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Literacy Coordinator: Mrs. Deborah Galley-Eiken

26 Patricia Place
Monticello, NY 12701
845-794-4240

Reading Workshop

Students read a variety of self-selected and teacher-selected texts. They construct meaning and make personal and textual connections as they learn from and about reading. Students learn effective comprehension strategies that they apply in fiction and nonfiction. Students present book talks to the class. The workshop consists of:

Independent Reading: Students select their own book and read silently. They write letters to the teacher about their personal reflections of a book they are currently reading and participate in one-on-one conferences with the teacher about their reading.

Guided Reading: Students meet in small groups of similar reading levels to read a teacher-selected book. They develop their processing strategies as they read a variety of increasingly challenging texts. Students help each other learn and share their successes.

Literature Study: Students meet in small groups to discuss a book, author, or specific topic. They read and have in-depth discussions about books they have chosen.

Writing Workshop

Students learn what it means to be a writer: how writers think, plan, compose, revise, and share their work. The purpose is to develop writing strategies and skills, learn writer’s craft, and use writing for learning and communicating. The workshop consists of:

Independent Writing: Students work in their writers’ notebook or on drafting, revising, editing, or publishing writing projects with teacher support.

Guided Writing: Students are instructed in small groups on the craft and conventions of writing in a variety of genres.

Investigations: Students work on research projects that encompass different content areas.

Students learn to write using the following genres:

• Narrative
• Expository/informational
• Poetry
• Biography
• Folktales and fables
• Myths and legends
• Epics
• Fantasy
• Science fiction
• Realistic and historical fiction

Language and Word Study

Students become proficient speakers, readers, and writers. Students extend and refine their ability to use spoken and written language. The workshop consists of:

• Talking, listening, and planning together
• Students experiencing literature, rich with language and content. 
• Students have opportunities to apply what they have learned to reading and writing. 
• Students learn about language, meaning, and structure of words. 
• Students work independently on phonics, spelling, and vocabulary.

Choosing Books with Your Child

Students in grades 3-5 should read for pleasure 20-30 minutes each evening. Here are a few tips to guide at home reading:

• Select a high-interest book. Children should choose books that interest them. 
• Choose books that are easy reads. No more than 1-2 difficult words per page. 
• Select Books of a manageable length for your child. 
• Join your child in reading the book. Engage in conversations about characters and events. 

Helping Young Writers at Home

Children in the intermediate grades will be expanding their skills as writers. Writers take the time to observe the world and the happenings around them. Writers talk about and share thoughts with others. There are many things that parents can do to foster growth in young writers.

• Share memories from your own childhood – children enjoy connections between their life and yours.

• Talk about your memories of them when they were small. Highlight special events from their early life that they would not recall.

• Talk about current world and community events.

• Help your young writer to write and send letters and post cards to friends and relatives while on trips or vacations.

• Provide ways to preserve memories by keeping family journals or diaries. Create the entries with your child.

• Sketch or draw special memories of people and places. Write a small paragraph to describe what the sketch shows or tells.

Young writers in grade 3-5 will be using a Writer’s Notebook as a place to record stories about their own lives and as a place to collect seed ideas for writing pieces. When your child brings home their Writers’ Notebook, help them to talk more about their writing ideas and add to their notebook. Your interest and enthusiasm in this young writer will provide the encouragement and confidence that a budding writer needs for success.

One of the most important jobs in life is parenting. The rewards of this job come in watching your child grow into "loving, responsible, competent human beings." When you gift your child with the love of reading, you give them a special magic that will enrich their lives as nothing else can. The winning combination of home and school working together will make a lasting difference. There are many ways parents foster reading success at home:

• Model reading by reading to your child.
• Let your child read to you.
• Let your child see you reading.
• Share your love of books with them.
• Tell your child stories.
• Take your child to the library.
• Encourage your child to read independently for at least 20 minutes.
• Share thoughts about your reading.
• Read magazines, newspapers, periodicals and other genres.
• Read riddles.
• Play thinking games.
• Work on projects.
• Let your child select his/her own reading materials.
• Praise your child!

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