March 2013 Principal’s Corner Spring break is just around the corner! Don’t forget to continue to read every day with your child because we never take a break from reading. During a break from school is also a good time to do quick reviews of basic math facts. We want to keep our brains sharp even while we rest from the daily school routines. Nancy West A reminder about entering Woodland to visit or volunteer: be sure to stop at the office and sign in to get your visitor’s badge. Do not ever go directly to classrooms without checking in at our office first. This is an important safety requirement! Thank you for complying with our school procedures. We are also working to keep the double doors closed that lead down the main hallway of the building. This has been a challenge, because it has been a habit to keep them open in the past. Thank you for helping us do the best we can to maintain safety. The Woodland Press Woodland Elementary Nancy West Principal 168 Manhattan Avenue ~ (ph) 865-425-9501 ~ (Fax) 865-425-9432 Safety First Two Environment Requests Testing Dates to Remember April 22-25 TCAP grades 3 rd & 4 th April 29- May 1 Stanford grades 1 st & 2 nd Simple Reading Practice I’ve found a way to give my children reading practice – and improve their behavior at the same time. I write short notes to my kids and leave them around the house. Sometimes I’ll mention my youngsters’ good behavior (“Thanks for helping with the dishes!”) or write reminders (“Please hang me up. Signed, Your towel.”) Sometimes the notes are about not-so-good behavior. (“I was disappointed when you yelled at me. Can we talk about it?”) I make sure to leave notes fore treats, too (“Let’s go fly your kite this afternoon!”) I look for unique places to put the notes, such as on their pillows, in front of the dog’s water bowl, or pinned to the shower curtain. The kids enjoy discovering the notes and reading them aloud. From the Reading Connection newsletter Resources for Educators