Westside Elementary

Happy Paraprofessionals day! We are so thankful and grateful for our paras! We couldn't do it without you! Thank you so much for all your hard work! #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

April 5th-9th is National Library Week. School libraries are vital to our schools, and city libraries are vital to our communities. We are so thankful for our awesome new library! #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

Reading begins at home. Children tend to do well at reading when read to at home. They value your opinion and if you enjoy reading with them, they'll enjoy reading with you. For children Ages 2-4... *Read "with" your child, not "at" your child. As you read to your child, interject your own thoughts or emotions about the story as it unfolds. By sharing thoughts about the characters, the plot, the pictures, or what might happen next, you show your child that you are enthusiastic and thinking about what is being read. Similarly, encourage your child to talk about what was just read. Reading comprehension is as important as the actual ability to read. *Ask questions. If your child is stumped, reread part of the book. *Make reading fun! Read books together that will interest your child. Use expression in your voice when you read different roles. Encourage your child to repeat the story in his or her own words. *Enjoy your reading time together. There is nothing more rewarding than watching your child grow and learn. Be certain to praise your child for the knowledge gained from books and for making the effort to read. *Read with your child every day. Twenty minutes is preferable but even if it is only for five minutes, you are encouraging a habit that will last a lifetime. *Encourage your child to pretend to read a book--hold the book, go from page to page, say words, and tell a story. *Take your child to the library often and encourage him or her to choose books for you to read together. *Be patient when your child wants to read a favorite book over and over again. Suggest Reading for Ages 2-4 *Picture Books with rhythm, rhyme, and repetition. *Simple nonfiction books with short sentences and photographs. *Fiction books with short, simple text. At this age, the attention span of children is short and they don't have the developmental capability to sit through stories that are too long. *Interactive books with touch-and-feel texture pages or flaps that lift to reveal peak-a-boo pictures are excellent choices. #CPSZEBRAPRIDE #ZEBRASREADTHEWAY

Just Breathe... Take this time to follow this activity. Breathe and clear your mind. Make sure you're in a quiet area! #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

Keep focused! Make sure you have these items around you so you can stay focused while distance learning or doing your virtual school work! #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

While there is a developmental sequence of stages in literacy, not all children learn to read at exactly the same time. Young children needs A LOT of opportunities to practice reading in order to grow as literacy learners. Learning to read and developing literacy skills take time. Follow these tips to encourage your child to find the joy and fun in reading. 💕Read with your child every day and let your child see you reading, whether it's the newspaper, a magazine, or a best seller. 💕Get your child a library card and visit the library often. (Will Rogers Library has a summer reading program where you child can earn cool prizes!) 💕Discuss the books your child is reading in school and the ones you have read at home. 💕Take your child to story times at the library, author visits at a local bookstore, and other public programs that foster a love of books and reading. 💕Create a comfortable reading space for your child in your home. 💕Give your child paper and crayons so he or she can scribble, make pictures, and create his or her own book. 💕Play rhyming and word games, sing silly songs, or write stories and poems together. 💕Talk about daily activities to help your child develop language skills. 💕Read street signs, billboards, menus, and labels out loud. 💕Carry books to read to your child wherever you go. It is important to remember that what doesn't work one day may work well the next day. Keep trying! Keep Reading! and #ZebrasReadtheWay

Sign up for Zebra Stripes Summer Camp! #CPAZEBRAPRIDE

Welcome to #FridayFunnies, where we share funny things that happen in the classroom! For today's edition we have a hilarious story from the early childhood side of the building. ______________________________________________________________________ In the car rider line..... Student A: I’m going to teach here when I grow up, like you! Teacher: I’d love that! I’d love to teach with you! Student A: you’ll need to make me a space at your desk and get me a phone. Teacher: oh! You mean teach in my room with me! Student A: yes!! My mimi is going to buy me a phone. And I’m going to learn math and then I’ll grow up. You’re already grown up. Then I’ll do literacy centers and pull sticks. Teacher: it sounds like you have a plan. Student B: (that had been eavesdropping the whole time): what is she saying? Teacher: she wants to teach with me when she grows up. Student B: she does know that when she grows up you’ll probably be in heaven, right? __________________________________________________ This concludes today's edition of #FridayFunnies, join us next Friday for more laughs! #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

