Literacy Class Expectations for Ms. McKitterick
This class includes Spelling, Reading, Writing, and Grammar. Our literacy block is packed full of learning
activities from the following curriculums: Spalding, Core Knowledge, Shurley Grammar, and Step Up to
Writing. Each of these curriculums does a great job building off of your child’s current skills and gives them
the necessary tools to be successful in all areas of literacy. Please read the following carefully to understand
different homework assignments, assessments, and expectations for each section of our Literacy Class. I am
thrilled to be your child’s literacy teacher and am excited for a great year of learning and growth. I look
forward to partnering with you to ensure your child does his/her very best!
Thank you!
Spelling:
Spelling homework (ANY 3 fun Spelling Activities per week) will be assigned every Friday and is due the next
Thursday. The Spelling Activities Recording sheet can be found in my “downloads” section on my web page.
We will be taking a spelling test every Thursday. Please make sure your child is spending some time each
night of the week working on their spelling words. The spelling list for the week will be listed on my webpage
on the right side under “Spelling Box” on Fridays before the week of the test. PLEASE make sure you are
checking your child’s LITERACY TEACHER’S website.
Please also make sure your child is practicing their phonograms every night. We will practice phonograms
daily and phonogram tests will be given on Fridays. Spalding International has a helpful phonogram practice
app available both on I-phones and Androids that you can purchase for additional practice.
Writing:
Most writing will be done in class. Occasionally your child may need to bring home an assignment to finish it
at home so we can move onto the next step in class the following day. If this is the case, your child will have it
written in their planner that comes home every night!
Grammar:
As with writing, most of our grammar will be completed in class. We will also be having assessments in
grammar. Everything on these assessments are covered in class. We also review right before we take the
assessment to make sure everyone understands.
Reading:
Fluency packets will be assigned every Monday and due the following Monday. This is a 60 second timed
reading where the students will read the same list of words or passage every night to increase their fluency. It
is a challenge against them self to see if they can get more words each night. Please make sure to take 60
seconds out of your night (including the weekend) and help your child with this. Doing it all in one day does
not give your child the continued work on their fluency.
Comprehension packets will often be included with their fluency packets. They are questions that go along
with what they read. Please encourage your children to do their best. It is helpful to ask them questions as
they go along with the reading to make sure they are understanding. I highly encourage you to ask your
child simple comprehension questions if you do a nightly bedtime reading as well. This will keep their mind
thinking while they are reading or listening to reading.
Each student is expected to read for 20 minutes every night. Please sign your child’s planner every night to
show they have read for 20 minutes. Attached is a chart that shows why reading at home every night is so
important.
Expectations for all Literacy Sections:
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Capital letters for proper nouns and beginning of sentences
Correct ending punctuation
Correctly spelled commonly used words with neat handwriting
Restating questions when answering (we will work on this in class)
Responsibility (example: turning in work, getting makeup assignments when absent)
Participation and a positive attitude 
**Please remember to check Infinite Campus for homework assignments and Ms. McKitterick’s
webpage for classroom updates**
Thank you so much for all of your support and help at home. If you have any questions about reading,
spelling, writing or grammar, please contact me at mmckitterick@aak8.org . I look forward to an amazing
year with your child!
Sincerely,
Melissa McKitterick