Reading Is the Key

Reading instruction is divided into two parts:

1. Learning to Read
2. Reading to Learn

During the first years of school, a child is focused almost entirely on learning to read.  From pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, first grade, second grade, to third grade, the student focuses on mastering the five big ideas of reading:

1. Phonemic Awareness
2. Phonics
3. Vocabulary
4. Fluency
5. Comprehension

Phonemic awareness is recognizing and using the 44 phonemes (sounds) of spoken English.  Phonics is recognizing the sound parts of words, short & long vowels, consonants, blends, and so on.  Vocabulary is word work; expanding the quantity of words a child recognizes, understands and uses.  Fluency is reading with speed, intonation, and clarity.  Comprehension is gaining knowledge and understanding from the written word.

Our goal is for each student to be competent in the five big ideas of reading; to know how to read well by no later than the close of grade three.  Because beginning in grade four and for the rest of a student's life, the focus shifts to reading to learn.

All of our students participate daily in a minimum of 90 minutes of language arts instruction, which includes learning to read.  Students in grades two and three have the most focus on learning to read.  Students in grades four and five work hard on both parts of reading, learning to read and reading to learn. 

I am excited that students, who need extra help in learning to read, will participate in even more time than 90 minutes.  Students who need help can get up to 180 minutes of learning to read instruction each school day.

Our classroom teachers and our reading expert teachers are getting ready to begin the extra helping time.  I am excited about this year, 2012-2013.  Educators, including the professionals at SCE, are now able to help students be more successful in reading than at any time in American history.  Yes, it is true.  The instruction techniques we use are research based and they work!  It is a wonderful time to be a child learning to read at Silver Creek Elementary.

Dr. Robert, Education Pirate

If you visit the blog, feel free to leave a comment, and keep being a life-long learner.