Each week, we will be highlighting one of our programs or offering resources for parents to illustrate The Radcliffe Way!

Orton-Based Reading Tips for Christmas Break

Our Radcliffe Herons have come a long way since the beginning of the year. In order to build on this progress and ensure our students are prepped for 2018, it is important to make time between opening presents and eating delicious food to read over winter break. Please see some tips to keep our bright students shining during their time at home.

Lexia

• Lexia is a great online tool for students to practice and solidify previous learned skills
• 15 minutes a day twice a week is recommended for students to practice spelling and decoding skills
• The Lexia website  *If prompted, teacher email- sfish@radcliffecreekschool.org *
• Reading teachers have usernames and passwords available upon request

Learning Ally

• Listening to age equivalent material is an important part of maintaining and increasing your child's vocabulary
• It is recommended that your child listen for at least 15 minutes per day to maintain vocabulary, increasing comprehension, and to be able to sequence events

Reading Folder

• Students can practice reading sentences with their reading folders during break to maintain and increase skills previously learned
• Parents can read sentences aloud and have the children practice writing from dictation and spelling practice
• If there are stories in the reading folder, have your child read the story then draw a picture or sequence of events to help them with comprehension

Phonemic Awareness

• Sound and syllable awareness, manipulation, and skills are the foundation to a solid understanding for reading
• Rhyming games are a great way for students to practice phonemic awareness. Give your child any object around your house and make a scavenger hunt. The object of the game is to have your child find two or three other things that rhyme with that object
• What's your favorite holiday icon? Have your child count the sounds and syllables of the names of their holiday favorites. Play around with changing the first sounds to make silly rhyming words, or flip syllables to make a crazy new word

For any questions about the lunch program, please contact  Laura Kurz.

In just a week, Radcliffe collected enough used plastic utensils to make a Christmas tree! As part of our school-wide green initiative to become a  Maryland Certified Green School, after Winter Break, Radcliffe will be requiring that K-8 students bring in reusable utensils from home to use with snacks and lunches. Little Creek students will not be required, but we strongly recommend that parents consider joining this effort. Thank you for your help!

Ms. Babylon is in need of folding music stands for the upcoming Winter Program. If you have one that you can lend, please put your name on it and send it into school with your child as soon as possible. It will be returned to you following our Tuesday program. Thanks!

THERE'S STILL TIME TO SEND IN YOUR TOY DONATIONS! The Miles Homeroom is collecting toys for the Kent County 4H Toy Drive.  Toys are for children ages 0 to 18, and will go to needy families in Kent County. Toys should be new, unwrapped, and should not contain any weapons or depict violence. There is a collection box in the RCS lobby. The last day to contribute a toy to this worthy cause is Friday, December 15. Thank you from the Miles Homeroom!

Ms. Serio's Language Arts class practiced letter writing and wrote letters to Santa and learned how to address an envelope!

Little Creek's Toddler class enjoying the new playhouse on the playground!

Mrs. Sheubrooks' Mindfulness class has been working on "growth mindset." Students used brain templates to illustrate their individual strengths/hobbies as well as things they'd like to improve. Ms. Usilton was helping out Mrs. Sheubrooks' class this day and also had them label the parts of the brain!

Ms. Aly is back! In classes this week, many of the kids got the chance to work on their core strength and important visual skills for activities like copying off the board by bowling with a weight ball, following a special color code to set up the pins. During sessions, they also got to play in the new lycra swing climbing up and down gaining lots of strength, balance, and self regulation! 

Little Creek's Four's Class students are proud of their messy hands after painting Christmas trees!

Pocomoke and York students paired with the Little Creek Four's Class yesterday to help fill out Wish Lists for the Book Fair!