1. September 9, 2015 Dear Parents and Guardians, I am delighted to be back for my fifth year at Highland Terrace Elementary School. My first year at Highland Terrace I taught a 1 st / 2 nd grade split, During the 2012-2013 school year, I was able to leverage my experience teaching 4th grade in the Bellevue School District, and bring some new ideas and projects to our fabulous school. This year I’m excited to work with and learn from my new 4 th grade teaching partner, Paige Wehmeyer. I hope you’ve had a relaxing summer, and that your child is geared up for an exciting year, with creative book projects, challenging science investigations, and a cross-country journey as emigrants on the Oregon Trail. I am looking forward to getting to know each talented, respectful and responsible student and have us work together to create a cohesive and caring classroom community. I am confident the transition from summer to the start of school will be smooth, and that your child will continue to thrive at Highland Terrace. I love working with children from a diversity of backgrounds, and I am confident that all children can learn. I believe learning should be challenging, rewarding and enjoyable. I believe students learn best through active engagement, and I recognize the importance of students having a strong voice. As a parent of two children, and three step-children, I have observed their differences in learning styles. Sharing in their experiences, I have gained better appreciation for the variety of challenges children can face during their school years, and how we as parents and educators can contribute to their success. I look forward to meeting each of you, and partnering with you to ensure your child’s continued success in school. Please contact me by email to share an achievement, concern, question, or to request a time to talk. I am happy to speak with you by phone, or in person, and will make every effort to reply promptly. Warm Regards, Mrs. Heidi Benton 4th Grade Teacher Room 19 Highland Terrace Elementary heidi.benton@shorelineschools.org

2. Helping Your Student at Home Reading: *I recommend that your child engages in reading for 20 - 30 minutes nightly. This practice is so important. Good readers really do read more! Your student could spend part of the time reading books to/with you, and part of the time reading silently. Ask questions about the story, make predictions, and show excitement about their reading! Students are allowed to go to the library as they return books, so there should always be 1 – 2 Highland Terrace library books at home. Students can also borrow books from our extensive classroom library. Most books are color-coded to correspond to your child’s “just-right” reading level. Math: Practice fast fact fluency 5 minutes daily using store-bought or hand-made multiplication and division flash cards (to 12). Every student should complete 15 minutes of IXL (computer-based) math daily. Please review your child’s nightly math homework, and provide support, as needed. Students struggling with a new concept should preview the enVision math lesson video each evening, preferably with parental support. Writing: Encourage journal writing with blank theme books or wide-ruled paper. Ideas should be organized and layered with detail. Emphasize legible, correct handwriting. Capitalize the start of a sentence, and end with a period. Organization: To the extent possible, provide your child with a consistent location and time for homework. Ask to see your child’s homework log, help your child plan their work, and review completed homework. Please help your child master the skill of being prepared for school before going to bed, with everything required for school (gym shoes, library book, homework, permission slip) placed in a backpack, in the appropriate folder. Practice at home can make a difference for a child who is still learning a new skill. Thanks for your help and encouragement! Mrs. Heidi Benton