Student Homework Journal - A Letter to the Parents……………



Mrs. Garcia’s Homework - A Letter to the Parents

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Dear Parents,

This letter will explain the homework expectations for the year. I expect the students to do their homework to the best of their abilities. This may be a difficult challenge at first, but will become easier and easier as the year progresses. Students should not get upset if the work seems difficult at first, and should make their best attempt on the tasks.

The homework is as follows:

Math – Math homework will include a few problems each night based on concepts we are learning in class. At times it may include a review from previously taught material. I will check the math homework for completion on Friday and students will check their own work for accuracy when we go over homework on Friday. This allows us to discuss the problems and work on skills needing reviewed.

Spelling - Students should study their spelling words each evening for the test on Friday. More information on spelling will be found later on in this letter.

Writing- Students will complete a weekly writing prompt. Students should begin it on Wednesday and complete it on Thursday. Students should be able to write a 5 sentence paragraph with a main idea, details, and conclusion at the beginning of the year. By the end of second grade, students should be able to write an 8 sentence paragraph with a main idea, details, and conclusion.

Reading – Each night students are to complete their reading fluency Monday through Wednesday and a nightly comprehension sheet. This homework will be due on Fridays. Keep reading to find out specific information about this homework requirement.

Reading Homework

Reading is crucial to academic success. Reading fluently helps students better comprehend what they are reading. We have discussed what a fluent reader sounds like in class. A fluent reader reads at a good pace- not too fast and not too slow. A fluent reader also reads with expression. Fluent readers raise and lower their voices to show emotion. They emphasize important words and phrases with the tone of their voice. They pause at the end of sentences and raise their voice at the end of a question. A fluency skills check list is on the back of this letter. Keep it at home and use it to check your child’s fluency.

A beginning second grader should be able to read 60-70 words correct per minute while reading second grade material. By the end of December, second graders should be able to read 70-90 words correct per minute while reading grade level material. By the end of the year, second graders should be able to read 90-110 words correct per minute while reading grade level appropriate material.

I checked your child’s current reading fluency using a beginning of second grade passage. I recorded how many words your child read correctly in one minute. I used the results to assign your child a reading fluency passage for the week. It may not be a second grade passage. The level of the passage is based on your child’s current reading ability and will increase as your child’s fluency progresses.

Your child needs to read the passage each night, Monday through Wednesday. This is how I would like you to practice your child’s reading fluency.

➢ 1st Reading: Have your child read the passage aloud for one minute. Stop after one minute and record the number of words read correctly (WCPM) on the reading fluency record sheet.

➢ 2nd Reading: Have your child read the entire passage aloud. Help your child decode any unfamiliar words. Record the number or errors made on the record sheet.

➢ 3rd Reading: Have your child read the passage aloud for one minute. Record the number of words read correctly (WCPM) on the reading fluency record sheet.

The goal is for your child to increase the number of words read correctly with each reading. If your child completes the entire passage before the minute is up, just have your child start over again at the beginning and continue counting words read.

In addition to the reading fluency homework, your child will also have reading comprehension homework on second grade material. Please have your child return all of the reading homework to school on Fridays.

Spelling Homework

We will begin spelling tests this Friday. The spelling expectations may be different than spelling has been in the past. The spelling expectations for second grade are similar to the expectations that WCES first graders had last year.

Each week, I will send home a newsletter that includes spelling words. Right now, your student has five words. This could increase as the year progresses. The assigned words are sight words, which will also be referred to as high frequency “trick” words in our phonics program. These are words that appear most often in print. Many may be phonetically irregular words (they aren’t spelled like they sound, or can’t be sounded out). My goal is for your child to memorize the spelling of these words, so that they can be recognized and spelled quickly and easily. This will improve your child’s reading and writing fluency.

I am not assigning a spelling homework assignment each night. I am giving the words on Monday, drilling them in class for a few minutes each day, and testing them on Friday. I ask that you study these five words with your child at home as needed. Some ideas for practicing the words are included at the bottom of this letter. Please do what works for you and your child.

Every Friday, your child will have a test over these five spelling words and five other words that require him/her to apply the phonetic spellings we’ve learned in class. For example, if we are reviewing diagraphs (wh, ch, sh, th, ck), your child may have the words lash, whip, duck, chop, and path in addition to the five assigned spelling words. The purpose of this is to see that your child can apply the phonetic spellings learned throughout the week to correctly spell words that can be sounded out. This will improve your child’s overall spelling ability and writing fluency.

Ideas for studying spelling words:

Write the words 3 times each (or as many as you choose)

Write the words in ABC order

Write the words in a rainbow of colors

Write a sentence using each word

Make a word search and find your words

Draw and color a picture. “Hide” the words in the picture.

Write the words in the shape of a pyramid

Write the words using a blue crayon for consonants and a read crayon for vowels

I hope this letter has explained the homework expectations. If you have any questions, please ask. I know this may be different than what you and your child are used to in the past. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns regarding homework, please email me at my school email, sandra.garcia@.

Thank you!

Mrs. Garcia

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