Today we will remember, reflect, and read about the tragedy that occurred in our country fifteen years ago. I just read a wonderful post that included many suggestions for texts about 9/11 written for youngsters. I wanted to share it with you:
God Bless America!
During the first weeks of school, teachers spend lots of time discussing the importance of independent reading and implementing programs and procedures that will encourage kids to read on their own. It’s important that youngsters know how to find appropriate books for themselves. It’s also important for parents to understand what is meant by a just-right book since they are often involved in book choice with their kids.
A just-right book is a book that a student can read with little assistance. This is where knowing your child’s independent reading level is helpful. Usually, a just-right book is on or a little above the independent reading level. However, as kids move up the grades, there are other factors to consider. Use these six tips to jumpstart this year’s reading and help your kids discover books that are accessible, enjoyable, and motivating.
1. Preview the book
Encourage your child to read the title, look at the illustrations (if any), and read the synopsis and back cover. If it grabs his interest, it might be a winner.
2. Consider the length of the book
You want to set your child up for success. Especially at the beginning of the school year, I like to see kids reading shorter books that they can easily finish. That builds confidence and motivates them to read more.
3. Consider the font
Do you ever forego a book because the font is too small and it just looks daunting? I do! I’m not suggesting that students only read easy books with large print and lots illustrations and white space, but I am suggesting that font can be a consideration. If the book looks difficult, a youngster may feel overwhelmed, especially if they haven’t been reading all summer.
4. Consider the Genre
If your child is already an avid reader, he probably has a favorite genre. Let him go for it at the beginning of the year, but as time goes on encourage him to broaden his scope. For a more reluctant reader, find appropriate books in several genres and see what piques his interest. Don’t forget to include several of the appealing non-fiction books available for young readers.
5. Consider interest in the topic
Kids are no different than we are. They want to read about topics of interest. Over the years, I’ve seen reluctant readers turned on to reading once they found a topic, a series of books or an author that they loved. Encouraging choice is an important part of independent reading. Although periodically, kids may have to read assigned books, assigned texts should never be the bulk of their independent reading experience.
6. Do the Five-Finger test
Although this is not a scientific method, it is a quick and easy way to determine if a book just-right for independent reading. Open to a full page in the book and teach your child to read it and put up one finger every time they stumble on a word. If, at the end of the page, your child has missed five or more words, this is probably not a good choice for independent reading. If your child has less than five, give it a go.
Choosing a new book is an adventure. Help your child enjoy the process and hopefully it will result in a satisfying read that leaves your youngster eager for more.
The last post gave you a quick and dirty summary of the three reading levels. You now know that we all have three different reading levels. So what? How can you use this information? Let’s look at three advantages to understanding these reading levels.
1. Choosing a Just-Right Book
Many teachers use the term “just-right book” to describe an appropriate independent reading book for a student. Scads of research shows the importance of independent reading. Programs and incentives to get kids reading independently abound in classrooms throughout the nation. The trick is independent reading requires a book on a child’s independent reading level. If a book is too hard, it often frustrates the student, takes too long to read and is not fully understood and appreciated. If a book is too easy, a student is likely to get bored and this text will not help move a child towards the next level. So your understanding of what is meant by an independent reading level will enable you to support your child as he chooses a “just-right” book.
This is more important than you think because so often, in these grades, kids choose books that “look good”. They see the advanced readers carrying around long, enticing texts and want to choose books simply for appearance. Believe me, teachers struggle with this all the time. Bottom line is that if your child is an average or struggling reader, independent book choice is crucial. A future post will outline some things to consider as you help your kids pick “just-right” books.
2. Enhancing Your Communication with Teachers
A little knowledge can go a long way. I know how easy it is for teachers to forget that most parents do not know “teacher speak”. Like other professionals, teachers speak a language all their own. Professional lingo includes a ton of acronyms and terms that sound like Greek to people who don’t work in Education.
If you understand these terms, you can confidently ask your child’s teacher about reading levels and use them to your advantage. Not only will knowing your child’s independent reading level help you find books your child can read and enjoy, it will also enable you to understand his growth as the year goes on. Likewise, having a sense of your child’s instructional level will enable you to ferret out some texts that you may want to read with your child to reinforce vocabulary and strategies that will strengthen his comprehension.
3. Understanding Assessments
There are certain assessments that provide teachers with a student’s independent and instructional level. Make it your business to know the kinds of reading assessments your child will be taking. Knowing and tracking your child’s growth in terms of his or her reading level provides one way to monitor progress.
