Back to School Night Questions

I thoroughly enjoyed meeting all of you last Thursday evening at Back to School Night.  Thank you for coming.    

Thanks to Mary (Matthew's mom), we have some answers to the mystery of AR points and book levels.  After researching several websites, Mary concluded that the best and easiest place to find book titles, points, and reading levels, is to go to the Aptos Junior High School webpage- aptosjr.pvusd.net.  Once you are on their home page, select the library link and then go to AR Home Connect.  If you want to find a book, click on the AR book finder link and it will take you to a list of AR books by level.  Thank you Mary for all of your investigative work! Again, your child's ZPD reading level is coming home Monday.              

Thank you to all who volunteered to help in the classroom.  I look forward to having you join our classroom this week.   We still are looking for a volunteer to coordinate the Halloween, Holiday, and End of the Year parties.  Please let Tonya (Tobin's mom) know if your are interested.   I am a big fan of low key, simple celebrations.    

Finally, thank you again for the generous donations.  I plan to hit the Dollar Store and Target this weekend to buy prize box items.  

AR Reading

This year, the second and third grade students are participating in the Accelerated Reading Program.  Next Monday, September 20th, your child will bring home a Star Reading Diagnostic Report that will give his/her ZPD (grade range for optimal reading challenge).  Please help your child find a book from home or from the Library that fits in his/her ZPD.  Once you and your child have selected a book, please have your child read at least 5  pages if it is a picture book or 2 pages if it is a chapter book to assess if it is appropriate for your child's reading ability and/or if it interests your child.  If your child is missing more than 5 words on a page, the book is too hard.  After selecting a book, please place the book in a gallon size Ziploc bag and have your child bring it to school to read in class.  Your child may take AR tests on books read at home and books read in class.  Finding a book with your child is far more effective than me assigning a book.  However, I am happy to help your child find a book at recess if he/she cannot find a book at home or at the local Library.  Please save thick chapter books for the Upper Grades as a child cannot take a book twice and there are far more AR points required in the Upper Grades and in Junior High.  To access book points, please see the Rio del Mar Web under Accelerated Reader.  Thank you for your support.