Clegern Elementary School

Edmond Public Schools


What Do Good Readers Do?

(adapted from Strategies That Work, Stenhouse Publishing, 2000 and "Strategies That Work" inservice, Mary Brown Shulman, 2002)

Reading involves decoding words and making sense of what is read. Many times children are so focused on decoding words that they do not always make sense of what they're reading. Here are some tips that will get children to interact with the words on a page.

Children should:

· Think about what they already know about a topic.

· Make a prediction before they read. (Use the title and pictures to aid prediction.)

· Ask questions while reading (For example: What is confusing? or What does the book remind you of?)

· Try to visualize what they are reading (making pictures in their minds)

One of the best things you can do to improve your child's comprehension is to talk to them about what they are reading. Also, talk with them about what ideas or thoughts you have while reading. Children learn best from models like you.

WARNING: Answering written questions does not necessarily mean that a child can understand what they're reading. Discussion is what helps children get to the deeper meaning of what is being read.

Tips to Encourage Reading

 

7 Tips to Encourage Reading

(adapted from FCPS Department of Instructional Services and Scholastic)

 1. Read aloud to your child. Listening to adults read helps children develop a love of reading and gives them the opportunity to enjoy a variety of texts. Reading aloud familiarizes children with the language found in books and exposes them to fluent reading.

2. Take a trip to the public library. Going to the public library allows children to have FREE access to many books.

3. Put books in your child's path. If books are beside the toy box, television, computer, or pet's cage, they are more likely to be picked up.

4. Have your child help with the grocery list. Children love to help adults! They can participate in writing the list and reading to see if any items are missing.

5. Read recipes. When you're cooking, ask your child to help you read the ingredients. As you read the ingredients, show them the item. This visual image will also help them learn new vocabulary.

6. Read road signs. While you're driving, ask your child to read various road signs. For those children who may be learning their letters, ask them to find signs that begin with certain letters.

7. Keep books and magazines in your child's room. Children will choose to read more often if reading materials are easy for them to access. This may also be a quiet place where they can spend uninterrupted time reading.

 

Helping Your Child Read Non-Fiction

(adapted from Using Nonfiction Effectively in Your Classroom, Grolier Classroom Publishing 1995 and "Reading in the Content Areas", Donna M. Ogle, 2001)

In the future, informational reading will make up 90% of what children read. Children need exposure to a wide variety of informational sources to teach them to acquire, question, and to use information effectively.

What makes informational reading challenging?

  • Less familiar than fiction
  • Wide range of topics and formats
  • Specialized vocabulary and many unfamiliar terms
  • Reader must tie graphics to text while reading
  • Variety of demands for learning

What types of non-fiction materials are available for children?

Activities that will foster an interest and understanding of informational reading:

  • Marking/Thinking
    Use post-it notes to mark specific parts of the text that a child would like to discuss.

    This reminds me of!
    Important information
    Wow! Interesting information
    I don't understand

  • 3 2 1
    Children can share 3 facts they learned, 2 interesting ideas found in the reading, and 1 statement that tells the most important thing about what they've read.
  • These methods are used in classrooms and are easy to reinforce at home.

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Dialogue Journals

Do you ever wish that you had more time to communicate with your child? 

What is a dialogue journal?

  • A spiral notebook, a black and white composition journal, or anything that appeals to you and your child.
  • An on-going written exchange between you and your child.

Parents and children write letters discussing day-to-day activities and events.

The parent's letter serves as a model for good writing and the child is given a purpose for responding.

Writing is more meaningful when it's done for a purpose.

You will be amazed at the insights you can gain into your child when he is free to express himself without corrections or judgments!
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