Reading Tip of the Week

    Recognizing Story Elements

Most stories have five basic elements. Students (as early as kindergarten) learn to identify these five components.

Characters:  Every story has a main character.

Setting:  This is where the story takes place.

Plot:  The events that take place in the story. 

Problem:  Every story has a problem or conflict to solve.

Resolution:  The solution to the problem usually occurs at the end of the story.

Try using these words before, during and after reading with your child.  This will help your child better understand the story structure and improve comprehension.

Reading Tip of the Week 
Questioning: 
Before, During and After Reading

Good readers ask themselves questions before, during, and after they read. You can help your child become more skillful at this reading strategy by modeling for them and encouraging them to use it when they read independently.

Before reading a new book:
"Who is the illustrator?"
"What do you think this story is going to be about?"
"What do you know about the topic of this story?"
During reading:
"What do you think will happen next?"
"What does the main character want?"
"Where does the story take place?
After reading:
"What was the story about?"
"What is the main message of this book?"
"What was the most exciting or funniest things that happened in the story?"

Reading Tip of the Week

Be Patient...

Make sure to be patient when your child is trying to sound out an unfamiliar word.  Give him or her time to do so. Remind your child to look closely at the first letter or all the letters of the word.

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Reading Tip of the Week

Play Word Games

Have your child sound out the word as you change it from mat to fat to sat; from sat to sag to bag; from bag to rag to ran; and to ran to fan to can.   A great way to play this game is to use magnetic letters! 

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