Home Reading Program

2009-2010

Dear Parents of Grade 1 M/P:

Learning to read takes a lot of practice, and we can’t do it at school without your help.  In just 10 minutes a day, you can help your child by consistently listening to them read.

We have an excellent series of books called the “P.M. Books.”   There are several levels in the Grade One series.  This year we have also been given two starter sets. These books are carefully leveled, but we encourage your child to read other books as well.

Here’s how the Home Reading Program works:

1. On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, your child will bring home a book at their reading level in the plastic pouch of their binder.  Listen to your child read the book several times daily, giving them encouragement and praise.  Multiple readings build skills, comprehension, and fluency.  This will take approximately 10 minutes an evening.
   
2. Please note that this is not a race.   Students will not receive more than 3 P.M. books a week.  They may also take out a “choice” book any day of the week.  These are classroom books that have been leveled as easy, medium, or hard.  They can be taken out during silent reading and exchanged as often as needed.
   
3. If your child feels the books are too easy, they may still lack fluency and/or comprehension.  Concentrate on having them read with expression and fluency.  Check for understanding by asking questions, and include a written response to the book (check with me for a list of questions to answer).  All students will begin at an easy level until we have established the routine of home reading.
   
4. Before reading the book, look at the pictures and discuss what the     book is about.  If your child is a beginning reader, ask them if they know any words in the book.  Always praise their attempts.  For      example, if the word is “pretty” but they say “park,” tell them that both words start with “p” and encourage them to look further into the word and use letter sounds to figure it out.   Children should also be encouraged to use other clues for figuring out words, such as pictures or sentence meaning.  I’ll be sending home some reading strategies for you to suggest to your child.  Your main job is to encourage your new reader and give them the confidence that they CAN and DO read at some level.
   
5. In front of the plastic pouch you will find home reading sheets. Record the date, title, and your initials on the form.  Please use every line on the chart.  Charts will remain in the binder.   Prizes will be awarded for every five sheet (100 books) handed in. If your child is motivated by awards, I would encourage you to give small prizes for every page (20 books) read.  In addition to the “P.M.” books, any choice books or books they read at home may be recorded on these sheets, just make sure there are a variety of titles.  Each chapter of a chapter book may be listed as one book. 
   
6. Keep the P.M. book in the plastic pouch.  Your child will read the book at school with a teacher or another adult approximately 3 times a week.  If there is no adult to read with, there will simply be a book exchange.  If your child brings the same book home, it may mean there was no time for an exchange or that they need more practice before going on to a new book.   If they frequently forget to return their book, they may not be ready for home reading.  We can try again at a later date when they are ready for more responsibility. 
   
7. Please take good care of these books.   They are expensive, and difficult to replace since they are purchased in complete sets. 

If you have any easy reading books that you a re ready to part with, please feel free to donate them to our class library. They will be well used and appreciated!

How exciting to be a part of this process!

Mrs. Bonnie Moews