Starting this week a reading assignment called “Read Naturally” will be going home on Mondays (or the first school day of the week). Read Naturally is designed to improve reading fluency and comprehension. Success, however, requires commitment from both parents and students.
Start by reading with your child the list of Key Words at the top of the handout. After the Review of Key Words, there is a space to make a prediction about the passage. Your child should do that first, before reading the passage. The prediction is based on the information provided in the key words, the title, and the picture. Then your child is to do a cold read – a first time reading without practice – while you time them. Make a note of the “cold score” in minutes and seconds in the designated space on the bottom left of the handout.
Each night thereafter, they are to practice reading the passage at least two times. In addition, they must take notes in the margins and highlight important details in the passage. On Thursday night, time your child again for a “hot score”. Note the time in minutes and seconds in the designated space on the bottom right of the handout. The goal is to improve fluency with practice.
In class on Friday, students will answer comprehension questions about the passage and write a retell. The annotations made on the handout will help with this. We have done one in class for practice, and it is provided as an example for you. You will notice that at the bottom of the page it also has a place provided to keep track of errors. It is not necessary for you to complete this portion, but you may do so if you choose.
Thank you for your support in helping your child become a better reader. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.