Frequently Asked Questions: This page contains answers to common questions
of students and parents.
- What is the key to lifelong learning?
- Waht is the best way to contact you?
- What is the scoop on AR?
- What is the #1 goal for our students?
- What does the research say about developing good readers?
- What are some ways to help my child be a more effective reader?
What is the key to lifelong learning?
The key is information literacy, the ability to locate and use
information and this goal is at the heart of the school library.
Waht is the best way to contact you?
The easiest way is by email; just click on the email link in the
lower left bottom of the link panel.
What is the scoop on AR?
Check out the AR Reading links on the Home page.
What is the #1 goal for our students?
We hope to teach them to be independent and life-long learners.
If we can accomplish this everything else will fall into place.
What does the research say about developing good readers?
Early reading success is a strong predictor of academic success
in later grades, and the early childhood years - birth through
age eight - are critical ones for literacy development. Research
has identified the following five critical components of reading
development and instruction.
* Phonemic awareness: the ability to notice, think about,
and work with the individual sounds (phonemes) in spoken words.
* Phonics: the understanding that there are relationships
between the letters of a written language and the individual
sounds (phonemes).
* Fluency: the ability to read a text accurately and
quickly. Fluency is the bridge between word recognition and
comprehension.
* Vocabulary: the ability to store information about the
meanings and pronunciation of words necessary for communication.
Oral vocabulary refers to words used in speaking; reading
vocabulary refers to words recognized in print.
* Reading comprehension: the ability to understand,
remember, and communicate with others about what has
What are some ways to help my child be a more effective reader?
1. Set aside a regular time to read to your children every day.
Studies show that regularly reading out loud to children will
produce significant gains in reading comprehension, vocabulary,
and the decoding of words. Whether your children are preschoolers
or preteens, it will increase their desire to read independently.
2. Surround your children with reading material.
Children with a large array of reading materials in their homes
score higher on standardized tests. Tempt your kids to read by
having a large supply of appealing books and magazines at their
reading level. Put the reading materials in cars, bathrooms,
bedrooms, family rooms, and even by the TV.
3. Have a family reading time.
Establish a daily 15 to 30 minute time when everyone in the
family reads together silently. Seeing you read will inspire your
children to read. Just 15 minutes of daily practice is sufficient
to increase their reading fluency.