Book in a Bag
During fourth quarter our classroom will be using a “Book in a Bag” program to practice emergent reading skills. The students are all on different levels in their emergent reading. Some will memorize the text after hearing you read. Others will use reading strategies such as pictures clues to help read the text. Still others have started decoding words and have a good grasp of sight words. All of these stages are acceptable and part of the process. This program is designed to nurture the process through predictable and patterned text that matches the pictures. The books are meant to be enjoyable, not a challenge with many new words. Depending on our schedule, your child will switch books one or two times per week. The entire Book in a Bag needs to remain in your child’s folder every school day. A Book Log is enclosed in the bag. Your child will continue the usual monthly log of minutes spent reading. It is important that you continue to read children’s literature aloud daily. This allows for enjoyment, bonding, discussion and introduction of new vocabulary and concepts. The new Book in a Bag log is designed to show how your child is doing specifically with the emergent readers. Your child will not be able to check out a new book unless the previous one has been recorded on the log. Use tally marks to show how many times the book has been read. Please do not write the title multiple times. Below are some suggestions for using the books. Night One Suggestions: • Briefly discuss the book together. Ask “What do you think this book will be about? Why?” Relate it to a personal memory if possible. • Read the book together using one of the following methods. 1. The child can listen the first time and then read alone. 2. Read in unison. 3. The adult reads and leaves out a word or phrase for the child to fill in. 4. Take turns reading each sentence or page. 5. Read with a different family member. OVER
Night Two Suggestions: Encourage your child to read aloud using the following technique. 1. Turn the page. 2. Look at the picture. 3. Read with a sweeping motion of the index finger. If possible, read to several people in the house. 4. Discuss the book. a. Make a personal connection. Does it remind you if a time when. . . b. Retell the important parts of the story. c. What happened at the beginning, middle and end? d. Who was your favorite character? Why? e. For non-fiction: Tell me something you learned from reading this. Night Three Suggestions: Do the above steps. Do a mini-project related to the story. 1. Write about the story. Be sure to bring the writing in your bag to show me! • What was your favorite part? • How else could it end? • What would you have done? • If there is a pattern, write your own page following the pattern. 2. Act out the story yourself or with dolls or puppets. 3. Make an art project related to the story. 4. Build part of the setting with blocks, Legos etc. 5. Put some of the words on flashcards to practice.