Helping a Poor Reader
A poor reader is usually a child who is not attentive in the classroom, a child who does not have a good role model for reading, or a child who has no one to stress the importance of reading at home. With the federal government's passing of the law, "No Child Left Behind (NCLB)" several years ago, students not reading on grade level in grades 3 or 4 may be retained, if necessary. Therefore, reading is an essential skill for all students to learn; however, it does require parental help and support for students to succeed with reading.
As teachers, it is our goal to help all children become successful readers. There is nothing you can do in life that does not require some reading skills. To reinforce this fact, try writing down a tally mark each time during just one 24 hour period that you use your knowledge of reading. Even starting a computer requires reading. You may know what some screens say by heart as an adult, but students are still learning what these screen directions say. Finding a television show to watch usually requires some reading as well as does driving. The simplest things in life require reading skills. At the end of a 24 hour period, count the tally marks. You will be amazed at how many you have written down.
Our elementary school will be taking the MAP tests soon--where reading is a necessity! Please take some time to help your child practice his/her reading skills, stress the importance of the tests, and make sure your student gets a good night's sleep and eats a good breakfast on test days. We really do not want to have to retain any 3rd or 4th grade student because of poor reading skills.
P.S. Make sure your student comes prepared for testing: four new pencils for testing (# 2 lead).
