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Be Responsible Be Prepared Be Respectful

Welcome to Mrs. Thomas' Reading Webpage

This is my favorite four-legged friend Miles taking a break from reading.

 

What is a Balanced Literacy Program?

 

A balanced literacy program contains four very important pieces:

The Workshop Format

The workshop format has come to be thought of as an organized set of language and literacy experiences designed to help students become more effective readers & writers.

The workshop model contains the following elements:

 

Reader's Workshop

Students read a variety of self-selected and teacher-selected texts for extended periods of time.  They construct meaning and make personal and textual connections as they learn from and about reading.  Students learn effective comprehension strategies that they can apply to fiction and non-fiction texts.

Writer's Workshop

Students develop writing strategies and skills, learn about writer's craft, and use writing as a tool for learning and communication.  As they write for sustained periods of time, they explore different genres and formats for a range of purposes and a variety of audiences.

Word Study

Students explore the meaning and structure of words and investigate the conventions of written language. 

 

Interactive Read-Aloud

Reading aloud to students allows them to experience a variety of quality texts in different genres.  In an interactive read-aloud, the teacher pauses at significant points in the story to share their own thinking as well as invite students to discuss their connections to the story or to make a prediction of what they think will happen next.

 

Grade Level Expectations & State Frameworks

The balanced literacy program at the Ellis School is designed in such a way that it is unique to each grade level.  Each reading, writing, and word-study lesson has been customized to meet the grade level expectations put forth by the State of New Hampshire. 

For more information regarding the Grade Level Expectations visit: GLE's

 

List of Reading & Writing Genres by Grade Level

The following list are suggested literary texts set forth by the State of NH GLE's.  This list is not meant to be exhaustive for any given grade level.  The italicized genres are those which require in depth studies at that grade level.

Kindergarten

Nursery rhymes, poetry, fairytales, fantasy, realistic fiction, songs, chants, and non-fiction

First Grade

Poetry, fairytales, fantasy, realistic fiction, songs, chants, and non-fiction

Second Grade

Poetry, plays, fairytales, fantasy, fables, tall tales, realistic fiction, and non-fiction

 

Third Grade

Poetry, plays, fairytales, fantasy, fables, tall tales, realistic fiction, and non-fiction

 

Fourth Grade

 

Poetry, plays, fairytales, fantasy, fables, realistic fiction, folktales, historical fiction, and non-fiction

Fifth Grade

Poetry, plays, fairytales, fantasy, fables, realistic fiction, folktales, historical fiction, mysteries, and non-fiction

Sixth Grade

Poetry, plays, fairytales, fantasy, fables, realistic fiction, folktales, historical fiction, mysteries, science fiction, myths & legends, and non-fiction

Seventh Grade

 

Poetry, plays, fairytales, fantasy, fables, realistic fiction, folktales, historical fiction, mysteries, science fiction, myths & legends, short stories, and non-fiction

Eighth Grade

Poetry, plays, fairytales, fantasy, fables, realistic fiction, folktales, historical fiction, mysteries, science fiction, myths & legends, short stories, epics (poems, novels, dramas) and non-fiction

 

 

Let's Talk About Books

Distinguished author and Newbery winner Katherine Paterson suggests, "It is not enough to simply teach children to read; we have to give them something worth reading.  Something that will stretch their imaginations--something that will help them make sense of their own lives and encourage them to reach out toward people whose lives are quite different from their own" (Paterson 1995).

If you have recently read a book that has inspired you and you would like to recommend it to Mrs. T, please email the title and author to me.

My favorite author this month is MoWillems. 

Click here to be directed to his website with a list of his books: Favorite Author

Click here for a list of some of Mrs. T's favorite books to read-aloud:  Read-Aloud Books

Click here for a list of some of Mrs. T's favorite books to read for pleasure: Favorite Books

 

Reading Aloud at Home

Jim Trelease, author of The New Read Aloud Handbook, says that the purpose of literature is to provide meaning in our lives.  He believes that literature is the most important medium, more important than television, film, and even art, because it "brings us closest to the human heart".  He states that reading aloud serves to "reassure, entertain, inform, explain, arouse curiosity and inspire our kids." (Harvey & Goudvis, 2000)

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Did you know that reading aloud is one of the best ways to help your child succeed in school? When reading aloud, keep these tips in mind:

  1. Everybody makes mistakes.  If you make mistakes when reading aloud, your child will learn that it's okay for him/her to do so, too.
  2. Practice makes perfect.  Find a book that you like and read it aloud by yourself until you feel comfortable.
  3. Involve your child in the story.  Have him/her turn the pages or take turns reading one page at a time.
  4. Take your time and don't rush the story.  Your child can tell if you're in a hurry.  Reading slowly will help you to read more clearly.
  5. As you feel more comfortable, try changing your voice to show the characters' feelings- joy, sadness, fear.  These variations can make the story more exciting for both of you!
  6. Remember that you are helping your child learn to enjoy reading.  Try different genres of literature, such as poetry, historical fiction and comic books.
  7. Above all, try to relax and enjoy the time you're spending with your child.

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Comprehension Strategies

The following information comes from Stephanie Harvey & Anne Goudvis' groundbreaking book, "Strategies That Work: Teaching Comprehension to Enhance Understanding" (2000).

Book Cover

 

Proficient Readers...

Make connections between prior knowledge and the text

Readers pay more attention when they relate to the text. Readers naturally bring their prior knowledge and experience to reading, but they comprehend better when they think about the connections they make between the text, their lives, and the larger world.

Ask Questions

Questioning is the strategy that keeps readers engaged.  When readers ask questions, they clarify understanding and forge ahead to make meaning.  Asking questions is at the heart of thoughtful reading.

Visualize

Active readers create visual images in their mind based on the words they read in the text.  The pictures they create enhance their understanding.

Draw Inferences

Inferring is at the intersection of taking what is known, garnering clues from the text, and thinking ahead to make a judgement, discern a theme, or speculate about what is to come.

Determine Important Ideas

Thoughtful readers grasp essential ideas and important information when reading.  Readers must differentiate between less important ideas and key ideas that are central to the meaning of the text.

Synthesize Information

Synthesizing involves combining new information with existing knowledge to form an original idea or interpretation.  Reviewing, sorting, and sifting important information can lead to new insights that change the way readers think.

Repair Understanding

If confusion disrupts meaning, readers need to stop and clarify their understanding.  Readers may use a variety of strategies to "fix-up" comprehension when meaning goes awry.