This Year’s Reading Focus Our goal is to help every student find their Fast, Fun, and Easy reading level. Students read 30 minutes at school. Students should also read for 30 minutes at home every day. This time can be split up into different sessions (15 minutes and 15 minutes), but the time is non-negotiable .
What Students Need at Home to Support Reading Practice Block out distractions – turn off the tv , radio, computer. Read with your child. Talk to your child about what he/she reads. Make sure the books come back to school safely.
What is a Power Word? A Power W ord is usually a word that CANNOT be sounded out. It must be memorized. For example: Their Your What
1Green & 2Green Sight words ( 60 words in 1 Green) Sight words (60 more words in 2 Green) Consonant sounds Consonant blends ( sk , br ) Digraphs ( th , sh , ch , wh ) Comprehension skills Story elements
1Blue Readers Word families Chunking ( am , h am , h am mer, h am mering) Power words (150-300 words) One syllable words Short Vowels Long Vowels Use multiple reading strategies when reading an unknown word Uses inferences to understand the story
2Blue Readers Decode two-syllable words following basic patterns by breaking the words into syllables. 1-1 matching-pointing at words Read words with inflectional endings ( - ed , - er , - ing , - es , -y , - est ) . Recognize and read grade-appropriate irregularly spelled words . Read with sufficient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension. Identifies what the book is mostly about Ask and answer questions about key details in a text.
1Red & 2Red Readers 1Red Readers 1R readers are able to sit for 30 minutes and enjoy one long picture book. Their focus is not on decoding, but on the content of the book . They should be given the opportunity to read picture books that come in series (e.g., Clifford, Arthur, Amelia Bedelia , Berenstain Bears). 2Red Readers 2R readers begin 2R as picture book readers and leave as chapter book readers . They develop the habit of silent reading and chapter book reading. Students should not leave 2R until they are successfully reading (and finishing) at least one chapter book a week.
White Readers Wt -level books include academic vocabulary, language not normally used in everyday speech (e.g., exclaimed , cautiously ). Students acquire academic vocabulary through immersion in text, the same way they acquired their speaking vocabulary through immersion in oral language. Wt books have 1-2 academic words and/or phrases per chapter-book size page of text. Wt readers must spend enough time reading at the Wt level to acquire the 1,500 new academic vocabulary words expected of proficient third-grade readers. This is entirely different and unrelated to decoding.
Basic Comprehension What is happening so far in the story? Beginning Middle End Who are the characters? What is the setting? Why do you think that is happening? How do you know?
Inferencing How does the man feel? How do you know? Why did he feel that way?