We have begun learning about our super reading powers!  This Kindergarten Reader’s Workshop unit will introduce the super powers of an emergent reader. The skills and strategies support the understanding that pictures assist in reading words. The children will learn to apply letters and their sounds along with high frequency words while reading a book.

During this unit, I also begin meeting with the children in small guided reading groups.  These are groups of 2-4 students who are working on the same reading goals and strategies at a time.  Children will have an opportunity to borrow a book to take home and read and then return back to school the next day.

Unit Goals: 

Readers will know what strategies they can use when they are reading.

Readers will know that they can use strategies interchangeably and demonstrate the ability to use strategies interchangeably while reading.

Readers will know that they can use their reading partners to help them become better readers.

Skills and Strategies Taught (What it looks and sounds like!): 

Good readers use the pictures and the words to give them the power to read a story.

Good readers point under words as they read to make sure the sounds that go with the letters and the number of words they say matches the number of words they see.

Good readers notice patterns in their books. They pay attention to words used over and over on every page.

Ways to support your child at home: 

Help your child to think about the superpowers he/she has to help read a book.

Help your child to grow stamina by having him/her stay focused on a book and reading for longer lengths of time (depends on developmental level of child)

Help your child discover different patterns in a book and predict what the next page might say.

Encourage your child to reread books to develop a smooth reading voice.

You have the power to help! (taken from PBSKids Super Why!)
Just like the Super Readers, you can help your child become a Super Reader by being one yourself.

• Read: Let your child see you enjoying books.
• Read together: Every night. And every chance you get.
• Keep talking: Discuss the books you choose. What’s your favorite part? What’s your child’s favorite part? Can you think of new endings for the stories?
• Go to the library: Is there a story hour for children? Don’t just stay in the Children’s Room. Instead take a tour of the entire library! Show your child where different types of books are located.

Alphabet Power!
You can practice Alphabet power by naming letters of the alphabet and singing the alphabet song with your child!

• Matching Letters in the World: Write all 26 letters of the alphabet on a piece of paper. You can write them in uppercase and/or lowercase. Then using the letters on each piece of paper match the letter to an object in the world that looks just like that letter. For example, the windowpane makes an “H”, the fire escape makes a “Z”, the top of the trashcan makes an “o”, and the light post makes an “r”. To make the game harder don’t use the letter on paper to match letters to the world.
• The Lucky Letter List: Write a list of things you need to buy at the grocery store. When you get there, ask your child to help you find the items on your list by matching the letters on the list with the items on the shelves.
• Name that Letter: Write each letter of your child’s name on a 3″x 5″ index card. Place the letter cards on a table and have your child arrange them in order. If your child is younger and does not yet know the letters in their name, write out the alphabet on each card. Then tell your child the letter they need to find. Put the cards in order and make it into a sign.
• Dough it yourself: Write your child’s name on a piece of paper. You can make the letters uppercase or lowercase. Using a sheet of wax paper, cover the piece of paper entirely. Have your child make the letters by shaping and molding playdough (or clay) over the written letters. Write other words or names of family members and make other playdough names and words.

Word Power!
You can practice Word Power with your child practice by rhyming and reading words!

• Rhyme Time: Say a sentence to your child, but substitute one word with a rhyming word. For example: “Please hand me the moon,” instead of saying, “spoon.” Have your child guess what you meant to say. Let your child make up some rhymes, too. For example: Red, Red, Bo, Bed, Banana, Fana, Fo, Fed, Me Mi Med, Red.
• Family Tree: When you’re riding in a car, or waiting in line, show your child a word on a sign, magazine or a book. See if you can make up family names for that object or person and make a story about them focused on the name of the object or person. It can be a funny story that rhymes. For example, you might see a sign that says “School.” Your family would be Mr. and Mrs. School. They have children named: Drool, Pool and Cool. Everyday, they love to go to school! They know all the rules!
• Sign Language: Use Post-It Notes to make signs for everyday objects in your house. With your child, sound out the name of some of the objects in your home. For example: “wall,” “chair” and “door.” Then write each word on a Post-It note. Have your child stick the signs on the correct objects. You can also use more Post-it to make your word families just like Wonder Red. For example: Write the word family for “wall”: “ball”, “tall”, “mall.” Also write words that do not rhyme with the word “wall.” Use your everyday objects notes or make new ones. Ask your child to find the words that rhyme with wall and place them underneath each other. Try this game with other word families.

Spelling Power!
You can practice Spelling Power with your child by sounding out letters, spelling and writing!

• Steam Bath Writing: After a bath, have your child write his name or another word on the steamy mirror. After your child has written a letter, ask them to tell you what sound that letter makes. You can also do this on a frosty window, in the car, with bath foam or shaving cream on a kitchen table. The combination of writing in an unusual place and using steam or cream is as engaging as using Princess Presto’s Magical Spelling Wand!
• Spectacular Letter Sounds: On five separate pieces of paper, have your child write one letter at the top of the page. Start with the vowels, A, E, I, O and U. If they need help, you can draw a dotted line letter and have them trace it. Then, ask your child to sound out the letters. Example: A is for apple. E is for Elephant. I is for Igloo. O is for Octopus. U is for Umbrella. What other words start with the letters A, E, I, O and U? Ask your child to sound out other words and write them underneath the letter. Have your child draw a picture of some of the words. Example: E; egg, end, elf.
• Sign On: While you’re driving or walking in your neighborhood, stop at street signs and ask your child to tell you what they say. Ask your child to sound out the words. If your child needs a hint, you can ask them the following questions. For Example: “Stop”: on the stop sign. Ask if it says, “Stop,” “Yield,” or “Thank You.” Help them to sound out the first letter if they need help.

The Power to Read!
You can practice the Power to Read with your child by writing daily notes or telling stories!

• Story Starters: Start a story and ask your child to fill in the blank of what happens next. Keep adding to the story until one of you says, “The End.” For example, “Once upon a time there was a __.” Let your child fill in the blank. Repeat what your child filled in and start the next sentence, “Once upon a time there was a girl. Her name was ___.” Use cues from whatever is around you visually to keep the story going. For example, if you are driving say, “There was a car on the ____.”
• Word of the Day: Every day ask your child to pick and tell you a favorite word (or two, or four) of the day. Write them down and put them on the refrigerator. Let your child draw a picture of the word over it. Practice reading the words and use them to go over what you did that day.
• Take Note: Write notes to your child. For older children, you can write words. For younger children you can write pictures to go along with the words. Place the notes in a lunch bag, in your child’s car seat, or on the bed for when your child wakes up in the morning. Ask him to write you and other family members a note in return. They can even make a note for their teacher or for friends at school.