SAVE THE DATE! Westside's Family Fun Night is scheduled for May 7th, 2021! Mark your calendars! It's sure to be a ton of fun! It will be outdoors this year! #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

☀CPS Zebra Stripes Summer Camp☀ Now Accepting Applications Kindergarten - Fifth Grade 2 Sessions ☀June 1 - July 2 ☀July 12 - August 6 6:30AM - 6PM Full Time l Part-Time l Drop-In Rates Available Find more information here: https://www.claremore.k12.ok.us/page/zebra-stripes-child-care #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

The fourteenth annual World Autism Appreciation Day is April 2, 2021. Joined by the international community, hundreds of thousands of landmarks, buildings, homes and communities around the world come together on April 2, Autism Appreciation Day, in recognition of Austistic people and those who love and support them. #CPSZEBRAPRIDE #GoGoldForAustism

🐣 CPS will be closed Friday, April 2, 2021 for a egg-ceptional Easter holiday weekend. 🐣 We are egg-cited to celebrate the holiday with our families. Anyone got a good egg pun to crack us up? Share it in the comments. #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

Imagine your excitement as a student to hear your teacher say "Today class, we are going to make brownies!!". However, she then tells you "Please pull out your scissors, while I pass out the construction paper". Imagine the perplexed look on your face and your friends faces. 🤔😕🥴🤭 When you see the construction paper you know. and your teacher shouts out, "APRIL FOOLS!" This happens every year in some classes. This special teacher then gave her class real edible "brownies". 💗❤💗❤💗 Hope you have a happy April Fool's day! #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

Due to the holiday Friday, April 2nd - Weekend meals for distance learners will be available for pick up Thursday, April 1st. Pick-up times and location will remain the same. #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

#TechTipTuesday will show users how to search a site for specific content. Searching on a website for a specific topic and can be challenging and time-consuming. This #TechTipTuesday will show users how to search a specific site for specific content using the site search feature in Google Chrome. Using this feature will narrow the search results to only the site you want to search and not the entire web. Use this to find documents, images, or any content on a specific website without searching the whole web for it. Watch it here: https://youtu.be/LrcQUBuRhGE Script in English & Spanish: https://bit.ly/3suPbIh #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

Head to toe! Way to go! It's a GREAT day when you "twin" with a teacher! Gracey Isam and Mrs. Karly Banks showed up for school one day in, almost, the exact same outfit! From head to toe! Great minds think alike! 👯‍♀️ #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

Introducing... Mrs. Brenda Hall Innovation Lab Teacher Thank you for your dedication to Westside! ____________________________________________________________ Brenda Hall has taught for 13 years. For twelve years she taught computers, three at CUE and nine at Catalayah. She started this school year in the new Innovation Lab. Brenda lives in Claremore with her husband Barry and is close to her four grandsons Bentley, Bryson, Asher, and Rowan. She graduated from Walters High School and then went on to graduate three years later from Cameron University in Lawton, OK. Her Bachelor of Art Degree is in Accounting, and after twenty years working in finances, she went through the process to become a certified teacher. #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

This precious Pre-K student, also known as "Dawson the Artist" was working towards a goal. When he met that goal Mrs. T and Miss Gentry rewarded him by taking him to Mrs. Ratcliff's room for a Special Art lesson. You can see the excitement in his voice! Not to mention how fabulous are his teachers for provided this wonderful incentive for him! Click here to watch the video!>>> https://fb.watch/4tWKp1GI0S/ #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

Introducing Mrs. Jessie Stout Music Teacher Thank you for your dedication to Westside! _____________________________________________________ Jessie Stout has been the music teacher as Westside for the last two years. She graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a degree in Vocal Music Education and is currently pursuing her Master of Music Education at OU as well. She loves music, art, reading, traveling, and spending time with friends and family. She loves being a music teacher because she believes that music is something that we can all relate to and learn from. It is a daily part of each of our lives, and she believes it is a privilege to be able to share it with students. Students are using teamwork, collaboration, creativity, and knowledge of sound to add sound effects to books using instruments. #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

Welcome to #FridayFunnies, where we share funny things that happen in the classroom! For today's edition we have a 2nd grade Classroom that shared this funny with us! ______________________________________________________________________ While students were playing a game. One student lost and immediately starts singing "Hello darkness my old friend". ___________________________________________________________________ This concludes today's edition of #FridayFunnies, join us next Friday for more laughs! #CPSZEBRAPRIDE