Class Descriptions	Book Suggestions	Helpful Tips for Parents	Helpful Websites
Wilson Information	Bethlehem Middle School Website	E-mail Mrs. Dounane	Tech Tips

student checks assignment notebook

Reading is the key to success in the middle school years. Students may have trouble with reading for two main reasons. The first is decoding. This is the ability to "sound out" the words. The other half of the problem may be in comprehension. My class works daily on these two skills. The hope is that by the time they reach high school, they will be both fluent readers and writers.

Communication is very important to me. If you have any questions about your child's reading, writing, study habits or IEPs please don't hesitate to contact me. You can either reach me at

439-7460 or by e-mail at dounsms@bcsd.neric.org.

Together we can make this a successful year.

Mrs. Dounane’s Wiki is now open. This is where we will have book discussions of the books we are reading in class. This wiki also contains student wiki pages where they have individualized spelling demons (tricky spelling words) and have completed some assignments. Check it out to see what your child has been working on, and remember to leave a comment for them on their page.

Make an avatar for your wiki page. It’s the same program as the mii creator on Wii, so click away and have fun. When you’re finished, save your avatar under the export option as a .jpg file. Upload the jpg file as a picture on to the wiki.

Spelling is a problem for many students with reading difficulties. The following 23 words will be expected to be spelled correctly. Mini lessons will be taught to teach these words, and then they will be expected to be used correctly in the students’ written work.

· Loose/ lose

· Their/ there/ they’re

· Your/ you’re

· It’s / its

· Affect/ effect

· Weather/ whether

· Mr. / Mrs. / Miss / Ms

· Then / than

· Monday / Tuesday/ Wednesday/ Thursday/ Friday / Saturday / Sunday

Bonus Words

· Science

· Cousin

· A lot

· Choose/ choice

· Four/ for/ fore

· Continent/ consonant

· Where/ wear / were

Reading Quotes

Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.
~ Joseph Addison  ~

I've traveled the world twice over, 
Met the famous; saints and sinners, 
Poets and artists, kings and queens, 
Old stars and hopeful beginners, 
I've been where no-one's been before, 
Learned secrets from writers and cooks 
All with one library ticket 
To the wonderful world of books. 
~ Anonymous

Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested: that is, some books are to be read only in parts,
others to be read, but not curiously, and some few to be read wholly, and with diligence and attention.
~ Francis Bacon

To read without reflecting is like eating without digesting.
~ Edmund Burke

A book is like a garden carried in the pocket.
~ Chinese proverb  

Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers.”
~ Charles W. Eliot