Looking for a new book to read? Check out my book selection tab to find a new book based on your reading level or interest. You can also look at my Book Shelf to see some of my favorite books!
Happy Reading!
Welcome to my new Baron Blog! On this site you will find information about the interventions I use in reading clinic, interactive websites to foster literacy skills, parent tips and more! Please check back shortly for updates.
With spring quickly approaching, encouraging children to take time to read can be difficult. Here are some tips that may help even the most reluctant readers pick up a book.
- Find a book that connects reading to your child’s interests – If your child enjoys playing sports find a book about a baseball team or a biography about his/her favorite athlete.
- Check out Scholastic’s suggestions by reading level or interest: http://www.scholastic.com/parents/books-and-reading/book-lists/
- Read a variety of books – Introduce your child to graphic novels, joke books, magazines or trivia books to show your child that they are for everyone.
- This website has suggestions for graphic novels for all ages: http://imaginationsoup.net/2011/09/great-kid-comics-and-graphic-novels-for-kids-of-all-ages/
- Show your child that books can help teach a new skill – If you child wants to learn how to do a magic trick, give him/her a book that teaches the steps to perform a trick. How-to books are a great way to get your child moving while encouraging literacy.
- Try Nonfiction – Some students may prefer informational books that teach about our world. Children love learning about different animals and places on Earth.
- Introduce your child to a new series – Series books help your child connect to the character and have predictable themes.
- Take reading with you – Have a book that your child can read while you wait at the doctor’s office or listen to audio books in the car while you drive.
- Continue to read with your child – Children of all ages love to hear their parents read aloud. If you have an older child, read the same book and then talk about it.
- Have a reading picnic – Take a blanket outside and have the family read books together. Showing your child that reading is a priority to you will help him/her mirror the behavior.
http://www.greatschools.org/students/homework-help/105-tips-for-reluctant-readers.gs
As we honor Dr. Seuss during Read Across America Week activities, it’s great fun to read and reread his wonderful way with words. Great authors inspire us with the way they paint pictures with vocabulary. Enriching the vocabulary of our students, in order to have them fully comprehend and appreciate great literature, is a great goal for both home and school.
Here’s a little background information on vocabulary. There are 3 levels, or tiers, of words.
Tier One is made up of words that we use in everyday life. (Examples: happy, clock, baby, happy, walk) Words in this tier rarely require additional instructional attention.
Tier Two words add more depth and richness to our conversations and reading. (Examples: coincidence, absurd, industrious, fortunate) Tier Two words are of high frequency for mature language users and readers.
Tier Three words are technical and exacting for specific tasks or occupations. (Examples: isotope, lathe, peninsula, refinery) These words are probably best learned when a specific needs arises.
Introduction to and practice with Tier Two words is the most productive use of instructional time, both at school and at home. Consider working to enrich your child’s vocabulary each day. When you read with your child, explain words that may be unknown. Encourage your child to ask about words that aren’t understood. Direct your child to extinguish the light, rather than just turn it off. Explain that we can extinguish fires, candles and lights because it’s a fancier way to say “put out.” Comment on the fact that a picture with glitter shimmers in the sunlight. Notice that a mother bird uses camouflage to hide her nest. It’s a thrill to then hear children use those more descriptive words in their speech and writings.
If you’d like to engage your child in playing with words and word meanings, visit www.vocabulary.co.il for crossword puzzles, picture-word matches, word scramble games, and a variety of activities.
Happy reading, speaking and writing with ever expanding vocabulary!
Reading Corner
The best way to help your child become a better reader is to encourage them to read with you each night. Here are some tips on reading with your child.
When they can’t read the word, say…
- Fingertap it.
- Can you think of the word or movement that helps you remember that vowel sound?
- What is the first and last sound? What word would make sense?
- Can you put the sounds together?
- Does it have a pattern that you have seen in other words? (ex-an, ack)
- How does the word begin?
- You said_______. Does that make sense?
- What word would make sense that would start with these sounds?
- Put your finger under the word as you say it.
When they want to read a book that is too hard, say…
- Let’s read it together.
- This is a book you will enjoy more if you save it until you are older — or later in the year.
- [Be honest!] When people read books that are too hard for them, they often skip important parts. You will have more fun with this book if you wait until you can read it easily.
After reading the book, ask…
- Tell me what the story is about
- Questions about the story
- Draw a picture of their favorite part
Rewrite the story from another character’s point of view
The holiday season is a joyful time that children look forward to all year. It is a time to spend with the family making cookies, writing cards, and sharing family traditions. It is also a wonderful time to develop your child’s literacy skills.
Here are some fun ways to encourage reading and writing during the holiday season:
Season’s Greetings: Send cards to family and friends. Have your child practice reading cards or writing a family newsletter, holiday greeting, or thank you cards to friends and family.
Holiday Baking: While helping cook in the kitchen, have your child read the recipe aloud. You can also practice math skills by doubling a recipe – How many cups of flour in 2 batches of cookies?
