3Qs: Raleigh Bass, Shannon Elementary School



Summer vacation is winding down and school will resume in Northeast Mississippi communities next week. Tupelo’s first classes are Aug. 4 while Lee County students go back to school on Aug. 7. Raleigh Bass, language arts academic coach at Shannon Elementary School (grades 3-5), answered questions from Daily Journal education reporter Chris Kieffer about the start of another school year.

Q. What can students do during the next week to get ready for returning to school?

A. As students prepare to start school, they should have their school supplies ready, so they will be prepared for the first day. Over the next week, students can review basic math facts using flashcards, read a high-interest book, magazine or newspaper article, and summarize what they have read. Students should write about what they learned from the text, explain what it means, or tell the most important details. Parents can check their child’s comprehension by reading their written summary and by asking questions about the text. Parents also can make sure their child can recall math facts quickly and accurately.

Q. What type of skills do teachers typically spend the most time re-teaching at the beginning of the year?

A. In my opinion, teachers typically spend the most time re-teaching the basic skills such as basic math facts, writing correct and complete sentences, and answering simple questions about a specific text.

Q. What do you enjoy most about the beginning of a new school year?

A. I love everything about the students’ first days of school. Students are excited about starting a new school year, meeting their teacher, seeing their classmates and learning new information. Teachers begin each new year building community within their classrooms by planning interactive activities to learn about their students’ interests, determine their learning styles, and for students to get to know their peers. Teachers also will use this information to plan engaging lessons that will increase their students’ academic and social growth throughout the school year.