Learning to read is not as easy! Click here to learn how it feels to try to decode words! Reading is the miracle that permits generations long dead an opportunity to be heard in their own words! It lets us learn new skills without formal instruction, it gives us hours of delight while it stretches our minds.
For millennia only a small part of society was literate. In ancient Egypt only 3% of the most wealthy could read. Just 100 years ago in this country simply being able to sign your name and read a few words made you "literate." Today students must achieve a much higher level of literacy in order to understand their world.
The US Department of Education and Universities have done thousands of studies about how children learn to read and what can be done to insure, as President Bush says, that no child is left behind. There is no SILVER BULLET, but here are the important things that must happen for children to become fluent and lifelong readers. Together WE can help our children learn to read.
Family/Caregivers
are crucial in
developing readers! Learn
about reading from
a great PBS site! What
is balanced literacy?
PBS Parents -- Literacy Development
Book Adventure and the Know Zone
Book adventure Book Adventure is a FREE reading motivation program for children in grades K-8. Children create their own book lists from over 6,000 recommended titles, take multiple choice quizzes on the books they've read offline, and earn points and prizes for their literary successes. Book Adventure was created by the Sylvan Learning Foundation and is sponsored by Sylvan Learning, Inc.
It lets your child take tests and earn points for many books that the our library may not have. You have to set this up and approve for this to happen! If your child is participating in this his or her points may be added to the AR total points that they receive! The site also sends you tips for fun reading activities each month and best of all it is FREE!!! Click on Book Adventure and go directly to the site!
The Know Zone follow very closely the reading curriculum. You child's teacher will give your student a username and password for this software. It is very good at building skills and I hope you will use it at home in addition to school! When you click on this link you will be asked for a username and password -- this is what your child gets at school, but if you click on the tour button you can take a tour of the site and see what it is all about before you ask for the Username and password from your child's teacher!
Schools that take students who have had these experiences and put them in learning situations where they work on authentic learning experiences have great success with reading instruction. These schools typically have students constantly engaged in the following activities
Successful schools typically have high rates of attendance, parent involvement, committed educators. When these are in place scores often soar.
Westmeade has its own reading specialist, Barbara ClenDening, who works with teachers and students to intervene when needed and encourage continued growth.
These sites will give you direction from birth onward!
Ready, Set Read gives you specific guidance and activities for language learning with your child at each step of development!
Moving into Reading - preschool to second grade here are concrete things to do to make a way for readers to become independent
Encouraging Good Readers - 3rd and 4th graders require some new activities to continue as fluent independent readers and her they are laid out clearly for you.
Important things you can encourage
Bookadventure is a site which functions in some ways like AR. Children can read over 4,000 books take quizzes and win prizes here. It is like a double reward on those books that are a part of our AR database and for those that are not they can earn prizes from this site! (and we will give them rewards for reading those books that are AR as well.) But, you must O.K. their involvement.
How
to Choose a good book with
your child! Books
that have won awards!
The American Library Association lists all the awards for
children literature here! Books
chosen by children
as the best books this year! Books
for your gifted and talented child!
This site has several lists that are excellent!
Translation Help at Babel Fish! Type in a phrase in your native language and Babel fish spits it back in English!
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How to Improve Reading Comprehension is a site that helps you understand and use the tools that help your child read! Some simple things you can do will increase your students comprehension! |
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Online reading Tutor offers you practical suggestions and an understanding of this important topic. |
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Get ready for Kindergarten with this site compiled by the Eric Clearinghouse on Elementary and Early Childhood Education. It includes general information about school as well! |
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Reading Planet is a Website designed to encourage students to read. Check out the fun stuff! Super Sorter, Writers Blocks, Story Maker, Word Builder, Poetry Splatter, and Illustrate a story!!! There is also good stuff here for you. |
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PBS Between the Lions is a great show that targets children age 4 - 7. Each episode helps a child with one thing needed to be a good reader. Particular attention is paid to phonemic awareness and other reading strategies. It has great learning GAMES as well. |