• Frequently Asked Questions

    Please e-mail me with any question you may have.  juliesimon@mooreschools.com
     
    1. What time is lunch/recess? Lunch is from 11:45 to 12:15. Recess is from 12:15 to 12:40. You are welcome to check your child out for lunch or eat with your child on the picnic tables by the office. 
     
    2. What is reading fluency and why must my child master it? Reading fluency is the ability to read text accurately and quickly. Fluent readers read silently and aloud effortlessly and with expression. They don't read slowly, word by word. Because fluent readers don't concentrate so much on the decoding of words, they can focus their attention on what the text means. They can make connections between the text and their background knowledge. Students in 3rd grade are moving more into reading to learn instead of learning to read as in 1st and 2nd grade. 
     
    3. How can I help my child bring up his Accelerated Reading average so he can meet his nine-week's reading goal?
    A. Check the book levels they are reading. I will be monitoring this too but sometimes they slip in a book above their level and test on it. If students are reading books above their level, they will not be successful on the book tests. The whole idea behind setting them an individual reading range is so they can have success in books that are not too hard for them, as well as, not too easy for them.
     
    B.  Read the tab, "Reading Suggestions" in this web site and try them. If your child is still having a hard time remembering what she is reading, she can do a written story map. That is where they write down the main idea's of each chapter AS THEY GO. This should not be a major chore. They should just write a few sentences each time they read a new chapter. Before they take an AR test, they can read their story map. Even if these are not related to the AR questions, students get the story parts in the forefront of their mind before they test. I have found this helps with AR averages.
     
    C. Help me remind them to read at the lower end of their assigned reading range until their average increases. 
     
    D. Help me encourage them to stay away from non-fiction (true) books until they bring up their average.
     
    E. Have your child check out a picture book and test on it.  It must be in his or her reading level though. Most of the time, I want students to have a chapter book but occasionally they can read a picture book. There are many great picture books out there!
    4. How does it help my child to know their basic addition and subtraction (later multiplication/division) facts fluently? Math is not just calculating and computation. It is problem solving, finding patterns, formula following and creating, and other logical reasoning. If students know their facts quickly without having to spend time counting, they will be able to  focus on these higher order math skills mentioned. If they are busy calculating slowly the difference between 17-8, they may lose site of the whole logical picture or the reason they were subtracting 17-8 in the first place. 
     
    Suggestions to help:  Purchase flashcards at the Dollar Store (or have your child make them). Make a simple chart for your child. List ones, twos, threes...When your child masters with FLUENCY all the basic ones facts (1+0, 1+1, 1+2, 1+3) draw a star on the chart under the ones column. Go to twos and continue through 12's. When they master their addition with FLUENCY, do the same with subtraction. 
     
    Here is a list of ways students can practice their math facts each evening:
    • Use flash cards
    • Study orally with parents on the way to baseball practice
    • Pick up extra "Mad Minutes" in class from Mrs. Simon and do one at home. Then check it.    Note: These can be copied for multiple use.
    • Use websites suggested under the Favorite Links For Kids tab.  These have timed tests that can be done on the computer specially for fluency.
    • Call Grandma and practice for 5 minutes over the phone. 
    • Write troubled facts around the house on Post-it notes.
    • Brainstorm other ways to practice with your child. 

    What is Multiple Intelligence (MI)?  There is no such thing as stupid. We are all smart in many ways and weak in others. We can help each other and ourselves develop our weaknesses by using our strengths. Our class lessons and theology is bases on Howard Gardner (and others) eight Multiple Intelligence Theory. The students will learn them. They will learn where they are strong and can help others, as well as where they are not so strong and can learn from others. Here are the 8 intelligences:

    1. Verbal Linguistic (Word Smart) reading, writing, thinking in words 
    2. Logical Reasoning (Math Smart) problem solving, charts, organizing 
    3. Naturalistic (Nature Smart) animals, plants, environment
    4. Interpersonal (Empathy Smart) group leaders, know what others like, interested in others
    5. Intrapersonal (Self-Smart) knows how to meet goals and get own needs met to thrive
    6. Bodily Kinesthetic (Active Smart) games, sports, acting, doing
    7. Musical Smart
    8. Art Smart