Parents’ Tips and Tricks

October 28, 2014

Presented by: Kara Passage, Megan Pellegrino,

Karen Sabatino, and Kimberly Savolskis

Parents’ Tips and Tricks• Seven Keys to Comprehension• Literature Genres/”Just Right” Books• Stop and Jot/Reading Responses• Questioning• Inference• Building Stamina• Talking About Books

Seven Keys to Comprehension

• Reading is an interactive process in which good readers engage in a constant internal dialogue with the text

• Good readers use 7 keys to unlock meaning

• To read well, readers must regularly use these strategies

Seven Keys to Comprehension

1. Create Mental Images– Good readers create a wide range of

visual, auditory, and other sensory images as they read

– They become emotionally involved with what they read

Seven Keys to Comprehension

2. Use Background Knowledge (Schema)– Good readers use their relevant prior

knowledge before, during, and after reading to enhance their understanding of what they’re reading

Seven Keys to Comprehension

3. Ask Questions– Good readers generate questions

before, during, and after reading • To clarify meaning• To make predictions• To focus on what’s important

Seven Keys to Comprehension

4. Make Inferences– Good readers use their prior knowledge

and information from what they read to:• Make predictions• Seek answers to questions• Draw conclusions• Create interpretations that deepen their

understanding of the text

Seven Keys to Comprehension

5. Determine Importance– Good readers identify key ideas or

themes as they read, and they can distinguish between important and unimportant information

Seven Keys to Comprehension

6. Synthesize Information– Good readers track their thinking as it

evolves during reading to get the overall meaning

Seven Keys to Comprehension

7. Use Fix-up Strategies– Good readers are aware of when they

understand and when they don’t– If they have trouble understanding

specific words, phrases, or longer passages, they use a wide range of problem-solving strategies• Rereading, asking questions, using a

dictionary, and reading the passage aloud

Literature Genres1. Fiction

– Traditional Literature– Fantasy– Science Fiction– Realistic Fiction– Historical Fiction– Mystery

2. Nonfiction– Informational – Biography– Autobiography

3. Poetry

Literature Forms• Kindergarten/Grade 1: – Oral stories– Picture Books– Wordless picture books– Information picture books

• Grade 2: – Oral Stories– Informational picture books– Picture story books– Beginning chapter books– Beginning series books

“Just Right” Books:Parent Tips

• Pre-reading skills: –Moving into “Just Right” books, you

child should be able to: • 1 to 1 match• Concepts about Print• Reads own writing• Includes initial and final letters in writing• Writes with spacing

“Just Right” Books:Parent Tips (cont’d)

• Level A: – Read and reread simple texts with help!– Point to each word

• Level B: – Read and reread simple texts with help!– Finger point while saying each word

• Level C: – Self-correcting– Vary voice when encountering dialogue

“Just Right” Books:Parent Tips (cont’d)

• Level D: –No longer pointing to each word– Attention to word endings

• Level E: – Chooses text with familiar vocabulary

• Level F: – Texts include content beyond home,

neighborhoods, and school

“Just Right” Books:Parent Tips (cont’d)

• Level G: – Reading for understanding.– Self-correcting and rereading

• Level H: – Begins silent reading– Oral reading: • Appropriate rate• Phrasing• Intonation• Word Stress

“Just Right” Books:Parent Tips (cont’d)

• Level I: – Begin short chapter books with single point of view

and illustrations– Nonfiction texts focused on single topic

• Level J: – Silent reading– Begin using post its! and writing responses

• Level K:– Oral reading fluency:

• Appropriate rate• Word stress• Intonation• Phrasing• Pausing

“Just Right” Books:Parent Tips (cont’d)

• Level L: – Solve complex words (i.e. Multi-syllable words,

contractions, content specific)

• Level M: – Begin chapter books

• Level N: – Solve words smoothly and automatically

• Level O: – Some abstract themes require inferential

thinking to gain meaning– Read and fully understand text

“Just Right” Books:Parent Tips (cont’d)

• Level P:– More abstract texts child must demonstrate

understanding

• Level Q: – Longer descriptive words, content specific

words, and technical words that require the use of content clues, schema, and readers’ tools.

