Reading Ideas

To help build your child's reading skills, try to read to your child everyday.   Finding time can be a challenge, but it only takes 10-15 minutes each night to help build your child's reading skills.  You can read with your child before bed, read while you wait for dinner to cook, or have your child read to you when they are riding in the car.  Take turns reading with your child, you read a page and they can read the next page.  Make reading fun!  When reading use different voices for different characters.  Your child will love listening to you read, because it's you!
Most children know what they like to read.  Allow your children to choose their own books, but you can also choose books.  Take this opportunity to introduce new books to your child.  Introduce books they would not normally choose like nonfiction or poetry.
Increase comprehension by asking your child questions about what they are reading.  Ask your child questions about characters, main idea,  and events.  If you are reading to your child, be sure to ask them questions or let them ask you questions.

Importantance of Comprehension

An important part of our Title I curriculum is comprehension.  This week we worked on comprehension strategies.  In first grade, we discussed important characters, how they created a problem in our story.  First grade students also discussed how our story was similar at the beginning, but different at the end.  In Second grade, we discussed what both of our stories had in common.  Both stories involved working or jobs.  We also discussed how the characters were different, people and a dog.  The students also noted the difference between fiction and nonfiction stories.  In Third grade, our story this week was Educating Arthur.   This was a story about a dog who needed a little help from his owners learning how to do things properly.  We worked with some challenging words, so we also discussed looking for word parts or breaking apart words to help read unknown words.  When reading our stories we constantly focus on comprehension, reading for understanding.  We want the students to read accurately and fluently, but understanding what they read is very important as well.  A simple way to practice comprehension at home is to ask your child what they are reading; who are the characters, what's the problem and setting, how was the problem solved.  If they are reading a nonfiction book, ask them to tell you what they are learning.  Your child will love sharing new facts they are learning! 

The Joys of the Classroom

 After BRI testing and Kindergarten testing, we identified those students who qualified for Title I services.  Title eligibility notices have been sent to parents, if you have not received your notice please contact the school.  During Title I Reading services the instruction focuses on reading fluency,  accuracy, and comprehension.  We also teach students word solving strategies to help them solve unknown words when reading.  This week in 1st grade we focused on letter sounds c, m, t, and s.  Our sight words were go, on, and the.  We read two short stories in our leveled readers, practicing fluency and accuracy.  In 2nd grade this week we focused on short vowels a and i.  Our sight words this week were bought, roll, and front.  We enjoyed reading Cats Near and Far, a leveled reader about different kinds of cats.  In 3rd grade we read a nonfiction story, From Tadpole to Frog.  Our vocabulary words were; escape, center, spawn, fully, lungs, and gills.  Our goal when learning new vocabulary is for the students to be able to read the words and know the appropriate definition, understand the meaning.  In 3rd grade we focus more on comprehension, understanding what we read. 

Meeting Kindergarten Students

This week Title I teachers have been testing Kindergarten students.  The testing helps identify those students who will be served in Title I Reading.  The Kindergarten assessments also gives the Kindergarten teachers a better understanding of their students abilities.  Next week, Title I teachers will be giving Basic Reading Inventories.    We are excited to begin working in our Title I reading groups soon!  Please encourage reading at home with your child. 

Welcome Back Students!

Open house at Pence Elementary was a success!  I enjoyed seeing the students and visiting with parents.  I look forward to working with students this year!