Year 1 News
Miss Hansson's ELC2 Superstars
Highlights of the Week
First week of literacy cross setting
Mrs Sari's Birthday (Thursday)
Shoe Boxes Needed
Reading Focus for this Fortnight on Fluency
Fluency is the ability to recognise words automatically and read aloud effortlessly and with expression. If your child is reading word for word (robotic) or needs to concentrate on decoding as they read they will be unable to develop their fluency or focus on understanding what they are reading.
When learning to read with fluency it is vital that ‘good fit’ books are chosen. Good fit books are books that can be read with few or no assistance or errors.
To give your child the best chance of success they will be given books they have previously read. Repetition of texts assists with the development of:
- · automaticity and word identification when reading
- · smooth reading
- · expression and pacing when reading
For strategies to encourage fluency at home please refer to the attached letter
School Diaries
Summary:
- Monday: The students diaries are returned to their homework folders, they receive a new home reader and possibly a nice surprise if they achieve their next reading target.
- Tuesday: The students read the home reader from Monday.
- Wednesday: The students receive their second home reader for the week.
- Thursday: The students read the home reader from Wednesday.
- Friday: The students diaries are taken out for marking and their communication books are sent home to read and write a reply.
Please ensure the students read their home readers more than once to improve on their fluency. To extend your child's understanding please use a variety of questions before, during and after reading. These strategies and more are available in the letters sent home on the fortnightly reading focus.
Sight Word Home Program
Sight words, often also called high frequency sight words, are commonly used words that young children are encouraged to memorise as a whole by sight, so that they can automatically recognise these words in print without having to use any strategies to decode. At Coolbinia Primary School we use the Sitton sight word list. By the end of year one the students are expected to read the first 100 words and spell the first 50 (in isolation and in the context of their writing). The students will be given sight word books that will be sent home this week. On the second page are instructions on how to use the book to assist your child in learning to spell and read their sight words efficiently. I also encourage you to have a look on the web, as there are hundreds of fantastic games you can make and play to practise fast recall of the sight words.
Mrs Sari's Birthday
It was Mrs Sari's birthday this Thursday. On the Wednesday she bought the children some exciting gifts, including a rainbow pinwheel and bubble blower. We are so grateful to have such a kind and caring EA in our classroom.