Reading With Your Kindergartener
NISD Reading Expectations
Our assessment tool used to determine your child's text level
Beginning of Year Expectation -
Middle of Year Expectation -
End of Year Expectation -
Beginning of Year Expectation -
- September
- no minimum goal
Middle of Year Expectation -
- January
- goal is level 3 or higher
- minimum standard is level 2
End of Year Expectation -
- May
- goal is level 8 or higher
- minimum standard is levels 4-6
Reading Aloud and Guided Reading Practice
In Kindergarten, we ask that parents practice two kinds of reading with their child daily.
Reading Aloud -
Guided Reading -
Reading Aloud -
- You read to your child
- No need to log these books - just enjoy!
- Develops listening skills
- Special time between parent and child
- Introduces text that is far to difficult for your child to read
- Promotes discussion
Guided Reading -
- Your child reads to you
- Log these titles in your child's Purple Take Home Folder
- Books are at an Instructional Level
- Books are sent home by your child's teacher (**after DRA assessment has been completed and level has been determined)
- Your child has read this book at school with his or her teacher
- You help your child to problem solve
- Special time between parent and child
- Shouldn't be painful - communicate with teacher if there is a problem
- Fun to watch your child grow as a reader
- Comprehension Questioning is a MUST at Level 4 and beyond
Comprehension Tips
Comprehension questions can be asked of any books that you have read aloud to your child. If you are reading chapter books to your child, ask a question or two at the end of a chapter.
Wait until your child is reading Level 4 books before asking these questions about Guided Reading Books.
Don't ask ALL of these after each book. Just choose 1-2 to focus on. Remember, this is supposed to be fun!
Ask your child to retell the story - listen for specific details - characters' names, sequence words, and all important events from the beginning, middle, and end included. Feel free to prompt your child to remember more details by asking simple questions.
Ask your child to tell you about the part they liked best from the story and why.
Ask your child if this book made them think of any other book or movie or even something that had happened to them. Press them to make a connection.
If applicable, ask your child what lesson the author was trying to teach the reader.
Wait until your child is reading Level 4 books before asking these questions about Guided Reading Books.
Don't ask ALL of these after each book. Just choose 1-2 to focus on. Remember, this is supposed to be fun!
Ask your child to retell the story - listen for specific details - characters' names, sequence words, and all important events from the beginning, middle, and end included. Feel free to prompt your child to remember more details by asking simple questions.
Ask your child to tell you about the part they liked best from the story and why.
Ask your child if this book made them think of any other book or movie or even something that had happened to them. Press them to make a connection.
If applicable, ask your child what lesson the author was trying to teach the reader.
Decoding Tips
The goal of Guided Reading is for the child to read the books independently. The books have been selected because they are the correct instructional level for your child - not too hard - not too easy.
When your child gets stuck on a word, it is very important that you don't just tell him or her the word immediately. Please prompt your child using some of the prompts/reminders linked below. Also, there are so many words that can't be "sounded out" that saying "sound it out" isn't always a good strategy.
When your child gets stuck on a word, it is very important that you don't just tell him or her the word immediately. Please prompt your child using some of the prompts/reminders linked below. Also, there are so many words that can't be "sounded out" that saying "sound it out" isn't always a good strategy.
What About Sight Words?
Sight Words, or High Frequency Words, are words that occur very often in text. Some can be decoded, or sounded out, but others simply have to be memorized.
Your child will be introduced to at least 2 new sight words each week in class. Watch the Kindergarten Newsletter for a list of words that have been introduced and practiced in class. Practice these with your child at home. Make simple flash cards. Keep track of how many times your child gets the word correct by tallying on the back of the card. Once you have about 8-10 checks, move the card to a "Known Words" deck. Your child can practice these words on his or her own. They will be so proud when a word "Graduates" to this deck.
Your child will be introduced to at least 2 new sight words each week in class. Watch the Kindergarten Newsletter for a list of words that have been introduced and practiced in class. Practice these with your child at home. Make simple flash cards. Keep track of how many times your child gets the word correct by tallying on the back of the card. Once you have about 8-10 checks, move the card to a "Known Words" deck. Your child can practice these words on his or her own. They will be so proud when a word "Graduates" to this deck.