The P.R.I.D.E. Program
An elementary alternative general education program
Friendship Valley Elementary Campus
1100 Gist Road
Westminster, Maryland 21157
PRIDE Brochure 2014
Michael Scalzi, Alternative Intervention Specialist
PRIDE STAFF: 2014 - 2015
Dannielle Midkiff, Humanities, Grades 2 to 5
Cindy Reed, STEM (Math/Science), Grades 2 to 5
Jennifer McClay, Grades K to 1
Kim Muniz, Supervisior Student Services and Special Programs
October PRIDE News
Reading Readiness :
Standard we are teaching this month in PRIDE:
• Use text features and search tools (e.g., key words, sidebars, hyperlinks) to locate information relevant to a given topic efficiently.
What you can do at home to support this standard:
• Read the newspaper together and find pictures, captions, titles, bold faced words and charts- make predictions about what the article might be about
• As you are driving look at advertisements on bill boards and see what text features you can identify with your student
• Have your student draw a picture and write a caption then you as a parent could use it to make up a bedtime story based just one what they drew and wrote.
Standard we are teaching in PRIDE this month:
• In Kindergarten through 5th grade we are working on a learning target in writing that emphasizes using correct capitalization, punctuation, and spelling.
What you can do at home to support this standard:
• Practice by writing notes to your child and having them write back to you. Remind your child to only capitalize the first letter of a sentence or proper nouns. If there is a question that is being asked, remind them to use a question mark. If what is being written is showing a strong feeling, make sure there is an exclamation.
• One way to get your child writing is to send them a short note, but make sure you ask them a question so that they can write a reply. A note in their lunch or backpack is always exciting for them. A special note addressed to them can spark an interest in writing back. Read it together if you need to, but try to insist on them “writing” back to you.
Standard we are working on in PRIDE during this month:
• Use the four operations to solve word problems including problems involving simple fractions
• Tell and write time from analog and digital clocks to the nearest five minutes, using a.m. and p.m.
What you can do to help support this standard at home:
• The kitchen is a great place for the family to enjoy food, conversation and math.
• Make a fun desert together and have your child measure the ingredients. Point out the size of the units ( cups compared to quarts, teaspoons compared to tablespoons). Point out how big half a cup is compared to a fourth of a cup.
• Double your favorite recipe with the help of your favorite 4th or 5th grade math student.
• When cooking have your student read a “real” clock and not a digital clock to tell you what time it is. Then figure out together what time the cooking item will be done.
Setting a Limit and “Sticking To It”
How do we let our kids know what it is that we expect of their behavior? What can we say to them when they are angry and have temporarily lost the ability to follow our direction? It is important for us to remember that our children have learned the way to behave over a period of time. If their behavior has become a habit that needs to change, it will also take time and consistency to teach them new and better habits.
The following is a guideline (not a cure) for those times when, as a parent, we have to step back, take a deep breath, set a limit, and “stick to it”.
1. Choose one habit that is in the most need of change (i.e., Do homework for 15-30
minutes each night [depending on age level], before computer games.)
2. Let your child know your expectations before you start. (i.e., I would like you to do
really well in school. Each night I would like you to do the homework that you have
without having to remind you.)
3. Remember that a “limit” is a choice and not a command. (i.e., You can do your
homework when you get home from school or right after dinner – your choice.)
4. Make sure that there is a place to do what you are asking and that what you are
asking can be done. (i.e., You can use your room or, if you need help from me, the
5. Sometimes making your request a game encourages cooperation (i.e., Let’s make a
sentence using magnetic letters on the refrigerator. Then, you can copy it onto your
6. Let your child know the rewards and consequences ahead of time. (i.e., Finished
homework gets 5 extra minutes of computer, unfinished homework means 5 minutes
less. If you do it without being reminded then you earn bonus time.)
Learning a new habit can take as long as six weeks if the rewards and consequences are consistent. Sometimes it is hard to be consistent but if you have a plan, it can help you to “stick to it”. Please feel free to call me (410-751-3653) if you want to set up a home plan or talk about concerns regarding your child. Thanks! Michael Scalzi, PRIDE Program Intervention Specialist