• Our daily READING WORKSHOP consists of many opportunities to share, read,
    write, and listen. Theme books, big books, songs, poems, and books on tape are all
    used as elements of our program. We also focus on specific letters, sounds, and
    words each day to help students develop strategies for using words.
    GUIDED READING: A major element of our reading program is GUIDED READING.
    Guided Reading groups are groups of 2-5 students using books at the students’
    instructional level. Our groups will be comprised of children from all three K-1 Multi-
    Age classes depending on their ability level. Students have the opportunity to read
    ad discuss orally, learn and apply reading strategies, and focus on specific word
    attack skills. Students will be bringing these books home each night. Children who are
    not yet ready for books will focus more on becoming familiar with letters and sounds.
    SHARED READING: Class reading in which the teacher and student share the same
    text using big books, poems, and songs. It provides opportunities to reinforce reading
    strategies and skills.
    READ ALOUDS: Read alouds are books that are often above students instructional
    level. They introduce students to reading conventions such as story elements,
    vocabulary, and comprehension. These are the kinds of books that you may read
    aloud to your children at home.
    INDEPENDENT/PARTNER READING: Children will read independently and with
    partners for specific purposes. They will have opportunities to discuss what they
    read.
    BAGGY BOOKS: All the children will begin bringing home books at their independent
    level to read each night. Children should read the book on their own, practicing the
    skills learned in class. The parent role is to provide consistency and support by
    reading in the same “comfy” spot with their child. This should be a special time so
    that we can reinforce the importance and joy of reading. The books for early readers
    will be very simple, but the children will be so excited when they can “read” their
    book. Remember that memorization, using picture clues, and telling the story in their
    own words, are all very important steps in learning how to read. Baggy Books will be
    sent home Monday through Friday. Parent volunteers then listen to each child read
    their book the next morning.

            HOW PARENTS CAN HELP WITH READING
    As your child’s reading ability is growing, sometimes he/she
    gets stuck on a word. There are ways that you can help
    without telling them the word or asking them to sound it out.
    Below are some strategies to use when your child gets stuck.
    1. Use picture clues.
    2. Think! What word would make sense? Everything you read, just like
    everything you say should make sense. If it sounds funny, you probably read
    the wrong word.
    3. Confirm your guess with a printed word. Does your guess start with the
    same letter as you see printed in the book? Look at the beginning and
    ending sounds.
    4. Skip the word you are stuck on and read the rest of the sentence. What
    word would make sense?
    5. Cover up the word ending.
    6. Look for word families (cat, hat, mat) or look for a little word in the larger word THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU CAN DO IS TO SPEND TIME WITH
    YOUR CHILD READING TO THEM AND HAVING THEM READ TO YOU.
Last Modified on June 29, 2011