Weber-Hardin Promotes Reading with Bear, Stuffed Animals

10/19/2009

Weber-Hardin Elementary School’s top priority is to build a solid reading foundation for each student. Literacy education is supported with a mix of programs. One of those programs takes place on Friday, October 30, when Weber-Hardin Elementary School’s 21st Century Community Learning Center/ACE Program will host a Noah’s Ark Animal Workshop.

The Noah’s Ark Animal Workshop provides a one-of-a kind experience, where children and parents, grandparents, aunts or uncles, experience the fun of creating their very own stuffed animal together, from start to finish, that becomes a student’s “reading buddy”.

The students will create a stuffed bear of their own design to bring to school for “Bring a Reading Buddy to School Day”. Students may choose to bring a favorite stuffed animal rather than create their own bear. The unique bears and other stuffed animals are the focus of a number of activities that involve family members, the student, and reading.

On designated days during each six-week period students will bring their stuffed animals to school for another reading adventure with a book and their “reading buddy”. Research has demonstrated that children improve their reading skills when they read aloud to someone—or a stuffed animal--or they have someone read aloud to them. Other activities planned include asking 2nd and 3rd grade upper classmates to play a leadership role to encourage younger classmates to be readers. Meanwhile in the library, family members will be invited to read books to their children that often begin with the magic opening words, “once upon a time…”

Intermediate Fourth Graders Entertain Parents at PAC Meeting

10/19/2009

Intermediate fourth grade choir students: left to right, back row: Megan Thomas, Matilda Montiel, Amber Williamson, Gabriella Deleon, Jenny Echavarria, Delane Espinoza, Lorenzo Perez, Ashley Monsibaiz; middle row: Trey Martinez, Bradley Hiller, Victoria Moreno, Natessa Olivarez, Damaris Diaz, Katrina Amador, Samantha Ellis, Mercedes Sarate, Abigail Rosalez;
front row: Brianna Carrillo, Chasity Reese, Rey Salinas, Alanis Olivarez, Nadien Ozuna, Jamie Blair, Isabel Sandoval.

Weber-Hardin Elementary, Intermediate, and McCraw Junior High parents met with teachers and administrators on Tuesday evening, October 13 to learn about the new grade advancement requirements mandated by the Texas Legislature. The grades 5 and 8 “student success” initiative require students to pass the TAKS reading and math test for promotion to next grade. Students will be given three opportunities to pass the grade 5 TAKS and the grade 8 TAKS test.

Students who do not pass one or both reading and math tests will not be promoted. A grade placement committee comprising administrators, teachers, and the individual student’s parents is formed when a student fails one or both of the second reading and math TAKS tests. Parents can be a great help to their children by closely tracking their academic progress, by reinforcing what a child has learned in school by asking questions about classroom and homework assignments, by creating activities at home that reinforce a child’s learning, and by asking the teacher for extra tutoring programs at the first indication that the child is having difficulty with a subject.

Cindy Lopez talked about the various 21st Century classes available after school for students on all campuses, and on Saturday mornings.

The program concluded with a performance of the Intermediate School’s fourth grade choir singing “The Star Spangled Banner” and “Let There Be Peace on Earth”. The music director is Mrs. Michelle Davila who teaches music to Weber-Hardin and Intermediate students. The students can be heard again when they sing patriotic songs in a Veterans Day program.