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Instructional Specialist |
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| A Message From... | Mrs. Helms |
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Mrs. Helms attended the University of Dayton where she received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in English with a minor in Education. To complete her Master of Arts degree, she continued at the University of Dayton where she was a graduate assistant, teaching English composition and literature. After getting married, she worked in the business industry as an office manager and secretary. While her three children were young, she stayed at home, but kept busy as editor of the community newsletter. When her youngest started school, she returned to teaching as a substitute. Over fifteen years ago, she began working for Hamilton County Educational Service Center, first as an enrichment teacher. After taking course work she added reading specialist to her certificate. Working for HCESC has provided many opportunities for gathering intervention strategies for all academic levels. The last few years, she has presented those strategies at various academic conferences and as a workshop for teachers. |
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| ANNOUNCEMENTS |
Picture Yourself Reading!! Students in grades 1 - 4 are encouraged to bring in books they have read at home. At school, they are asked to describe the characters and plot, then read one page from the book. The student can then write down the book on the "picture" card. After five books, each student can pick a prize from my prize box. We want to continue to encourage reading at home. Reading is Fundamental has a good tips page for parents. You can access it below. http://www.rif.org/parents/tips/tip.mspx?View=3
Enrichment classes are in full swing
The second grade reading enrichment classes will be reading various fiction and non-fiction selections. As we read, we are discussing point of view, author's purpose, and inferencing. In the third grade reading enrichment classes, we will also be reading both fiction and non-fiction selections. Our first novel will be The Chocolate Touch, a modern day King Midas story. Students have already thought about what they would change "everything" into... The fourth grade class has been investigating hot air balloons and creating their own balloon adventures. The are working on several projects that highlight the various multiple intelligences. Some project are completed individually, while others are done with a partner. We are seeing some very creative projects. The fifth and sixth grade classes will be working a project called "Creative Flight." This creative thinking project will have teams of students constructing several prototypes of paper airplanes or helicopters. To complete this project, they will be using math (measurement, geometry, etc.), writing (flyers), science (lots of physics), art, reading (by following exact directions), and creative thinking. |
| HOMEWORK |
Please read with your child and have them read to you. We are working on improving oral reading fluency, and one way to increase that fluency is by reading aloud with a partner.
The following websites were of interest as we investigated the principles of flight. http://www.workman.com/etcetera/games/fliersclub/ a flight simulator game. http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/K-12/airplane/bga.html http://wings.avkids.com/Book/intermediate.html http://www.fi.edu/flights/own2/forces.html |
| CALENDAR |
| SUPPLIES TO BRING |
| LINKS |
| Books (online, digital, ....): http://www.audiobooksforfree.com/ Lots of digitized books, many MP3 files Links to e-books and study guides to various books Make your own personalized story books from the templates, also games, holiday activities, etc. Click on the Storybooks link then scroll to the bottom of the page for the free books. Online collection of current copyrighted popular digital books, which can be converted into embossed Braille, or read by synthetic voice programs. Fee is $50/year for an individual with a disability. http://ulc.cast.org:8088/ulc2/jsp/user/BrowseWorks.jsp Digitized books http://www.acs.ucalgary.ca/~dkbrown/storclas.html E-books of classics  Online collection of digital books which are no longer protected by copyright laws. http://www.literatureproject.com/ Collection of classic books, poems, speeches, and plays. For each piece of literature, we offer online chapter-indexed hypertext that can be easily read and searched. In addition, each piece includes links to a new e-Book version. We also offer Text-to-Speech software that can easily be downloaded from our site www.magickeys.com/books/index.html Children's online storybooks  Cute games and books. Books do not contain sound though. Interactive books that range from sing along songs, poetry, and more. Will soon cost $10/yr. www.randomhouse.com/seussville  Dr. Suess activities such as making your own video book, matching games, etc. Online stories Comprehension Download free book summaries, literature notes, and study guides (like "cliff notes") for over 250 books. We provide an educational supplement for better understanding of classic and contemporary Literature Profiles, Metaphor Analysis, Theme Analyses, and Author Biographies Download Cliff notes type of summaries, with plot and character analysis and much more. Dictionary/Encyclopedia:  http://www.enchantedlearning.com/dictionary.htm Picture dictionary Contains information on many subjects, including important events in world history that happened on the date the site is accessed Click on Encyclopedia Britannica for free electronic dictionary through Ohio resources Merriam Webster dictionary and thesaurus A rhyming dictionary that includes synonyms and antonyms http://www.visualthesaurus.com Gives a visual representation of a word with synonyms around. Helps to aid with comprehension of new words. Go to this site, type in the URL of the site you need help with and then when you get