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Read With Your School Age Child Brochure

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This video will show you what we will be learning in first grade.

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Our office will be closed until July 19. Registration assistance will be available by appointment after July 5. Please call the office after July 5 to make an appointment. Thank you!

Lorna J. Kesterson
Our Namesake

Lorna J. Kesterson (December 30, 1925 - January 16, 2012) was born in St. George, Utah. She grew up in Zion National Park, where her father was the first Chief Ranger before moving to Boulder City, Nevada. She received her high school diploma in 1943, which was the third graduation class of Boulder City High School. After graduation from Utah State University with her degree in journalism, she and her husband, Robert, moved to Henderson, Nevada, where she began a 30 year career with the Henderson Home News.

During her years as a reporter and Managing Editor of the Henderson Home News, Mrs. Kesterson's insight and knowledge had been a valuable asset to the City of Henderson. She served on the City Council for ten years and was elected Mayor of Henderson in 1985 and reelected for a second term in 1989. Mrs. Kesterson has been involved with the Southern Nevada Civilian Military Council, City Audit Committee, Eldorado Valley Advisory Board, Henderson Development Authority, and Nevada League of Cities Board of Directors.

Mr. and Mrs. Kesterson's four sons were born and educated in Henderson. As parents, they were involved in PTA and Boy Scouts. As a member of the LDS Church, Mrs. Kesterson served an eighteen month mission in the eastern states and has served as an organist for over 25 years.

Mrs. Kesterson has been honored many times throughout her life. She was awarded a Certificate of Merit from the Red Cross and President Harry S. Truman for saving the life of a Boy Scout who was drowning in Lake Mead. She received the Henderson's "Woman of Distinction" in 1985, Nevada Public Official of the Year in 1991, and "Woman of Distinction" by Nevada Alpha Delta Kappa from 1992-94. She was honored by Burkholder Junior High School as a member of the National Junior Honor Society and received the Basic High School Blue Pride Award for Outstanding Service in 1993. In March of 1993, Mrs. Kesterson was again honored by the City of Henderson, when the new recreational center on Harris Street was named after her.

As the City of Henderson is proud to call Mrs. Kesterson a "Resident of Distinction"; we are equally proud to have Kesterson Elementary School named for such a remarkable woman as Lorna J. Kesterson.

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Our office will be closed until July 19. Registration assistance will be available by appointment after July 5. Please call the office after July 5 to make an appointment. Thank you! Lorna J. Kesterson Our Namesake Lorna J. Kesterson (December 30, 1925 - January 16, 2012) was born in St.

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How can I help my child master their math facts?

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Imagine how it will feel when your students can approach a math problem without getting frustrated. The way they think about math and numbers is a way that will help them solve any problem, even as they progress into different grade levels. Not only will they have a solid base of mathematical knowledge, but you did it without using worksheets and timed tests.

Instead, you have activities that you and your students enjoy, that build important mathematical ideas, and don't take you forever to plan and prepare (i.e. you will NOT be waiting for the copier or the laminator anymore).

By focusing your fluency tasks on building your students' flexibility, you'll be starting with the foundation of number knowledge that will help your students build connections to all other areas of math. You will be building math minds and not just create calculators.

The Building Elementary Math Fluency Kit starts with helping you understand what fluency really entails, how to build that fluency when it comes to the basic facts, and what kinds of activities you can be doing to build true fluency for students. Grab your Fluency Kit using the form above.

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Elementary educators: watch this video series and get your FREE Building Math Fluency Starter Kit. Yes, even if you are a parent at home educating your child, a teacher doing online teaching, or a teacher back doing face-to-face learning, this series is for you.

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By Linda Carling, Ed.D.
Dr. Linda Carling is an Associate Research Scientist at the Johns Hopkins University School of Education Center for Technology in Education. She specializes in learning engagement and design and is a parent of a child with a disability.
As schools are faced with the challenge of providing learning opportunities for all students at a distance, parents are called on to be more involved than ever before, particularly for their younger learners and those with learning challenges and disabilities. Maintaining high levels of engagement can be challenging even for savvy adult learners.

How do we best help our kids make the most of these distance learning experiences?

The term "engagement" refers to the amount and quality of time students spend on distance learning activities. Distance learning activities can be in a synchronous (real-time) learning experience where students have some type of scheduled online interaction with a teacher or group, or asynchronous (not in real time) learning experience where students interact with online resources at their own pace.

Regardless of the mode of delivery, many students are asked to be engaged in a way that's new to them. Teachers might hold live or video-recorded class lectures or activities, or perhaps parents are given digital learning resources to work through with their children. Without effective supports for children from teachers and parents in place at home, families can easily become disengaged and frustrated.

Here are eight tips to help your child maintain focus and stay engaged during this time of distance learning.

1. Understand the expectation for distance learning. How much time should students spend online for learning purposes? There are screen time considerations for all students, and older students can handle longer amounts of time than younger students. Your child's teacher or school should provide some guidance for what is reasonable. For young children, interaction and play is valuable for learning.

2. Determine what type of activities work best for your child. Are their certain types of distance learning activities that your child prefers over others? For example, does your child work better with synchronous activities where they respond to a live instructor, or in person sitting one-on-one with you? What learning platforms seems to engage your child more than others? The answers to these questions can be valuable for you and your child's teacher to help plan for learning experiences that work best for your child.

3. Encourage movement. Kids need to move their bodies frequently throughout the day. Allow time for exercise before your child is expected to focus on a distance learning task. Some children are able to better focus on tasks when standing. Consider having your computer or tablet be on a raised surface so that your child can stand.

