Reading Resources: Day 1

This week I will be focusing our blog posts around reading. With such a huge topic, we will start with: What is reading? How can we make our kids better at it? My belief is that reading is a meaning making process where we take the words on a page (a code) and make meaning from it (break the code).

Each day this week, I will highlight a new reading strategy. These are things that we do as good readers, and are things we are working on in class to help your children become better readers. I will also add resources for you to help your child at home.

Reading Strategy: Comprehension

Comprehension is knowing what you read. It is important to be able to read what is on the page (decoding), but it means nothing if we don't understand what it is we read.

To help us with comprehension, we can activate prior knowledge on the topic of our book. Simply, that means that if you were to read, The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle, before you read you would talk about what you already know about caterpillars. This helps prepare our brains for the story and helps us remember what we read.

This is a visual from our classroom to remind us about prior knowledge. When we read a book about sharks, we think about what we already know. They have sharp teeth, we know what they look like, etc. 

Community Resources

There are 2 wonderful resources in our community that promote reading and are free!

• Storytime at the Corvallis Public Library. Every Monday night at 7pm, there is half hour of stories, songs, and fingerplays for kids. Click here for more information.

• R.E.A.D. Dogs at the Corvallis Pubic Library. The fourth Wednesday of every month, from 3:30 to 5pm, your child can practice reading to a dog. This is one of my favorite programs! Children ages 4-10 get the opportunity to read in a non-threatening environment and even the most reluctant readers can't help but want to participate. Click here for more information.