Audio Books

Hearing a book read on tape helps students see how the words on the page can come alive in a fluid, expressive way. It helps them focus on the sounds of words read without interruption and provides a model of fluent reading. Audio books also give your students an important introduction to listening — a skill that she must master in order to learn to read. Listening to stories also helps develop imagination and attention which is important skill for them to learn. Not to mention it fosters a LOVE of WORDS.  Below are two sites worth checking out.

http://www.memfox.com/mem-reads-aloud#

http://www.storynory.com/

Illustrative Mathematics ~ Website

llustrative Mathematics is a website that will help you implement Common Core State Standards. Click on K-8 Standards and browse by your grade level or peek at standards by domain. Available illustrations will give support to teachers by providing clear activities that meet standard objectives.

http://www.illustrativemathematics.org/

College Bound what a Message

"Your child is college bound, start saving now!" What if we told each parent this at parent conferences. What an amazing message this would be.

With the standards shifting to Common Core students will have the knowledge and skills to be successful for college and careers. Students at all levels K-12 are expected to:

• Become strong readres and writers
• Read large amounts of fiction and nonfiction
• Read books of interest at a high level independently and comprehend what they have read
• Think deeply and respond to text, recognize themes of literature, and determin author's purpose