Word Attack Strategies

In order to help parents, teachers, and tutors use appropriate word attack skills, I recommend syllablication. Once readers learn to use both their eyes and ears to attack an unknown word, syllablication becomes very natural and easy to use. Syllables are easier to read than the longer word and phonics use is possible for each syllable.

Listed below are some common rules to use.

• When two consonants come between two vowels, divide the word between the two consonants.
• When a single vowel comes between the two vowels, divide the word after the first vowel.
• When a word ends in aconsonant followed by le, the final syllable is made up of the consonant and the le.

Reflections

Anytime a student reads comprehension is the central and guiding focus. One method of seeing through a student's eyes of what she comprehends is through her own writing or drawing about the story. In most cases it provides a good idea of her interpretations and understanding. This reflection provides a glimpse into the understanding of the reading by the student.

These refelctions may also be shared through a short talk or discussion by the group. It is one of the strongest methods parents and teachers may use to assess a student's comprehension and understanding.

Take time to listen to the thoughts of young readers and a whole new world opens before your eyes.

Thinking and Talking About Reading

When it comes to reading there are many misconceptions about what reading is. The truth of the matter is that a reader has many different types of thinking going on as a reader reads. Some may be the mechanics, some may be understanding, some may be prior experiences, and some may be emotional. As you may see there is much to think about.

When reading is not reading is when a reader does not think and that is called word calling. Literal understanding is a minial thought process, while reflection is real thinking and evaluating. The reflection is actually the talk and discussion that follows reading. It is important for the reader to share and express their thoughts with others.

What is the implication for the growth of the reader? Real reading is followed by talk about what was read and then those spoken thoughts may be included in a response journal to share and show with others.

Reading is complex, but the ability to put thoughts about reading on paper is above complex.
Have your readers at home take the time to talk about their reading and encourage them to write about their thinking.

Proficient Readers

Strong readers have developed powerful systems for learning words. They problem-solve "on the run" while reading for meaning. Struggling readers have less words they recognize effortlessly and their word solving is slow and tedious. This is often the reason for poor fluency and comprehension.

All students need to build a core of words they recognize automatically, such as high-frequency words, and practice reading daily to improve their system of learning words.

Independent Daily Reading

Research has shown that the more time a student spends reading independently during the school day the better reader the student becomes. Of course, there are a few guidelines for this to be successful for the student. First and foremost is choosing 'Just Right Books' that the student reads most of the words correctly, struggles with less than five words per page, uses strategies to figure out tricky words, understands and retells the story, and reads fluently. When all of these are present the student is reading on his independent level. The book needs to be a little difficult, but manageable. It needs to have the student stretch and use strategies to make sense of the reading for the real growth to happen.

Reading of easy books is beneficial to students who have fluency problems, but easy reading does make a student be a better reader. Reading of hard books lends no benefits to the reader.

Help your student find 'Just Right Books' to help him grow as a reader.

Welcome to the Home of the Reading Bears

This school year promises to be an exciting year of reading and writing. All the students love books and they are just itching to open and read as many as possible this year of school. Our classrooms have received hundreds of new books to engage our students.

Parents and guardians play an important part in the success of their child with reading. Reading daily as an adult in front of your child is an excellent motivator. Family reading time is another. Taking a day trip to the museum, an amusement park, or even an aquarium are just the types of experiences a child needs to be successful in literacy. Don't forget the kitchen with cooking , reading recipes, and measuring adding to the growth of your child as a learner and doer.

Every day things matter too in making your child a reader.