One important point – there are several leveling systems in place. Some use numbers and some use letters. It’s not necessary for you to understand the leveling system. Simply ask the teacher to interpret it for you and give you an idea of what to look for when you are roaming around the library, a bookstore, or the internet helping your child choose a book.
Reading levels provide appropriate guidelines. Used as such, they can play a helpful role in your child’s reading life.
Reading levels aren’t the most exciting topic in the world, but I’m hoping you find this information beneficial as the school year unfolds. My next post will give you some tips for helping kids choose a “just-right book” and then we’ll be on to some more engaging topics.
Bear with me folks, I’m putting on my teacher hat today because I think it is helpful if parents (and students) understand the three reading levels. In fact, for many years, one of my initial lessons was on these reading levels. I wanted the kids to realize that everyone has three levels of reading and that they are text dependent. I would haul in a bunch of books and magazines to demonstrate that even teachers have three reading levels and cannot read everything with a high level of comprehension. When students grasp that, they are more likely to feel comfortable choosing books that work for them, rather than choosing books that are too difficult just to impress their classmates. Hopefully,this explanation will be beneficial as you support your child’s reading this year. Here goes…
THE INDEPENDENT LEVEL
When someone is able to read text easily with appropriate accuracy (few miscues) and strong comprehension, they are reading on their independent reading level. For example, most best sellers that I read are on my independent reading level. The vocabulary is within my grasp, the subject matter is interesting (because I’ve selected the text) and I usually have no trouble comprehending the story. Additionally, because of my training and experience as a Reading specialist, professional literature is well within my grasp.
Take a minute to think of some texts that are on YOUR independent reading level. These might include current magazines and books, articles about hobbies you enjoy, or work-related text. If you can read the text easily, know the meaning of most of the words, and understand what you are reading, these materials are on your independent reading level.
THE INSTRUCTIONAL LEVEL
All of us encounter text that is a bit tricky for us to read. Each year around this time, Fantasy Football magazines show up in my home. My husband is an avid football fan. Although most of these magazines could be read and understood by many fifth and sixth grade students, for me, Fantasy Football magazines are on my Instructional Level. I am not a football fan. I have very little background knowledge to bring to the text, and in order to really understand an article, I would probably need to rely on my husband to walk me through the football magazine, offering background knowledge and explaining football terms. In other words, I could read the text and eventually understand it, but I would need support.
Instructional level means that you can comprehend the text, but not without support. In reading class, students are usually taught using materials on their instructional level. The idea is for the teacher to “fill in the gaps”, provide concepts and teach vocabulary and strategies that allow the student to understand the text. This is how we move students from one reading level to the next.
How about you? Can you think of a text that would be tricky for you? Now think about why. Do you lack background knowledge? Is the vocabulary unfamiliar? Does the author use a confusing text structure? What kind of help would you need to be able to read and understand this text?
THE FRUSTRATION LEVEL
Several years ago, when my daughter lived in New Jersey, I often spent the night. The guest room included enticing volumes of law books that belonged to her husband. Always up for a reading challenge, I delved into one of them. That was a rude awakening. Quickly I realized these books were totally over my head. With no legal background knowledge and little understanding of legal terms, I quickly gave up and realized these volumes were on my frustration level. Reading on your frustration level is counterproductive. Feeling frustrated is never the goal of reading.
Okay, your turn. Can you name a text that you would be unable to comprehend, even with a little support. If so, you understand what is meant by the frustration level in reading.
Thanks for hanging with me. In the next post, I’ll share how an understanding of these levels can be beneficial. Bring on your questions or comments.
Sometime this week or next, lazy summer days will give way to school days and your family life will once again be dictated by school schedules, sports schedules, meetings, homework and a million other things. The start up can be stressful on everyone, so today, let’s not talk about implementing a regular reading routine in your home. Instead, I’d like to suggest that you simply look for “pockets of reading time” and take advantage of them.
What in the world are “pockets of reading time” you ask. Well, last year when I was trying to entice my students to make time for daily reading, we brainstormed those spaces in their day when they could read for just a few minutes if they had a book, magazine or device on hand. Here are some of the ideas these kiddos came up with:
You get the gist. Pockets of reading time are simply brief moments when you can read even though you may not have a lot of time.The point is, these small moments add up and before you know it, wasted time is changed into reading time. Give it a try. Brainstorm ideas with your child, then help them remember to always have a book or reading device available. This little habit can result in a huge volume of reading. It’s a quick and easy way to grow a reader. Hope you will take the time to share any unique pockets of reading time you and your kids discover.Have a wonderful weekend!
