September Reading Workshop

We are currently working on our Building the World of Story reading unit.

Some of the skills we are working on are:

• Monitoring for meaning
• Readers realize when they are confused and use strategies to make sure they understand.  This includes knowing when you don't know a word or are confused about what is happening in the story.  
• To successfully monitor for meaning, readers stop when they are confused.  They reread and use context clues to clear up confusion.
• Determining importance
• Readers figure out which parts of the story are most important and which are details.
• Chapter titles can help students figure out which parts of a chapter are most important.  Students also think about things the author repeats or spends a lot of time on.
• Stamina
• A major goal of this unit is for students to build their reading stamina.  This means being able to sit down and read independently for longer periods of time.  
• By the end of third grade, students are expected to be able to focus on their reading for 45 minutes.  This time includes writing about reading by doing assigned reading jobs.

What can parents do to support readers at home? 

• Give your child a comfortable and well lit place to read with minimal distractions.
• When your child is done with their reading for the day, make sure they have completed their reading job.
• Ask your child to read to you once in a while.

*Both of these skills will continue to be worked on throughout the year as students move up in reading levels.