Decodable Passages/Books:

Each time your child returns their pink slip, showing that they have read their decodable story to an adult, completed with the title of story and adult signature, they may choose something from our prize box (which is a large red M&M guy!).  This is an optional activity.  For some children a prize may be the incentive they need to read outside of school.  For others, they will read just because they enjoy it. 

Borrowing Books for Independent Reading:

I have a wonderful classroom library with many levels of books. I want the children to be practicing to become fluent readers. The best way to do this is to have them practice and reread books at their Independent Level.  Independent reading is the level your child reads at with little or no difficulty.  I instruct the children at their Instructional level.  This is when they need me to help them "de-bug" the book a bit and give them some support for them to be successful reading it.  There is a slight challenge but with my support and our discussion, they are successful - this is the level we work at in Reading Intervention. Because I do have so many books, I like to give the children opportunities to borrow them. So, this is what we do. I benchmark each child to find their Independent Level. Then I choose two books at a time for them to take home to read, reread, reread and read to family members. The books are then returned to me and we pick new ones. We do this weekly and sometimes more frequently.

When your child reads 1 book, I keep a tally. After 10 books are read, I will put  a sticker on their Reading chart. When their chart is full, they get to pick something from our special prize baskets.

Read Aloud at Home:

But don't forget to read to your child, too!!

Some  chapter book series titles are: 

Andy Shane and the Bossy Dolores Starbuckle by Jennifer Jacobson

A-Z Mysteries

The Calendar Mysteries

The Polk Street Kids

Cam Jansen stories

Henry and Mudge stories

Nate the Great stories