Weekly Parent Communication Pack for Grades 7-8: Decoding Focus

Weekly Parent Communication Pack for Grades 7-8: Decoding Focus

WHO IT'S FOR:

• Teachers delivering decoding-focused intervention for struggling readers in Grades 7-8.
• Special education teachers or SSP program leaders requiring structured parent communication tools.
• Ontario educators working on IEP-aligned literacy goals and home-school collaboration.

WHAT YOU GET:

• A clear, customizable weekly update template to keep parents informed about student progress.
• "Home Practice Menu" for decoding skills, offering simple, actionable activities for families.
• A teacher checklist to streamline communication and ensure consistency.
• A weekly tracker to monitor student engagement and decoding progress.
• A student-friendly, low-text printable for home practice activities.
• Evidence log sheet for tracking intervention outcomes and aligning with IEP goals.
• Differentiation strategies to adapt content for varying student needs.
• Optional digital version tips for running seamlessly in Milestone Teachers.

QUICK START:

1. Print the templates from the pack (or copy them into your preferred digital tool).
2. Use the teacher checklist to prepare your weekly updates.
3. Fill in the "Weekly Update Template" with specific decoding progress and goals for each student.
4. Share the home practice menu with families at the start of the week.
5. Track progress using the weekly planner and evidence log for IEP reporting.

THE PACK CONTENT:

Teacher Checklist

Use this checklist to ensure consistent communication with parents:

• □ I have reviewed this week’s decoding focus and student goals.
• □ I have completed the weekly update template for each student.
• □ I have shared the home practice menu with parents.
• □ I have logged student engagement and progress in the weekly tracker.
• □ I have updated IEP evidence logs with relevant data.

Weekly Planner: Parent Communication Tracker

Student-Facing Printable: Home Practice Menu

Decoding Practice Menu

Hi, families! Here are some simple ways to practice decoding skills at home this week:

1. Sound It Out: Pick 5 tricky words from your reading. Break them into sounds, then blend them back together.
2. Pyramid Words: Write a tricky word in a "pyramid" style (e.g., C - CA - CAT). Say each line out loud.
3. Word Detective: Find 10 words in a book or magazine. Highlight the vowels and practice decoding each word.
4. Partner Practice: Read a paragraph together with an adult. Take turns reading words aloud slowly and clearly.
5. Rhyming Game: Choose a word and come up with 5 rhyming words. Write them down and read them aloud.

Evidence Log Sheet

DIFFERENTIATION:

Support Level:

• Use fewer activities from the home practice menu (1-2 per week).
• Provide visual aids (e.g., word cards) for practice tasks.
• Offer recorded instructions for families to follow along.

Core Level:

• Use the full home practice menu and weekly tracker as-is.
• Encourage students to set a personal decoding goal for the week.
• Provide specific feedback in the weekly update template.

Extension Level:

• Add challenge words or multi-syllable decoding tasks to the menu.
• Ask students to reflect on their progress in a short journal entry.
• Use the "Word Detective" activity with advanced texts.

OPTIONAL DIGITAL VERSION:

Run this pack digitally in Milestone Teachers:

• Use the weekly update template in the Milestone Teachers communication tool.
• Share the home practice menu via email or classroom platform.
• Input progress notes directly into the online weekly tracker.
• Collect student engagement data in real time for IEP reporting.
• Automate reminders for parents about home practice goals.

###