Reading Suggestions, Support, and Fun for Students
Reading
For Reading Logs
The downloadable reading log is link #1 below
1. Read for 20 minutes and fill in your reading logs. This counts as
homework and will be graded as homework. A reading log is on the Documents
page of this web site for you to download if you don't have one for the week.
10 or more books: 90-100%
7-9 books: 80-89%
5-7 books: 70-79%
Less than 5 books for the week: 60-69%
Link #2 below is important because it is a page I made up listing the text levels the children should
be on to be On Grade Level. I have also included what is considered Below and Above grade level.
Most important on that link are the strategies for creating strong readers. Please take some time and
read it.
Resources for Reading:
Book Lists: On the Documents Page (password for Documents page is: rooma115)
and on the ALA Link below.
Please don't ask your child to independently read the books listed on the
Documents page unless they are in the blue group.
After our conference you may have a clear idea of what is appropriate for
your child.
Visual Organizers: I have put these on the Documents page for those of you
who have asked me for resources that help with comprehension. Use them as an
outline for book discussions. I will only place graphic organizers on the
documents page that we have used in class.
Flash Cards: They are on the documents page (password: rooma115). Please download them and use
them. Most will be found on spelling tests during the year.
Texts and Web Sites
You can either download these reading logs each week or make your own. All that is needed is the
title of the book, the author, and the parents initials next to the book indicating that the child has
read the book. By the end of the year children will read chapter books. Each chapter counts as a
book, so just list the title and chapter number so your child gets credit for their work.
Blank Reading Logs
These are the text levels for Below, On, and Above Grade level in Prince George's County.
I have also written very important home practices that help readers. Please review all this
information.
Text Level Information and Important Reading Practices for your Child
Houghton-Mifflin Reading Web Site
This site will allow you to view sample pages of the curriculum
used in class. Visit the student page for activities that
support the curriculum.
If you can't get to this link by clicking on it, please go to
google and enter eduplace.com (I am having some difficulty going
here from my web pages).
Curriculum Support
Books recommended by the American Library Association (look on
the documents page for more book selections by PGCPS)
ALA
Connection to your local libraries, activities and programs,
audio books, and book catalogue
Prince George's County Libraries
Get started with ordering Scholastic Books on-line.
Scholastic Book Clubs
Starfall is a reading/listening program that is familiar to your
students and supports reading strategies used in our classroom.
I highly recommend that this site is used at home.
Starfall Reading Program on-line
Game Goo – Practice a variety of skills at a variety of levels.
Game Goo
Find words and create your own word search.
Word Search
Comprehension Strategies Used in the Classroom
In our classroom we use Anchor Charts that give us a purpose for reading and
help us to focus on comprehending a text in various ways. Following is a
list of what we focus on when using our Anchor Charts. When you read at home
these may be helpful to you in your discussions of books. The first step in
text comprehension is being able to focus your thinking and talk about a
book. I hope these help you and your child discuss books.
Predict
• Think about the title, the illustrations, and what you have read so far.
• Tell what you think will happen or what you will learn.
Thinking Starters: I predict…
What I think will happen next is…
Monitor/Clarify
• Ask yourself if what you are reading makes sense.
• If you don’t understand something, reread, read ahead, or use the
illustrations.
Thinking Starters:
Monitor - I’m confused about…
I don’t understand…
What doesn’t make sense is…
Clarify - It could be…
Maybe…
Oh, I see…
Phonics/Decoding
• Look carefully at the word
• Look for chunks you know
• Sound it out
• Make sure it makes sense
Thinking Starters:
I recognize…
This part sounds like…
This part is…
It could be…
Question
• Ask yourself questions as you read.
Thinking Starters:
I wonder…
Why…
How come...
Evaluate
Ask yourself:
• Do I like what I have read?
• Do I agree or disagree with it?
• Am I learning what I wanted to know?
• How good a job has the author done?
Thinking Starters:
I like…
I don’t like…
I wish the author…
I think the author…
Visualize
• Make pictures in your mind of what you are reading.
Thinking Starters:
I visualized…
I have a picture in my mind of…
I see..
Making Connections
• Relate what I am reading to
oMy own experiences (text-to-self)
oOther texts I have read (text-to-text)
oMy knowledge of the world around me (text-to-world)
Thinking Starters:
This reminds me of…
I have a connection…
What happened is just like…
The character is like…