Welcome everyone. This week it’s back to school for many and back to blogging for me. I’ve reinvented Nurturing Literacy and hope you will find it helpful and visit often. The first change is narrowing the focus of the blog. Research shows that there are scads of books, blogs, videos and various forms of information designed to help parents of primary grade students foster literacy development in their child. This, however, does not seem to be the case as kids move into grades four through eight. At this point, most kids know how to read and most parents are at a loss as to how to encourage and enrich both their child’s love of reading and ability to adequately comprehend what they read. For most, it’s easier to leave it all up to the teacher and assume literacy growth will simply take care of itself. And, for some it does. But time and again, in my years of working with students in these grades, I’ve seen the impact it can make when parents become knowledgeable and actively support literacy in the home.
The biggest roadblock to parental involvement is usually lack of know-how. This blog will aim to broaden your knowledge and offer easy, practical ways to help your child grow as a reader. If you are a parent who is sick with worry because your child is a struggling reader, this blog is for you. If you are a parent who recognizes that your child lacks the motivation to read, this blog is for you. If you are a parent of an advanced reader who struggles to find age-appropriate books, this blog is for you. If you are a grandparent or teacher determined to support the literacy development of the youngster in your life, this blog is for you. Think of it as a place to converse, ask questions, and share insights with others committed to empowering children to read.
Until last June, I was a full-time Reading specialist. Now that I’m retired, I can commit to a second change – posting on a regular basis. Every Monday and Friday, you can expect to find a new post. I hope that you will enjoy the content, add your voice to the conversation, become a follower and share this blog with others. Stop back on Friday to learn to help your youngster turn wasted minutes into beneficial reading time.
Today’s Daily News featured an article written by Jenice Armstrong discussing the tragic beating and death of Amy Joyner. No doubt you’ve heard the news of this high school student who was beaten to death in the bathroom of a high school in Wilmington. At the beginning of this article, the author shares the lament of an older woman standing by the school as she passed by. “Lord, what are we going to do…what are we going to do?” In this horrific situation, you can almost hear the anguish and heartache of her cry.
Even after I finished the article, those words echoed in my head. What are we going to do? For indeed, as parents and grandparents, as guardians of our youth, all of us must ask ourselves this question. What are we going to do to quell the violence and instill compassion, respect and a sense of value for themselves and others in our young people? Too often, the news greets us with stories that reek of contempt and disregard for the most precious gift of all…life itself.
As a parent and grandparent, an educator and a person who cares deeply about the future of our children, one small suggestion I offer is to tap into the power of literacy. I use the term literacy in the broadest sense here, referring to our ability to read, write, speak and listen. Words empower. As adults we can choose to use words to teach, to heal, to affirm and to touch the hearts and minds of the children we love. Just for today, use some form of literacy to communicate with your child. Read a beautiful story, listen with your heart, write a love note to your child, speak words of affirmation. Then do it again tomorrow! Little by little, literacy can become a formidable weapon against the hatred and violence in our world.
This post is a bit of a departure from normal. Check back for some concrete suggestions about books and activities that can help us instill compassion, respect, courage and a sense of values in our kids. Rest in peace, Amy Joyner!
If you have a child in fourth, fifth or sixth grade, books from The Dork Diaries, I Funny or I Survived series have probably already visited your home. There are some wonderfully popular series afloat in these grades and if your child has not already delved into one of them, I would encourage him or her to do so. With that said, however, let’s not forget some of the older, but equally wonderful book series for children in this age group. This is a great time to begin a read aloud and pique your child’s interest in a series that just might take him through the summer. Here are a few suggestions:
Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Talk about an “oldie but goodie”. This series still has tremendous appeal for fourth, fifth and sixth grade girls. They can join Laura Ingalls Wilder on her journey West, meet her wonderful family, engage in adventure, learn about pioneer life and vicariously grow up right alongside Laura. This is a delightful series to read along with your child for it captures the interest of young and old alike.
Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket
Filled with humor, adventure and misadventure, this series chronicles the unlucky Baudelaire children as they deal with Count Olaf and his attempts to steal their parents’ fortune. Lots of books and lots of fun in this series.
The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner
Although a bit dated, these easy-to-read mysteries engross readers as they accompany Henry, Jessie, Violet and Benny who used to live in a boxcar. Fourth and fifth graders enjoy solving mysteries along with these delightful characters and the slew of books in this series provides an endless supply of enjoyable reads.
