Reading is FUNdamental!  and Here at Mullanphy it continues to be one of our biggest focus areas for our students.  As a school, we want to have all of our students grow at least one full year in their reading development.  This means that if a student is reading at a 4.0 (4th grade level) at the beginning of the school year, we would want that student to end the school year with no less than a 5.0 (5th grade level)  We monitor reading levels every 6-8 weeks.  Ask your student to tell you their reading level, they should know!  They should also be able to tell you their reading level goal!  

 

The best way to improve reading is to spend time reading. 

While your student spends a large majority of their day engrossed in ready at school, it is also an expectation that they spend at least 20 minutes a night reading at home. Research states that reading together at home and engaging in book discussions together are two of the most important things adults can do with their readers to increase reading abilities. All students should have a reading log that is sent home weekly to ensure this reading is happening.  If you student does not have a weekly reading log, please reach out to their teacher.

 

There are several ways to help your student during reading times at home.  

 

One more time

You may go through a period when your child favors one book and wants it read night after night. It is not unusual for children to favor a particular story. Keep in mind, that a favorite story may speak to your child's interests or emotional needs. Be patient. Continue to expose your children to a wealth of books and eventually they will be ready for more stories.

Talking about stories

It's often a good idea to talk about a story you are reading. Good stories will encourage a love for reading, with or without conversation. And sometimes children need time to think about stories they have read. A day or so later, don't be surprised if your child mentions something from a story you've read together.

Remember when you were very young

It will help, however, if we open our eyes to some things adult readers tend to take for granted. It's easier to be patient when we remember how much children do not know. Here are a few concepts we adults know so well we forget sometimes we ever learned them.

• There's a difference between words and pictures. Point to the print as you read aloud.
• Words on a page have meaning, and that is what we learn to read.
• Words go across the page from left to right. Follow with your finger as you read.
• Words on a page are made up of letters and are separated by a space.
• Each letter has at least two forms: one for capital letters and and one for small letters.

The continual reading and practice is certain to build confidence in readers of all levels.

Advertise the joy of reading!

Our goal is to motivate children to want to read so they will practice reading independently and, thus, become fluent readers. That happens when children enjoy reading. Advertise the LOVE of reading by reading great stories and poems to children.(Adapted from: Helping Your Child Learn to Read. (1996). Office of Educational Research and Improvement, U.S. Department of Education.)    

Together, we can create a LOVE of reading in all of our students!

Below you will see a link to a great website for more reading strategies and ideas.

https://www.readingrockets.org/ 

Please follow this link to find more reading websites for students.

https://www.educatorstechnology.com/2018/02/19-educational-websites-to-enhance.html