Reading

Reading and writing is an important part of any classroom. We will be using a combination of 2 strategies to accomplish this.

The first being a phonics approach. This method consists of knowing the letter sounds and blending them together to form the word. i.e. C-A-T -> cat

The second approach we will use is called guided reading. This method will be the main strategy used in our classroom. It focuses on using cues from books.

Cues can be anything to help the reader decode  what the word is. The most common cues that we use in Kindergarten are reading highly repetitive books and looking at the illustrations.

By reading repetitive books, students gain a confidence and enjoyment of reading. It is ok and encouraged for students to memorize a book. This is an important part of learning to read.

Many times the illustrations tell us what is written on the page. By having a general idea of the book and looking at the picture, kindergarten students are able to decipher what is written on the page.

What you can do at home:

When your child brings home a guided reading book, have them read it to you. These books will have been previously explored and read in class with me.

If while reading, your child comes across a word that they can not remember, have them look at the picture. If this does not help, have them say the first sound of the word out loud. If neither of these cues work, then tell your child what the word is.

It is important not to dwell too long on words that your child does not know. Forcing them to sound out words they do not know is discouraged. Remember that our main goal in Kindergarten is to foster an enjoyment of reading.