Mr. Visnosky: Sixth Grade Reading

How to Help Your Child be Successful in ELA

What can I do to help my child at home?

  • Refer to your child’s copy of the literature reader story.  The selection  has questions at the side of the page that reinforce the skills taught.  It is never a bad idea to reread and further explain or clarify skills/concepts. 

  • Refer to your child’s ELA binder. Your child should have sections for all notes, returned work, and story selections. Student Lesson Summary notes are given with each skill taught and can be reviewed to reinforce the concepts/skills that were covered throughout the reading selection.

  • With most stories, a study guide is provided and can be completed for extra credit points.  You can use your child’s copy of the story, the notes found within the ELA binder, along with the Study Guide, to focus your child’s studying and preparation.

  • Check out the various sites that I have listed on my website.  These sites can provide additional practice and support in a number of language arts related areas. You can also do an online search and explore other resources.

  • Model reading to your child. Your child will still follow your reading. Let your child see you reading, make comments, and share interesting passages with him/her. Reading to children exposes them to richer vocabulary and can have positive impacts on their language and later literacy achievement.

  • Keep up on what your child is reading. If you can, read a few pages of your child’s books yourself so you can discuss the book with him/her. You can also read with your child, taking turns reading pages or sections of the text. Have your child summarize at the end of their reading. Summarizing is one of the most important reading strategies to help your child comprehend texts.

  • Listen to your child read. When your child starts bringing books home from school, have your child read to you. If it doesn’t sound good (mistakes, choppy reading), have your child read it again. Or read it to your child, and then have child try to read it again. Studies show that this kind of repeated oral reading makes students better readers, even when it is done at home.

  • Promote writing at home. Literacy involves reading and writing. Encourage your child to write about what they’ve read.

  • You can ensure that your child has completed his/her Study Island assignments for ELA class. These assignments will reinforce skills taught in class and will also facilitate growth.
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