Reading and Writing Tips

Reading/Writing Tips

  Test Taking Strategies for Elementary Students

·                  Read the directions carefully.

·                  While reading, underline key words.

·                  Read the question and all answer choices before marking anything. Watch for words like ALWAYS, NEVER, NONE.

·                  Eliminate wrong answers.

·                  If you don’t know the answer, go back and reread the passage, or question.

·                  Don’t spend too much time on any one question. 

                      Do your best and then move on.

·                  Stay focused – don’t waste time.

·                  When you are finished, go back and check your

                     answers.

·                  Fill in bubbles fully, write neatly, write your answers within the answer box provided, and erase stray marks.

·                  Answer all questions! Don’t give up!


 

Strategies for decoding skills

 1.    Look at the letters from left to right.

 2. Think about the sounds of the letters, and look for word parts you know.

 3. Blend the sounds to read the word.

 4. Ask yourself: Is it a word I know? Does it make sense in what I am reading?

 5.      If not, ask yourself:  What else can I try?

 

 Instructional Activities

 For Example:

 Have your child read the title of a book. Looking at the letters and repeating them from left to right. Practice this with some other words in the book.

 Ask your child what is the sound for o in words with the o-consonant-e pattern. (For example: bone)

 Call out words from a story. Ask your child to blend the sounds and ask what the word is after they have blended the letters in the word.

 Ask your child to ask themselves is bone a word I know? Does it make sense in the sentence? If they don’t ask them to use the decoding skill of looking at the letters from left to right and blending the letters.

 Ask your child what else they can try to figure out the word. If they can’t ask them to look at the letters, make the sounds, tap the sounds, and read it in the sentence to see if they can visualize the word.  

Websites to help with Reading/Math 

 

READING, WRITING, AND YOUR FIRST GRADER

WHAT CAN PARENTS DO TO HELP WITH THEIR FIRST GRADER?

 

  • The single most important and helpful thing you can do is to set aside 20-30 minutes regularly, to read aloud to our child.
  • In addition to reading aloud you can help your child make the transition to independent reading through shared reading sessions in which your child read with you. You should run your finger under the words when you read.
  • As you read with your child, make special note of any difficulties. If he/she misreads a word, come back to it after he/she finishes the sentences. Point to it, say the correct word, and ask him or her to repeat it.
  • Designate a special notebook at home and encourage your child to write in it once or twice a week (in school your child will be writing frequently). In this notebook for example, he or she can write a few sentences about a book they like, something they have learned in school, a made-up story or poem. If you like they can draw a picture and write sentences that go along with the picture. (Many children need to feel that they have something to say in order to make the effort to write it down, so talk with your child about what he or she might. Write. The more he/she thinks aloud, the more willing he/she will be to put words on paper.) If while writing he/she seems unsure about the spelling of a word and asks for your help, first ask him/her to “sound out” the word and try to write it the way it sounds, but if this proves too frustrating, then provide the correct spelling. When he/she has finished writing, ask him/her to read aloud what he/she has written. Praise and encourage!
  • Take advantage of unplanned moments to play language games. For instance, while driving in the car, you can play rhyming games and memory games, recite favorite poems and point to different signs and talk about what they mean. While shopping for groceries, ask your child to cross items off the shopping list, or to try reading the names on a few labels.
  • I will be observing you child’s progress and working to correct any consistent pattern of errors. Here are some suggestions of items available from teacher supply stores or some other retail stores.
  • Magnetic letters and letter – sound flash cards
  • Letter-picture cards
  • Workbooks to practice handwriting
  • Word games, puzzles, and activity books
  • Computer software for teaching letter-sound patterns, words, and early reading and writing skills.

 

Thank you in advance for your help with your child’s reading and writing experience.