Welcome to Our Literacy Night!

The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places youll go Dr. Seuss
Agenda
1. Dinner Enjoy a delicious dinner while you meet with our school staff and other families! 2. Town library presentation The town librarian will speak to parents about the reading programs offered at the town library, and will also provide opportunities to sign up for a library card. 3. Classroom presentations Teachers in every classroom will be reading their favorite books aloud. They will also be discussing and showing parents different reading strategies that they can use with their children at home. 4. Book giveaway Every family will leave with at least one book to take home!

LITERACY NIGHT

2013 2014

Strategies for Decoding Unfamiliar Words

When I come to a word I dont know:
! I look at the picture. ! I think about the story. ! I look at how the word begins. ! I get my mouth ready to say the word. ! I think about a word I know that has the same sound in it. ! I see what I know in the word. ! I try a word to see if it makes sense, sounds right, and looks right. ! I go back and try again. ! I skip the word and read on.

LITERACY NIGHT

2013 2014

Strategies for Promoting Comprehension

Before reading
! Look at the title and illustrations together. Predict what the story will be about. ! Discuss what you both already know about the topic of the story. ! Read the first page and then ask your child to predict what might happen next.

During reading
! Encourage your child to picture in his or her mind what is happening in the story. ! Ask what might happen next in the story. ! Encourage your child to change his or her predictions as the story provides new information. ! Ask how a character might feel. ! Talk about the illustrations.

After reading
! Discuss the story together. ! Have your child retell the story and create a new ending together. ! Retell the story from another characters point of view. ! Let your child illustrate his or her favorite part of the story.

LITERACY NIGHT

2013 2014

Reading at Home: How Families Can Help

Dear Families, Children need a great deal of practice reading. Whenever someone learns something new, he or she needs to learn new techniques and then practice, practice, practice. At school, there is time to read, but not nearly enough. It would help tremendously if you would provide a time and place for your children to read at home. Below are some suggestions about ways you can accomplish reading at home. ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Read aloud to your children, both young and old, every day. Alternate family members reading aloud so both male and female models are shown. Provide a quiet and comfortable place where your child can read. Try to establish a regular time for reading, if possible. Read and write often for real purposes to serve as a model for your children. Read a novel to your children on long car trips or listen to books on tape during the ride. Encourage your children to select books by interest and not necessarily by reading level. Children who are interested in a particular topic may enjoy a book on a subject that they might otherwise consider too easy or too difficult. Discuss books with your children. Encourage your children to explore answers to questions by using informational books.

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LITERACY NIGHT

2013 2014

Reading Activities at Home

Dear Families, There are many ways you can help your child read at home. Your home is filled with reading material. You might be surprised how much we all rely on reading. You might read directions when you cook, clip coupons from the newspaper, read cards or letters from friends, and read junk mail. You read all of the time, and the reading you do is important. It is reading for a real purpose. For example, you need to read the directions to microwave popcorn correctly or you will burn the popcorn. Your child needs to know that reading outside of school is still reading. Invite your child to read with you during reading times at home. At least once a day, think about one of these reading events and ask your child to join you. Read to your child and then ask your child to read with you. Finally, ask your child what the words are saying. This will help you child on the road to reading! Many of you have more than one child at home, and you may be interested in appropriate reading activities for children of different ages. On the following page is a list of suggestions of reading activities that you can do around your home for children of different ages. Feel free to use any of the ideas you find useful, regardless of the age.

LITERACY NIGHT

2013 2014

Reading Activities at Home

Preschoolers ! Read a bedtime story. ! Read the same books over and over. ! Give your child markers or paper and pencils and encourage writing. ! Give your child chalk. ! Write messages to your child. ! Label your possessions. ! Put magnetic letters on the refrigerator. ! Sing together. ! Collect grocery coupons. ! Make a pictorial biography. Five and Six Year Olds ! You read to me and Ill read to you. ! Fill in the blanks. Read poetry and verse that rhymes. Stop before the end of the line, having your child fill in the missing word. ! Play sound games. A simple starter is, Riddle, riddle, ree. I see something you dont see and it start with a T. ! Write a wish list. ! Make shopping lists. ! Make a calendar and note events. ! Keep score at sports events. ! Start a memory box. ! Read cartoons in newspapers. ! Write about family events. ! Create photo album captions. ! Read bulletins from school. ! Audio record stories. Seven and Eight Year Olds ! Write a book about something real or imagined. ! Write a thank-you note. ! Start a scrapbook. ! Explore you familys letters and albums. ! Start a family vacation journal. ! Create a photo story. ! Read menus. ! Read bus schedules. Nine and Ten Year Olds ! Read riddles. ! Make a board game. ! Keep a journal. ! Write your own fairy tales. ! Create a newspaper. ! Write a biography or autobiography. ! Write a play. ! Write a text from a wordless book. ! Cook together and read recipes. Eleven and Twelve Year Olds ! Keep a journal. ! Write a family diary. ! Talk about a book you enjoyed. ! Create a family bulletin board. ! Write messages to each other. ! Read video game directions. ! Read TV guide and discuss good choices. ! Read and discuss news articles. ! Design cards and invitations.

LITERACY NIGHT

2013 2014

Read Aloud Techniques

Dear Families, Children of all ages love to listen to stories. You can read books you have around your home, books your child has brought home, or you can borrow books from your public library. In any case, it is beneficial for your child to listen to you read aloud as often as possible. I have included read-aloud techniques that I thought might be useful when you read to your child. ! ! ! ! ! Select books that youll enjoy, and that will spark your childs interest. Read unfamiliar stories silently first to note places that may needs special effects to create drama. Dont read too fast. Adjust your pace to the story and your child. Be responsive to your childs reactions and questions. Encourage your childs participation in the reading session- joining in repeating phrases, making comments, asking questions, predicting what will happen next, talking about illustrations, or actually reading parts of the material. Allow time after reading for a relaxed discussion. This should involve sharing reactions, not quizzing on facts. Take turns reading aloud. Be a role model by making sure your child sees you read for pleasure. Never withdraw reading aloud as a punishment. That may destroy some of the positive effects of reading aloud. Make the read-aloud time a special event that your child will anticipate with joy.
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LITERACY NIGHT

2013 2014

For more reading and literacy resources, check out these websites:
www.readingrockets.org This website has many articles and activities for parents to help their young readers. www.literacyconnections.com This website is all about reading aloud to your children.

www.cbcbooks.org This website of the Childrens Book Council is a great resource to find quality books for young readers. www.nea.org/parents This is the parent resource section of the National Education Association. www.biguniverse.com/read/books This website contains leveled nonfiction and fiction childrens books. www.storylineonline.net This website includes videos of popular books being read aloud by famous people.
As always, feel free to contact the literacy team or your childs classroom teacher, if you have any questions or suggestions.

Read. Learn. Grow.

Parent resources adapted from Jerry L. Johns and Susan D. Lenski, Improving Reading: Strategies and Resources (4th ed.). Copyright 2005 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company.