*STAR*
Striving Toward Accomplished Readers
VIRGIL GRISSOM INTERMEDIATE READING PROGRAM GENERAL OVERVIEW
Welcome to the * STAR * (Striving Toward Accomplished Readers) Virgil Grissom Intermediate Reading Program. I will be meeting with students in small groups for 25 minutes each afternoon. I have arranged a time with their teacher that does not require them to miss anything in class they will have to make up. I will not be meeting with students on late start days or early dismissal days.
I would like to share with you my objectives for reading sessions your son/daughter will be participating in on a weekly basis. National and state standards, and schools across the country require all students to master a set of reading objectives, with an emphasis on these key comprehension areas: Main idea, summarizing, vocabulary, inference, cause and effect, fact and opinion, sequencing, and context clues. During reading sessions I will be working directly with students to help students develop their comprehension skills and learn to use comprehension strategies to enhance their reading comprehension. Teaching students to deepen their comprehension has always required creative lessons for each reading objective to ensure that everyone achieves success, so your son/daughter will be completing several high-interest mini-lessons at his/her individual reading level. Depending on individual reading needs, some students will complete more mini-lessons than other students. It is my goal to make instruction meaningful to the students so they will have fun learning the reading skills and find the skills they learn useful in their everyday reading and pertinent to their lives.
In addition to direct reading skills instruction, your son/daughter will also have the opportunity to work on his/her individual reading skills independently using Read Naturally and My Skills Tutor.
Read Naturally is a software program that combines the research-proven strategies of teacher modeling, repeated reading, and progress self-monitoring to develop reading fluency. The program allows each student to read along while listening to a fluent reader read the story he/she has selected. This step helps each student learn unknown words and encourages proper pronunciation, expression, and phrasing. The software will provide proof of the student’s progress, motivating him/her to continue to read and improve. Each strategy level in the software program offers twenty-four interesting reading activities that aid in improving fluency and comprehension. The Read Naturally strategy has also been proven to positively impact other areas of student development. Improvements include the following: Increase self-esteem and confidence, gets students excited about reading, and encourages students to take responsibility for their own successes.
My Skills Tutor is a web-based program that your student can even access and work on at home! This program offers online assessments and instruction to help students master essential academic work and skills.
If you have any questions or concerns about the *STAR* Reading Program, please feel free to contact me at school by phone (563-285-3480) or email (stephanie.fahrenkrog@north-scott.k12.ia.us). I would love to meet you so free to stop into my room! I am located on the right side as you enter the library. Also, parents are always welcome to attend reading sessions or sample the My Skills Tutor program or Read Naturally software. During first and second semester, each student will be allowed to print his/her own progress reports and updates to bring home using the Read Naturally software. I will also be sending progress updates and reading skills information home throughout the reading sessions. If at any time you want additional updates, please let me know. Once again, I’m looking forward to working with your child to enhance his/her reading skills.
