Reading
Reading is a mix of whole group activities and small reading groups. This will give me a chance to work closely with your child as we read a variety of books while also working with the larger group on different reading skills. In addition, we will put the reading skills we learn as a whole group into practice as we write throughout the year.
Whole group instruction is largely based on important skills good readers use. Each unit is 3 weeks long. We will focus only on the skill for the first week, work on applying the skill to a certain genre for the second week and practice some fluency skills with a reader's theater for the third week. We will also cover spelling patterns and word work strategies. Students will become familiar with common vowel sounds in certain spellings and different tricks in decoding uncommon sounds in words.
Students are separated into small groups for individual reading instruction. In these small groups I focus a lot on decoding strategies and comprehension skills while reading through a variety of books. We will read both fiction and non-fiction books. While meeting with the group and discussing decoding strategies to break down tough words, the students will also have time to individually read to me every day. This gives them a chance to talk about these strategies with peers and also show me how they put them into practice independently.
Reading at home is one of the best ways to help your student grow throughout the year as a reader. It is just like any other subject area. The more your child reads and practices the strategies we talk about at school, the better he or she will get! Here are some reading websites that are great for extra reading practice at home and will encourage your child to be successful in reading.
Tween Tribune
Find lots of interesting student-friendly articles to read about current events, animals and many other topics.
Your Next Read
This website will help your students to find a book he or she will like. This is an excellent tool for readers who have trouble finding a book they're interested in.
Spelling Match
These are games for practice with spelling patterns.
Vocabulary Can Be Fun!
A stronger vocabulary is a great start to becoming a better reader. Here are some games to become more confident in vocabulary.
Syllables Factory
This game will help your child to become more comfortable with breaking words into syllables correctly. Recognizing syllables helps readers with decoding tricky words.
Word Works
This site lets your student work with different words to create and build a wider vocabulary. Your child will have the opportunity to learn how to use these new vocabulary words.
Phonics
Phonics is a very important part of reading. The stronger your child is with phonics skills, the more successful he or she will be as a reader.
Word Girl
This site uses stories, videos and games to help your child become more confident with word work.
Fish 'Em Up
This game allows your student to work with adding endings to different words. Recognizing these endings and how they are added will help your child with decoding these words in context.
BigBot
Students will choose the correct word to complete the sentence. This requires reading comprehension and the ability to decode the word options. It is important for readers to be able to complete a sentence with a word that makes sense in the context.
Scholastic News
This is an especially great site for students who like to read non-fiction. This website has a variety of news articles available for student readers.
Readquarium
This website offers games for practice with sight words, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension.
Fun Brain - Reading
Here your child will find lots of different games and information on reading strategies and popular books.
Book Report Creator
This is an awesome tool for students to create book reports after all types of different books. This site offers guidelines for how to organize a book report and what to include.
Reading Skills Activities
This site offers lots of different reading comprehension activities.
MysteryNet
This site is an opportunity for students to read and solve many different types of mysteries. This is great for students who enjoy mysteries and also encourages comprehension skills.
Story-line Online
This site has many different book choices for students to listen to online. These stories are read by actors, and it is a great opportunity for your child to listen to expressive reading.
Poetry 4 Kids
We will cover a unit on poetry. Here students can read, write and play games all about poetry.
Highlights for Kids
This is another site with different kinds of articles for your student to read. It also has games and activities to connect with these reading articles.
Guys Read
Sometimes boys have a difficult time staying interested in reading. This site gives awesome information about famous "reading guys" and books of interest.
Books for Boys
This site focuses on interesting book recommendations specifically for boys. If your boy has a difficult time finding books of interest, this is the place to look!
Mighty Book
This resource offers many different online books, games, songs and activities for reading.
Whole group instruction is largely based on important skills good readers use. Each unit is 3 weeks long. We will focus only on the skill for the first week, work on applying the skill to a certain genre for the second week and practice some fluency skills with a reader's theater for the third week. We will also cover spelling patterns and word work strategies. Students will become familiar with common vowel sounds in certain spellings and different tricks in decoding uncommon sounds in words.
Students are separated into small groups for individual reading instruction. In these small groups I focus a lot on decoding strategies and comprehension skills while reading through a variety of books. We will read both fiction and non-fiction books. While meeting with the group and discussing decoding strategies to break down tough words, the students will also have time to individually read to me every day. This gives them a chance to talk about these strategies with peers and also show me how they put them into practice independently.
Reading at home is one of the best ways to help your student grow throughout the year as a reader. It is just like any other subject area. The more your child reads and practices the strategies we talk about at school, the better he or she will get! Here are some reading websites that are great for extra reading practice at home and will encourage your child to be successful in reading.
Tween Tribune
Find lots of interesting student-friendly articles to read about current events, animals and many other topics.
Your Next Read
This website will help your students to find a book he or she will like. This is an excellent tool for readers who have trouble finding a book they're interested in.
Spelling Match
These are games for practice with spelling patterns.
Vocabulary Can Be Fun!
A stronger vocabulary is a great start to becoming a better reader. Here are some games to become more confident in vocabulary.
Syllables Factory
This game will help your child to become more comfortable with breaking words into syllables correctly. Recognizing syllables helps readers with decoding tricky words.
Word Works
This site lets your student work with different words to create and build a wider vocabulary. Your child will have the opportunity to learn how to use these new vocabulary words.
Phonics
Phonics is a very important part of reading. The stronger your child is with phonics skills, the more successful he or she will be as a reader.
Word Girl
This site uses stories, videos and games to help your child become more confident with word work.
Fish 'Em Up
This game allows your student to work with adding endings to different words. Recognizing these endings and how they are added will help your child with decoding these words in context.
BigBot
Students will choose the correct word to complete the sentence. This requires reading comprehension and the ability to decode the word options. It is important for readers to be able to complete a sentence with a word that makes sense in the context.
Scholastic News
This is an especially great site for students who like to read non-fiction. This website has a variety of news articles available for student readers.
Readquarium
This website offers games for practice with sight words, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension.
Fun Brain - Reading
Here your child will find lots of different games and information on reading strategies and popular books.
Book Report Creator
This is an awesome tool for students to create book reports after all types of different books. This site offers guidelines for how to organize a book report and what to include.
Reading Skills Activities
This site offers lots of different reading comprehension activities.
MysteryNet
This site is an opportunity for students to read and solve many different types of mysteries. This is great for students who enjoy mysteries and also encourages comprehension skills.
Story-line Online
This site has many different book choices for students to listen to online. These stories are read by actors, and it is a great opportunity for your child to listen to expressive reading.
Poetry 4 Kids
We will cover a unit on poetry. Here students can read, write and play games all about poetry.
Highlights for Kids
This is another site with different kinds of articles for your student to read. It also has games and activities to connect with these reading articles.
Guys Read
Sometimes boys have a difficult time staying interested in reading. This site gives awesome information about famous "reading guys" and books of interest.
Books for Boys
This site focuses on interesting book recommendations specifically for boys. If your boy has a difficult time finding books of interest, this is the place to look!
Mighty Book
This resource offers many different online books, games, songs and activities for reading.