Title I Welcome Letter

To the parents/guardians of __________________________________,

I am writing to inform you that your child has the opportunity to participate in the Title I Reading Program offered through Hillsdale Elementary School. Participation means that your child will receive 20-30 minutes a day of more individualized attention in order to help him/her be a successful reader. Your child will be receiving reading group instruction at the same time as the children in the classroom. We use the Orton-Gillingham approach when teaching all of our reading groups. It is a structured literacy method for teaching reading and spelling that breaks down learning into smaller skills and builds on them over time.

Your child has this opportunity because of assessment results and recommendations from last year's teacher as well as this year's teacher. We feel your child might benefit from additional support in learning to read. All children learn to read at different rates, but it is especially important for children to gain reading skills and feel successful as a reader. Title I participation is a way to provide for that success. 

Enclosed is a copy of the School-Parent Compact. I realize the importance of the family, the child, and the school working together for the child's benefit. I want to work with you to help your child succeed in school. As partners, the compact shows our agreement to work together. I ask that this form be signed by all partners and returned to school. 

The Title I reading teachers will have an open house for parents during the fall conferences on Wednesday, October 1st and Thursday, October 9th from 3:15 to 6:15 pm. We will be set up in the first and second grade hallway. We can give you additional information on Title I and share ideas to help your child with reading. Please come to the first and second grade hallway before or after your child’s scheduled classroom conference, so we can meet you and discuss the Orton-Gillingham approach to reading.

If you have any questions about the Title I Reading Program or your child's participation in the program, please call me at 419-368-4364 extension 7167. I look forward to working closely with you and your child. 

Mrs. Lori Ayers, Title I Reading Teacher