Woodland Elementary West Reading

Parents Ask....

1. What is Phonemic Awareness?
2. Why is Phonemic Awareness important?
3. How can I help my child become a better reader/learn to read?
4. What are things that can hinder my child's reading progress?
5. What is Guided Reading?
6. Where and how can I find books (or the level) that my child can read?
7. What level is my child expected to read by the end of each grade level?

What is Phonemic Awareness?

Phonemic Awareness is the ability to hear and manipulate phonemes (sounds). 
It is also the understanding that words are made of a sequence of phonemes
that have no isolated meaning. 

Phonemic Awareness deals with spoken language.  It does not deal with print.  

A child with good Phonemic Awareness has the ability to isolate sounds,
manipulate the sounds, blend and segment the sounds into spoken as well as
written words.

This skill is mainly taught to students in Kindergarten and First Grade.

Back to Top

Why is Phonemic Awareness important?

Phonemic Awareness prepares children for later reading instruction.  A
weakness in Phonemic Awareness can hinder early reading development.  Having a
strong level of Phonemic Awareness gives students the ability to use
letter-sound relationship to build and read words.

Back to Top

How can I help my child become a better reader/learn to read?

- Set a scheduled time for you and your child to read together each   
day/evening.
- Make it enjoyable, if your child becomes frustrated, STOP and read to them.
- Read TO your child each evening.
- Provide books for your child to read.  (See the leveled book links.)  
- Visit your local library each month so your child can select new books.
- Print a copy of the Reading Strategies page provided in the HANDOUTS section
       of this website.

Back to Top

What are things that can hinder my child's reading progress?

- not giving your child an opportunity to practice reading at least 5 days a 
  week
- covering pictures while your child is trying to decode a word
- telling your child the word right away without giving your child time to try
it on his/her own.
-  reading books that are too hard

Back to Top

What is Guided Reading?

The Goal of Guided Reading is to teach students to use reading strategies
independently.  Guided Reading is explicit reading instruction done in small
groups based on students needs, ability and interest.  The teacher is a
facilitator, prompting students to use strategies and foster comprehension
skills.  During Guided Reading all instruction is done in the context of a 
book.

Back to Top

Where and how can I find books (or the level) that my child can read?

Ask your child's teacher your child's independent reading level.  They may be
able to provide you with a list of books at your child's reading level.  You
may also look up books in the "Leveled Book List Link" on the website
provided. You can also find many books at your local library.

Back to Top

What level is my child expected to read by the end of each grade level?

Independent reading level expectations
Kindergarten - Level B
First Grade - Level J
Second Grade - Level M
Third Grade - Level Q

Back to Top