Question stems for Each 'Just Right' Reading Level
The following link is for the question stems for each just right reading level. As your child is completing their nightly reading, chose 1 -2 questions for them to respond to. Challenge them! Answer 1 question orally and then have them answer the other question in writing. Please remind your child to include specific details from the text to support their answer.
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The 'Relax' Strategy
This is the strategy we have taught the students to use whenever they have a reading passage and questions to answer about the reading passage.
Spelling and Reading Homework!
Students will have homework related to their spelling words and their 30 minutes of nightly reading. Your child will be bringing home a composition notebook in which the homework will be completed. In the front of the composition notebook you will find a list of the assigned homework activities and questions to be answered about their assigned reading. All homework will be due on the day that your child takes their spelling assessment.
The Parkside Elementary School requirement is that all second grade students will complete 1 hour per week of Compass Learning at home. All students have logged on to Compass Learning at school and have their log in information in their agenda.
The Parkside Elementary School requirement is that all second grade students will complete 1 hour per week of Compass Learning at home. All students have logged on to Compass Learning at school and have their log in information in their agenda.
Literacy Test Taking Strategies
Students are practicing test taking skills. The first step is to read the questions. Then they read the passage or text. Next they read the question and then return to the passage. The students find and underline the answer in the text. Then students eliminate answers and choose the best answer.
Fiction Unit-Character Focus
Students will learn how characters develop and change. Students will be able to identify characters' traits by using evidence of the characters' actions and words in the story. They will practice identifying the setting, the problem/conflict in the story and how it is solved (solution/resolution). Students will identify the message of the story or what lesson the character learns.
You can practice these skills with your child by focusing on having him or her reference the text when discussing the story.
Students are practicing test taking skills. The first step is to read the questions. Then they read the passage or text. Next they read the question and then return to the passage. The students find and underline the answer in the text. Then students eliminate answers and choose the best answer.
Fiction Unit-Character Focus
Students will learn how characters develop and change. Students will be able to identify characters' traits by using evidence of the characters' actions and words in the story. They will practice identifying the setting, the problem/conflict in the story and how it is solved (solution/resolution). Students will identify the message of the story or what lesson the character learns.
You can practice these skills with your child by focusing on having him or her reference the text when discussing the story.
Third Quarter Literacy Homework
The student's literacy homework will be to read in your child's Just Right Reading Range, AT LEAST 30 minutes 5 nights a week. As a class we have discussed if there is soccer, dance and baseball on Tuesday night, don't worry about trying to read 30 minutes that evening. It just means that on another day, probably on the weekend 30 minutes of reading needs to be completed.
The nightly reading needs to be recorded in your child's Parkside Elementary School agenda. The title, author and time read needs to be recorded. I am encouraging the students to be Proactive and record this information themselves.
Part of that reading can be completed on RazKids. I have told the students that some of the night's readings may be done on RazKids, but they should still be reading real books as well. Please note if your child is on RazKids, they need to be Reading the books NOT just listening to them.
All students have received their Compass Learning log in. The Parkside expectation is that students should work on Compass Learning for 60 minutes each week. Compass Learning is a wonderful way to provide your child with extra support in their literacy skills. The Compass Learning program is linked to your child's MAP scores, so it will provide activities in areas your child might need some additional support.
The student's literacy homework will be to read in your child's Just Right Reading Range, AT LEAST 30 minutes 5 nights a week. As a class we have discussed if there is soccer, dance and baseball on Tuesday night, don't worry about trying to read 30 minutes that evening. It just means that on another day, probably on the weekend 30 minutes of reading needs to be completed.
The nightly reading needs to be recorded in your child's Parkside Elementary School agenda. The title, author and time read needs to be recorded. I am encouraging the students to be Proactive and record this information themselves.
Part of that reading can be completed on RazKids. I have told the students that some of the night's readings may be done on RazKids, but they should still be reading real books as well. Please note if your child is on RazKids, they need to be Reading the books NOT just listening to them.
All students have received their Compass Learning log in. The Parkside expectation is that students should work on Compass Learning for 60 minutes each week. Compass Learning is a wonderful way to provide your child with extra support in their literacy skills. The Compass Learning program is linked to your child's MAP scores, so it will provide activities in areas your child might need some additional support.
Reading Comprehension Practice Websites
http://www.cowan.k12.in.us/UserFiles/Servers/Server_248890/File/Grades%202-3%20Nonfiction%20Passages.pdf
http://www.k12reader.com/subject/reading-skills/reading-comprehension/2nd-grade-reading-comprehension-worksheets/
http://www.cowan.k12.in.us/UserFiles/Servers/Server_248890/File/Grades%202-3%20Nonfiction%20Passages.pdf
http://www.k12reader.com/subject/reading-skills/reading-comprehension/2nd-grade-reading-comprehension-worksheets/
The Balanced Literacy Program is comprised of several components.
Word Work
During this time students work in differentiated groups practicing their spelling words from the Words Their Way program. The words are based upon a building of phonemic skills which are mastered and then added to. Students not only learn how to spell their words, but they also learn the rules or the WHY the words are spelled as they are spelled.
Writing Workshop/Grammar
Students will progress towards their goal of writing a non-fiction book. Students have chosen their topics with their groups. They have created questions about the topics. Students will learn how to use books and the internet to research their topics. Students have answered their questions and will begin creating headings for their facts. As a group they are creating their topic sentence for each category and then turning their research into complete sentences supporting that main idea.
Reading Workshop
The bulk of our literacy block is spent in Reader's Workshop. This time always begins with a mini lesson about a reading strategy for the students to utilize or an area of focus based upon the unit of study. Students are given extended periods of time to focus upon reading "JUST RIGHT BOOKS" During this time I pull students or groups of students to review or teach a strategy or skill that they need or are ready for.
Interactive Read Aloud
This is a time when I read to the students and we utilize all of the various skills and strategies that we have been learning. I might ask the students to Turn and talk with a partner about something that happened in the story. I might also ask them to respond to something in writing, to predict or to identify a feeling or a character trait based upon the information they have gathered from what they have heard.
How to help your child at home:
Encourage them to answer you in complete sentences.
Write letters to people. Create stories, plays, poems or songs.
Ask them questions about what they are reading. See the 'Generic Comprehension Questions' tab.
Make sure that the independent reading books are in their appropriate range.
Fountas and Pinnell Leveling of Books
I have received questions about how the books are leveled and WHY some books are leveled as they are. For further information about text complexity, themes, vocabulary and even background information is used to level children's texts, please click on the link below.
Fountas and Pinell Leveling | |
File Size: | 15 kb |
File Type: | docx |