there click on any word to hear it, and see the definition Games: A game for each day of the calendar, Free resource CD for teachers if you pay shipping and handling. http://www.education.com/kids/sitemap.jsp Lots of games that are educational Games such as Grammar gorilla, Math baseball On-line games, printable worksheets and downloads http://www.gustown.com/gustownsummer2.html On-line games and fun for kids On-line games for children, storybooks, teachers and parents guides, and recommended children's books http://www.surfnetkids.com/games/ Games listed by type (i.e., crossword or jigsaw) and topic (i.e., science or history) and a search function for specific games. Language/ Literacy:  http://berners.bcoe.butte.k12.ca.us/~lontiver/ Lots of language ideas by grade for home and school Click on the Game Goo , then Kids and try the different games. Kangaroo for upper and lower case alphabet match, Fearless Freida for spelling/keyboard simulation, Alphabet Bear for alphabetizing and many more. http://www.dailygrammar.com/archive.shtml Archive of lots of language/grammar activities Wacky web tales, put in your parts of speech and see your wacky web tale composed. Over 4,660 interactive therapy activities covering more than 560 separate speech, language and literacy targets. Subscription based, but can get a free trial. http://www.funbrain.com/grammar/index.html Grammar gorilla games where you identify parts of speech. Interactive Reading games http://www.lawrence.org/edlinks/etr/etr1_121.html - _ENGLISH Links to lots of language arts tools. http://www.kidspeech.com/active.html Kaufman's center, language activities Ideas for teaching the alphabet, math, phonics, and reading. Go to the classroom section for literacy games, worksheets, calendars, word walls, poems and lots more. Click on the stories link at the top to link to stories that you read. Certain words have links that link to a page explaining the vocabulary and says the word outloud. Also has interactive multimedia games Look out Below -which words can you make out of a larger targeted word; Word play “ a word is said outloud and then does the action (i.e. shrink, erase); AB Cow “ here are all the alphabet except one letter, type the missing letter on your keyboard; and more. http://www.rhlschool.com/english.htm Grammar worksheets on synonyms, verbs, nouns¦. http://www.sdcoe.k12.ca.us/score/Phonics_Link/classroom.html Great phonic activities and other activities linked to California’s Reading Word Analysis, Fluency, Systematic Vocabulary Development , Reading Comprehension standards. http://webster.commnet.edu/grammar/index.htm Guide to grammar and writing, activities and explanations of various grammatic structures, online interactive quizzes http://www.theschoolbell.com/Links/word_walls/words.html Interactive word wall ideas, activities and examples http://www.quia.com/pages/havefun.html Tracy Boyd's language and sequencing activities. Includes synonyms, antonyms, categories, labeling, rhyme, grammar, etc. http://www.setbc.org/resources/4block/default.html Koppenhaver and Karen Erickson's website on resources for the four block literacy approach, with examples of special education adaptations (inspiration, word wall, boardmaker, eyegaze and more) Order paper workbooks for phonics, writing, and other literacy activities, cute online activities as well  Great information on reading, balanced literacy, intervention ideas, resources, etc. http://www.wfu.edu/~cunningh/fourblocks/ Patricia Cunningham's web site for her four blocks literacy program which is research based. Includes multiple resources and ideas for reading, writing, and spelling. Also sign up for the newsletter. Math:  http://www.cast.org/udl/index.cfm?i=2829 Casts links of lots of math resources by type of skill Lots of worksheets for various math skills, also create worksheets online. Pattern blocks, base-10 blocks, cuisenaire rods, money and fraction bar manipulatives Lots of math activities and concepts for a range of ages and ability levels http://www.cs.uu.nl/~markov/kids/tangram/index.html Tangrams where you can move the pieces on top of the model http://galaxy.gmu.edu/~drsuper  Repository of virtual manipulatives and links, organized by grade level. http://www.kidsdomain.com/down/pc/_math-index.html Lots of math downloads. http://kidsdomain.com/down/pc/sebran.html Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, memory, hangman and other games http://www.learningplanet.com/stu/kids0.asp Online activities for students by grade level. Topics include math, memory, time, geography and more. http://matti.usu.edu/nlvm/nav/index.html National Science Foundation funded. Virtual manipulatives and interactive concept tutorials for K-2, 3-5, 6-8 and 9-12 grades Ask Dr. Math a question http://www.programfiles.com/Default.asp?LinkId=16818 Ironhead Mathflash http://www.simtel.net/pub/dl/33694.shtml Time 11, where you set the hands of the clock to match the time http://standards.nctm.org/document/eexamples Problems that can be solved with tangrams to develop spatial skills Fraction Modeler contains numberline and circle representations of fractions, including the process of renaming, comparing, addition, subtraction , multiplication, and division Poetry:  Go to their student pages or listen to poetry readings on their CD pages. It includes many sample poems, a kids section, and great ideas for supporting poetry writing. http://www.poetryzone.ndirect.co.uk/ It includes: Top Ten, Interviews with famous poets, Reviews of poetry books, and a place to send student poetry. This is a very fun website! Students can: rate poems, submit poems, download poems to read, turn poems into simple plays; teachers can find tons of ideas for helping students write their own poems! Study Skills  Study guides, study tips and links http://www.homeworkhelp.about.com/ Homework tips and links http://www.iss.stthomas.edu/studyguides/ Website designed with lots of study skills resources |
| MY WISH LIST |
885 Denier Place • Cincinnati, Ohio 45224 • (513) 522-6858 • Fax (513) 728-4336 |