Gift Lists: Have your child make a top ten wish list. They can research gift ideas online or read a catalog. Then have them write a reason why they need the gift.
Caroling: Find songs that celebrate the holiday season. Singing is a natural way to practice your child’s ability to read smoothly out loud. Try finding a new song and have your child read the lyrics to follow along.
Road Trip: If you are traveling during the holiday season have your child find the alphabet on license plates or listen to a book tape during the drive.
Party Planning: If you are hosting a family get together, have your child help plan the menu then write the grocery list. They can also create a chore list to practice sequential writing.
Bed-Time Stories: Pick a favorite holiday story and read it with your child before bedtime. When you are finished reading the story, ask your child to retell the main idea.
Traditions: Share family traditions with your child and have them write a family book sharing your family’s stories. Your child could also share your traditions with a teacher or friend.
Gifts that Give Back: Promote a love of reading by buying gifts that encourage your child to read. Go to http://www.scholastic.com/resources/article/10-gifts-that-encourage-reading for great gift ideas!
The reading specialists who see your children for RtII use specific interventions that are geared to help your child in a specific area. This month we would like to take the time to tell you about the interventions.
ERI (Early Reading Intervention) is a program for primarily kindergarten students and some first grade students. It focuses on letters and sounds, segmenting, blending and reading words, sentences and story books. It is a direct instruction program directed towards phonological awareness, alphabet, and word reading.
FUNdations is a program for kindergarten through third grade students. It focuses on phonics, blending, segmenting, fluency, sight words, comprehension, spelling and writing. The program uses the senses to directly teach the instructional techniques.
Earobics is a program for kindergarten through second grade students. It focuses on rhyming, sequencing, alphabet, sounds, blending, segmenting, memory, and word families. It can be used through direct instruction or a computer based game format to practice skills in order to enhance reading.
Read Naturally is a program for students in grades first through fourth. It focuses on fluency in reading with some comprehension. Each student works on his/her level by listening to repeated readings on CDs to foster fluency and comprehension.
Soar to Success is a program for students in grades second through fourth. It is a comprehension program that teaches four strategies for good reading. The strategies are predict, clarify, question, and summarize.
Corrective Reading is a program for third and fourth grade students. It focuses on decoding skills and strategies for older students. It is a direct instruction program where students learn and practice their phonics/decoding skills in a systematic manner. They then apply these skills to fluent reading.
Six Minute Solution is a program that can be used with students in first through fourth grade. It is an add-on program to enhance core reading instruction that focuses on fluency. Students practice phonics elements, sight words, and reading of text all with the aim of becoming a fluent reader.
Our Stiegel students practicing their fluency with friends!
A student reading a poem to her lovable pet chicken!
A student reading a poem to a favorite stuffed animal!
Great News! Parent for Partnership is sponsering a parent workshop at the Manheim Community Library on November 19th. It will begin at 10:00 and finish at 11:30.
Look at the flyer above for more information and register today!
Reading Adventures Online
Children have their imaginations extended by great literature – and they are excited about exploring the Internet. Combining these areas is a win-win situation!
Reading is an adventure that makes learning fun. Literature exposes children to new worlds filled with heroes, villains, new friends, and new possibilities. Stories provide opportunities to look at experiences from various perspectives. Great books offer opportunities for higher level thinking, character study, and rich discussion of the author’s message. Stories on the Web offer students the opportunity to explore the Internet in safe settings.
Let’s get started!
- Visit BookPALS Storyline www.storylineonline.net, an online series of streaming videos where children of all ages can find and appreciate wonderful picture books. Be sure to check out Knots on a Counting Rope (Martin & Archambault, 1997), Thank You, Mr. Falker (Polacco, 1998), and The Polar Express (Van Allsburg, 1985) – all classics!
- There are read-along songs and stories on the RIF Reading Planet website at www.rif.org/readingplanet/content/read_aloud_stories.mspx. (Note: there are underscores between read_aloud_stories) At these sites, students can listen to stories read aloud, play games, and learn about an author’s writing process.
- The International Children’s Digital Library (ICDL) at the University of Maryland (www.icdlbooks.org) offers 820 multicultural books online in nine languages. Combining the Internet with children’s literature enables students to develop a richer understanding of the many different cultural experiences in the world.
By taking advantage of the wealth and variety of books available in the Internet, your child will never run out of stories to enjoy. Happy reading!
(from The Reading Teacher Vol. 59, No. 7 April 2006)
Hello Stiegel! My name is Miss Elliott and I am the new Reading Specialist here at Stiegel Elementary. I am very excited to have the opportunity to share my love of literacy and my passion for teaching with your children.
I am also excited to partner with you to strengthen your child’s reading skills. I am a firm believer that parents make the difference in their child’s academic success. To bridge the school and home connection, I am going to provide reading tips in the Stiegel Newsletter. Each month, I will include family friendly reading tips that you can use at home to encourage a love of reading for all of your children.
This month’s tip will be coming soon in our next Stiegel Newsletter!
Happy Reading!
Miss Elliott