1. Parents’ Tips and Tricks
October 28, 2014
Presented by:
Kara Passage, Megan Pellegrino,
Karen Sabatino, and Kimberly Savolskis

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. Seven Keys to Comprehension
6. Synthesize Information
Good readers track their thinking as it evolves during reading to get the overall meaning

10. 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

11. Literature Genres Fiction Nonfiction Poetry Traditional Literature
Fantasy
Science Fiction
Realistic Fiction
Historical Fiction
Mystery
Nonfiction
Informational
Biography
Autobiography
Poetry

12. Literature Forms Kindergarten/Grade 1: Grade 2: 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

13. “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

14. “Just Right” Books: Parent Tips (cont’d)
Level A:
Read and reread simple texts with help!
Point to each word
Level B:
Finger point while saying each word
Level C:
Self-correcting
Vary voice when encountering dialogue

15. “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

16. “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

17. “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

18. “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

19. “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

20. “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

21. Stop and Jot and Reading 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

22. Stop and Jot Stop and Jot:
A time in their reading when they should stop and think about what they just read!

23. Stop and Jot

24. 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

25. Questioning

26. 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!

27. 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?"

28. Questioning

29. Inference

30. Building Stamina and Engaging Your Child in Book Discussions

31. What is stamina? Strong readers have stamina
Stamina builds strength, endurance and muscle memory to aid in comprehension

32. 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

33. 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!
Sense of urgency- must make time every day/priority
Demonstrate you interest and love of reading
Tools- post its, markers, whisper phone, timers, incentive charts, ideas for discussion
Small, cozy, unusual but
visible places,
add fun and interest to reading independently!

34. 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
Purpose:story elements, interesting parts, make connections, predictions, purpose-( jar of questions, stems, cubes)

35. Don’t Let This Happen to You!

36. Talking About Books Why talk about books with your child?
Sets a foundation for higher level thinking strategies
Fosters deeper thinking
Enhances greater
understanding

37. HAVE MEANINGFUL ACCOUNTABLE BOOK TALKS
Evidence

38. What Can We Talk About?

39. Get Creative Have Fun Great idea for sweet book talk!
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!

40. 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.

41. Resources Utilized
7 Keys to Comprehension: How to Help Your Kids Read It and Get It by Susan Zimmermann and Chryse Hutchins