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Edison Language Academy – Together Through Two Languages (310) 828-0335 www.edison.smmusd.org
ANNOUNCEMENTS TIME TO SEEK PLEDGES FOR THE EDISON JOGATHON – MARCH 11 -The Edison Jogathon is both an important fundraiser for programs at Edison funded by our PTA and SMMEF and a really fun and healthy activity. If you can come and help at Virginia Avenue Park on March 11, you’ll leave with a big smile on your face! Facilities Updates: The walkway behind the Kindergarten and child care classrooms has been closed for the rest of the school year because construction is beginning in earnest on the back nd staircases from the 2 floor and on the Kindergarten play area. You can see the schedule posted on the windows near cafecito, on the front office bulletin board, or by visiting http://fipcontractors.smmusd.org/edison-newconstruction.aspx Workshops for Parents – Mark your calendars for this series of bilingual workshops presented by Bobby Verdugo of the UCLA School Function Program. All workshops will be held in Room 208 from 8:30-10:00 am: 1) Developing Children’s Social Skills – March 25; 2) Supporting Children Through Transitions and Building Resilliency – April 22; and Ending the School Year – May 20. Reflective Parenting – en Español – We are thrilled to announce that Family Services of Santa Monica will be offering its excellent Reflective Parenting 10-week class here at Edison in Spanish this spring. The class is free to Edison parents. We have previously hosted the course in English and are so happy to offer this wonderful resource on parenting to our Spanish speaking families. The classes will be held on Tuesdays, beginning March 17. Spaces are limited, so sign up when you receive the flyer in the Wednesday packet. For further information, contact school counselor Belveth Marroquin at (310) 8280335, ext. 61-319. Getting Ready for Kindergarten – If you have a younger child, you may want to attend a workshop on getting children ready for Kindergarten, to be held on March 7 from 5:30-7:30 pm in the McKinley Elementary School Auditorium. Child care available for children 4 years and older. Please call to RSVP: (310) 451-9747
FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK: WHY READING ALOUD TO CHILDREN IS SO IMPORTANT AT ALL AGES I am a big believer in the importance of reading aloud to children, from baby days all through middle school. In fact, as long as your children will let you share a good book with them it can be a powerful gift from parent to child. Reading is of particular importance for school success because reading -- especially books of more complexity than children can read on their own -- really helps them develop their vocabulary. And the size and quality of students’ vocabulary is a big predictor of school success. In the early years of school, almost all instruction is about the teacher talking to the students. This isn’t just true for reading, but for all subjects. The students with the largest vocabularies have an advantage because they understand most of what the teacher has to say. Of course it’s important to talk to our children, and I don’t want to minimize that in any way. But in conversation, we tend to use verbal shorthand, not full sentences. But the language in books is very rich, and in books there are complete descriptive sentences, figurative language, and nuance. In books, newspapers, and magazines, the language is more complicated, more sophisticated. And the child who hears more sophisticated words has a tremendous advantage in school. “Reading aloud to your child”, says Jim Trelease – expert and author of the Read-Aloud Handbook -- “is a commercial for reading. When you read aloud, you’re whetting your child’s appetite for reading…A child who has been read two will want to learn to read herself. She will want to do what she sees her parents doing. But if a child never sees anyone pick up a book, she isn’t going to have that desire.” It’s important to continue reading to children even after they’ve learned to read by themselves, because a child’s reading level doesn’t catch up to his listening level until eighth grade. The early readers children use independently are great to practice decoding and fluency, but they don’t do much to teach about plot and characters, use sophisticated vocabulary, help a child ponder moral dilemmas, or just get lost in a good story! Children are ready to hear and understand a complicated story before they can independently read it. And if you get to the point where the books your child wants to hear are stretching your reading level in a given language (or if you just want a different reading experience), head to the books on tape section of your public library and settle in to listen to a good book with your child! However you do it, just read to them!
March 9 – JAMS Science Magnet Outreach Visits
March 11 – Edison Site Council Meeting 4:00-6:00 p.m. Community Room
March 18 – PTA Association Meeting 8:30-9:30 am Community Room