Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body. ~ Joseph Addison

Have a wonderful summer and keep reading!
Read for fun, to learn how to do something, or to research something new. Check out your favorite authors' websites.

Tips while reading nonfiction:
K-1: Preview, read, and then retell who, what, when, where, why, and how.

2-5: Preview chapter and subtitles, illustrations/charts/maps, bold/italicized words, index, glossary to make a prediction of what you will be reading. Stop and jot as you read. When reading nonfiction, make sure to read each paragraph and write a note or draw a picture for each paragraph, After reading the entire text, turn the title into a question. Using the notes you have read, repeated words in the selection, and then you should be able to answer the question to show you understand the main idea of the text.

Tips for reading fictional texts:
K-1: Preview by taking a picture walk to make a prediction. Read and retell the characters, setting, problem, events, and solution.

2-5: When beginning, read the title and any summary on the back or cover of the book to make a prediction about what the book will be about. As you begin to read, read the chapter titles, read, and take notes of (who, what, when, where, why, and how) characters, setting, problem, and the solution, theme, and how the character change by what they say, do, and act from the beginning to end of the book. For longer chapter books, after each chapter, stop and write a note about what happened. When you go to read the next chapter, reread your previous notes to help you remember what is going on in the story, then continue reading. From these notes, you should be able to write a summary of the book.

Poetry, Nursery Rhymes, and Fables, Songs
Take a look at poets like Jack Prelusky and Shel Silverstein.

Writing:
Keep a daily journal of your activities, thoughts, and hopes as we go through this new normal. Make sure you hang on to this one as this will become a part of history.

Write poems! Pay attention to all the things you are noticing now that you may not have before. Types of birds and other wildlife all come to visit at different times of the day. What have you noticed? Certain flowers behave differently at different times of the day too. Have you noticed this? Have you noticed how different plants are blooming? Maybe you watching less television and playing more? Pick one topic and write a poem about it.

Use your imagination! Look at familiar pictures, make a connection, and write about a memory. Look at other pictures and write about what you think may be going on in them (ex: Chris Van Allsburg's book illustrations)

Use descriptive language (numbers, colors, size, kinds, how the action is done).
Example: I ran. I ran outside. I ran outside for ten minutes. This morning I ran outside for ten wonderful minutes. This morning I ran around my yard for ten wonderful minutes. This morning I ran around on my green grass dotted with flowers for ten wonderful minutes. Early this morning, I ran quickly around my green grass dotted with yellow daffodils and buttercups for ten wonderful minutes.

K-1: Practice being able to quickly recognize and write sight words, colors, numbers, months, days of the week, contractions, and preposition words (up/down, inside/outside, above/below, under/over, in/out, beside/behind etc.)

After reading a book, write a book review. How to: 1. Write 1-2 sentence summary describing the book without giving away the ending. 2. Choose something that stood out (quote, illustration, plot, theme, or character) that you find interesting , and explain why you like it. 3. Wrap it up by sharing who and what age groups would like this book. 4. Write, revise, revise, revise, edit. 5. Publish your review on sites like GoodReads or Amazon.

Write stories (draw a big heart, write or draw pictures on the inside of the heart things that you like, and on the outside of the heart, write/draw things you don't like). Choose one of the things and write about it by explaining why you like or dislike something.

Write letters to loved ones and friends or your favorite author or publishing company (they will often write back and send books/stories to you).

Phonics/Phonemic Awareness
Focus on mastering letters, being able to write them quickly and accurately, and identifying letter sounds easily.

Play I spy games like, "I spy an object that starts with ___, rhymes with ____, sounds like _______". Draw pictures of objects in circles and play hopscotch with certain sounds, phonic patterns, etcetera. Have fun!

Clap, snap, stomp syllables in words (use family names, foods, etc)
Check out the Virginia PALs website for parent resources: https://pals.virginia.edu/

Oral Language
Make puppets (shadow, sock, paper, felt) and retell stories/nursery rhymes you've read.
Sing songs.
Memorize poems or nursery rhymes.

See Useful Links to the left.
Hover over the site link to read the description.

I look forward to seeing all you when we return in August,
Mrs. Piszczor