FOCUS ON READING

          Teaching students to become proficient readers is one of the main goals of the Caledonia teachers.  We know that children develop at different rates, and that the “reading light” turns on at different times in their development, so we have focused on teaching them the strategies (or tools) to make them independent readers and learners. 

          In order for your child to “cement” these strategies into his/her brain, he/she needs to PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE reading books, stories, poems, magazines, letters, notes, etc.

MONTHLY READING TIP

 Each month we have been focusing on specific strategies that strengthen your child’s reading abilities.  This month we would like you to look at your child’s fluency (smoothness) while reading.

 He/she should have developed into an “automatic” reader at this point - that means that, while reading, he/she automatically uses the strategies that he/she has learned this year.  It includes both at home and at school, and without prompting from you or us. 

 To support phrased, fluent reading, ask your child:

·        Can you read this quickly?

·        Do you put your words together so it sounds like talking?

·        Did you understand what you read?

·        Did you try to sound like the characters when it is a story, so others can “feel” the characters?

·        Did you read smoothly just like when you talk with a friend?

·        Did you read “just right” – not too fast and not too slow?

PRAISE YOUR CHILD OFTEN!