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South Bay Accent - Aug/Sep 2015

is also the newer whole language approach that employs a wider range of literature. “We’ve learned so much about how kids learn, and the biggest thing we’ve learned is that they learn differently,” says Grundt. “The way we’ve evolved teaching reading is similar to how we do all academics here. We differentiate instruction since we know that each child learns at different rates, in different ways and at different times.” Delphi uses a proprietary reading program that combines multiple approaches, according to Dean Sid Raspberry. “Kindergarten students learn the sounds of the letter of the alphabet while also learning to recognize many common words by sight,” he says. READING MYTHS 62 South Bay Accent SHUTTERSTOCK Just wait until third grade One popular belief is that slow readers catch up by the end of third grade but that schedule doesn’t cut it anymore. “When I started as a third grade teacher, I thought that, but it’s not the case,” says Action Day Primary Plus’s Michelle O’Hara. Yes, children do develop differently, but trust your gut and act sooner rather than later—within reason, of course. Don’t fret if your preschooler is not reading “Harry Potter,” but keep in mind that the National Institutes of Health states that 90 percent of children with reading difficulties can achieve grade level if they receive help by the first grade. SOUNDING GOOD EQUALS COMPREHENSION “The myth that needs to be debunked is that someone who can read aloud at a high level comprehends at a high level,” says Sierra School’s Carolyn Grundt. “Reading aloud and comprehension don’t always match. A kid can read beautifully and not know what he just read.” And the flip side is also true: “A kid could struggle reading aloud but his comprehension can be on point,” says Action Day’s O’Hara. READING IS SERIOUS BUSINESS Sure, reading is important, but not everything your child reads needs to be “educational.” “If your kid loves comic books, then give them to him,” says Sierra’s Grundt. “If your child enjoys horses, then find all the books on horses you can.” While the Common Core curriculum is directing schools to push more nonfiction, let your kids escape. “Kudos to our authors,” says Merryhill Elementary School’s Karen Cooper. “Today, there are incredible series that let children delve into other worlds. Authors are beginning to talk to our children at every level.” PUT READING ALOUD TO BED Even if your children can read, keep reading to them. Research has found that reading aloud to children is a powerful predictor of whether they become avid readers. Plus, kids secretly adore it: A recent Scholastic Inc. survey found that 83 percent of children (who ranged up to age 17) said they loved being read aloud to. “Do this right before bed,” says Merryhill’s Cooper. “Who doesn’t want to stay up a bit longer? It fosters conversation and the opportunity to understand your child.” Plus kids pick up pronunciation and advanced vocabulary along the way. In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that parents read aloud to children starting at birth. “Read books to your child daily, and they will naturally become interested in being able to read themselves,” says Delphi Academy’s Sid Raspberry. KIDS SHOULD READ TOUGH BOOKS “Providing kids with choice in what they read and having it be at the right level is what makes reading fun,” says Woodland School’s Kim Gair. “If it’s too hard, they get frustrated.” Find out what your child’s reading assessment level is, and match books to that general range. For example, a 1.5 means he is reading at the level of a student in the fifth month of the first grade. Check a book’s reading level on the Accelerated Reader website (arbookfind.com) so you can pick a “just-right” book the next time you’re at the library, book store, or downloading an e-book. 1 2 3 4 “Since the English language is not always spelled phonetically, a child trying to read a simple book would not be able to correctly sound out many common words.” For example, think of how net, gnat, knit and pneumonia start with an “n” sound but are spelled differently. “English is a complicated language to learn because it is not a pure language,” agrees Walker. “It is a mixture of Latin, Greek and Indo-European. So you can teach someone to read English phonically; you just have to be aware of the exceptions due to the mix of languages.” Exceptions and heightened expectations mean that business is booming for Silicon Valley tutors. Carolyn Gil is director of education for Knowledge Quest Learning Center, a San Jose-based


South Bay Accent - Aug/Sep 2015
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