Room 3 did a great job bringing back their Take Home Books and Take Home Book Bag every day last week. I was so proud of them!
Parents, you may have some questions about the book bag program so I thought it would be helpful to give you a little background on how the books are used in class and how you can support the work your child is doing in school at home.
Some of the independent level texts may seem easy for your child since they are familiar with them, however, the purpose of these books is to develop fluency, apply reading strategies, and notice and use text features. These independent books are meant to give your child a feeling of success.
In the next few weeks, in addition to 'just right'/independent level texts, your child will also bring home some books from a level just above their independent level to practice solving more tricky words.
Your child shops for books once a week and he/she selects ten books to keep in their bag. The children have been learning all about good reading habits for the past few weeks. One good habit your child has learned is to reread, 'so that you can see more and more each time'. New details pop out in the story that help him/her understand books in even bigger ways! Ask your child to tell you about all the good reading habits we have been working on (see photo below).
Children are learning that another good habit is to 'do something' at the end of the book. I have been encouraging the children not to 'whip' through their books, but rather to decide what they will do when they get to the end of their book - reread a favorite part, reread the whole book, think back over the parts or retell the story. Remind your child of these good reading habits when they are reading their books at home!
We use our best resources to level books, but sometimes a book level may be incorrect and therefore too hard for your child. If that is the case, put it away to avoid frustration and choose another book. The children are doing a great job of 'self monitoring' and let me know when this happens. We will make adjustments when your child goes book shopping.
Thank you for your support at home; it is so valuable to your child's reading success!
Parents, you may have some questions about the book bag program so I thought it would be helpful to give you a little background on how the books are used in class and how you can support the work your child is doing in school at home.
Some of the independent level texts may seem easy for your child since they are familiar with them, however, the purpose of these books is to develop fluency, apply reading strategies, and notice and use text features. These independent books are meant to give your child a feeling of success.
In the next few weeks, in addition to 'just right'/independent level texts, your child will also bring home some books from a level just above their independent level to practice solving more tricky words.
Your child shops for books once a week and he/she selects ten books to keep in their bag. The children have been learning all about good reading habits for the past few weeks. One good habit your child has learned is to reread, 'so that you can see more and more each time'. New details pop out in the story that help him/her understand books in even bigger ways! Ask your child to tell you about all the good reading habits we have been working on (see photo below).
Children are learning that another good habit is to 'do something' at the end of the book. I have been encouraging the children not to 'whip' through their books, but rather to decide what they will do when they get to the end of their book - reread a favorite part, reread the whole book, think back over the parts or retell the story. Remind your child of these good reading habits when they are reading their books at home!
We use our best resources to level books, but sometimes a book level may be incorrect and therefore too hard for your child. If that is the case, put it away to avoid frustration and choose another book. The children are doing a great job of 'self monitoring' and let me know when this happens. We will make adjustments when your child goes book shopping.
Thank you for your support at home; it is so valuable to your child's reading success!