4. Reduce distractions. Where possible, reduce distractions when your child is completing schoolwork. This includes noise as well as visual noise or clutter. A designated workspace that is comfortable for your child will be helpful.

5. Adjust your schedule as needed. If your child is frustrated - or alternately, if your child is very engaged in learning - make a change in your schedule to allow for a break (and revisit at a later day or time) or to spend time delving deeper into the topic. Some learning activities will be easier to move through than others. Consider working with your child on those activities or subjects that are more difficult during the times of day when your child is most alert and engaged. Learning material that is easier for a child, and therefore moved through more quickly, can be completed at a different time (such as in the afternoon or even another day). It's also helpful to share with your teacher what is working best for you and your child.

6. Use a checklist for focus. For some children who really struggle with focusing, a basic visual checklist of tasks needed for a particular activity will be helpful. For example, if the child is asked to watch a lesson, read a prompt, and then provide a written response to the prompt, the checklist would have keywords for each of these required activities: watch, read, write. The child would check off each task with you as it is completed, and receive some positive praise or another reward when finished.

7. Give your child (and yourself) a break. Your teacher does not want your child to be frustrated with or miserable about learning. In fact, teachers spend time trying to make lessons interesting, and to tailor instruction to provide the right level of challenge for their students. If something is too challenging, or your child has hit a frustration level, it's okay to stop the activity and give them a break. It's also okay to slow down the pace, which means giving your child time to think and process information. It also means participating in segments of learning one at a time rather than trying to tackle a whole lesson in one sitting. You can give yourself permission to pick that lesson back up another time or another day.

8. Provide immediate positive feedback. Each time your child completes distance learning instruction, provide immediate and positive feedback! Something as simple as putting a check mark, star, or sticker on the work assignment can go a long way in helping to motivate your child. And don't forget to celebrate yourself, as you are playing such an important role to help your child learn and grow.

Examples of rewards: praise; stickers; choose a movie; a treat such as ice cream, candy, or a popsicle; tablet time; choose a family activity; play with a special toy; free choice time; or an extra 15 minutes to play before bedtime

Teachers should plan for a variety of learning experiences, online and off, and be able to support parents by modifying or adapting activities to meet the needs of their students. Schooling from a distance is as new a territory for teachers as it is for parents. Getting feedback from parents about what is working and where they need additional support is essential.

With creative thinking and effort by teachers and families as partners, children will continue to build their knowledge and skills, but also build confidence and a love for learning.

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8 Tips to Help Your Child Focus and Stay Engaged During Distance Learning - JHU School of Education

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By Linda Carling, Ed.D. Dr. Linda Carling is an Associate Research Scientist at the Johns Hopkins University School of Education Center for Technology in Education. She specializes in learning engagement and design and is a parent of a child with a disability.

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Why is memorizing math facts important?

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What should fluent reading look like in first grade?

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What does it mean for first graders to read smoothly? Are they developing reading fluency? This video from founding partner GreatSchools can help you understand typical reading skills in first grade.

About the Author

About the Author

The Understood Team

is made up of passionate writers, editors, and community moderators. Many of them learn and think differently, or have kids who do.

Reviewed by

Reviewed by

Ginny Osewalt

is a dually certified elementary and special education teacher with more than 15 years of experience in general education, inclusion, resource room, and self-contained settings.

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Video: What Reading Fluency Looks Like in First Grade

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What does it mean for first graders to read smoothly? Are they developing reading fluency? This video from founding partner GreatSchools can help you understand typical reading skills in first grade. The Understood Team is made up of passionate writers, editors, and community moderators. Many of them learn and think differently, or have kids who do.

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Does your child sound choppy, slow, and labored when she is attempting to read? Then you are in the right place to find a bit of help with these reading fluency activites with reading fluency games online, reading fluency passages, timed reading games, printable reading fluency games and more!

This article explains more about how to teach reading fluency, in particular. (For more general strategies on teaching reading, check out this page on .)

Know what good reading fluency looks like before you start.

B efore we even begin, let's talk about what reading fluency is exactly. Fluency is typically defined by the ability to read accurately, quickly, and with proper expression.

Reading fluency is an indicator that you understand and can convey to listeners what the book or passage you are reading is about. Hand-in-hand with automaticity (the ability to automatically recall written words quickly), reading fluency combines automaticity with expression when speaking, which indicates that you understand, and are "into" the book.

So to recap, if you are a fluent reader, you can read:

A child by the end of 1st grade may be expected to read approximately 60 words per minute, increasing as he or she grows. T he average adult can read about 300 words per minute.

Accurately - If you are an accurate reader, you have the ability to recall many words by sight, and be able to decode words quickly and efficiently without stumbling, missing, or substituting words in the text.

A reader who understands the book or passage & With Expression - as they read it will inject personality with proper voice inflection, volume, and timing to the meaning of the text and while properly using the punctuation and sentence structure utilized by the author to convey the message. (Prosody is another word for reading expression you may have heard.)

Reading fluency goes along with great reading comprehension, so as you work on fluency, know that you are impacting the comprehension skills of your child also!
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15 Quick Reading Fluency Activities to Make Excellent Readers

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15 reading fluency activities you can do in minutes a day with strategies to improve reading fluency in your slow, choppy reader. Reading fluency games online, printable reading fluency games, reading passages and more! Education ideas - what are the 3 components of reading fluency? Wanting to know how to help your child read faster?