1. READING/PHONICS TIPS

2. What I will go over today-  On Monday I went to a conference that focused on tips and strategies for early readers. I wanted to pass some of this information along to you to use when you are working with your students.  I will go over some tips and ideas that I want to share with you!  Hopefully you can incorporate some of these ideas into your routine to use with your child.

3. Three important types of reading  Something important I heard again at my conference was that the same reading strategies to use with pre- school aged students should be used with students in third grade. Sometimes we forget about this and get so caught up with the curriculum and testing, that older students still benefit from singing songs, reading aloud, to name a few.  Read Aloud-adult led, inspirational, safe, model strategies, instill a love of books. Make sure you are reading aloud each day to your child! All ages should be read aloud to, it shows your child that you enjoy reading.

4. Three important types of reading  Independent- use ability level appropriate text, still monitor your child’s reading, let your child chose books as well, book bins are a great idea for a place to store books for your child’s reading level. Your child will feel confident that they can read the books in the bin and be successful. Adding a comfy place next to your child’s book bin is also a great idea!  You don’t want your child to have books that are to hard or overwhelming for them to read.  Still sit with your child while they are ‘independently’ reading to monitor them and make sure that they are using their reading strategies.  While your child is independently reading, join them with your own books to model reading.

5. Three important types of reading  Shared-popcorn, partner reading, discussions during the book, comprehension questions.  While you are reading aloud to your child make sure that your child is using their ‘magic finger’ to follow along with you.  The more you can stop and discuss the reading with your child the better your child will comprehend the information. It is important to go over any questions that your child may have about the text before moving on.  Shared reading is a great time to read the more ‘challenging’ books your child has chosen or wants to read. The more exposure to material and different types of text the better.

6. I don’t know this word!  When your child doesn’t know a word while reading what should you do?  While reading aloud to your child model some of these ideas to show your child what you do when you come across a word that you are unsure of.  Break down the word-break down each syllable of the word and then blend them together  Picture Clues-teach children to use the pictures as clues when they are stuck on a word  Stretch the word-say the first syllable to your child and slowly elongate each syllable after, students should be regularly using this when reading as ‘finger stretching’.  Use the text-look at the text before and after the challenging word to find a word that would make sense to complete the sentence.  Don’t allow students to just guess the word and move on, constantly suggest them to use a strategy.

7. I don’t know this word!  Build a word wall-in most first grade classrooms you will see a word wall for students to use when reading/writing. Where your child spends his/her time working on a daily basis they should have access to a word wall.  To set up a word wall have the alphabet a-z, and underneath each letter words that begin with that same letter should be posted. For example under the A section of the word wall the words – all, and, ask should be listed.  Post it notes work great for a word wall, where students can physically pull the word off of the wall to copy it down on paper when writing.  Word walls should be continuously added to on a weekly basis when students come across new words.

8. Writing with reading  During my conference the presenter stressed how important writing is for struggling readers. Students should be writing each day in a journal at home just as they do when they come to the learning center.  If time is allotted in your day-use your child’s journaling time to teach mini lessons once they have finished writing. Find one thing in particular that you want to focus on and go over how they can improve/change this when writing. For example if your child is having trouble remembering to capitalize the first letter in each sentence use a red colored pencil and a green colored pencil to help you. Have your child put a period or the correct punctuation with a red pencil (stop) and then begin the next sentence with a green pencil (go).  Teach your child to be a ‘brave’ speller. Don’t give the spelling to your child when they ask you for their help, instead help them sound out the word, breaking it down, or have a student dictionary that the student can reference the words, or direct them to the word wall.  It is so important to spend time on both reading and writing to become a more fluent reader and writer.  When your child is writing make sure they have a sentence strip to reference letters.

9. Homework?  Do ‘homework’ if your child does not get through all five hours of their work for the day. Take a break after your teaching, and remind your child of the work that they need to finish and complete for the day.  Most schools are in session for 7 hours, and the students come home with homework to follow their days lessons.  Make this a routine if your child continoually does not get through their work for the day. It should not be a punishment but instead work as a ‘team’ to finish the days requirements.  Print out your childs daily schedule and have them physically cross off the lessons they complete, giving them an idea of what is still to come in their day.

10. Some fun literacy tips  Magnetic letters to build words  Sing songs, rhyming songs, alphabet, silly songs to help with spelling  Letter cards with pictures to help with beginning sounds  Sight word cards with pictures  Practice writing sight words with paint, in a bag full of shaving cream, or with sand.  Tape record yourself reading to your child or tape record them reading to practice fluency.  Chant or clap the spelling of sight words.

11. But my child just does not like reading...  Strong readers become strong readers because of reading-encourage your child to read each and every day. If your child enjoys sports find some sports magazines that they can read, or comic books that they will enjoy reading.  Encouraging your child to pick out books at the library that interest them or that they have a connection to.  Find books on tape for your child to listen to and follow along with the tape.  Encourage ‘family reading’ when your child sees you reading, it encourages them to read as well.

12. Some last tips-  Make sure you are using the teacher guide when teaching your child each day. These guides are written by teachers and educational leader and they are written exactly for a reason. The guides are to support you when teaching your child.  Sit with your child during Elluminate sessions, and help them with the reading.  Allow fewer video games! Don’t take them away but encourage other activities first such as, visiting the library, books on tape, board or card games, arts and crafts.  Turn on the closed captioning while your child is watching tv.  Look for signs in the car while driving, play rhyming games, sing songs while driving as well.