Reading and Writing

This year we will be using the Aiken County Workshop model for reading and writing instruction in our classroom.  This allows for students to be taught reading at their independent reading level and allows for flexible small grouping instruction.  Students will work each week on reading and writing skills taught in class.  They will practice these skills independently and with a partner, while also meeting in small groups or one-on-one with the classroom teacher.  Students will be held accountable for their work by conferring with the teacher during the week.  Students are expected to practice skills they learn in class and apply that knowledge each week as they read and write texts designed to supplement the classroom instruction.  Using the workshop model, your student will be able to choose what they want to read and write, talk about what they read and write with other students, read and write a variety of texts and learn to make sure they understand what they are reading and writing.

Please look for skills taught each nine weeks under the reading tab on our classroom website.  These skills will be tested in a variety of ways.  At the beginning of the school year, oral tests will be given to assess weekly sight word lists and reading fluency.  Assessments will change over the course of the year as students gain sight word knowledge and fluency.  Our goal is to move towards a "cold comprehension" assessment that students will be required to read independently and answer questions about for a test grade. 

We will be introducing sight words each week to increase your child’s sight word fluency.  Students will be responsible for five words each week that are taught and reviewed daily. Students will be tested on these words and are responsible for reading them not only in isolation, but in phrases and short stories. These words will be found on the classroom website as well as in your child’s agenda or Homework Folder/notebook.