• Level R: – A variety of layouts and fonts– Use illustration for more context clues

“Just Right” Books:Parent Tips (cont’d)

• Level S: – Understanding of cultural diversity– Understand of deeper meanings to important human

problems and social issues

• Level T:– More complex text, your child demonstrates an

understanding for the text.

• Level U - Z: – Levels become more challenging and contain more complex

sentences and paragraphs. – Level U: Characteristics similar to level T– Level V: Increase use of symbolism– Level W: Themes are multidimensional– Levels X, Y, and Z: More mature themes

Stop and Jot andReading Responses

• Comprehension is the reason for reading. If readers can read the words but do not understand what they are reading, they are not really reading

• As they read, good readers are both purposeful and active

Stop

and

Jot:

A time

in their

readin

g when

they

should

stop

and

think

about

what

they

just

read!

Stop and Jot

Stop and Jot

Questioning

• Since children are naturally brimming full with questions, it is easy to funnel their question-asking talents to help them more fully interact with books

• Good readers ask questions that they have before reading, during reading, and after reading. If you and your child are reading a book that is of high interest to your child (especially non-fiction), you may want to consider keeping track of your before, during, and after questions

Questioning

Questioning• Most questions are not answered right

away, some are there if you look hard enough, and others are not there at all.

• Help your child answer questions that he/she may have by writing them down and then reading to find them. Become detectives!

Questioning

How to Thoughtfully Respond to Reading

• Encourage your child to ask questions as he/she reads is part of a larger task: inspiring wonder. There are so many things to wonder about: I wonder what a black hole is. I wonder why people risk their lives to climb Mt. Everest. I wonder how life began...Before you start reading a book with your child, play the “I Wonder” game

• Hold a conversation and discuss what your child has read. Ask your child probing questions about the book and connect the events to his or her own life. For example, say "I wonder why that girl did that?" or "How do you think he felt? Why?" and "So, what lesson can we learn here?"

Questioning

Inference

Building Stamina and Engaging Your Child in Book Discussions

What is stamina?

• Strong readers have stamina• Stamina builds strength, endurance and

muscle memory to aid in comprehension

Why Build Stamina?• To establish good reading habits• Develop a love of reading• Develop independent literacy

routines• Independent reading time is

essential to the Common Core

No stamina-Fake Reader VS. Stamina-Strong Reader

How can I help my child build stamina?

• Model a love of reading and good reading habits• Develop a sense of urgency for reading by making

reading time a priority• Establish a meeting place• Identify a book nook• Have “tools” accessible• Foster Independence• Give positive feedback • Enjoy this quality time!

SMALL, COZY, UNUSUAL BUT VISIBLE PLACES, ADD FUN AND INTEREST TO READING INDEPENDENTLY!

Building Stamina• Set Goals• Start small (5 minute intervals, then increase)• Use a timer *20 minutes uninterrupted/1 book a week• Chart progress, include incentives

Don’t Let This Happen to You!

Talking About Books

Why talk about books with your child?

• Sets a foundation for

higher level thinking

strategies• Fosters deeper thinking

• Enhances greater

understanding

Evidence

HAVE MEANINGFUL ACCOUNTABLE BOOK TALKS

What Can We Talk About?

Get Creative Have Fun

Write Thinking Stems, or discussion points, on cards in a bowl. Choose 3-4 before reading to set a purpose, or after reading to help direct your thoughts and responses.Use them to discuss TV shows and movies, as well.

Great idea for sweet book talk!Form book club with other parents and friends!

Visit places you read

about! Find ways to

extend learning beyond

the pages!

Some Final Thoughts

“The mind, once stretched by a new idea, never returns to its original dimensions”Ralph Waldo Emerson

The mind is like a parachute, it only functions when open.

Resources Utilized

• 7 Keys to Comprehension: How to Help Your Kids Read It and Get It by Susan Zimmermann and Chryse Hutchins