June Achievements

Congratulations to these emerging readers in the month of June!

Successful Readers

Here is a sampling of students receiving their individual certificates and bands for successfully completing a level in Lexia Learning Core 5. The overall goal is to become a "Black Belt" in reading!!!

Putting All The Pieces Together = Fluency

Fluency

Fluency is defined as the ability to read with speed, accuracy, and proper expression. In order to understand what they read, children must be able to read fluently whether they are reading aloud or silently. When reading aloud, fluent readers read in phrases and add intonation appropriately. Their reading is smooth and has expression.

Children who do not read with fluency sound choppy and awkward. Those students may have difficulty with decoding skills or they may just need more practice with speed and smoothness in reading. Fluency is also important for motivation; children who find reading laborious tend not to want to read! As readers head into upper elementary grades, fluency becomes increasingly important. The volume of reading required in the upper elementary years escalates dramatically. Students whose reading is slow or labored will have trouble meeting the reading demands of their grade level.

How to put all the pieces together an increase fluency

With the help of parents and teachers, kids can learn strategies to cope with fluency issues that affect his or her reading. Below are some tips and specific things to do.

What kids can do to help themselves

• Track the words with your finger as a parent or teacher reads a passage aloud. Then you read it.
• Have a parent or teacher read aloud to you. Then, match your voice to theirs.
• Read your favorite books and poems over and over again. Practice getting smoother and reading with expression.

What parents can do to help at home

• Support and encourage your child. Realize that he or she is likely frustrated by reading.
• Check with your child's teachers to find out their assessment of your child's word decoding skills.
• If your child can decode words well, help him or her build speed and accuracy by:
  • Reading aloud and having your child match his voice to yours
  • Having your child practice reading the same list of words, phrase, or short passages several times
  • Reminding your child to pause between sentences and phrases
• Read aloud to your child to provide an example of how fluent reading sounds.
• Give your child books with predictable vocabulary and clear rhythmic patterns so the child can "hear" the sound of fluent reading as he or she reads the book aloud.
• Use books on tapes; have the child follow along in the print copy.

Children Working Toward Becoming Blackbelts in Reading

AM and PM Kinders Join in the Lexia Fun!

We welcomed children from the AM and PM Kindergarten program this week. The children are getting acclimated with the lab and learning how to sign on to the system with no help. They have all been placed in the Lexia Core 5 system in a level that is based on their performance in a placement drill. Next week as they progress through their individualized programs, we will begin to receive data based on their performance with specific skills. We will then be able to provide direct instruction to children in specific skills that the data shows they are struggling with. You will be amazed at the rapid learning that occurs when direct individualized instruction is given! Thank you for letting us work with your children on a daily basis.

The Lexia Core 5 Participants "Chopping" Away At Developing Strong Reading Skills

It has been almost one month since we started the Lexia Core 5 before school program! The growth that has taken place with these students is truly amazing. To bring everyone up-to-date on what has been happening in the program, I would like to explain the recognition system that Mrs. Baer and Mrs. Salcito have instituted to go along with the Lexia Core 5 system.

The recognition that is now part of the Lexia Core 5 lab time is similar to that of the one found in the sport of karate. As student's progress in levels in karate they are recognized/awarded with a different colored belt. Many karate students aspire to become a black belt. This is know in the sports world as a significant achievement. In the Lexia Core 5 lab, your students will have the opportunity to become a "black belt" in reading! For each level that they complete in the Lexia Core 5 system, they will receive a certificate of accomplishment along with a rubber bracelet (band). The bands are all different colors going all the way to a black band at the top. Many of your students recently achieved their first level (green band) and were recognized in class. They received their band and their certificate in front of their peers. I have attached a few pictures of the introduction of the recognition program and the celebration of those that have completed their first level. Congratulations!!!