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Reading
Our Program
In our classrooms, learning to read is a fun, motivating, non threatening experience. Daily reading workshops consist of skill development lessons, guided reading, group reading, silent reading, poetry, and listening to stories. We read to practice fluency, improve sight word knowledge, develop comprehension, and learn reading strategies. Books should be read and reread. Practice is key to success. Set aside a regular time for reading and continue to read to your children until well after they have learned to read for themselves.
Choosing Books
As your child learns to read (independent reading), it is important that they read books at their instructional level. Choosing books that are too difficult will only be frustrating for your child. If your child seems to be struggling with the words in the book, try to find an easier book. Most teachers will send home books at your child's instructional level on a daily basis. There will be times that your child will have difficulty with a word. If they are stuck, there are ways to help your child without telling them what the word is. They will be learning and practicing these strategies at school.
Reading Strategies
1. Use the picture as a clue for the word.
2. Start the word. What are the sounds you hear?
2. Does your word/sentence make sense? Everything you read should make sense. If it sounds funny, you probably read the word wrong, so go back and do it again.
3. Skip the word you are stuck on and read the rest of the sentence. Go back. What would make sense?
4. Cover up word endings (example: ing, ed)
5. Look for familiar word families (example: cat, hat, mat)
6. Look for smaller words within a large word.
What if your child isn't interested in reading?
-Be patient, but firm. They must practice to improve. As they improve, their self confidence will soar!
-Let your child choose the book. Visit the library to let them choose books of interest.
-Be flexible as far as time and place
-Shorten the story, it doesn't need to be finished in one sitting.
-Make books easily accessible. Children should be able to access books whenever they would like.
-Be a good role model for your child. Let them see you reading!
