Reading Strategies - Reading Together

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving Break, and that you had enjoyable opportunities to read with your child each day! :)

When a child begins reading lessons, we review strategies found on a special bookmark.  The strategy "language" for the listener is very important in helping a reader determine which strategy is appropriate to use at the point of difficulty, and to help increase the child's use of strategies independently. This in turn helps the child to continue to make progress in reading.  When this strategy "language" is used at home by parents as well as by teachers at school, the child has an even greater opportunity to practice and internalize strategies for successful reading.

When reading with your child at home, it is great to remember these helpful
"Tips and Prompts for the Listener" found on our special bookmark, which I will be sending home with your child again this week.

Wait - Allow thinking time.  (5 - 10 seconds)

 

When the reader is in difficulty, say:

 

"Look at the picture for clues."

 

or say

 

"Get your mouth ready to use phonics. 

Make the beginning sound. 

Read to the end of the sentence. 

Think about what is happening in the story. 

Now reread, think what would make sense."

 

or say

 

"Use the consonant sounds to read the word."

 

or say

 

"Pull your finger through the word,

use phonics, and/or
look for smaller words hiding inside the larger word."

 

or say

 

"Is it _______or ________?"

(Give the student a choice between the correct word and an incorrect word.)

"How did you know?"

 

If an error changes the meaning of the sentence, say:  "Try that again."

 

 

I hope that you find these tips and prompts helpful! 

Have fun reading together with your child!  :)

 

 

 



We are Thankful

I would like to wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving!

I am so excited about the progress the children have made so far this year!
I am truly thankful for teaching and learning with all of the children.

The students have shared some ideas about what they are thankful for too: 
My family
Books
Doctors and hospitals
My trampoline
My pets
The USA
Food
My teachers
Friends helping me
You helping me learn how to read
People who are coming over for Thanksgiving


I am thankful to the many people throughout history who have shared inspiration about teaching and learning:

"Tell me and I forget.  Teach me and I remember.  Involve me and I learn."  --Benjamin Franklin

"One person can make a difference, and everyone should try." --JFK

"The more that you read, the more things that you will know.  The more that you learn, the more places you'll go."  --Dr. Seuss

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday!  :)

November Reading, Writing, and Technology

Technology is fun for children.  It also strengthens important literacy skills.  :)

Children reading online rely on critical thinking and strategies that involve research to find the information they need.  For example, a simple Web search requires students to assess a list of sites and then analyze Web content for importance to the question at hand.
"The Internet is here to stay, so starting to develop these skills early gives children a good grounding in the skills that they'll need their whole lives," says Dr. Laurie Henry of the University of Kentucky.

Unlike a paper book, the Internet offers dynamic texts with audio, links to different sites, and videos.  There are many benefits to online reading:
* Interactive sites can match your child's learning style:  hands on, auditory, and visual.

* Websites offer context clues and organizing structures such as clickable definitions of unfamiliar terms, diagrams, and subheads, which help emerging readers develop strong comprehension skills.

* Exploring websites helps children with prediction, and allows them the opportunity to  predict what they will read next.

Eplore Technology Together and HAVE FUN!

Some great books to look for at the library:

In November  by Cynthia Rylant

Every Autumn Comes the Bear  by Jim Arnosky

I Know It's Autumn  by Eileen Spinelli

Happy Reading!!

Happy November!

Here are 15 great things that parents can do to help children read:

Read to your child frequently.
Listen to your child share the day's activities.
Talk with your child about things we hear, see and do.
Help your child become independent by giving responsibility.
Read something every day.
Your child sees you enjoying reading.
Monitor your child's TV viewing and programs.
Praise your child's efforts and accomplishments.
Provide your child with books and magazines.
Take your child to the library.
Initiate word and listening games to encourage attentive listening.
Show your child that you are interested in school and support the school.
Encourage good health habits (adequate rest, well balanced diet, etc.)
Ask your child to tell you stories and describe events.
Provide your child with experiences (brief trips and excursions).
Encourage your child's curiosity and enthusiasm.

Star smiles go out to our wonderful readers!
Jayden
Anthony
Ariel
Jasmine
Joshua
Joie
Evan
Angel
Lui Sandro

We would like to welcome new students:
Taylor
Nathan
Trevani
Austin

I am so excited for all of the students' progress and accomplishments in reading and writing, including Alyssa and Travis!  Keep up the GREAT JOB!!  :)