Parents

The best way to contact the teachers is by email:

Ms. Prince:  baprince@graniteschools.org

Mr.Thomas: sjthomas@graniteschools.org

How can I get involved with the school?

There are many ways for parents to get involved in our school.  The easiest and most important way is to stay involved with the things your child is learning at school.  You can find out what we are learning and doing by checking our blog and Instagram.  Ask your child what they are enjoying about school and look for ways to connect it to your time at home.

We also greatly appreciate parent volunteers at our school.  You can volunteer in our classes at any time that is convenient for you.  We love to have parents work with struggling readers and mathematicians, help with papers, and chaperone field trips.  Please contact us if you have any available time to volunteer in our classrooms.

Parents can also get involved by donating supplies to our classes.  We are always appreciative of tissues, disinfecting wipes, pencils, erasers, whiteboard markers, magazines and newspapers, and tape.  If there are other things you would like to donate, please contact us!

We are so grateful to parents for all they do in supporting their children and our school.  Thank you!

How can I help my child improve in math?

The most important thing to do to help your child with their math progress is to make sure they know their basic math facts.  This includes multiplying numbers 1-12 and adding and subtracting numbers 1-100.  Students who can do these things quickly and easily achieve much better test scores than those who can't.  These skills are the foundation for all the things we do in fifth grade math.

You can also encourage your child to access our math materials by logging on to www.thinkcentral.com.  Click on the "Mathematics" tab on the left and then the "GoMath" icon.  Your student's username and password are both their 9 number.  Once you log in, you can access all of our math texts and your child can get some extra practice with our curriculum.

The games under the "Math Games" tab on this blog are a great resource, as well.  These games give your child a fun and engaging way to practice important math skills.

How can I help my child improve in reading?

Research has shown that students' reading skills improve rapidly when they spend time reading at home every day.  Experts have found that students who spend more time reading also get higher test scores.  For this reason, it is absolutely critical that your child spends at least 20 minutes reading every night.

Your student does not have to spend this time reading only novels or chapter books.  Have your child read you newspaper articles, dinner recipes, video game guides, appropriate online articles, and anything else you may have for them to read!  If you live in a Spanish-speaking or bilingual home, encourage your child to read texts in both languages.  This is a quick way to build valuable skills. The important thing is the practice, so it can come in many different ways.

If your child struggles to sit and read for 20 minutes straight, don't worry!  Split the time into smaller pieces.  Have them read for 10 minutes twice a night or for 5 minutes four times.

It is also extremely helpful to encourage your child to talk about what they are reading.  Ask them what the book is about, who their favorite character is, and what they think is going to happen next.  Talking about reading builds valuable comprehension skills and makes students better readers!

How can I help my child improve in science?

Science is all about learning about the world around us, so encourage your child to ask questions and seek answers.  Each month, we will have a science discussion question for you to ask your child. This question can be found under the "Science" section of the newsletter on this blog.  These questions will get your child talking about the things we are learning in science and connecting it to the world around them.  

There are also many wonderful games on the "Science Games" tab of this blog, so encourage your child to play them!