Read! Read! Read! Read! Read!

Ms. Schmidlin's
Grade 5 Class

Continuing the Practice of Reading

Dear: Parents and Guardians

I hope you all have enjoyed your summer and are getting excited about the new
school year ahead. As your children enter their fifth year of elementary school, I
just want to address why reading is essential to their learning and some of the
reading activities I have planned for the upcoming school year. Literacy is all
around us and there are so many ways that we can engage with it both inside
and outside the classroom!

Why is reading essential to your child's learning?

Reading is a skill that students will continually develop throughout their
education. The act of reading not only enhances your child's cognitive
development, but it also allows students to develop an appreciation for literature.
Reading acts as a powerful source of communication where students not only
learn the essential skills needed in conversation, but also the various ways they
can express their own ideas down on paper or through verbal presentation.
Reading encourages students to rely on prior knowledge and reflect on areas of
a story that relates to their own life. When students read, they become more
connected with what they are learning about. Students will ultimately use reading
to further their comprehension. This year, your child will be exposed to a variety
of genres and literary styles which will develop their knowledge on worldly issues
and provide them with an appreciation for reading that they can use throughout
their education.
Comprehension:
Laura Pardo article (2004) defines comprehension by stating, "the stance a reader takes in
relationship to the text" "combination of prior knowledge and previous experience" "understood and
explained in numerous ways" (272).

These are some of the comprehension strategies that will be used in our classroom. These stratagies
will foster reading development.
Compare/Contrast
Comparing and contrasting
ideas within a text encourages
students to think outside of the
box. This strategy will give
students the opportunity to
compare what they read to
areas in their own life. This
strategy can be used in various
ways, such as: comparing a
character in a story to a family
member or friend, or even
contrasting the novel with other
stories previously read.
Students will recognize various
similarities and differences;
which is an important skill they
will use throughout their
education.
Imagery
Imagery is an essential strategy
that will contribute to a students
success with reading
comprehension. Reading will
encourage students to paint a
mental image in their head so
that they can develop a greater
understanding of the text. This
year, students will be
encouraged to think critically on
different texts by referring to an
image or a moment in their own
life that perhaps deals with
some of the same topics. The
meaning that comes out of
these visual representations is
what becomes truly beneficial o
their reading.
Attention to Detail
Students will become familiar
with the importance of paying
attention to detail when reading
literature. This strategy will not
only strengthen their
understanding with a text, but
also allow them to draw
connections to other areas in
the reading. It is important to
encourage accuracy rather
than speeding through a text
so that students are able to
fully comprehend what they are
reading. Students will become
efficient readers by taking their
time reading a text and actively
noting different details within
the story

This year, we will be focusing on the FIVE stages of reading when analyzing and interpreting
literature. These stages are sometimes used without even realizing it, so by making students more
aware of them, they will become better readers.

1. Pre-reading 2. Reading 3. Responding

Students will: activate prior Students will: apply skills and Students will participate in
knowledge, make predictions strategies, read independently conversation, take mental
and preview text and interpret illustrations and physical notes

4. Exploring
Students will: make
connections, think deeply,
update vocab and identify
quotes
5. Expanding
Students will: construct
projects, summarize and
connect their ideas with other
related topics
 Along with the five reading stages, there are also five fundamental components that are essential
to your child's learning. Upon entering grade five, students will already have a basic understanding
of these skills. These five components are taught interchangeably and found across the English
language curriculum.

Phonemic Awareness: Recognizing individual sounds from spoken words

Phonics: Recognizing how sounds and letters are associated

Vocabulary: Understanding the meaning of words and how to use them

Fluency: The ability to clearly read and pronounce words

Comprehension: Understanding what we read

Reading in the Classroom!
There are so many different ways that we can enhance children's reading development both inside
and outside the classroom. Every child is unique and some may find reading to be an easier skill
than others. In order to accommodate each and every child's needs with literacy, here are some
ways to assist in reading comprehension.
1. Motivation: We will motivate our students by giving them options and providing them with books
they are interested in. Students will find more enjoyment with reading when they have the freedom to
chose pieces of literature they actually enjoy. This year we will be looking at books from all different
genres and there will be many more to chose from during independent reading. When students are
genuinely interested in what they are reading, they will be able to connect with the story which will
ultimately develop their reading comprehension.

2. KWL Charts: KWL stands for what students "Know", what they "Want" to know, and what they
"Learned". This year, students will be encouraged to complete these charts whenever they read a
new book so that they can visually see their progression of learning. When studying a class novel,
these charts will also be placed around the classroom as a tool of encouragement.

3. Provide Good Sources: Both at home and at school, it is important to have a variety of resources
that students can use to help with their reading. This can be anything from have a mixture of genres
where students can explore their interests or simply having a discussion about what they read. The
more sources students have throughout their early years of education, the more success they'll have
in the years to come.
Sneak peak at what we'll be reading this year!

"El Deafo" by Cece Bell is a graphic novel "Holes" by Louis Sachar is an

that deals with themes of fitting in and
acceptance. Students will be introduced to
the graphical novel genre and will even get
the opportunity to work in groups and
create their own comic strip
adventure book that looks at the
issue of bullying. This novel will be
read both independently and
aloud with the class. We will have
several class discussions which
will keep students engaged.