What Do Readers Do?
Every child is a reader, regardless of level. Each child
learns the same behaviors and strategies and applies them to fit his/her
individual needs. This page highlights some of the journey we will make in
reading this year, and the skills and strategies you can reinforce at home.
Readers...
* Think about their books
* Make connections (text-to-self, text-to-text,
text-to-world)
* Read everyday
* Self-correct
* Reread (to enjoy the book again, to understand what's
happening, to fix mistakes)
* Notice patterns
* Use strategies to figure out words
* Stay focused on their books
Readers Read Everyday
Independent Reading is one
of the cornerstones of our day. The children self-select books that are "just
right" each week and read them independently everyday. Getting to choose their
own books stimulates interest in reading based on individual likes and
dislikes.
How to Choose a "Just Right" Book
:
1) Pick up a book that you like.
2) Open to any page.
3) Try to read the page.
4) If you have trouble with 3 or more words, put the book
back and try again. (This book is not "just right" for you YET.) If you can
read the page, this is a just right book for you!
5) Place your "just right" books in your book baggie.
We select (trade) books for Independent Reading every
Monday.
Readers Use Strategies
Throughout the year we will be working on and learning
different reading strategies to use when facing unknown or tricky words.
A reader decides which strategies to use and when to use
them. Having a variety of strategies to use helps the reader build confidence,
stamina, and fluency. Below is a list of strategies your reader will learn
this year.
Reading Strategies
* Put your finger under the word.
* Get your mouth ready. (b-b- baseball)
* Look at the pictures.
* Sound out the word. (mmm-aaa-d -->mad)
* Look for patterns. (man, can)
* Think about what makes sense.
* Cover part of the word.
* Skip the word and go back later.