Strengthening Student Comprehension Home and School Working Together to Achieve Success! Beth Duvall and Lori Tyson York Township Elementary, Dallastown Area School District

Why Are We Here? What is comprehension? Readers use two voices when they are reading. Strategies to keep your children thinking and engaged in their reading.

The Balancing Act Remember to read to your child! Talk to them about what they are reading. Make homework manageable and meaningful. Make sense of content reading.

Making Sense of What They’re Reading How can you help?

Strategies to Support Understanding... The importance of conversations! –I think... –I notice... –I wonder... –I was surprised... –I bet... –I was confused... Tagging the Text

Oliver Button I noticed...I’m thinking..I’m wondering... I noticed Oliver’s father is embarrassed by the activities he chooses. I think Oliver’s feelings were hurt when they didn’t want to pick him for a team. I wonder who calls Oliver a sissy

Simplifying a Summary In the beginning... Next... Then... After that... In the end...

Summary of Oliver Button In the beginning, Oliver’s father was embarrassed because Oliver liked to dance, sing, and take walks in the woods. Next his mother and father said he could start to take dance lessons with Ms. Leah. The kids at school picked on Oliver and called him a sissy because he was different than most boys. Then Ms. Leah asked Oliver to be in the talent show and his parent gave him permission. After that Oliver practiced and practiced even though the other kids were picking on him about his dancing. In the end, Oliver performed in the talent show and was disappointed when he didn’t win, but his family realized how talented he was and they were very proud of him. The kids at school also realized Oliver was very brave and talented. Oliver learned that it’s okay to be yourself and follow your dreams.

Making Sense of Non-Fiction Use the titles and headings to make predictions. Discuss captions, maps, charts, and diagrams. Preview questions. Highlight and flag important details -”That’s important, write it down!” -Generate questions

Strategies for Studying Study with your child for a few minutes each night, don’t wait until the night before the test. Have your child read through the notes orally before you begin to help with studying. Study the information in “chunks”. Brainstorm possible questions that might be asked using the information.

“Home and school working together is a strong force capable of achieving great things!”