Here are some answers to questions that have been asked by parents and students. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
1. Do we really need to have our reading logs signed every night?
Yes and No. Students should be reading for at least 20 minutes every night and practcing the reading strategies we use in class. As we are preparing for high school, students are expected to take more ownership of their education by ensuring work gets completed. Having said that, the reality is that some students need more help staying on top of their homework and the tracking log adds a level of accountability.
Recognizing that parents/guardians and students lead busy lives and may not be able to sign the reading log on a daily basis, I will only be checking once a week to make sure the reading log is update. Please check the calendar to see when I will be checking the reading log. Students who have not completed their reading homework on this date will be staying in for 20 minutes at second recess or after school to do the missed reading.
Can I read facebook as part of my reading homework?
No. Although facebook, msn, and chatting online requires a lot of reading and writing, at this point it will not be considered acceptable material.
Does reading from other classes or in other languages count towards my reading homework?
It depends.
- You can read a textbook from another class (i.e. Math, Science, History, Geography) as long as it is written in English and you are reading (not writing or answering questions) for 20 minutes. In other words, answering questions for your science homework for 20 minutes doesn’t count, but if it takes you 40 minutes to do your science homework (20 minutes to read the textbook and 20 minutes to answer the questions), then you can count the 20 minutes of reading.
- Once a week, you are allowed to “read” a media text (i.e. watch tv, listen to music, etc.) This is because we can use the same comprehension strategies (i.e. inferring, prediction, identify the main idea or stereotypes) whether we are reading a novel or watching a movie. If you would like to read a text in a different language for your reading homework, you can do it once a week and count it as your media text for that week.
Why do we have to gather in a downstaris at the cafe?
Too many students were wandering the hallways unsupervised. Now, we’re asking all students to wait outside the cafeteria to get picked up by the teacher. (Or, make sure you have a note from the teacher that you’re meeting.) If you still have questions, please come and speak with me.