Office of Curriculum & Instruction

127 Hartford Avenue Wethersfield, CT 06109 Tel. 860-571-8142 Fax: 860-571-8128

Sally Dastoli Director of Curriculum & Instruction

2012 Elementary Summer Reading and Math Program

Dear Parents/Guardians of Students Entering Grades 1-6: Summer is a great time for kids to relax and have fun. It is also a wonderful time for parents and children to read together. Reading over the summer is also critical to helping students maintain good reading skills. The purpose of our summer reading and math program is to encourage students to become lifelong readers and mathematicians and to provide them fun and engaging ways to practice their reading and math skills. Elementary school children should read, or be read to, each and every day. We expect all elementary students to participate in summer reading activities by reading books and/or listening to stories aloud. As part of the Governors Summer Reading Challenge, we have set a goal for 100% participation by all students in our summer reading program. Students are required to keep track of the books they have read using a Summer Reading Log or by simply keeping a list. Your child has already received information about the specific summer reading program at his/her school. In addition, all students are encouraged to participate in the Wethersfield Public Librarys 2012 Summer Reading Program Dream Big: Read!. Please have your child return the reading log to his or her teacher during the first week of school. Students are also encouraged to complete the enclosed math activity, Summer Math Road Trip. These math activities will provide students the opportunity to reinforce math skills and concepts and engage in activities that connect math to their world. Students may also review, enrich and challenge their math skills and concepts by visiting the Everyday Math website. www.everydaymathonline.com EM Online offers a variety of integrated resources and tools including games and interactive student support resources that are directly related to the math program used in your childs classroom. Components include: Online games: Select your level and then click on any game option. Each game has a bar Play Now which explains and shows how to play. Interactive Student Reference Book: The entire student reference book is online and is available in English or Spanish. It includes a glossary with definitions of important words. Family Resources: The Algorithm Animations - tutorials of the different algorithms introduced in Everyday Math. The Algorithm Handbook provides interactive or printable practice of the different algorithms.

Your child has been provided with his or her password for the Everyday Math website. If your child has misplaced this password, please contact the Curriculum Office at (860) 571-8142 for a replacement. In addition, some suggested math websites for elementary students are listed below: Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, and Division: www.harcourtschool.com/activity/thats_a_fact/english_K_3.html Math skills for preschool through second grade students: www.pbs.org/parents/earlymath/ Word problems for grades four through six: www.teacher.scholastic.com/maven/ Online games to practice everything from basic addition facts to telling time: http://resources.oswego.org/games/ Practice everything from basic math skills to geometry: http://www.mathisfun.com/ The Summer Math Road Trip activity, link to Everyday Math, and a reading log may also be found on the Wethersfield School District website at: http://www.wethersfield.k12.ct.us/page.cfm?p=2473 As you know, learning doesnt stop in the summer. I would also encourage you to visit museums, cultural centers, art galaries, and participate in community programs. I hope you and your family have a safe and enjoyable summer. Sincerely,

Sally Dastoli

Enclosures: Summer Math Road Trip Reading Log