Check out these web sites:

WEB SITES:

http://www.gvbookfair.com- This is a discount warehouse bookstore located near Harrisonburg, Virginia.

http://www.trelease-on-reading.com  This site covers all of Jim Trelease's efforts in helping children make books into friends, not enemies.

http://home.comcast.net/~ngiansante
This website has lists of leveled books for grades K - 6. This is an excellent resource for anyone trying to find just the right book for a student.

http://www.readingrockets.org

This is an excellent monthly newsletter with information for educators and parents. Included is the most up-to-date research on reading instruction as well as tips for parents to use with children of all ages. Often short video and auditory material is presented for adults and children, for example: an explanation of dyslexia, ADHD, bullying, and internet safety.

http://reading.org/resources/tools/choices_childrens.html
It is the 2008 Children's Choice, 2008 Teachers' Choice and 2008 Young Adult Choices in books. The link is to the International Reading Association web site..

http://starfall.com
This is an excellent source for beginning readers.

(Adapted from the Language Arts Instructional Service Department Fairfax County Public Schools)

When does my child receive instruction in reading?

During any and all of the following:
     shared reading - teacher and student share the reading of text(direct instruction in a particular skill)
     morning message - a daily letter written to the class informing them of the day's activities
     reading conferences - provide an opportunity for teachers and students to discuss the ideas they encounter in reading and to construct meaning from an author's words
     guided reading - provides teachers with the opportunity to 
teach skills to groups of students often using a variety of fiction and non fiction text.  Guided reading gives the student  the opportunity to apply reading strategies to comprehend text.
     whole group lessons - discussion of reading strategies,reading in social studies, science and health lessons

What is taught during reading instruction?

At lower grades, instruction focuses on the following:
use of cues - phonics, meaning and sentence structure 
comprehension strategies
     fix-up strategies - rereading, predicting and confirming,
reading on, checking that what is read makes sense
  simple literature patterns and conventions - rhyming words,
repetition, parts of stories, book language, e.g. 'once upon a 
time'
    Literature Appreciation
Comprehension Strategies
Reading for Information

At the upper grades, instruction focuses on the following:
comprehension strategies
    fix-up strategies
    reading for information
    literature conventions- authors' techniques, structure of
different kinds of texts, book language
    literature appreciation 

What does my child read?

At all levels, students should be reading fiction, non-fiction, and poetry.  Students should be learning about different kinds of fiction, such as historical fiction and mysteries.  They should be leaning to read a variety of reference materials and learning how to find and use those materials.

Should my child be reading for extended periods in school?

Yes, children should be reading every day, during all subjects.  Children are given the opportunity to read independently every day.  Teachers instruct students in reading and how to use reading as a tool to gain information.  Students at all grade levels need time to practice and discuss their reading.

How can I help my child choose reading material suitable to his/her reading level?
The following is an example of a chart listing characteristics of just right books that students might identify:
     Just Right Books
The book is not too hard or too easy.
I can read all but two or three words on each page.
I understand most of what I am reading.
I have to use reading strategies I've learned when I come to a word I don't know or a part I don't understand.

When does my child receive instruction in writing?
During any and all of the following:

• writing conferences with the teacher and peers
• whole class lessons
• small group lessons
• science, social studies, health

What is taught during writing lessons?

• conventions of writing - (capitalization, punctuation and grammar)
• organization
• style
• topic choice
• requirements of different kinds of  text - (such as poetry, narratives, reports)
• note-taking
• revision 
• editing

What does my child write?
At all levels children should be writing stories, poetry, retelling of stories read or heard, letter, and information texts.

Should my child be writing every day in school?

Yes, children should write every day for extended periods of time. 

How is spelling taught?

Teachers provide direct spelling instruction in different ways.  Teachers focus on spelling rules, patterns and generalizations.  Some teachers use a pre-test, study, test method, while others use word study to teach spelling patterns and conventions.   Teachers use student writing to assess  needs in spelling.  As students edit their writing, they learn and use correct spelling.

What is Word Study?

Word study is the result of 30 years of research.  Traditional spelling programs encourage rote memorization of words over a five day period. Children often forget the words that they have learned once the test is finished. Word study students learn why words are spelled the way they are.

            Word study considers the developmental spelling stage that your child is in. Instead of the entire class receiving the same words or patterns, children study words that are developmentally appropriate for them. Lessons are teacher directed and hands on, with students playing an active role in developing an understanding of how words are spelled. Children are encouraged to actively explore words by sorting them into categories that help them discover patterns in words and help them become more successful readers and writers.

 

 

Marni Matyac
Reading Teacher

Curator: Lois Sady : ljsady@fcps.edu
Last Update: August 16, 2011