reading, but more importantly…your appreciation of the special time that is set aside each day to spend with your child.
• Visit the library—our public libraries offer a wealth of services—in addition to books…check out their monthly schedule.  They offer family movie nights, read alouds with the librarian (this activity is typically well-orchestrated, and includes puppets, props, and visual tools), unique child-related reading activities (children have an opportunity to read to a highly trained service animal), family game nights, and much more!
• School Website—our school website provides links to free educational resources where your child can play interactive reading and writing games, and practice their weekly spelling words.  The school website also provides links to resourceful websites that are geared to provide valuable educational resources for parents as well.

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November 2010

Dear Families,


It occured to me that you may have questions about what family literacy means--what it looks like, and why it is so important in the development of your child's literacy and overall  learning.  I am hoping the information I am about to share with you will help to answer some of these questions.


What is family literacy?


Family literacy is a combination of the beliefs, traditions, and everyday practices that families partake in both at home and within their community to encourage literacy growth and development within each family member.


What does it look like?


There are many great examples of how family literacy evolves.  Some family activities that encourage literacy development include: singing songs together, telling stories (children love to hear about their parent's past life experiences!), playing games (cards, dominoes, scrabble, monopoly, pictionary, etc.), reading books (various genres), and even drawing pictures.


Why is family literacy so important?


Research indicates that children who enter school having been exposed to multitudes of naturally occuring literacy activities know more words and therefore learn more rapidly from their environment. (Neuman & Roskos, 2007)  Exposure to "print" of various forms is vitally important, and the earlier our children encounter language and words the better chance they will have at achieving literacy success--early on in their academic walk.


If you have any question about how you can help your child at home, please don't hesitate to contact me.  When it comes to your child's literacy development, Together...we can achieve more!  


Please know that I will continue to encourage your child's literacy development, and their overall learning experience! 


Additional information about family literacy is just "one right click" with your mouse away... Family Literacy


Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to share this information with you!
Sincerely,
Dianna Ashley