DP Families

Dear Dakota Prairie Families,

November 2026

As parents, we sometimes look at our youngest learners and think, "They’re just playing and coloring, does it really matter if they miss a day or two?" It is easy to feel that way, but the truth is that attendance in Pre-K through 3rd grade matters immensely.

In fact, these early years are the most critical time to build a foundation for your child’s entire education. Here is why every single day counts:

Early Reading is a Team Sport: In Pre-K through 3rd grade, children are learning how to read. By 4th grade, they transition to reading to learn math, science, and history. Children who attend school regularly in Kindergarten and 1st grade are 3 to 4 times more likely to read at grade level by 3rd grade compared to those who miss too much school.
The Power of Classroom Play & Routine: In Pre-K and Kindergarten, "play" is actually deep learning. When children are absent, they miss out on critical hands-on math games, teacher-led phonics circles, and the daily social routines that build emotional confidence and security.
Absences Snowball Quickly: Missing just 2 days a month adds up to nearly 4 weeks of missed school a year. Because early learning builds sequentially day by day, missing even one morning can make the next day's reading or counting lesson feel confusing and overwhelming for a young child.
Healthy Habits for Life: Showing up to school every day is a habit that starts now. Children who build strong attendance habits in Pre-K and Kindergarten are significantly more likely to stay on track, feel confident, and graduate high school down the road.

We are here to partner with you!
We know that mornings can be tough, and young children get sick. If your child is struggling to get out the door or feels anxious about coming to school, please reach out to your child's teacher. Let’s work together to make sure your little learner is here, thriving, and growing every single day!

Thank you for your continued partnership in making this a successful school year for your child!

Warmly,

Sarah Wiebersick

Principal, Dakota Prairie Elementary

What is fluency in reading?

Try these fluency activities at home

Reading fluency is a child’s ability to read a book or other text accurately, with reasonable speed, and with appropriate expression. A fluent reader doesn’t have to stop and “decode” each word and can focus attention on what the story or text means. Fluency is the bridge between decoding words and understanding what has been read.

Listen every day

Once you’ve found a collection of books that your child can read, listen to your child read every day. Be patient, new readers often read slowly! Offer help when your child gets stuck, and always give lots of praise and encouragement.

Reread favorite books

Building fluency takes a lot of practice! Keep a collection of books that your child can read quickly and easily. Encourage your child to reread favorite books over and over again. With each reading, you may notice your child reading a bit easier, a bit faster, and with a bit more confidence and expression.

Read to your child every day

Model your own fluent reading as you read and reread books with your child. Even though your child may be able to read on her own, continue to find time each day to read books to her that are just beyond her reading level. She will enjoy listening to more advanced stories, and she will hear a great example of fluent reading, how you change your expression throughout a story and read with ease. Your child will hear how you raise your voice at the end of question sentence or how you change your voice for different characters.

Paired or “buddy” reading

Take turns reading aloud. You go first, as your reading provides a model of what good fluent reading sounds like. Then, ask your child to re-read the same page you just read. You’ll notice that your child’s reading will start to sound more and more like yours. Do this for several pages. Once your child is comfortable enough, and familiar enough with the book, take turns reading page for page.

Echo game

Choose a book at your child’s reading level and read a sentence aloud using appropriate expression and pauses. Then, have your child mimic you, reading the same sentence and using the same expression and pauses. Repeat the game every few paragraphs as you read through the book.

Choral reading

Choose a book at your child’s reading level and read a page or passage together in unison. You may have to slow your reading down a little to keep pace, but don’t slow down too much. Encourage your child to copy your pace and expression

Update on our attendance policy.

Practical Ways to Help with Slow Mornings

When a young child resists school or moves like a snail in the morning, it strains the entire household. Here are quick, actionable strategies you can share in your newsletter to help parents transform their morning routines:

Prep the Night Before: Eliminate early morning decisions and frantic searching. Lay out clothes (down to socks and shoes), pack backpacks, and prep lunches before bed. This removes the major friction points of a morning routine.
Create a Visual Checklist: Young children (Pre-K through 1st grade) struggle with abstract verbal commands like "get ready." Create a visual chart with pictures for five simple tasks: go potty, get dressed, eat breakfast, brush teeth, put on shoes. Let the child check off the boxes.
Beat the Clock with Games: Turn the delay into a playful challenge. Use a kitchen timer or a favorite song and challenge them: "Can you get your shoes and jacket on before this song ends?"
Investigate the "Why": Resistance is often a communication. Gently ask your child on a weekend or afternoon (not in the heat of a morning rush) if something specific is bothering them. It might be fear of a loud bathroom, a tricky zipper, or feeling anxious about separating from a parent.
The "First/Then" Rule: Keep screens, playtime, and special rewards entirely out of the morning until the child is fully ready to walk out the door. Use the phrase, "First get dressed and put on your shoes, then you can play with your blocks for 5 minutes."