ARI Holiday Family Newsletter

Thumb: Who were the characters in the story?

Index Finger: When and where did the story take place?

Middle Finger: What is the problem in the story?

Ring Finger: What events happened in the story; What happened first, second, next?

Pinkie Finger: How was the problem fixed? What is the end of the story?

Palm of the Hand: Theme: What is the message the author wanted to send?

How to Use

Have your child use the retelling hand to tell you and others the story by answering the questions for each finger. As your child gives you ideas for each finger, put the finger down toward the palm of the hand. When all the fingers are down, then we have told the “heart” or idea of the story.

Retelling Hand Questions

WHO: Who is the main character in the story? Name some other characters in the story. Tell me about one of the characters.

WHERE: Where does the story take place? Where do the characters live?

WHAT: What is the problem in the story? What happened in the story?

EVENTS: Retell the events in order: beginning, middle & end. What happened first, second, next? Tell me about a specific event. (This is a great place to ask “why” questions.)

ENDING: Tell me about the end of the story. Were you surprised at the way the story ended? Tell me another way the story could have ended.

This winter-themed game is a fun and active way to practice letter names and sounds with your child. Your child will enjoy throwing pretend snowballs while practicing literacy skills!

If your family celebrates Christmas, instead of just asking your child what he or she may want for Christmas, encourage him or her to write a letter to Santa. Depending on the age and developmental stage of your child's writing, this could range from drawing pictures with simple words to writing a paragraph. You can find a variety of letterhead for this activity at the link below, or you can have your child use notebook paper. Be sure to put your child's letter in an addressed envelope and "mail" the letter to Santa.

21+ FREE Printable Letter to Santa Templates - Realia Project

Help your child write letters or e-mails to relatives and friends. Show your child how to write thank-you notes for holiday gifts.

Fun Template for Letters

Template for Thank You Cards

Reindeer Food Writing Tray | Still Playing School

Make magical reindeer food and work on literacy by creating this Christmas writing tray for kids! This fun project is perfect for preschoolers and kindergarteners.

ARI is excited to share this resource in the form of QR Codes with parents. Simply click on the link below and use your cellphone's camera to access a wealth of videos, articles, and games to help your child at home.

My Child Can Resources (Spanish) QR Code Flyer

Parents and students at Southside Primary School were gifted with a special guest "Short the Squirrel" accompanied with a read aloud from District 5 - State Board of Education, Dr. Tonya Chestnut.

Feed Me Words is a program of the Alabama Partnership for Children (APC). It stands by the principle that all children in Alabama should benefit from language-rich activities provided through everyday moments with adults around them. Engaging in activities such as talking, playing, reading, and singing enhances healthy language and brain development.

To accomplish this, Feed Me Words' mission is to support the language and literacy development of Alabama's youngest children (from birth to age 5) by providing the adults in their lives with access to and awareness of early language and literacy resources.

HMG provides a free, confidential, centralized telephone access point that links every family in Alabama to a care coordinator who will answer questions, discuss concerns about their child’s development, connect them with services in their community, and follow-up to ensure a connection is made.

"About Us - Feed Me Words." https://feedmewords.org/about-us/. Accessed 12 Oct. 2022.

"Alabama Course of Study English Language Arts." https://www.alabamaachieves.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/2021-Alabama-English-Language-Arts-Course-of-Study.pdf. Accessed 16 October. 2022.

"Help Me Grow Alabama: Home." https://helpmegrowalabama.org/. Accessed 12 Oct. 2022.

"Snowball Throw Alphabet Game - Fun Learning for Kids." https://funlearningforkids.com/snowball-throw-alphabet-game/. Accessed 31 Oct. 2022.

"21+ FREE Printable Letter to Santa Templates - Realia Project." https://www.realiaproject.org/letter-to-santa-template/. Accessed 31 Oct. 2022.

The information included in this document is done from the perspective of improving LITERACY instruction for students and is only intended to outline support that directly relates to literacy instruction. Please use any resource links with discretion, as their position statements are their own and not necessarily representative of ARI and the ALSDE. Usage of any materials should be with adherence to rules and regulations of the Alabama State Department of Education.