Reading Expectations for Students and Parents

Mrs. Haring’s

Language Arts Class

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“Education is a shared commitment between dedicated

teachers, motivated students and enthusiastic parents

with high expectations.”

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Why read?

• As I explained to the students, they can’t grow as a reader unless they practice reading daily. It is like anything you want to improve. Reading requires practice, practice, practice.
• A successful year means that you grew in your reading from last year. This will not happen without practice and commitment.
• Reading practice helps increase fluency, vocabulary, speed, knowledge, and a love of reading. Reading has a direct correlation with how well students write.
• Parents, please get on board with the reading practice! I can only control the reading in my classroom. There needs to be a time and place for reading at home.

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What are My Reading Expectations?

• Some kids have no problem fitting daily independent reading into their schedule. For others, I know they simply aren’t reading outside of school. I am asking all parents to make sure your child is reading at least 15 minutes of an independent book each day at home and 30 minutes each day of the weekend. They read 15 minutes of an independent book in class M-F. The rest has to be at home and I don’t think 15 minutes is asking very much.
• Now, if your child has more time or has no problem adding more time to their reading schedule, their parent can add minutes to the daily required reading. Add more time if it works with the child’s schedule.
• I only have your child a short time each school day. I don’t know what they read outside of school. I can’t make them read at home. Only the parents can make their child read outside of school. I am asking that all parents work with me to make sure their child is reading each and every day at home.

Expectations cont.

• I do require reading logs. I do require students to record their weekly reading on a document so we can discuss their reading life and set goals. Kids should read books that interest them. I do require class reading, but the independent book should be of their choosing. They should read novels or longer nonfiction books. However, on occasion, they can read online articles, magazines, newspapers, blogs etc.

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• Students must have an independent book with them in all classes and at home every day! You never know when you can sneak in a few minutes of reading!

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How to Select the Right Book?

• Select your favorite genres, authors, and series.
• Get recommendations from friends, teachers, parents, siblings, our media center specialist, goodreads.com, or many other sites. I will do book talks, we will watch book trailers, I will have book tastings.
• Read the back of the book to determine if the plot is of interest.
• Read the first few pages to determine if it is too difficult, too easy, or just right!
• Keep the length in mind. If really long books are too difficult or time consuming to get through right now, select shorter novels. You’ll work your way up to longer selections eventually.
• Don’t be afraid to challenge yourself from time to time. Pick a book you may not typically read. You just might enjoy it.

How to Fit Reading into your Schedule

• I know that it is difficult to fit reading in every day. I told all the kids that they can split the 30 minutes up throughout the day. Do what you have to do to fit it in!
• If there is a day that you can not read, and it will happen, read double the time another day that week. Do your very best to read each day though.
• The kids made a list of where they could find some reading time:

*If you have extra time before the bus

*As you eat breakfast

*At the bus stop/on the bus

*In car to and from practices/appts.

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How to Fit Reading into your Schedule cont.

*When classwork is finished

*On the toilet---seriously!

*Before bed

You may come up with other ideas on your own.

How Parents Encourage Reading

• Make sure your child sees you reading
• Buy books as gifts
• Buy magazines, comics, and graphic novels
• Visit libraries and bookstores
• Create a comfortable quiet spot for reading
• Talk about the books your child reads, ask them questions about the books
• Keep them reading, reading, reading!!!!!
• Read the book before watching the movie
• Read together

Commitment

I don’t know if I can stress enough how important independent reading is for your child. Please help me make this happen at home.

If this is a struggle, please contact me and I will help find solutions. I want them to build a reading life, and I know we can do it together!