I hope you have continued to watch your child grow as a reader over the summer. Each day, your child is making growth - whether it be in accuracy, fluency, or understanding more about how to think about books. I’d like to offer the opportunity again to have your child bring home books for school, if you would like.
If you choose, a few times a week, or depending on how often the book is returned your child will select a book at their independent reading level and bring it home in their reading plastic bag. You will listen to your child read the book to you several times that evening, giving them encouragement and praise. Please use the reading strategies found on the blog to help your child. Multiple readings build skills, comprehension, and fluency.
Before reading the book, look at the pictures and discuss what the book is about. While reading, use the strategy prompts found below to help your child solve unknown words. Always praise their attempts at figuring out unknown words. Children should be encouraged to use other clues for figuring out words, such as pictures or the meaning of the sentence. Your main job is to encourage your reader and give them the confidence that they can and do read, at whatever level is appropriate. This has to be a positive experience for the child. If your child is not ready to read at home daily, we’ll stop and try again at another time when they are more ready. If you have books at home, or are not interested in doing this reading program, that is fine too. Just let me know.
You know your own schedule best as well as your child’s energy level. You will not want to pick a time when your child is feeling tired and or you’re feeling rushed. If you find that you don’t have time to read on the day the book is sent home, please keep it at home until it is read. We want you to enjoy this time with your child and the shared experience of reading together. Return the book at your own pace. Your child, however, will only get new books once the other books are returned.
Please help your child take very good care of these books. Many of the books we will be using belong to me personally, and have been purchased with my own money. Many children will use these books, and they are not easy to replace. If the book is damaged or lost, I will ask for a replacement fee of $5.00 per book. Your child will not bring any more books home until the fee is paid.
You and your child should discuss this plan. If you both agree that you can take care of our school books, let me know and I’ll send books home. If you’d prefer to read books from the library, your own shelves, and elsewhere, that is great. The most important thing is that your child is reading daily. Always engage them in conversation about the books they are reading - as this is the most important part of first grade reading!
