8.09.2010 Summer Reading Tip

Summer is drawing to a close. It is simply amazing how fast the summer goes. It is our hope that your child has kept up with their reading activities and has been filling in their Voweletics calendar.

This is a reminder to bring the calendars to school upon their return. Thanks parents for the wonderful job you do nurturing the reading experience with your children.

Happy last week of summer!

7.22.10 Summer Reading Tip

Take the letters from your child’s first and last name.  Have them make a list of words that can be made with those letters.  They will be amazed how many they will find.

7.16.10 Summer Reading Tip

Have your child read the Readersville Letters found in Lessons 4 – 22. There are audio files so that your child can follow along. Encourage them to write a letter back to the Voweletics characters to practice their writing skills. They can create their own Readersville Letters.

7.12.10 Summer Reading Tip

Take any simple board game you have at home.  (Candy Land, Shoots and Ladders, etc.)  In order to make a move on the board, create a skill you would like your child to practice and use it to move forward for each turn.  If for example, you are working on reading sight words, play the game according to the instructions but add read three sight words prior to moving.  You can use this fun way to work on any skill together and create quality time together your child will look forward to each time.

7.10.10 Summer Reading Tip

So you are trying to find books at the library or bookstore that your child is able to read. Educators and publishers have been working together to use the Lexile measurement scale to determine the reading level of books. You can visit the www.lexile.com to help you with your selections. Follow the directions below:
Log into www.lexile.com
>tools
>find a book
>I don’t know my Lexile measure
>My Lexile measure is

If you follow the easy-to-follow steps listed above, you will have a valuable resource to use for years to come.

Happy summer reading! Keep up with your summer Voweletics reading calendars!

7.05.10 Summer Reading Tip

Take a couple of simple sentences and dictate them for your child. Play close atttention to their letter formations while writing. Place capitals only where appropriate and provide accurate punctuation. Focus on using the Voweletics vowel rules for spelling. You will be amazed that a sentence or two a day will reap a large reward in your child’s ability to write.

6.29.10 Summer Reading Tips

Choose one word from a book your child is reading that matches each pattern on the Voweletics WHAT TO DO charting cards. Kindergartners have learned the short and long vowel patterns on WHAT TO DO #1. First and second graders have learned all the patterns on all three WHAT TO DO chart cards.

6.22.10 Summer Reading Tip

When a word has only one vowel and has letters after it, the short vowel sound is generally heard. It may have one letter or consonant after it, or it may have two or three letters after it.

EX: bat bath baths

While reading books for fun with your child, continue to remind them of this rule. It is WHAT TO DO #1 in the Voweletics reading program. Practice singing the WHAT TO DO #1 song, and be sure to remind them what the lyrics mean.

Happy reading and singing!

6.19.10 summer Reading Tip

Splish! Splash!  Enjoy the days of summer!   Remember that the Voweletics method is:  LOOK!  THINK!  READ!  When your child does not know a word, have them LOOK at the vowels first to observe the pattern the vowel has in words.  It is this pattern that helps them to them to know which kind of vowel sound to put in the word.  That is the THINK part.  Now READ the word with the correct vowel sound inserted.  Underline the vowels in the unfamiliar words to draw attention to the vowels.

6.16.10 Summer Reading Tip

I recently discovered a wonderful FREE interactive website.  The URL is www.starfall.com. It is especially good for kindergarten and early 1st grade.  Your child can be successful immediately and continue to have fun learning.  Check it out!  I know you will be please.  Hours of summer enjoyment and learning can be spent using this website.