Monday, September 13, 2010

Flexible Reading Instruction and Intervention


September 13, 2010


Dear Parents,


Reading instruction addresses five essential components: phonemic awareness (the knowledge and manipulation of sounds in spoken words); phonics (the relationship between written and spoken letters and sounds); reading fluency (the ability to read with accuracy and with appropriate rate, expression, and phrasing); vocabulary (the knowledge of words, their definitions, and context); and reading comprehension strategies (the understanding of meaning in text).  

We are continuing to use several different instructional programs to teach reading at Pine Glen School.  All accomplish the same goal of improving reading performance, but they take somewhat different paths in helping students reach his/her goal.  The staff at Pine Glen work very hard to match our young readers with an appropriate instructional approach.  Based upon our notes from working with your child and reading assessments, your child may receive additional interventions and instruction to address one or more of the five essential components of reading.

All students participate in guided reading instruction, where she/he will develop fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension strategies.  Grade level literacy teams continue to watch and monitor all students learning to ensure students are making effective progress and growing in skills.  Grade level literacy teams are made up of classroom teachers, reading specialist, literacy tutor, special education teacher, special education assistant, and principal. 

Literacy teams have looked at all the students’ reading assessments while discussing each of them as readers.  Your child will be provided with flexible reading instruction with a member of their grade level team.  As a team working together we can present the best possible reading instruction to your child, and monitor student learning to ensure that he/she is making effective progress as a reader. 

The instructor may -- or may not -- be your child’s classroom teacher.   All the teachers are excited to get to know your child as a reader and as a learner. 

If you have questions, please call your child’s classroom teacher or me.   We would be happy to speak with you.


Sincerely,


John Lyons
Principal
Pine Glen School





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