THE TRUMAN TIMES
NOVEMBER
By Lisa Blake, Principal
Reading Aloud Matters
Dear Truman Parents and Families,
As we embark on another exciting month of learning and growth, we want to highlight a simple yet powerful activity that can make a world of difference in your child's development: reading aloud together.
Why Reading Aloud Matters
Reading aloud to children is more than just a bedtime ritual - it's a cornerstone of their cognitive, emotional, and social development. Research has consistently shown that this shared experience offers numerous benefits:
Cognitive Development
Reading aloud helps children build crucial language skills, expand their vocabulary, and improve their comprehension1. It exposes them to a diverse range of words, sentence structures, and ideas that they might not encounter in everyday conversation.
Emotional Bonding
Spending quality time reading together strengthens the parent-child bond. It creates a warm, nurturing environment where children feel safe exploring new ideas and emotions.
Social Skills and Empathy
Stories introduce children to diverse characters and situations, helping them develop empathy and understanding of others' experiences.
Tips for Effective Read-Alouds
Make it a daily habit: Aim for at least 15-20 minutes of reading aloud each day.
Choose a variety of books: Mix fiction and non-fiction to expose your child to different genres and topics.
Engage in discussions: Pause to ask questions, explain new concepts, or relate the story to real-life experiences3.
Let your child participate: Encourage them to read parts of the story or make predictions about what might happen next.
It's Never Too Late to Start - link to Officer K's video read aloud of The Lockdown Drill. Author: Deputy Becky Coyle, illustrator: juanbjuan oliver, publisher: Flowerpot Press.
While early exposure to reading is ideal, it's important to note that reading aloud benefits children of all ages - even teenagers! It can serve as a valuable bonding experience and a way to tackle more complex topics together.
The Long-Term Impact
Studies have shown that children who are regularly read to, perform better academically, have stronger language skills, and are more likely to become lifelong readers themselves. By investing time in reading aloud, you're setting your child up for success in school and beyond.
Remember, every moment spent reading together is an investment in your child's future. So, grab a book, snuggle up, and embark on a new adventure together!
Happy reading!
Communication
With the first trimester well on its way, classroom routines and expectations have been set to engage the children in more challenging learning opportunities and grade level content. In the weeks and months ahead, your child will become more actively involved in their own learning progress with goal setting and a personalized student data binder. For more information about this process, feel free to contact your child’s classroom teacher.
Health and Wellness
Over the last few weeks, many students have been sent home from the School Nurse due to coughing, headache, fever, vomiting and stomachaches. Parents, if your child is not feeling well, please be extra careful. We want to keep everyone as healthy as possible. If your child is absent due to illness, a written note from you or a medical doctor can be turned in with your child upon their return. Your child can give the note to their teacher or the Truman Main Office.
Upcoming Events
Tuesday, November 5 - Election Day
Friday, November 8 - Veteran’s Day Breakfast at Lackawanna High School only (No breakfast event at Truman)
Monday, November 11 - No School, Veterans Day
Wednesday, November 13 - PTA Meeting from 3:45 pm to 4:15 pm at Truman Elementary School (times have changed from 6:30 pm)
Wednesday-Friday, November 27-29 - No School, Thanksgiving Recess
Event Date Change:
Friday December 6 - PTA Chicken Dinner Fundraiser (changed from Friday, November 22)