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- How do I help my child become a better reader?
- Is is important to memorize math facts?
- What kind of reading can I use on my reading log?
- How do I help my child study for science without a science textbook?
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How do I help my child become a better reader?
1. Make sure that your child reads independently every day. It is also a
good idea for your child to read to you, and for you to read to your child.
2. Always check to see if your child has a JUST RIGHT book--it should not be
too easy or too hard.
3. After your child reads, occasionally ask him/her to tell you about what
they read. You can have your child tell you about any tricky parts or words
in the book. Help them clarify(figure out) those parts.
4. Ask your child to list some character traits that the characters in the
book exemplify. Have them give examples of why they chose those character
traits.
5. It is also very important to have your child try to figure out meanings
of unknown words by clues given in the sentence. A richer vocabulary results
in better reading comprehension.
6. When your child reads aloud to you, make sure they are reading smoothly
as though they are talking.
7. Show your child that reading is important and valuable to you by having
them see you read, taking them to the library or book stores, and ordering
books from the book club your child's teacher uses at school.
8. In addition to all of the above, please read and use the Active Reading
Strategies I have provided on this website. We use those strategies
everyday, everytime we read! Practice them at home with your child and use
the Active Reading Strategy Words frequently.
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Is is important to memorize math facts?
1. YES! Even though you may not see daily written homework reviewing math
facts, it is important that your child takes 10 minutes a day to play some
sort of math review game. These review activities can range from simple
flashcards, to fact worksheets, to computer games, or simply just sitting at
the kitchen counter with another person and calling out facts! The Everyday
Math Program stresses the importance of fact power through game playing and
Fact Minutes.Knowing the facts now, will make it much easier for your child
to work at a higher level later in problem solving and two and three step
computation.
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What kind of reading can I use on my reading log?
I really prefer for students to be reading books that are Just Right for them
on their reading log. This means that your child is reading the book
smoothly and understanding what is going on in the book. I also welcome the
reading of appropriate magazines. Of course, there are times when you read to
your child. This is also acceptable for the reading log, but it should not
be THE ONLY type of reading logged on. Finally, anytime your child is
studying for a test and reading from the Social Studies or Health textbooks,
it can be included on the log.
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How do I help my child study for science without a science textbook?
Science in the third grade is very much "hands on" and experiment based.
There are times when we do take some notes in the science notebook, in
addition to handouts that are given to the students. Much of the work we do
in science is through prediction, observation, guessing and testing, and
discovery. Students are actively engaged in the concepts that they have to
master and are frequently exposed to these areas throughout the year and
different grade levels. It is important for your child to try to listen,
participate, and write down important key notes during the science lesson. I
always provide students with what they should copy down in their science
notebook. Use this reference notebook to study. Also, I have been
summarizing each science lesson that we have been doing so you can look and
see what is going on in class. Ask your child frequently about what they did
in science even if there is no science homework for that night. At this
level, it is vital for children to find delight and interest in the wonder of
science as opposed to just reading about it in a book. Furthermore, Chittick
Book Room has added science trade books to its collection. These trade books
match with most concepts in our science units. I will be using these books
to reinforce what the children are learning in science during reading time.
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