As I mentioned in my previous emails, Children's Reading Partners surveys teachers at the beginning and the end of our programs to see where students need help and how they have improved. Over the next few weeks, I will continue sending you weekly tips to address the areas where our students need the most help, based on the results of our fall evaluations.
Our fall 2016 Elementary Express survey found that over 70% of students in second through fifth grade need to build their vocabulary. As a reading mentor, you can help students build their vocabulary every time you read a book to them. Reading aloud to children is a powerful way to help them improve their vocabulary as it exposes them to words that they don't hear in everyday conversation.
How to help: As you read a book to your student, stop at a particular word that he or she might not know. Ask whether he or she can tell you what it means. If your student doesn't know the word, you can follow these three steps:
- Provide a definition of and/or a synonym for the word. (Make sure the synonym you provide is a word that the child already knows.)
- Discuss an example of the word, or use it in a sentence.
- Discuss how the word fits in with the story.
Say, for example, you have read the phrase "she screamed with delight" and your student doesn't know what
delight means. You could start by explaining that
delight means "a strong feeling of happiness." Next, ask your student about the the last time he or she felt delight. You can then relate the word back to the story by asking your student why he or she thinks the character is screaming with delight.
By following these steps, you'll help your student expand his or her vocabulary and learn how to use new words correctly in conversation.
Happy reading!
Alana
Alana Butler
Director, Children's Reading Partners
860.727.6152