Check back soon when I continue to highlight series that will engage and engross intermediate readers. If there’s a series that has been a hit with your child, please share your treasure.
More often than not, parents stop reading aloud to their children when they are about five or six, right around the time that kids begin to learn to read for themselves. Undoubtedly, other activities creep in, older children can more easily occupy themselves, and we simply forego read-alouds, fooling ourselves into believing it’s not that important and it doesn’t matter anymore.
We used to ask a renowned professor to come in and speak with our Title 1 parents early in the fall. This man once told the story of a dad who read to his daughter every night for her entire life. When the girl finally left the nest and headed off to college, she called her father. “Dad, I called so you could read to me.” Admittedly, this is an extreme example, but it does drive home the power of reading aloud.
No one ever outgrows read-alouds. Several weeks ago, my husband had to undergo back surgery. Although he had toted some books to the hospital, he was definitely not in the mood to read. Unfortunately, he was having difficulty sleeping as well. Each afternoon, as I sat beside him in the dimly-lit hospital room, I read aloud to him. I know the medicine made him drowsy, I know the discomfort robbed much of his attention, but I hoped that a soothing voice, beautiful words, and a good story would relax him and distract him for a time. Those moments of connecting through story, provided a respite for both of us, a way to feel connected and an opportunity to travel to a different time and place.
The benefits of reading aloud to children are well-documented. Reading aloud encourages fluency, builds vocabulary, boosts comprehension, and encourages discussion. Most importantly, however, I believe regularly reading together bonds parents and children in a unique way. You will forever share the common world of the stories you read. Books may become bridges for tough talks, beacons of strong values, bulwarks during challenging times. Reading with someone you love offers many rewards. There’s magic in sharing a story, in revisiting history, in solving a mystery, and in learning something new. Don’t you want to sprinkle your life with magic moments? Perhaps today is a good day to begin.
Have a favorite read-aloud? Won’t you share it with us.
One week from today, students across the state of Pennsylvania will begin taking the famed PSSA test. Much like students, parents’ attitude toward this assessment can range from extremely laid back to overly concerned and stressed. Not surprisingly, the best approach is to strike a balance between the two. To that end, here are a few important tips that you can implement now and throughout the weeks of assessment.
PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR CHILD’S PHYSICAL WELL-BEING
In order to optimize your child’s ability to think clearly, maintain adequate stamina, and remember to use strategies he has learned, pay extra attention to your child’s physical well-being. Start by offering well-balanced meals that include plenty of protein. If your child typically skimps on breakfast, this is the week to break that habit. Wake up a little earlier so everyone can enjoy a relaxing breakfast consisting of highly nutritious foods that include a healthy amount of protein. The protein will provide a consistent level of energy. Avoid sugary foods that can cause a drop in blood sugar leading to fatigue.
If bedtime at your house is sketchy, this is the week to remedy that. Be certain that your child is in bed early enough to get the required hours of sleep for his age. Establish a set time for lights out and don’t deviate from it. Although an earlier bedtime than usual may take a few nights to establish, by the end of the week, it will become the norm and hopefully, during the weeks of assessment, your child will be used to tucking in at this earlier hour.
It’s been well-documented that exercise relieves stress. Be sure that your child has a chance to go outside and let off steam afterschool. Limit time on the computer and Ipad, opting instead for physical exercise that will reduce your child’s stress level and tire him out so that sleep comes easier. Assessments like PSSA can be very anxiety-producing in some children, additional exercise is a key way to alleviate that stress.
PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR CHILD’S EMOTIONAL NEEDS
It bears repeating that your child may be feeling additional anxiety due to the upcoming assessment. Here are some suggestions to help your child relax before and during testing:
The consistent attention to effective instruction and a focus on meeting each student’s individual needs, will result in test scores that are reflective of your child’s academic strengths and challenges. Maintaining a calm, consistent home environment throughout the testing window is the best thing you can do to support your child. Please join the conversation and share any insights or questions you may have.
Remember that schools across the state have provided consistent attention to effective instruction and a focus on meeting each student’s individual needs. Your child’s scores will reflect his academic strengths and challenges, providing both parents and teachers with information that will help drive future instruction. Maintaining a calm, consistent home environment throughout the testing window is the best thing you can do to support your child. Please join the conversation and share any insights or questions you may have.
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Nurturing Literacy 